University of California--Berkeley User Reviews and Ratings
Stunning Disappointment
By Lank, From Medford, Oregon
I studied Architecture (so they say) with the idea of learning about building houses. The subject never came up. Neither did drafting, building code, apprenticeship (necessary for licensing exam), or any other fundamental skill necessary for launching any kind of career. People thought Cal was a good school when I was there, it wasn't. I am angry and cynical to this day over the loss of my dream. I have the worthless piece of paper. Buyer beware.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：3
City & Setting
Score：4
Classes & Teachers
Score：1
Dining & Food
Score：3
Dorms & Housing
Score：3
Health & Safety
Score：3
omg, I miss my school
By kx, class of 2018, From Berkeley
Besides its safety issue, I think it's the best school for me to learn life lessons. I didn't think I was special during school years, but once I get out and started to work, I realized how capable I am as a human being. Most of the lectures I took at Cal are beyond meaningful and some of them are mind-changing. I hate and love Cal so much.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：4
City & Setting
Score：4
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：4
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：3
Great School
By Jack, From CA
Coming from a very small high school in California, I was incredibly nervous and scared to come to Berkeley. I feel like I have found a community of friends that I can rely on which I felt would not happen when I went to college. There are so many opportunities at Berkeley if you look for them and they can make this school feel a lot smaller. Berkeley has gotten a bad reputation for being a place of antisocial nerds who are stressed and only study. People are constantly doing things and through the first month of this semester, I can honestly say that I have been less stressed than I was in high school. Something about being in a community of people who are all studying just like you, makes the stress go away. There are so many things to do on weekends and the town actually starts to grow on you even though it seems rough when you first arrive on campus. When I was researching Berkeley, I had constantly read about how dangerous the school and the surrounding area was. As long as you stay on the main streets and walk with people at night it is usually safe.
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：4
Classes & Teachers
Score：4
Dining & Food
Score：2
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：2
Vat student, would recommend!
By Am, From San jose
Great school for veterans, non traditional students, and anyone wanting to go to a top school that is open to diverse people and opinions.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Amazing School
By Roggard, co 2023, From CA
Very cool school for people with really big brains. Much fun.
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：3
Dorms & Housing
Score：3
Health & Safety
Score：3
unparalleled engineering experience
By Michael G '07, From La Jolla, CA
Undergrad BSEE/Computer Science 2007
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：4
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：5
Amazing University
By Green M, From Poway, CA
UC Berkeley is fantastic. The people, the professors, the research: it's all great.
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Berkeley changed my life
By Joe Class of 94, From San Francisco
I graduate Berkeley in the 90's. UCB changed my life. Made me an amazing learner. Continues to open doors for me. Math and Stat were super challenging. You had to work hard for even just a C. Zero grade inflation found here. Beautiful and historic campus. Does struggle with some of the issues being in an urban environment can give you: homeless, hood rats and pan handlers hang out on Telegraph, crowded etc.. Now as an alum I appreciate all that a large, old and reputable university has to offer.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：4
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：3
Dorms & Housing
Score：3
Health & Safety
Score：3
TOP NOTCH EDUCATION
By LA TO THE BAY, From CA
I am a proud alum of UC Berkeley and I recommend the school to any student seeking an intellectually stimulating environment, dedicated and passionate professors and a truly diverse student body and faculty. Not only will you receive an incredible education in the fields of your study -- but the social and cultural aspects will prepare you for life.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Fantastic environment and oodles of intellect
By Vishesh, From Bangalore, India
My daughter joined UC B Engineering program last year. The campus tour I took was breathtaking. The facility and quality of students makes one very competitive and ready for the world
What best describes you? Parent
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
If you got the stuff, go for it
By Proud Cal parent, From CA
My son was challenged and blossomed, and he got a great education here and made great friends and connections, the outcome is great,can't complain.
What best describes you? Parent
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：3
Dorms & Housing
Score：3
Health & Safety
Score：3
Excellent and Competitive
By Class of 2017, From Berkeley
As an undergrad, you are surrounded with highly competitive and motivated students. If that environment is motivating for you, this is a wonderful place. Some tend to get intimated and do not like the competitiveness. Overall there are wonderful professors from my experience.
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：4
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：4
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：5
Excellent experience
By RCP, class of 2008, From Northern CA
I loved my time at UCB. Professors, classes, the town itself, all contributed the experience. My degree is in Economics and I had the opportunity to take classes from Robert Reich, David Sunding, and many other brilliant minds. I also took medical classes such as Physiology, Microbiology, etc, and these were excellent preparation for my current career in the medical field. Berkeley not only trained me to have an analytical thought process, the school also trained me to have awareness and compassion for others.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Haas Business School #2 in the nation!
By Chris, From Los Angeles, CA
I would recommend UCB Haas Business School to anyone interested in business. Classes are taught by professors who are top in their industry (not merely academicians). The professors bring real life experience and relevance into their instruction. You learn to work in teams, compete, fail, go without sleep because you have exams, internships and recruiting simultaneously! Haas prepared me for Investment Banking!
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：4
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：4
The best Engineering school
By Mansoor2018, From Berkeley
the best civil engineering school
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Good for academics, so-so for everything else.
By Mikael S. Class of 2015, From Palo Alto, California
In terms of academics, Berkeley is one of the best to be. We have a premier business school and our STEM fields are notable throughout the world. We also have the most noble laureate that are part of the faculty than any other university. By the same token, we are located in one of the worst locations with the worst entitled kids one could find in California. I've heard too many tales from friends and had many personal experiences of thefts, attempted robbery, and crazy people screaming at random people around and in our campus. The radically left leaning students are also part of the latter, often disrupting or disturbing students and faculty who even have a remote difference in opinion. There are rumors and cases of such students pulling the fire alarms during finals, arguing with professors to extend test dates because they are victims of oppression, etc. The administration simply has little to no care for security or enforcing the law, unfortunately.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：3
City & Setting
Score：1
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：2
Dorms & Housing
Score：2
Health & Safety
Score：1
I love this place
By CB, Class of 2022, From Southern California
Berkeley has been the best decision of my life so far. The academics here are challenging, not going to lie. Berkeley pushes you so much harder than anything else you've likely experienced in High School. But the people here, the campus, the storied history... it all makes it worth it. Be prepared to be brave and stretch yourself. This school is worth it.
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：3
Health & Safety
Score：3
Tests your brain's RPMs
By Fotis, Class of 84, From San Diego, CA.
No better grounds to develop critical thinking. Not to mention the achievement and intellectual level of faculty and students, without the elitist attitudes of the East Coast Ivy League.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：4
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：5
Great time at Berkeley
By David L,, From Taraz, Kazakhstan
I graduated from Berkeley in 1989. Had a wonderful time, learned a lot and made great friends. Changed my life!
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Amazing for Reseach
By IS, Class of 2018, From Berkeley, CA
It ha amazing opportunities for research and some of the most influential and amazing professors. However, courses can be pretty tough and and the university is not very student friendly. Still, the people are welcoming and open-minded, a national base for social justice.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：2
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：4
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：3
Health & Safety
Score：3
The greatest place on earth to develop your mind
By Djamal class of 1986, From INDONESIA
I have had the greatest time in UCB. Fantastic faculty and resources even back in the 80s!! Faculty members are very supportive of their students and very accessible. What better place to be to learn from and to hangout than with a group of open minded and intellectually curious people!
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：4
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：5
Campus full of possibilities.
By Haley, Class of 2012, From New Orleans, LA
It is difficult to place into perspective just how incredible my journey through this university has been, but if I were to do so I would cite a few key influences. Firstly, the students here work hard, day in and day out. The professional nature of club culture, the intellectualism of all aspects of student life -- even as far as just how responsible the greek community is. The faculty and staff are absolutely vital to the campus, the food is great (though I recommend off-campus eateries), the city itself is never boring (truthfully). Berkeley made me fall in love with my mind and with my potential, and has launched me into positions I never could imagined.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
At Cal we try harder.
By Bert, Class of 1973, From Imperial Beach, California
We at Cal consider ourselves to be "blue-collar." We know we are the best "public" university in the United States, on a beautiful campus just across the Bay from San Francisco. We know that we rank consistently among the top-10 universities in the world. And that the other American competitors in that top-10 are private "elite" universities. At Cal we try harder, because, in one sense, we are underdogs.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：4
Amazing school that prioritizes educating the unprivileged
By Len, From Berkeley
Berkeley is an extremely challenging university that pushes students to be independent, resourceful, and collaborative. The no-handholding culture has motivated me to gather resources for my classes in so many creative ways beyond just the professor. Moreover, I love that the school does not prioritize on its prestige but focuses more on educating students from every income group regardless of their background. Studies show the impact UC Berkeley has had on breaking cyclical poverty for students in the lowest income bracket, and I think that's a very admirable mission for this university.
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：5
Best Public University in the World
By George, From Berkeley, CA
A great mix of top rated professors and bright students. Many resources similar to what you would expect at other prestigious institutions. Cons: High-cost living, constant crimes in neighboring areas, extremely tough curriculum, grade deflation, and so much competition Pros: Great career center, departmental support systems, prestige, education standards, opportunity, recognition, and more
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
