grade A+
Overall Grade
4 Year
BERKELEY, CA
Rating 3.72 out of 5 4,486 reviews

University of California - Berkeley Reviews

4,486 reviews

Being in Berkeley has allowed me to explore outside what I've known to be home my whole life. As someone coming from the suburbs, I had to grow accustomed to walking around the campus and the city as driving a car is less convenient but it's been good to experience something new. Additionally, college life has been exciting by far: meeting diverse groups of people, taking inspiring and eye-opening classes, studying with friends and exploring the city. However, what I would like to see change is the way the university uses its money. The university tries to minimize using its money to provide more classes for more student support--all the administrators are concerned about is gaining as much money in their pockets as possible and students have tried advocating for this change over the years yet the university remains largely complacent.

I love Berkeley because of how diverse it is. Also, the location is awesome because there are so many places to explore especially because we are next to San Francisco. The campus is beautiful and full of history. A down side is we are definitely prioritize academics which cause to our social lives to be a bit unbalanced. We are also is a housing crisis like always. Overall I love it though!

I think the culture here is very valuable and being surrounded by diverse people. Love participating in all sorts of clubs and events. Not everything is great and tuition is too much, housing is difficult, but I'm enjoying it. Love the city of berkeley and being in the bay!

Review University of California - Berkeley

My experience has been great at Berkeley. I love the school and its many opportunities as well as the friends I’ve made during my first year. I also on the football team which has give me an extra set of us into athletics and that journey as also been amazing.

It is a tough school academically. Your GPA will not be what it was in high school and you will probably be studying way more hours. However, this is an amazing school where I have met my forever friends. It exposed me to so many amazing people who have supported my academic career too and I am so grateful to all the professors.

My first year at Cal was eyeopening. For the first time I was surrounded by fellow students who genuinely enjoyed learning biological sciences for the knowledge rather than for a letter grade. These same peers pushed me every single day through their hardened work ethics, collaborative mindsets and diverse viewpoints which collectively shaped me into a different person in just a span of 9 months. This first year taught me to advocate for myself in taking charge of the education I want to receive and controlling what I want to get out of this degree. I became proactive in attending healthcare seminars which hosted outside speakers, reaching out to industry professionals in medicine to chat and taking initiative in student run clubs to get the most out of all of the resources available on our Campus. Finally one of the most rewarding experiences was learning from the Senior class students who are going into healthcare related professions and asking them questions about their time at Cal.

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University of California - Berkeley
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Very good, I would say if you want a strong academic experience it's definitely here and the same thing about social, very good place to choose what you want

Professors were great and enthusiastic about what they were teaching about. Campus is gorgeous and has lots of nature.

great overall. as a freshman, lots of opportunities were available. professors are approachable and kind.

UC Berkeley offers a vibrant academic environment with renowned faculty and diverse student body. Its emphasis on social activism fosters passion and purpose among students. However, challenges include program competitiveness and large class sizes. The campus's historic architecture and bustling atmosphere provide ample opportunities for involvement in clubs and research. Despite these, infrastructure issues like housing and transportation persist. Overall, UC Berkeley provides a dynamic setting for learning and growth, attracting students globally.

UCBerkeley is a fun and academically challenging university. You are learning from amazing professors and some of the most knowledgable individuals in their fields. You can find a social life that fits you perfectly, the party scene, organizations and overall experience is what you make of it.

The faculty possesses extensive knowledge and professionalism. The caliber of our academic curriculum is of the highest standard.

Berkeley is an incredible place. The people and teachers are amazing. You can learn so much! One thing however I strongly feel they need to improve on is their campus safety.

UC Berkeley was an incredible learning experience, I would say that the toxic competitiveness is quite the turn off and can make it almost next to impossible to collaborate on tasks with other students due to grade deflation. However, this school has endless oppurtunities and some of the brightest minds in the world teaching. The research is top notch. I would say that the school does pride itself on diversity yet is not so diverse. I wish to see Berkeley welcome students from all backgrounds and walks of life. There is a bit of a problem with nepotism, but most prestigious schools tend to have that problem as is. Bay Area is a great place to live as well so as a student it was easy to explore and get out (except during midterm or finals szn because you'd be locked in mainstacks - main library)

The campus was absolutely beautiful, the students were friendly, and the variety of different classes allows for exploring your interests. I would like to see change within the campus safety. There were constant threats and violence that I would receive emails about. Maybe if there was more strict campus protocols, less unlawful acts would take place.

it's been solid. Classes are super hard but I am learning a ton and can see this school helping me be successful.

Review University of California - Berkeley

My experience at Berkeley was profoundly positive. Each school possesses its own distinctive personality, and Berkeley stands out for its constant engagement with societal issues. The university maintains a steadfast connection with the broader community, addressing pressing social concerns head-on. Students at Berkeley are remarkably passionate about effecting meaningful change in the world. Whether through activism, research, or community involvement, there's an undeniable drive among students to make a difference. Berkeley fosters an environment where such aspirations are nurtured and supported, instilling in its students a sense of purpose and a commitment to contributing positively to society.

Berkeley challenged me academically, socially, mentally, emotionally and even physically - all welcomed challenges as it forced me to grow and shape up into a more confident and eloquent individual.
I was able to connect with widely diverse peers (now friends with whom I still interact) and even receive one-on-one time with my professors (many of whom I think of fondly). Teaching staff was consistently helpful, responsive and even kind to me as a student. I deeply enjoyed zooming through a beautiful campus to get to class.
The one aspect of life at Berkeley I wish was different was the lack of safety on and near campus. Almost daily email alerts about another assault or theft would demoralize me. I always moved through campus on high alert, which added stress to an already stressful environment.
Overall, I will always cherish my time at UC Berkeley and I feel deeply blessed to have attended.

Berkeley has a very unique student body with many people trying to excel. At first it may be a little overwhelming but with time you really get in the groove of being a Berkeley student

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