The University of California - Berkeley

4th Year Male -- Class 2010

Extracurricular Activities: A, Surrounding City: D+

Despite some of the negative things and low scores I gave the school I would never have gone anywhere else. Berkeley has a range of students, friendly, arrogant, competitive, down to earth, easy going, snobby, approachable, etc. You honestly just have to find your niche and once you do, the world is literally at your fingertips. I didn't want to go to Berkeley at first, I just applied because I applied to all the UC's, but I didn't really get in anywhere else (Columbia, Northwestern, Amherst, etc) so I went up here and I fell in LOVE. There is absolutely nothing like walking down to class and having a view of the bay, golden gate bridge and san fran city skyline. I've never gotten used to it, it's beautiful! I fell in love with my major and every professor who's class I've taken, but I've done my fair share of research on ratemyprofessors.com and refuse to take a class with a professor with bad reviews. I can't tell you how many times people told me this campus is what you make of it, I roll my eyes thinking about it. But it is completely true. It's up to you to go out there and find whatever it is you're looking for. It may take all 4 years but when you find it, it's so worth it. Also, best advice I had coming into Berkeley: Don't get caught up in the competitiveness (Sociology is a known easier major, but this goes out even to the pre-meds and business students) It can be easy to get caught up in the academic part of Berkeley, but there is so much more to life here and it will go by in the blink of an eye so my advice: take risks, go out to san francisco with your roomates the night before a midterm, you'll never remember the tests you fail, but you'll never forget the nights you spent not studying for them. TRUST ME! So jealous of you all embarking on this journey please don't take it for granted.

4th Year Female -- Class 2012

Education Quality: A+, Individual Value: B-