What are some traditions at UC Berkeley?

UC Berkeley traditions blend academic pride, athletic spirit, and unique superstitions, including rubbing the 4.0 Ball for good grades, avoiding stepping on campus seals to prevent bad luck, attending Noon Rallies before games, the historic Campanile (Sather Tower) carillon concerts, and the "Danny Deever" song before finals, alongside the iconic Big Game rivalry with Stanford and the spirited Cal Band card stunts.

What is UC Berkeley famous for?

UC Berkeley is known for its #1 public university ranking, world-class research (especially in STEM, AI, and environmental science), innovation (Silicon Valley hub), a diverse and activist culture, and a wide range of top-tier programs in engineering, computer science, natural sciences, and humanities, producing numerous Nobel laureates and groundbreaking inventions.
 

What are some unique things to do in Berkeley?

• Explore Cal Campus' Hidden Gems.
• Get (or Give) Hippy Vibes in Telegraph District.
• Dine at the OG Farm-to-Table Restaurant, Chez Panisse.
• Kayak the Berkeley Waterfront.
• Get Your Probiotic Fix.
• Go Around The World in One Garden.
• Gilman Wine Block & First Fridays.
• Graze The Country's First Zero Waste Farmers' Market.

What are the traditions of the Cal Band?

Several Cal Band traditions were established in the 1960's: the “bomb,” a flash powder device announcing the Band's entrance to the field before pregame; the “flying wedge” formation also in the pregame show; the “Script Cal”; and the full-field spread during “America the Beautiful.” The year 1965 saw the production of ...

What activities does UC Berkeley have?

Expand your mind, stroll through the redwoods and root for the Golden Bears.

• Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. BAMPFA opened its new doors in downtown Berkeley! ...
• Botanical Garden. ...
• California Memorial Stadium. ...
• Cal Performances. ...
• Campanile tours. ...
• Lawrence Hall of Science. ...
• Lunch Poems. ...
• Magnes Collection.

DEAD WEEK and other UC Berkeley Traditions | Exploring Cal traditions during Dead Week | Finals Vlog

Does UC Berkeley have any traditions?

Berkeley Traditions

The 4.0 hill and the cursed seals of UC Berkeley. Legend has it that if you step on any of the UC Berkeley seals around campus you will have bad luck. Alternatively, if you want good luck you can roll down 4.0 hill or rub (or kiss if you're really desperate) the 4.0 ball outside the Campanile.

What is a 72% at Berkeley?

At UC Berkeley, a 72% falls into the C- range (70-72%), earning 1.7 grade points on a 4.0 scale and is considered a "Fair" grade, just above the barely passing D range, but it can vary slightly by department, with some scales placing it lower. 

What is the #1 college marching band?

There's no single, official "#1" college marching band, but The Ohio State University Marching Band (OSUMB) is widely considered a top contender due to its massive size, innovative "animated" formations like Script Ohio, and huge popularity, often topping "most popular" lists. Other highly-regarded bands include the USC Trojan Marching Band, known for its unique "driving-it" style, and HBCU powerhouses like Southern University's Human Jukebox, which won ESPN's 2025 Band of the Year.
 

What are 5 unusual facts about California?

12 Incredible Facts About California

• California is the home of wetsuits, barbie dolls, and fortune cookies.
• The state has more people than Canada.
• The weather is perfect for avocados and wine.
• Californians are nuts for almonds.
• There are over 100,000 earthquakes in California each year.
• The state's motto is “Eureka!”

What is California number 1 in?

California is #1 in the U.S. for its massive economy (largest in the nation, 4th globally if a country), technology & innovation, venture capital, new business starts, agriculture, and the most Fortune 500 companies, while also leading in gun safety laws and tourism; however, it ranks low in affordability (cost of living, taxes) and opportunity. 

Is Berkeley a Coke or Pepsi school?

UC Berkeley is a Pepsi school, having renewed a 10-year exclusive partnership with PepsiCo in 2023, making them the official beverage provider for the campus, much to the frustration of some student groups who advocate for Coke or other options. While the agreement covers most drinks, exceptions exist for dairy, coffee (like Peet's), and alcohol, and students often push back against the contract's limitations and environmental impact.
 

What is the #1 university in California?

There isn't one single "number 1" university in California, as rankings vary, but Stanford University consistently ranks highest overall (private), while the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) is often named the top public university, closely followed by UCLA, with Caltech also a top contender. Stanford and Caltech are private powerhouses, while UC Berkeley and UCLA lead the public sector, with UCSD, UCSB, and others also highly ranked. 

Is a 3.8 GPA good for UC Berkeley?

A 3.8 GPA is considered good and puts you in the competitive range for UC Berkeley, as their average admitted unweighted GPA is around 3.89-4.00, with the middle 50% typically falling between 3.8 and 4.0, but acceptance depends heavily on holistic review, including course rigor (AP/IB classes), extracurriculars, essays, and leadership, making a strong overall application essential. 

What is the #1 university in the US?

There isn't one single #1 university in the U.S., as rankings vary by source, but Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Harvard University consistently appear at the very top, often trading #1 spots in major lists like U.S. News & World Report, Times Higher Education, and Forbes. 

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. 

What are the top 3 hardest majors?

While difficulty is subjective, Medicine, Engineering (especially Chemical/Aerospace), and Physics/Chemistry consistently rank as the top hardest majors due to intense coursework, demanding problem-solving, heavy memorization, and complex analytical skills, often leading to very low average GPAs and extensive study hours. Other contenders often cited include Architecture, Neuroscience, and Computer Science. 

What is the coolest fun fact?

121 of the best random fun facts

• A cloud weighs around a million tonnes. ...
• Giraffes are 30 times more likely to get hit by lightning than people. ...
• Identical twins don't have the same fingerprints. ...
• Earth's rotation is changing speed. ...
• Earlobes have no biological purpose. ...
• Your brain is constantly eating itself.

Why is California so named?

While the derivation of the name is unknown, the first written reference to “California” occurs in a novel, published in 1510, about the mythical Island of California, supposedly named after the legendary Queen Califia.

How old is California now?

It organized itself and was admitted as the 31st state in 1850 as a free state, following the Compromise of 1850. The Greater Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area areas are the nation's second- and fifth-most populous urban regions, with 19 million and 10 million residents respectively.

Who won the band of the year in 2025?

Lost Tribe has been announced as the Large Band of the year 2025. This is their fourth win.

Is marching band easy?

Of course, everything is relative, but we think marching band can be hard — a challenging kind of hard — and here's why. You have to do a lot of stuff at the same time! Playing your instrument is just one part of participating in the marching band.

Is a 90% an A or B+?

A 90 is usually an A- (A minus), but it can sometimes be a low A, depending on the school or instructor's grading scale; it's almost never a B+, which typically starts at 87% or 88%. Many scales place 90-92% or 90-93% as an A-, with A- being the lowest "A" range. 

Is a D+ passing at UC Berkeley?

Guidelines for pass/no pass grades

Pass (P) grades require a level of performance at least equal to a letter grade of C- and will earn units, but no grade points. No pass (NP) grades represent a level of performance at a D+ or lower. No units or grade points will be earned. Neither P nor NP grades will affect your GPA.

Is 85% a 3.5 GPA?

An 85% is usually around a 3.0 to 3.3 GPA, not a 3.5; a 3.5 GPA typically corresponds to the 90-93% range (an A- or B+), while an 85% is often a solid B or B+ (around a 3.0-3.3), but it can vary by school's grading scale.