University of California-Berkeley

UC Berkeley campus circa 1940
UC Berkeley campus circa 1940
[source]
theU.com - Berkeley: "The Setting"

School Description

Provided by University of California-Berkeley

We teach - educating students at all levels, from undergraduate to the most advanced graduate level. Undergraduate programs are available to all eligible California high-school graduates and community college transfer students who wish to attend the University of California.

Instructional programs at the undergraduate level transmit knowledge and skills to students. At the graduate level, students experience with their instructors the processes of developing and testing new hypotheses and fresh interpretations of knowledge. Education for professional careers, grounded in understanding of relevant sciences, literature and research methods, provides individuals with the tools to continue intellectual development over a lifetime and to contribute to the needs of a changing society.

Through our academic programs, UC helps create an educated workforce that keeps the California economy competitive. And, through University Extension, with a half-million enrollments annually, UC provides continuing education for Californians to improve their job skills and enhance the quality of their lives.

We do research - by some of the world's best researchers and brightest students in hundreds of disciplines at its campuses, national laboratories, medical centers and other research facilities around the state. UC provides a unique environment in which leading scholars and promising students strive together to expand fundamental knowledge of human nature, society, and the natural world. Its basic research programs yield a multitude of benefits for California: billions of tax dollars, economic growth through the creation of new products, technologies, jobs, companies and even new industries, agricultural productivity, advances in health care, improvements in the quality of life. UC's research has been vital in the establishment of the Internet and the semiconductor, software and biotechnology industries in California, making substantial economic and social contributions.

We provide public service, which dates back to UC's origins as a land grant institution in the 1860s. Today, through its public service programs and industry partnerships, UC disseminates research results and translates scientific discoveries into practical knowledge and technological innovations that benefit California and the nation.

UC's agricultural extension programs serve hundreds of thousands of Californians in every county in the state.

Open to all Californians, UC's libraries, museums, performing arts spaces, gardens and science centers are valuable public resources and community gathering places.

The University's active involvement in public-school partnerships and professional development institutes help strengthen the expertise of teachers and the academic achievement of students in communities throughout California.

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University of California-Berkeley

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

The University of California, Berkeley (also referred to as Cal, Berkeley and UC Berkeley) is a major research university located in Berkeley, California, United States. UC Berkeley is the oldest of the eleven campuses affiliated with the University of California. Berkeley offers some 300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The university occupies with the central campus resting on approximately .

The University was founded in 1868 in a merger of the private College of California and the public Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College. By the 1930s, Berkeley had established itself as a premier research university, and today counts sixty-one Nobel Laureates among its faculty, researchers and alumni. Berkeley physicists led and hand-picked the team of scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project, which developed the atomic bomb during World War II and the hydrogen bomb soon afterwards. The University has managed Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory ever since; in addition, the University of California also exclusively managed the nation's two principal nuclear weapons labs at Livermore, California, and Los Alamos, New Mexico until 2006. At that time, management of the Livermore and Los Alamos labs was taken over by a consortium made up of the University of California, the Bechtel Corporation (the world's largest engineering firm), BWX Technologies (a nuclear management company) and the Washington Group (a Department of Energy contractor).

Berkeley student-athletes compete intercollegiately as the California Golden Bears. A member of both the Pacific-10 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in the NCAA, Cal students have won national titles in many sports, including football, men's basketball, baseball, softball, water polo, rugby and crew. In addition, they have won over 100 Olympic medals. The official colors of the university and its athletic teams are Yale blue and California gold.

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Read the full entry on Wikipedia

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Southwest
Setting:
Mid-size City Setting
Type:
Public
Size:
Very Large (+10,000 Undergrad)
Mascot:
Golden Bears
Nicknames:
Cal, UC Berkeley, Berkeley

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
23,206
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
99%
Athletic Programs:
Available
> More Students & Campus Life

Expenses

Average Tuition:
$ 23,961
Students Receiving Aid:
72%
> More Expenses & Financial Aid

Admissions

Application Fee:
$ 60
Selectivity:
Most Selective
> More Admissions

Students

General
Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 99%
Part-Time 1%
Men vs. Women
Women 55%
Men 45%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 38%
Asian 36%
Other 14%
Hispanic 9%
African-American 3%
Geography
In State vs. Out-of-State
In-State 90%
Out-of-State 10%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
California 90%
Maryland 0%
Illinois 0%
Washington 0%
Texas 0%
Percent of Students International: 7%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 25%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: No

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Football (Pacific-10 Conference)
Basketball (Pacific-10 Conference)
Baseball (Pacific-10 Conference)
Track (Pacific-10 Conference)
Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) In-State Out-of-State  
Published Tuition and Fees:
$ 6,512 $ 23,961  
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 0 $ 17,304  
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 6,512 $ 6,657  
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
$ 3,175 30%  
State and Local Grants:
$ 3,220 48%  
Institutional Grants:
$ 5,950 53%  
Student Loans:
$ 3,743 34%  
Any Aid:
  72%  

Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)

Acceptance Rate: 25% (Most Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 98%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 580, Math: 630
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 710, Math: 740
ACT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting ACT Scores: 26%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Composite: 24, Verbal: 23, Math: 25
Top 75th Percentile: Composite: 30, Verbal: 31, Math: 32

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Application Fee: $ 60.00
Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Not Required
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Required
High School GPA: Required
High School Rank: Not Required
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Not Required
TOEFL: Recommended
Test Scores: Required

Degree Programs at University of California-Berkeley

Bachelor's Level Majors

College Advice

Yahoo
I am going into my sophomore year as an engineering student at Florida State University. For my junior year I am transferring to a more prestigious engineering school and I would like to join Berkeley. I currently have a 4.0 GPA but what should I try to get done this year to really boost my chances?
14 months ago
Best Answer
Berkeley admits applicants primarily on the basis of academic performance and preparation, as assessed by a review of: • GPA • Completion of lower division prerequisite courses for the intended college and/or major • Grade trends We also consider: • Demonstrated interest in the major, an important consideration for all applicants, particularly for applicants to the Colleges of Chemistry, Engineering, Environmental Design, Natural Resources, and the Haas School of Business • Personal qualities such as leadership or motivation • Extracurricular accomplishments • Employment • Potential contribution to the intellectual and cultural vitality of the campus Source: http://students.berkeley.edu/files/Admissions/Transfer_07.pdf You want to demonstrate your intereste by joining clubs or perhaps hobbyist groups.
I am currently a student at San Francisco State and I want to transfer to UC Berkeley. I just finished my first year, and i hated it- i want to transfer to a community college and then to UCB, but i don't want all the classes that i've taken to not be accepted at a community college. And on the other hand, i know that i have less of a chance of getting into UCB if i was transferring from SFSU after my second year. I really just don't know what to do, please help! Does anyone have any idea what community college has the highest transfer rate to UC Berkeley?
14 months ago
Kam
Kam
Best Answer
I just graduated from UC Berkeley so I'm going to try to help you out here! :) You have a valid point in the idea that there may be trouble transferring classes from SFSU to a community college. You really never know what they will decide that day. As for the notion that you have less of a chance getting in from SFSU, that's a myth. A transfer is a transfer in the eyes of Berkeley. They just want to see an applicant who earned strong grades and participated in a few extracurriculars. It MIGHT even be seen as a cop-out if you drop to a community college. I know people here who transferred from places like Sac State, UCLA, and UC Davis. What you need to do is start looking into the application process (the deadline is approaching for applications) to be able to be eligible for entrance in Fall 08! As soon as possible! I'm crossing my fingers for you!
University of Southern California(USC) University of California Los Angeles(UCLA) University of California Berkley(UC Berkley) Arizona State University(ASU) Georgia State University(GSU) Florida State University(FSU) North Carolina State University(NCSU) I am looking for diversity (i am african american) and for the campus to be in a urban setting.
14 months ago
Best Answer
berekely is the best if you can get in. its very diverse and the location is urban to an extent, it depends on what u want to major in though uc berekely is mainly science and technology, u wanna go to a majority of black college go to georgia or ncsu
How diverse is Berkeley? I know that is very diverse politcally, socaill and racially. Can someone elaborate? I'm looking at Berkeley as a possible option for college right now.
15 months ago
Best Answer
Student Body 1st-year students: 93% In-state students 7% Out-of-state students 0% Part-time students 54% Women 46% Men <1% American Indian/Alaskan Native 46% Asian/Pacific Islander 4% Black/Non-Hispanic 12% Hispanic 29% White/Non-Hispanic 2% Non-Resident Alien 7% Race/ethnicity unreported 99% in top 10th of graduating class 100% in top quarter of graduating class 100% in top half of graduating class
University of Arizona (Tucson) Arizona State (Tempe) California (Berkeley) University of Oregon (Eugene) Oregon State (Corvallis) Stanford (Palo Alto) UCLA (Westwood/Los Angeles) USC (Los Angeles) University of Washington (Seattle) Washington State (Pullman) If possible, give a reason for your rankings I am not choosing a college based on just location - I wanted to get some feedback on any of these schools, especially the ones in the Northwest. I'm very interested in University of Washington, University of Oregon, Washington State, and Oregon State. How are these schools academically? How is their reputation on the West Coast? Business, Economics, or Journalism
16 months ago
Best Answer
1.Berkeley - Great Location, Awesome Acedemics, Great looking Campus, Can sense the Intelligence on Campus. 2. Standford - Great School, Great Location, When you step on campus you can sense the stress of the students! If you want to study business that don't have an undergraduate program only Masters. 3. USC/UCLA - Great Schools, Neighborhoods off of Campus as VERY shady! 4.U of Washington - Great School, Love the Campus ( I am from washington), right in the middle of Seattle, Very diverse campus. This is a VERY competitive school, so it has a reputation of being a fantastic school! 5. U of Oregon - Great School acedemically, never visieted the campus. 6. U of Arizona - Good school acedemically, never visited Campus. 7. Washington State - Eh okay acedemically, but has great vetrinary program. In the middle of nowhere eastern Washington, where the weather goes from freezing to 100 degrees. So its definately a college town, the students bleed crimson (the school color). 8. Oregon State - Don't know that much 9. Arizona State - I go here, I passed on all of the schools above because I wanted to slack, and I regrett it! When you step on the campus you get the sense of "when is the next party" or "I am so hungover". If you like to party this may be your place, the students party every day of the week and most don't go to class unless there is an exam. Not a lot of school pride either. If you are lookign for a good school acedemically on the west coast don't forget about Gonzaga! Its a private school, but is very good acedemically! Good Luck! Hope this helps some!
Is that a good college? What subject(s) are they best in?
17 months ago
Best Answer
UC Davis is one of the top universities in the country. It is ranked in the top 50 by almost every ranking system available, and it is considered one of the top 20 Public Universities in the country. Even the WORLD rank has UC Davis in #42. It's education surpasses well known campuses like: University of Texas-Austin, George Washington University, Boston University, Brigham Young University, Virginia Tech and Baylor University. The Ecology program is rated 1st in the nation. The Viticulture program is rated #1. The Evolution program is rated 1st in the nation. It has the #1 Veterinary school in the country. It has a top 30 Law school and Medical school. The program in Psychology is ranked top 20 in the nation. The Sociology program is top 20 as well. The English department ranks in the top 15. The Bio Tech and Engineering programs rank in the top 20. And so on. So yes, UC Davis is one of the premiere schools in the country. They are currently expanding the campus, and they have just opened a new football stadium. The school is expected to skyrocket to the top 30 probably within 10-20 years.
my friend took like all AP classes, was the president of a Model UN club, ... any many other achievements he also told me that two of his national merit scholar friends got rejected.. i mean this isn't stanford or harford.. this is UC Berkeley (aka. Cal) what do colleges look for most now? I'm a freshman in hs, and currently have a 4.0 (also athletic and play instruments).. though not super outstanding at any.. i also participated in CJSF in middle school (california junior scholarship foundation) altho i dont know what that does.. i got a sticker on my 8th grade diploma tho lol so yeah.. ideas?
17 months ago
Best Answer
Berkeley will weigh the following components of your application (in the order of importance): 1) your essay (Berkeley publishes a guideline on how to write your personal statement at: http://students.berkeley.edu/files/Admissions/Personal_State_07.pdf ) about your academic achievement, talent or extracurricular activities that highlight your motivation, dedication, and/or initiative to achieve, your potential to contribute to the university, and any special circumstances like hardship; 2) your grades and any grade trends (improvements are better than just maintaining a high GPA); 3) your test scores, including SAT and/or ACT, SAT II; and 4) number of AP courses completed compared to the number of AP courses offered at your high school. Other factors are taken into consideration, but to a lesser extent. Despite your friend's achievements, if he didn't articulate a self-awareness of his work/achievements/flaws, or how his achievements will make him an excellent student at Cal, or how he plans to contribute to society in general (it's all about giving back to the community at Cal), it's not surprising he was rejected.
Im having a tough decision choosing between the two colleges. I like Berkeley's prestige, but im thinking it might too be hard and all work no play. Then there is Santa Barbara which is beautiful and fun, but is it too much of a party school. Please help me with my decision. I majoring in Economics.
18 months ago
Best Answer
UC Berkeley definitely!!! unless there's something really special about UC Santa Barbara that you truly LOVE - something which you can never find at Berkeley. Nevertheless, a degree from UC berkeley is widely-recognized... The whole world respects Berkeley, or at least, recognizes its name (which really says a lot about it)... Well but...for the beautiful part, I understand what you're saying... There's always San Francisco though. Don't let the beauty of the campus be a deciding factor
Hi there! I'm just looking for people's opinions on which college would be the best for me overall in order to pursue an undergrad degree in History or Poli Sci. I'm also thinking about going to graduate school if that makes a difference. Here is where I've been accepted: UC Santa Barbara UC Davis UC Berkeley USC Cal Poly SLO UC San Diego UC Irvine Thanks for all your help!
18 months ago
Best Answer
Berkeley has the best academic reputation, so no matter which major you end up choosing, you'll have the recognition of being a Cal grad. But you'll get a fine education at any of these campuses, so you should consider your personal preference and any financial concerns.
I am at a crossroad in my life. My dilema is as follows. Im at my first year at community college. I got 2 A's 3 B. which is lousy and i got my work cut out. I dont have much of a social life at CC and am thinking about starting as a freshman at San Fransisco State. If i do this i will forfit my chances at Berkeley. Which is sort of a stretch to begin with... A. Work full time and save money for 1 semester. Go to SFSU and dorm as a first time freshman. Meeting new people. SFSU is a commuter school so it could possibly be like CC. B. Stay at Community college. Do my best take honors classes and try to get into Berkeley. Starting as a Junior. I feel I am smart enough to be at Berkeley and sucseed. I did poorly this semester b/c of someting personal. However if my gpa is not above a 3.6 I wont make it. DO i risk going for something that may not be worth it. Do i start over and try to have a new life at SFSU. I picture college as the whole dorm expereince. Not living at home with my parents breathing down my neck.
21 months ago
Best Answer
Don't worry too much about your first semester grades. For Berkeley, an improving trend in your grades is better than maintaining good grades. Focus on doing better in your classes and strive to complete the transfer course requirements. Also start thinking about how you want to structure your personal statement. Read the Berkeley Transfer Admission flyer carefully and make sure you abide to the guidelines: http://students.berkeley.edu/files/Admissions/Transfer_07.pdf Transfer acceptance rates are over 30% for California Community College students, so just take a deep breath and stay calm. You're well in the running for Berkeley.
A
A
Besides that it's full of hippies and democrats... lol @ responses. I am a third year at Berkeley...right now there are basically apathetic students and no hippies, except for the crazies on the streets.
21 months ago
Best Answer
Berkeley went moderate conservative when I started college there in the mid 1990s. I attribute the political shift to Prop 209 which resulted in a more competitive admissions standard. The school is academically challenging and supportive of its students. I loved it when I was there and now I volunteer with the admissions office with freshman recruitment in Southern California.
Best Answer
UC Berkeley is a feeder school for UCSF, which ranked #4 nationally for its medical research program and #10 nationally for its medical practice program. While there is no designated "pre-med" major at Berkeley, there are a variety of biological sciences majors available. For more information, see Berkeley's pre-med brochure at: http://students.berkeley.edu/files/Admissions/Premed_07.pdf
I m An Indian student wanting to attend Summer School at UC,Berkeley .Can u tell me what do they charge for on-campus accomodation and food from the summer school students for the two month course?
22 months ago
Best Answer
UC Berkeley is a public university, and the best public in the nation too. Living in a Residence Hall costs about 12,173/academic year,while living off campus will cost around 6,650/academic year. Since you're talking about two months, it will roughly come to about $2,705 living on campus, and $1,500 living off campus. For food, it costs around $900/academic year living in the hall, and $2,472/academic year living off campus. For 2 months it comes to $200 living in the hall and $550 living off campus. These are just average numbers, here's a link to get you started: http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/
I am a sophomore in Mechancial Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I am trying to transfer to UC Berkeley, but my gpa is only 3.1. I will have all of the other requirements fulfilled by the deadlines. What are my chances of getting accepted? I am an out of state student.
22 months ago
Best Answer
Berkeley is extremely well known for their engineering school and the competition for admission is fierce. For out-of-state transfers, the acceptance rate is a little less than 10% and the average GPA is between 3.53 and 3.88. But do not despair, a good personal statement and other achievements can boost your chance. For general transfer admission information, see: http://students.berkeley.edu/admissions/transfer.asp For detailed application process, including how to write your personal statement, see: http://students.berkeley.edu/files/Admissions/Transfer_07.pdf
Question: California?
I would like go to a college in California. I want to go to a college that has alot of people and a really nice campus and is affordable. I would like to major in something that has to do with English or Film Studies. I've got great grades... but I can't afford more than 40,000 a year, and that's pushing it. Also, I don't live in California... would living there for a few months before starting college lower my tuition?
24 months ago
Best Answer
UC Berkeley is awesome. It's an urban setting and has lots of people. Out of state tuition costs are kind of steep though, but it helps to apply for financial aid and/or scholarships. There's a great liberal arts program here so English and Film Studies (The Pacific Film Archive is located on campus) are definitely awesome here. Living here for a few months probably wouldn't lower your tuition that much... it really takes about a year from what I've heard from my out of state friends. But definitely try the financial aid route. Also, you could try going to a community college first in California to establish residency and then transfer to a UC or some other school in California during your junior year to work on your major. Good luck!!
Just wondering...
25 months ago
Best Answer
I *LOVE* UC Berkeley. You will find no bigger cheerleader-jingoist for Cal on Y!A than me (read my Best Answers for proof). I double-majored in molecular cell biology and Southeast Asian studies. It was wonderful to be surrounded by so many brilliant minds. I grew up in a small town where few people go to college, so it was an eye-opener to be thrown into a social melange of rich, poor, racially diverse, liberal, conservative, thinkers and doers. I made great friends. I studied under Nobel laureates and leaders in their fields. I was part of a few protests and a few counter-protests. I ate greasy pizza and drank pitchers of beer. I dated cute guys who were into literature and hung out in computer labs with gamer geeks. I made out at the top of the Campanile at sunset (it was great!). I loved every minute of college (well, except for final exams). The people in Berkeley are a bit eccentric, and that's just wonderful. They're also articulate and brilliant. Someone from my class is gonna cure cancer someday, I just know it. And if you're there, you will see for yourself, the potential and the ability of these students. It's awe-inspiring. And yet, they're down-to-earth. People aren't too harried, but they don't coast on a sense of self-entitlement. That's what Cal is all about: you work hard for your keep. And yes, I have seen William Hung around campus, but that was after I graduated.
I am an chinese just immigrated from China about one year. However, my cousin who growed up here, and graduated from UC Berkeley, she strongly suggest me to apply for UC, but I know that there are some requirements for getting into UC, which I do not have. A few weeks ago, I have contacted UC SC and LA, they told me they will consider my transcripts from both school. I am confused whether to apply or just go to community college first(my counselor suggests to do this way)?
27 months ago
Best Answer
Going the community college route is a great way to go. If you get all the required courses you are guaranteed to get in. Plus it is a lot cheaper! You can also improve your grades this way, so that you have a better transcript going in. Also UCLA and Berkeley are two of the hardest UCs to get into so look into some of the other ones. They are all great schools. If your application gets denied you can also appeal the decision. You can learn how to do this with your college counselor. It never hurts to apply and see what happens. Also there are special discounts for applying to multiple schools so just look into some of the other UCs to. Davis, Santa Barbara, and Irvine, San Diego etc.
I have been accepted to these colleges: Berkeley, University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, UCLA, and UCSB (Honors). I have narrowed it down to Berkeley and Chicago—which one would you recommend? I plan on studying physics and hope to do undergrad research. If you have a strong case for one of the other schools feel free to chime in.