<p>What is the first thing you think of when you think of UCB?
What are the students like? the campus? studies? atmosphere?
Please tell me anything about UCB that is unique.</p>
<p>Well, in my experience </p>
<p>students:
- range from some of the smartest, nicest people you will ever meet to some of the stupidest and meanest EVER. but that’s not to say that all smart ones are nice or all stupid ones are mean, however.
- tend to be on the left side of politics, although there is a strong Rightist prescence
- are largely accepting of gays, although you’ll run across more than a few homophobes
- get upset if you don’t hate stanford (except for those who rejected that school to come here)
- tend to have a “work hard. play hard” attitude. although, some students (notably the engineers, tend not to party at all. conversely, some students dont work hard at all.)</p>
<p>campus: </p>
<ul>
<li>i personally love it. it’s not very big. </li>
<li>um, there is a nice little creek running through it. in some parts, its very tough to swallow the fact that berkeley is in the middle of an urban jungle. </li>
<li>lots and lots of buildings that are easy to get lost in (fun times!)</li>
<li>pretty much everything you could ever want as a college surrounds the berkeley campus. cafes, clubs, restaurants, frats, bookstores, playhouses, movie theaters (which not only show mainstream but independet fliks,) interesting people, a great subway system which makes it easy to pretty much anywhere you want in the greater bay area, etc.</li>
<li>the dorms are pretty nice. and the food is getting better everyday!</li>
</ul>
<p>studies: </p>
<ul>
<li>there is a general concensus that what berkeley lacks in prestige, it makes up for in faculty. the arts and humanities faculty as a whole is the best in the world, as is the physical science and mathematics faculty. biological sciences aren’t as hot, but still among the best in the world. same goes for social sciences. </li>
<li>UCBs academic library system is the best in the world after Harvard’s and Yale’s </li>
<li>undergraduate students sometimes complain that classes are too large and lack personal attention. IMHO, these students are just lazy malcontents. professors here are VERY friendly and will bend over backwards to help you. its just a matter of seeking them out. </li>
<li>every week theres at least 5 academic speakers that come to berkeley. political figures also do this. </li>
</ul>
<p>atmosphere: </p>
<ul>
<li>i won’t lie to you. it’s pretty liberal. students are prone to getting out of control and damaging berkeley’s repupation. </li>
<li>to the caldems, you have freedom of speech only as far as you affirm their liberal bias. same goes for every other political group on campus, left and right. </li>
<li>people are not as tolerant as they might seem. for example, a nazi student parade would probably result in violence started by the liberal sheep who run the student government. </li>
<li>a protest in favor of osama bin laden would be greatly protected and admired</li>
<li>accept the incorrect fact that president bush does not read books unless you want the sheep to ram their stereotypes down your throat. </li>
<li>don’t expect to be treated like royalty. many people get screwed, especially with financial aid. how do you keep from getting affected? its pretty simple. DON’T MISS THE DEADLINES THAT THEY SET FOR YOU. </li>
</ul>
<p>overall, UCB, together with Harvard and MIT, is one of the world’s best academic powerhouses. whether a student chooses to take advantage of that by abstaining from all the negative aspects which 32,000 18-28 yearsolds naturally create, is his or her own choice.</p>
<ul>
<li>UCBs academic library system is the best in the world after Harvard’s and Yale’s </li>
</ul>
<p>oops i meant “nation”</p>
<p>I’d say stupid and/or mean outnumber smart and nice about 5 to 1, but the smart-nice, when you find them are FAR more worthwhile than any ignorant arsch.</p>
<p>So far I have no idea. But I agree with the work hard play hard attitude.</p>
<p>Please visit! Its great that you can gather experiences here on the board, but you need to visit if you’re considering Berkeley seriously.</p>
<p>Your impression of the university will be unique to everyone else’s and it will be your impression, not hearsay.</p>
<p>Furthermore, I encourage you to visit on a non-“Come to Cal” event (like Cal Day). Come during a regular school day and take a tour.</p>
<p>i’ve been to cal twice and i’m absolutely in love. getting lost, people were practically swarming to give directions. i found a graduate from my hs, and she gave me a tour of the area (berkeley) by night, dorms restaurants streets. i can’t wait 2 go again</p>