University of California-Berkeley

I would give UC Berkeley 4 out of 5 stars—not because it lacks anything, but because it’s far from home. Still, the distance is a small tradeoff for the unparalleled opportunity to be part of Berkeley’s College of Chemistry, one of the most renowned in the world. The college’s groundbreaking research, rigorous curriculum, and access to world-class faculty make it the ideal place to deepen my passion for biochemistry. I’m especially excited about the hands-on lab experiences and the chance to work alongside some of the brightest minds in the field. Beyond academics, Berkeley’s vibrant social scene, inclusive student organizations, and beautiful, energetic location near San Francisco make it a place where I know I’ll thrive both personally and intellectually. I’m excited to be part of a community that’s as dynamic as it is driven—where I can contribute to Berkeley’s legacy of innovation and impact while building lifelong friendships and memories along the way.

I love Berkeley because it feels like a place where my voice will matter. I’ve always cared deeply about fighting injustice and standing up for my community, and at Berkeley, activism is part of the culture. The fact that students are constantly organizing, protesting, and pushing for change inspires me. I want to be surrounded by people who are just as passionate and unafraid to speak out. I know I’ll grow there, not just academically, but as someone who wants to make a real difference.

I am interested in attending the University of California-Berkeley because of the incredible educational and career opportunities it offers. The school is the #1 public university in the US and offers an incredible engineering program with it's engineering programs all ranking approximately #1-#3 in the nation. The school spirit is also warming and welcoming and the campus activities allow for a large amount of participation activities and school spirit. UC Berkeley and attending this university would be a dream come true and attending it would be an honor and amazing experience full of opportunties.

The chance to study bilogy and microbiology deeper brings enjoyment to my mind.

I'm interested in UC Berkeley because of its strong academics, innovative programs, and dynamic campus community. The school’s focus on interdisciplinary learning and real-world problem solving really appeals to me—especially in programs like their M.E.T Business and Engineering program. I also admire Berkeley’s culture of activism, diversity, and student involvement, which creates an inspiring and empowering environment.

The University of California-Berkeley is particular for me because of the Environmental Science branches they provide.

Fire school. Wish u let me in.

I've enjoyed my time at UC Berkeley a lot. I met tons of great people there and was able to engage in multiple things that I was passionate about. The academics are challenging enough that study groups are a must, but good enough to make someone feel confident in what they're doing. The community is welcoming and you're sure to find people to hang out with.

The University of California, Berkeley was my top choice when considering obtaining my undergraduate education outside of Mexico. After two years as a student here, it remains at the top. When I first started applying, I conducted extensive research on the school and even visited the campus before confirming my enrollment. I was captivated by the environment fostered by the students, which encourages one to be cultured, knowledgeable, and politically outspoken—a student involved in the "real" world from an early age. Furthermore, the school boasts a glowing reputation for its faculty. I actually wrote my application essay about one of the professors, expressing my excitement to learn from him as he is a pioneer in his field. The intellectual dynamism at UC Berkeley is ever-present, as the curriculum is constantly revised due to ongoing discoveries and innovations on campus. Graduates and faculty members of UC Berkeley have achieved distinguished accolades in their fields, attained incredible positions of leadership, and have made significant impacts on the world. I wanted, and still aspire, to be a part of this vibrant community. What no one really reveals about this experience is the vast transition from high school to a prestigious institution like UC Berkeley. In high school, I was among the top students with the highest GPA, an extensive list of extracurriculars, and the ambition to gain acceptance to one of the world's leading universities. At UC Berkeley, everyone is equally ambitious and intelligent, striving to be the best. This can be daunting because, although I prioritize my academics, I have other passions that don’t necessarily contribute to my resume. I consider myself very extroverted and enjoy going out with friends, hiking on weekends, traveling, and training for marathons. While some of my classmates spend Fridays in the library studying, I often prefer having dinner with friends. The beauty of UC Berkeley is its grand campus, where you can find others who share your passions. While you cultivate these connections, the university still expects you to excel academically, no matter your interests or routines. I wholeheartedly value my experience at UC Berkeley for what it offers and for the life I have formed to which I have created incredible memories. Any college experience is what the student makes of it, and studying at UC Berkeley provides the essential foundation to create the best memories of your undergraduate years.

UC Berkeley is an energetic hub of intellectual engagement, campus involvement, student leadership, community service, and fun things to do. The area is dominated by the college. It is an extremely stimulating environment and professors are always there to help. I love it here.

It is a breeding ground for problem-solvers of various kinds. I feel intellectually stimulated when surrounded by my peers, and the professors are just old children with how excited they are to satiate our curiosities. The passion bleeds out from the school, coating the walls of our wisdom. It was enough to make a directionless kid change their life course, and it is more than enough for me.

Berkeley is a great school, full of intelligent people to have conversations with, talented faculty to gain research experience and to learn from, and incredible opportunities. Being situated near Silicon Valley, it's an absolutely amazing place to learn as a CS Major, also being the #1 Public School in the country.

I visited UC Berkeley over the summer and it's a very nice school. There are a lot of local businesses around the area, so you get to support a lot of small businesses. There were also a lot of cultural restaurants in the area which allowed people to try different foods from all over the world. It's a nice place to walk around, especially during the warmer months.

To preface my review, I'm a second semester freshman, so definitely take this review with a grain of salt. On the academic front, the classes have been shockingly easy so far, but I haven't taken many "weed out" classes. Also know my math class last semester had 750 people in my section alone (750 in the other section too), so don't expect a lot of individual attention. I've found the students to not be as intellectual as you'd expect at similarly-tiered institutions (like NYU, Duke, Vanderbilt, UCLA, Michigan, etc.), and a lot of students (perhaps just the ones I've found myself interacting with) are involved in the sorority/fraternity scene. Despite it being Berkeley, there's still severe hazing, cocaine, etc. occurring in that network, so beware. Despite the academic and social negatives, the dorms are quite nice, the food is good, and the weather is beautiful almost 24/7. There's also more resources at this school than just about anywhere else in the country, given how big and socially progressive it is, so just about anyone can succeed here if they're committed to asking for help.

The academics at UC Berkeley live up to their expectations - rigorous, but you are surrounded by like-minded, accomplished students, faculty, and culture. The campus is a tourist destination and typically busy, where you can find people protesting, practicing choir or acapella, playing games or sports, and studying or hanging out on the greens. The food in the dining halls and surrounding restaurants/eateries are diverse. There is something to eat for everyone, including vegan-friendly options. The housing, parking accessibility, and campus safety need more awareness to be improved upon. The homeless of Berkeley regularly come on to campus and vandalize property or bother students, including myself. UC Berkeley has a program called Bear Walk, where a student or faculty associated with the school will accompany and walk you up to certain hours of the night. I did not always feel safe at night and usually required a group or someone to walk with me. The housing dorms and facilities are old and typically broken down or not working. There are some newer residential dorms, but many students, including myself, felt we could have performed better in class and been able to study if the other old dorms were updated since elevators were always broken down, and the dorm rooms and study rooms in on-campus housing were run-down and needed better lighting to be able to see and study at night.