On the Road Again!
University of California, Berkeley – Get ready to be challenged! Don’t let the idyllic setting of 1,200 acres overlooking the San Francisco Bay or the 1960s vibe fool you. This oldest of the UCs isn’t all about playing frisbee on the green, although there is plenty of green space for frisbee and people watching. But academics rule here along with a clear intellectual tone. Here are some of the highlights:
- Academics – Academics can be intense at Berkeley, with a large array of majors and courses. The library system is one of the largest in the country. Professors are expected to produce publishable research, providing many research opportunities for students. Students find their professors brilliant (if not always accessible) with some of the most lauded professors around. Students are treated as adults; don’t expect a lot of handholding.
- Departments – Berkeley offers many highly regarded majors, especially in engineering and architecture but all majors receive high marks. In the sciences, interdisciplinary research is common.
- Study away from Campus – Berkeley offers study abroad fellowships at 50 locations around the world.
- Housing – Only about 25 percent of the students live on campus due to a housing crunch but the remaining students typically live within a few miles of campus.
- Social Life – While academics are intense, that doesn’t mean that Berkeley students don’t have a social life. If you can’t find something to do at Berkeley, you really aren’t looking. There are over 1,200 clubs and student groups and Greek life attracts about 10% of the student body. Berkeley also has D1 sports with plenty of Olympic athletes.
- Access to San Francisco – When students find free time, they can hop on public transportation right at the campus to take them into San Francisco. Don’t forget a sundae at Ghiradelli Square!
