It is simply a great school for people who are smart and want to really do something in college. Undergrads get so many research opportunities. Some of the greatest professors over the nation work here.
However, it is not a desirable school for dumb people. B/c the school lets a lot of dumb people in (shame to say, but that's a fact), but it only cares about the smart ones. So, if you can't catch up cuz you are dumb, then you are fucked up, the school won't show any sympathies. It would be even nicer to go to a worse school where one can be given enough attention.

Honestly, I don’t understand how most of the undergrads got in. This university is only worth your money if you pay in-state/resident tuition. If you have to pay out-of-state tuition (approximately 3 times the cost of in-state tuition), go somewhere else, somewhere private. The professors and grad students are brilliant and accomplished (especially in the English literature, math, and science departments), and I learned a lot as an English major and Creative Writing minor. However, a large portion of the undergrad population leaves much to be desired. Many of them can’t spell, write a complete sentence, or do basic algebra. This is not an exaggeration. Additionally, the university has a tendency to over-enroll undergrads, so lots of classes are crowded, which means you won’t get the attention you deserve. Also, some of the graduation requirements (namely the American Studies requirement) are a complete waste of time and a drain on your financial and intellectual resources.

The Best!

U.C. Berkeley has developed a more vibrant intellectual life around itself than anywhere in the country except Boston, and Boston needs about ten universities to create that kind of community. There is no subpar academic department at Berkeley, as there are even at institutions like Harvard and Yale. Admittedly undergrads tend to get lost in the crowd; not even grad students get special treatment at Berkeley. But if you can handle that fact and work hard in spite of it, you'll get a reasonably affordable educational experience that surpasses that of the finest private institutions. Only insecure losers with wealthy parents or college loans in excess of 150 grand would need to spend time here trashing this school. They can go back to hyping their overrated private schools in the hope that its reputation was worth the bloated price tag.

Berkeley is an okay school. I'm currently doing a post-bacc program here prepping for a health career. In regards to "hippies" and bleeding hearts at this school....if you don't like them (like me!!),..then simply avoid those stupid rallies (which I do!). I kind of dislike the fact that a lot of students at Berkeley are cliquish. They know one another from high school...and tend to stick together. So if you see this hot chick you love...and she is part of a clique with some other guys....then you're out of luck... Since Berkeley's campus is located on a hill....the "cool" breeze ..sometimes too cold....can be quite annoying esp during the summer time. Yet, it gets supper hot during the summer...so annoying since the dorms at Berkeley don't have air conditioners. Berkeley is also located next to Oakland....a ghetto city with bums and low-lifes.

I went to Cal and thats when I realized that I didn't like it at all. It might be in California but its in Northern Cali. number one and the campus is not pretty at all. I got in and did not go and now I go to Bucknell. Cal is not even close to Yale and Harvard. If I wanted to go to college and hate it and say ohh I go to Berkeley I would have gone there. A little too liberal for me.

The University of California, Berkeley is truly among the finest institutions in the world, not just in the country. It's practically the only public school able to compete with the elite private schools in every field. Cal is rated in top 5 of almost every discipline there is. Very few schools can actually do this. Take two prestigious private schools, Harvard and MIT. MIT is the "god" of engineering disciplines, but is not notorious when it comes to most liberal disciplines. Harvard, on the other hand, is kind of at the other side of the spectrum, being rated much lower than most universities in engineering. Berkeley has simply the best of both worlds. Every major there has also been polished to being an almost perfect curriculum. Not only transferring knowledge to students from ground up, but transforming them into smarter human beings to lead the world. There is simply no competition.

Great institution in a great climate.

The negative hippie comments below are stupid. There are a lot of conservatives on campus. It has great science programs, etc. The politics of the city are silly, but that has nothing to do with the campus. And the perception of the East coast? Generally if you go to a top 50 college, employers are more concerned about how you did there, what your activities were, and what your personality is. College prestige in general is overrated. As long as you go to a top 50 school, you will be just fine (and if you are smart it doesn't matter where you go). That said, I found Berekely to be a bit too large and impersonal. It's great if you like an urban atmosphere, but if you are looking for an intimate college experience, I wouldn't recommend it.

An excellent Universtity. However; better that Yale- Reality check, anyone?

I love the campus and the food in Berkeley is amazing. Also, very culturally diverse and there is a lot to do for fun. However, I have run into a few crazies

My parents went to Cal and loved it, but they have encouraged me and my brothers to go private. It's cheaper, even with instate tuition. How sad.

Berkeley was like Renaissance Florence to me. Going there changed my life. Not only were the academics superb, but I got to meet people from all over the world. I got to meet people who were interested in learning for the sake of learning, not just learning a few cynical money-making tricks. This is a great school in a tremendous center of world culture, and well prepares you for being a citizen of the world.

Irrelevant. You can come here and become dumb.

Most recipients of the undergraduate degree go on to graduate school. Why?? If you graduate from Berzerkeley, presto, you are trash (and you will be treated as such, because you will carelessly and stupidly dominate everyone you encounter). Therefore, you must waste more of your life at graduate school in order to negate the form or label that you were unfortunate enough to receive from a weenie institution like Berzerkeley, i.e., to make yourself a productive person in society (once again?).

I say zero stars. If you want to see what society is, go to a mall or a bus station or park at a gas station for a day. Liberals at Berkley need some tough love, in the form of a swift kick.

Very average students.

Horrible for undergrad.

If I gave this school a 5, then i guess stanford whould be 5.5

Contrary to what most Stanfordians might think, UC-Berkeley is the west Coasts equivalent of Harvard...There is no university in this country that can match the intellectual vibe of Berkeley, they have more bookstores per capita than any other city in the U.S. except for Cambridge, Ma. The type of "hand-holding" that is pervasive at most elite private universities simply does not exist in Berkeley. students must fend for themselves when it comes to academics. They have access to the whole world within the city of Berkeley, they can run into everyone from a noble laureate to a drunken transient. A little note to all the private school cronies who put down berkeley: if it had even half the endowmnet of most elite private universities, it would without a doubt surpass all of them in the various rankings except maybe for harvard, as a matter of fact its rated and revered much higher than all of the ivies except for harvard when it comes to the overall university including grad school.

One attends Berkeley to make a difference in the world NOT to simply to gather the title to acquire a job that will allow you to buy that digital tv or SUV upon graduation. Berkeley may be perceived as a "hippy" or "weinnie" (brillant choice of words!) or "lower than average" university. Nevertheless, that is the opinion nationally NOT internationally, where Cal is viewed as one of the most intellectual institutions in all fields of study.

The student body (as a whole) is simply not par with the first rate academics. The Admissions Committee should try looking beyond applicants' [uncomparable] GPAs and should try getting more talented students with kick ass boards, and possibly take fewer CA residents. Many of the undergraduate classes are overcrowded. The student/faculty ratio is unfavorable. Most people on the East Coast, do not consider Berkeley to be on the same level as Stanford. To New Yorkers, Berkeley has the reputation of being a "hippie school from the past."

So far my time at Berkeley has been challenging and has broadened my perspective on a lot of things. I have found that the diversity and environment is very conducive to achieving new levels of understanding of academic and social topics.

Go bears! i go to Berkeley as well. Just wanted to say that sometimes life here is hard, but sometimes it's great to bask in its' glory. truly one of the most exhilirating colleges in america. a real vibe of life. where else can you find so many people willing to discuss quantum physics, ethics, or TV while eating zachary's pizza and downing a beer?

UC Berkeley is a great campus with a strong student organizations like TRENZA, a chicana latina organization. I also enjoy the beatiful campus in itself, although sometimes I don't like walking uphill.

Like any other school, Berkeley has its good points and its bad points, but I go here now and I would have to say there's a lot more good than bad. Nothing beats the diversity -- not just racially, but economically and otherwise. Plus, we're talking value for the dollar here!

If you go there and get good grades you are guaranteed a good future.

Cal in the '60's had it all. I wouldn't trade my experience there, educational or cultural, for anything. I earned my ABMAPhD from Cal and although I've been gone for 30 years, still consider that time one of the most extraordinary in my life. Cutting edge faculty w/ social conscience & involvement, a politically active & aware student body, & an unparalleled cultural milieu. My only regret is that I took it for granted. I didn't have a clue how rare it was.

I wonder where the guy who said "weenies" goes? heh. I go to Cal, and really think it's one of the most interesting, diverse places I've ever seen, as well as being an excellent university. I don't know if moving out of Berkeley after school will be able to measure up.....oh well, time to go give Stanford a 1 (j/k, I toured there and decided not to go, but it still gets a 5 I suppose)

Weenies.

One of the top computer science and science schools in the country.