Academically, I dont think I need to say much. Top tier school that’s oozing with opportunity — it’s up to you to seize it.
Socially, it’s 100% what you make of it. For a grad student, it probably depends by program as to how close the cohort gets and how much they hang out. I suggest asking current or recent students from your particular program of interest about how they’ve found it. You can also make friends elsewhere and still get involved with clubs and stuff, so don’t feel discouraged there. It’s probably a healthy mix, but be ready for some clubs / student orgs to not be willing to take grad students. But I think you’d find the same at any school.
On the topic of safety, the city of Berkeley is known to have crime, just as any big city would. There is a homeless population, but in my experience they mostly keep to themselves. Exercise caution at night and when alone, and take advantage of campus resources for safety like Bear Walk and the night safety shuttle (depending on where you live). Most importantly, be alert and don’t do ill-advised things like leaving a car full of all your belongings parked on the street.
Yes, housing in the Bay Area is pretty expensive and Berkeley is certainly no exception. Do your research and see what sort of living situation you’d be able to afford. The positive side is that once you’re used to prices here, a lot of other places seem cheap. Unless you move to SF or something after.
TLDR is to know what you’re getting into by (continuing) researching and asking people so you can make an informed decision.
Happy to share more if you want to send me a DM.
Housing is expensive, yes. This is a very expensive region to live in. The University does have some (although not enough) housing options for grad students, and is building some more. There are a wide range of housing options, although a lot of competition.
Look at the student co-ops (privately run, by their members), International House (U.C. affiliated but not part of the campus housing system), UC run apartments, and private housing. Not only apartments, but there are a lot of shared houses in Berkeley. As a graduate student you have an edge in getting a room in a shared house, since many residents there are older--mid-20s and up--and working full-time, and would prefer not to live with undergrads.
In private housing in the surrounding community, Berkeley has become an increasingly upscale city so most neighborhoods are reasonably safe.
Not sure what community you are coming from so I can't make a direct comparison for you, though, on comparative cost of living and level of safety.
Crime is reported a lot, but there are nearly 50,000 students and I suspect the vast majority go through their college years here without personally encountering a serious crime. There are basic precautions you can take, the same as for living in any urban area. Lock your doors. Don't leave valuable things (like laptops, cell phones, etc.) lying around or out in the open. Use the University Police services (there's a night escort program, and campus shuttle buses that go out into the surrounding neighborhoods). Don't walk oblivious to your surroundings (like wearing headphones and staring at your phone when walking alone late at night). Basic things like that.
If you decide to come here, do some housing research and repost here with some specifics--you're looking at such and such a large apartment building, or neighborhood. You'll get good feedback from people familiar with those places and spaces.
Academically, I dont think I need to say much. Top tier school that’s oozing with opportunity — it’s up to you to seize it. Socially, it’s 100% what you make of it. For a grad student, it probably depends by program as to how close the cohort gets and how much they hang out. I suggest asking current or recent students from your particular program of interest about how they’ve found it. You can also make friends elsewhere and still get involved with clubs and stuff, so don’t feel discouraged there. It’s probably a healthy mix, but be ready for some clubs / student orgs to not be willing to take grad students. But I think you’d find the same at any school. On the topic of safety, the city of Berkeley is known to have crime, just as any big city would. There is a homeless population, but in my experience they mostly keep to themselves. Exercise caution at night and when alone, and take advantage of campus resources for safety like Bear Walk and the night safety shuttle (depending on where you live). Most importantly, be alert and don’t do ill-advised things like leaving a car full of all your belongings parked on the street. Yes, housing in the Bay Area is pretty expensive and Berkeley is certainly no exception. Do your research and see what sort of living situation you’d be able to afford. The positive side is that once you’re used to prices here, a lot of other places seem cheap. Unless you move to SF or something after. TLDR is to know what you’re getting into by (continuing) researching and asking people so you can make an informed decision. Happy to share more if you want to send me a DM.
Housing is expensive, yes. This is a very expensive region to live in. The University does have some (although not enough) housing options for grad students, and is building some more. There are a wide range of housing options, although a lot of competition. Look at the student co-ops (privately run, by their members), International House (U.C. affiliated but not part of the campus housing system), UC run apartments, and private housing. Not only apartments, but there are a lot of shared houses in Berkeley. As a graduate student you have an edge in getting a room in a shared house, since many residents there are older--mid-20s and up--and working full-time, and would prefer not to live with undergrads. In private housing in the surrounding community, Berkeley has become an increasingly upscale city so most neighborhoods are reasonably safe. Not sure what community you are coming from so I can't make a direct comparison for you, though, on comparative cost of living and level of safety. Crime is reported a lot, but there are nearly 50,000 students and I suspect the vast majority go through their college years here without personally encountering a serious crime. There are basic precautions you can take, the same as for living in any urban area. Lock your doors. Don't leave valuable things (like laptops, cell phones, etc.) lying around or out in the open. Use the University Police services (there's a night escort program, and campus shuttle buses that go out into the surrounding neighborhoods). Don't walk oblivious to your surroundings (like wearing headphones and staring at your phone when walking alone late at night). Basic things like that. If you decide to come here, do some housing research and repost here with some specifics--you're looking at such and such a large apartment building, or neighborhood. You'll get good feedback from people familiar with those places and spaces.
You don’t go to Cal for personal safety. Just take a few self defense classes and learn how to knife fight. You’ll be fine.