<p>UC Berkeley doesn’t suck but the entire UC system has been badly affected by the state’s economic problems. Budget cuts have savaged financial aid. There are fewer courses being offered and fewer sections. I know of students who couldn’t graduate on time because they could get into all their required courses. The reality is that for poorer students, private universities with good financial aid can be much cheaper than UC (i.e. Claremont, Stanford, USC). Don’t blame the universities, blame voters and the legislature.</p>