The University of California - Berkeley

UC Berkeley has one of the best Geography departments in the country. However, this often means that the faculty will be engrossed in research and is not always able to give the "personal touch". (such as reading your papers beforehand, getting to know your name, etc.) But I have found that this is not a problem if you make an effort to get to know them. This is a great school, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone. It really doesn't deserve its "wild, liberal" reputation. I have found most students to be very hard working and interested primarily in their educations. Many are recent immigrants (or their children), so the "family pressure" factor might account for this, but I still found that I (as a white, rural Californian) fit in very well.

4th Year Male -- Class 2005

Useful Schoolwork: A+, Individual Value: C

Probably the greatest environment on the planet. The city of Berkeely is the last progressive city left in the country. San Francisco is a 10 minute BART trip away. There is an abudance of things going on on and off campus.

There are more academic opportunities here than any smaller school in the country, you just have to put a little effort into going after them. This is a very good place to spend 4 years of your life.

2nd Year Male -- Class 2007

Education Quality: A+, Individual Value: B

I came from socal, there is mad beef between norcal and socal. No good mexican food. No good boba, either, suprisingly. Campus food sucks. The weather sucks, but it does get beautiful at times when the sun is out. The scholastics are engaging and challenging - just as i thought they would be. You are surreounded by smart people - soak it in. Living here is expensive for ghetto accomodations, but its alright. You learn to live with the crappiness and appreciate the times when the sun is out... i was seriously surprised at how bad the food is here....

Male -- Class 2000