Is Berkeley a fun school to go to?

Yes, Berkeley is generally considered a fun school with a vibrant social scene, offering a mix of intense academics and diverse activities like over 1,000 clubs, big sports games, exploration in the Bay Area, parties, concerts, hiking, and cultural events, catering to passionate students with many interests beyond just studying.

Is going to UC Berkeley worth it?

UC Berkeley is surrounded by amazing opportunities that will keep you busy for a long time. As and in-state student, attending the number one public university in the nation is extremely affordable for the reputation (compared to an Ivy League school, for example).

Does UC Berkeley have parties?

Definitely a party school. That said, I went to UC Berkeley and there were lots of parties there too. Probably just depends on your kid. I know a lot of kids that do a bit of wilding out in college.

What is the depression rate at Berkeley?

The three most common were anxiety (16%), depression (11.3%), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (5%).

Is it safe to walk around Berkeley at night?

Use the campus escort service at night or walk with a friend. This is especially important after dark. It is generally not a good idea to walk around alone at night. Visit Berkeley's nightsafety website.

COLLEGE MOVE-IN DAY + ORIENTATION *freshman year @ UC BERKELEY*

Is it harder to get into UCLA or UC Berkeley?

UCLA is generally considered harder to get into than UC Berkeley due to having a lower overall acceptance rate and receiving more applications, making it the most selective UC, though both are extremely competitive and depend heavily on your major and profile. While UCLA often requires higher stats (especially GPA), Berkeley can be very competitive for specific programs like Engineering or Business, but might be slightly more holistic overall. 

What is the #1 party university?

For 2026, the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is widely ranked as the #1 party college in the U.S., according to Niche data, holding onto the top spot from the previous year, followed closely by institutions like Florida State University and Tulane University, with rankings based on student surveys and campus party scenes. Other strong contenders often mentioned include the University of Alabama, University of Wisconsin, and University of Southern California (USC). 

Is Berkeley a Coke or Pepsi school?

UC Berkeley is a Pepsi school, having renewed its decade-long exclusive beverage contract with PepsiCo in 2023, meaning PepsiCo products dominate campus vending, dining, and events, despite some student opposition over health and sustainability concerns, as highlighted by sources like The Aggie and the Berkeley Food Institute.
 

What kind of student goes to Berkeley?

We look for persistence, passion, and a desire to give back. It doesn't matter whether you're the first in your family to attend college or you're the latest in a long tradition of educational excellence: You stand up and you stand out.

What are the downsides of living in Berkeley?

Disadvantages of living in Berkeley primarily involve cost and variability across neighborhoods. Housing prices are higher than many East Bay markets, with the average house price reaching $1.6m recently, and rental competition can be intense.

What is the crime rate in Berkeley?

Berkeley, CA has an overall crime rate of 65.65 per 1000 people, which is significantly higher than the national average of 33.37, with property crimes being particularly prevalent.

What percent of Berkeley students are homeless?

There is variation in homelessness across populations ranging from almost no faculty and academic employees (1%) to one in fourteen (7%) undergraduates and postdocs along with one in thirty (3%) staff and one in twenty (5%) graduate students.

What are the cons of UC Berkeley?

1. High Tuition and Fees for International Students

• High Tuition and Fees for International Students. For out-of-state and international students, UC Berkeley's cost of tuition is extremely high, and financial aid opportunities are very limited. ...
• High Tuition and Fees for International Students.

What billionaires went to Berkeley?

How many billionaire alumni does UC Berkeley have? According to the Forbes Billionaires List, there are at least 10: * Bassam Alghanim * Kutayba Alghanim * Zdenek Bakala * Michael Milken * Gordon Moore * Eric Schmidt * James Simons * Masayoshi Son * John Sperling * Jon Stryker…

What is the hardest major to get into at UC Berkeley?

The hardest majors to get into at UC Berkeley are primarily in high-demand fields like Computer Science (CS), Engineering (especially EECS/ECE), the Haas School of Business, and Data Science, often within impacted colleges, but also specific Letters & Sciences majors like Political Economy, Public Health, and Operations Research, known for extremely low admission rates (sometimes single digits for CS) and high applicant numbers. 

Is UC Berkeley Republican or Democrat?

UC Berkeley leans heavily Democratic, with studies showing a significant Democrat-to-Republican ratio among faculty (around 9.9:1) and a generally liberal student body, though there are active, albeit smaller, Republican groups and diverse opinions within the campus community, reflecting California's broader political landscape. While stereotypically known as very liberal, Republicans exist, but they often feel outnumbered in an environment that is overwhelmingly Democratic, notes The New York Times. 

What is the #1 best private school in California?

There's no single "#1" private school in California, as rankings vary by source and focus (e.g., academics, diversity, college prep), but top contenders consistently cited include The College Preparatory School (Oakland), Harvard-Westlake School (Los Angeles), and The Harker School (San Jose), often recognized for rigorous academics and elite college placements, alongside others like The Bishop's School (La Jolla) and Cate School (Carpinteria).
 

Is it harder to get into Berkeley or Harvard?

Harvard is generally harder to get into than UC Berkeley based on overall acceptance rates, as Harvard's are significantly lower (around 3-5%) compared to Berkeley's (around 12-17%), but Berkeley's specialized programs, especially in STEM, can be exceptionally competitive, sometimes rivaling or exceeding Ivy League selectivity for those specific majors, and Berkeley's high volume of applicants for limited spots makes it tough overall despite its public university role. 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

Why is Gen Z not going to college?

Gen Z is questioning college due to skyrocketing costs, overwhelming student debt, and a perceived poor return on investment (ROI), especially with AI changing jobs and stronger alternatives like skilled trades emerging, leading many to seek faster, cheaper paths to financial stability and job security. They've seen Millennials' debt struggles, witness online success stories, and value hands-on training over traditional degrees, making college less of a guaranteed ticket to success.
 

What is the biggest party college in California?

The University of California, Santa Barbara, was just ranked as the US's No. 1 party school.

Why do people choose UCLA over Berkeley?

People often choose UCLA over Berkeley because UCLA offers a more balanced mix of strong academics, better weather, and an energetic campus life in Los Angeles.

What is the hardest university to get into in California?

The hardest school to get into in California is often cited as the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), known for its extremely low acceptance rates (around 2-4%) and intense focus on science and engineering, followed closely by Stanford University, Minerva University, and the selective liberal arts colleges in the Claremont Colleges (like Pomona, Harvey Mudd, CMC). Other top contenders include the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for public universities, and the University of Southern California (USC).