UC Berkeley Campus Rocks!
School’s out for the summer, and with my teen daughter now a high school senior, it’s time for her last round of college campus visits. She’s toured schools throughout California and on the Eastern seaboard. But despite living in the Bay Area, she never toured the UC Berkeley campus.
We fixed that last week. Can I just say, the UC Berkeley campus rocks.
We’d actually been to UC Berkeley a few times for some performances at Zellerbach, and of course the Cal-Stanford big game. My parents both went to Cal, and they talk fondly about their time there. But this was our first formal tour of the school.
First off – the UC Berkeley campus is beautiful. The architect wanted it to be like Athens in its heyday. There are marble and granite buildings, plenty of pillars and ornamentation. Plus, brick buildings with ivy, groves of trees and big lawns, and a creek running right through campus. Set on a hill, the landscape undulates from building to building. It’s absolutely gorgeous. (Plus, one of the school cafeterias is certified organic. Only in Berzerkley!)
Second – the faculty there kicks ass. Plenty of Nobel Prize winners, Pulitzer winners, and brainy professors all around the UC Berkeley campus classrooms. Plus, two elements on the periodic table are named after the school – Berkelium and Californium. Crazy!
Third – there’s tons of school spirit on the UC Berkeley campus. Listening to our tour guide rave about Big Game, and the band, and decades old traditions and lore brought me back to when my parents would tell the same stories around the dinner table in our family home.
Finally – the price can’t be beat. I pointed out to my daughter that for the price of one year at an elite Ivy school, she could attend UC Berkeley for four whole years. (!!!) Gotta love getting a world class education from a public school.
Will my daughter go there? If she gets in, she just might. As long as she doesn’t have to live in a tree, or feel like she’s too close to home, the UC Berkeley campus could be a wonderful place for her to spend four years.
For my part – I promised her I won’t date women who live near Berkeley. The drive is too far.
Now then, if she goes to Stanford, we might have a problem. That school’s just up the road. But I suppose if she gets into Stanford and decides to stay local, I’ll take one for team, and only date women from Berkeley.
Go Bears!
- College Daze – Cal Poly SLO Campus Tour
- My Teen Daughter is a Fast Girl
- Dominos Pizza College Entrance Exam
- A Dad Watches His Daughter
- Are You Smarter Than a Seventh Grader?
Photo at flickr by veeliam, some rights reserved.
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Comment by FJ
| June 17th, 2009
..kinda sounds like many schools in the Boston area ;) Well maybe minus the school spirit, unfortunately.
I know you’re not into age reflection and all that (minus a few posts) but I’m surprised the idea of hitting college campuses didn’t hit the ol’ age funnybone a bit harder…maybe there are too many hot co-eds on campus to focus on that?? :)
Comment by midmom
| June 17th, 2009
Grew up in Berkeley! I grew up going to those amazing games and running that campus! I still have strong legs from biking the Bezerkley hills! My dad just retired from teaching physical chemistry there! My uncle and my cousin’s husband are also both on faculty. It can’t be beat! She will never live in a place so intellectually fulfilling.
Great place to have to visit her as a parent! Go eat at Cesar next time you are in town!
Don’t count on her being done in four years though! Due to overcrowding and money troubles most schools in the UC system take 5-6 years to graduate from! And don’t count on any of those nobel prize winners teaching her classes. She will be taught by their grad students! Stanford is one of the few Ivy league schools where she will be taught by the actual faculty. Totally worth the bang for the buck! My dad had me go there instead of Berkeley. I was on the sailing team for all four years when we were the #1 women’s sailing team int he country! Berkeley was more fun and less snooty though! I got an amazing education and sailing experience at Stanford, but my heart will always belong to Cal
GO BEARS!
Comment by Just Me...
| June 17th, 2009
Sounds like a lovely campus, a good school and far enough away to be independent but close enough to come home for a little familial support.. :):)
Good luck to her!!
Just Me…´s last blog post..Facebook and Family…
Comment by MindyMom
| June 17th, 2009
How exciting for you and your daughter! I’m thrilled about my own daughter going away to college in the fall. Of course I will miss her but it’s a special moment as a parent. One down three more to go…
MindyMom´s last blog post..Forgive Me, for I Have Sinned
Comment by Honey
| June 17th, 2009
I visited two state schools when I was a senior (the idea of me going out of state was not really a possibility) and chose the one farthest from home :-)
Honey´s last blog post..Crummy Weekend
Comment by Sandra
| June 17th, 2009
This is great news, I hope she gets in one of those schools.
Living on campus was one of the best things I did, and I learned a lot.
Sandra´s last blog post..Real Ghetto Housewives
Comment by Kaitlin
| June 17th, 2009
I’ve never seen Berkeley, but it sounds great. Good luck!
sahmanswers.com
Comment by Eathan
| June 17th, 2009
Sounds like a great place. Interesting you wrote about this topic. Alpha Boy and I are having conversations regarding preparing for college. He’s a high school Freshman next year.. but time goes by quick and we’re not waiting til the last minute to make plans. So we’ve already begun our list of schools based on athletics and business programs.
The fun begins!
Eathan´s last blog post..I’m Not Dating Any Longer
Comment by Andrea
| June 17th, 2009
“I promised her I don’t date women who live near Berkeley. The drive is too far.”
LOL! That’s just too funny. It sounds like she’s all set get a world class education no matter where she ends up.
Andrea´s last blog post..Mmm Music
Comment by kmn
| June 17th, 2009
This is such an exciting time. You know you will miss them and it definitely came way too fast. My oldest just finished her first year of college, my youngest graduates next year like your daughter. It was hard at first letting go even though you know they are ready. The second one will be harder. Then again, I’m finding out there is more time for me, something I haven’t had in a long time. It would be nice if she was close, but far enough away to feel independent.
Comment by notasoccermom
| June 17th, 2009
Sounds marvelous! Lucky girl to have so many choices.
notasoccermom´s last blog post..
Comment by SingleParentPlus2
| June 17th, 2009
What a great time in your life and you are obviously very proud, as you should be of your daughter. Wherever she goes I’m sure she will have wonderful experience. It never hurts to save dad a little money though.
SingleParentPlus2´s last blog post..Father’s day gift ideas
Comment by krn
| June 17th, 2009
Dad’s~ How fun to make a college visit with your daughter! All the best to both of you with this decision.
Comment by The Exception
| June 18th, 2009
It is a gorgeous campus – like Stanford or UA in Arizona or UVA or William and Mary – ah… the choices!!
Enjoy this year together. The next phase is pretty great too!
The Exception´s last blog post..Human doings
Comment by Laura
| June 18th, 2009
Choosing a varsity is a big deal! I remember pouring over their pamphlets when I chose!!! I ended up at a little one in a varsity town – was cool :)
I am thinking she needs to choose the one away from home – THATS the point of going to varsity :O)
Comment by Lisa
| July 1st, 2009
Oh YES, Berkeley! Uncle and aunt attended back in the 60s LOL.
Lisa´s last blog ..In this little Town called Harmony…
Comment by Chris
| July 3rd, 2009
Current senior at UC Berkeley here.
1. It does not take 5-6 years to graduate from UC Berkeley. I know some 5th year seniors(AKA Super Seniors) but never 6. If it takes you 6 years you are not going full time.
2. Stanfard(not a typo) sucks. A bunch of snooty kids who have inflated GPA’s. Admission requirements are tough. Usually they only take the kids who had top notch grades in high school. The kids that do have those amazing grades tend to come from financially stable families which only perpetuates the cycle of the rich getting richer.
3. Your child WILL be taught by some amazing professors and NOT THEIR GRAD STUDENTS! You attend lecture with the professor who teaches the material(Grad students sit in also). Then once a week for about an hour you meet with one of his grad students in groups of 20 to ask questions and to clear up the material. You can only imagine what it would be like if a professor had to stop everytime one of the 150 students had a question.