The vast majority of the negative reviews are from...

The vast majority of the negative reviews are from those who have not actually experienced life on the campus. Indeed, Berkeley is not a perfect university. Particularly in light of recent events, it is easy to associate Berkeley with anarchy and violence. But a few ugly events cannot be used to generalize the college, especially since the violence that occurred during the riots was not perpetrated by Cal students or faculty. Based on my ACTUAL experience, I find the campus to be extraordinarily diverse and open. The academics here are among the best in the world, and the environment itself was, in my opinion, very appealing. No university is perfect, and Cal is no exception. But by looking beyond the prejudice and misconceptions, one can see that Berkeley truly is a fantastic university filled with brilliant individuals.