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Berkeley anyone?

Travel Info
I am originally from Southern California, currently living in Las Vegas. I am applying to doctoral programs in psychology. One of the professional schools is located in Berkeley. What kind of town is Berkeley, truthfully? Affordable? Diverse? Safe for a single person? Cultured?

I am just looking for honest and helpful opinions.

Shine on,

Travel Tips

Berkeley is a small town...with the feel of a bigger city. It offers great weather, it's VERY diverse...ethnically and culturally, there's great shopping and food (from Blondie's Pizza to Chez Panisse...the best French Restaurant anywhere in the world...outside of France!).

I don't think that you can truly call any city within 80 miles of San Francisco "affordable" (SoCal and LV will seem cheap by comparison)...but the trade off is living in a wonderful climate and in one of the most culturally significant areas in the US.

Berkeley does have it's rougher sides...it's VERY Liberal socially...so locals are very accepting of slightly deviant behavior...but ultimately,it's like any city...there are good parts and bad. It's frustrating that there are so many homeless people there (not just Berkeley...the whole Bay Area)...but the climate is easier on their lifestyle than almost every other major metropolitan area....so it makes sense.

I would advise against renting an apartment or buying a house/condo sight unseen...it's just not a good idea.

Also, the area is surrounded by other cities you can consider living in as well. Emeryville, Albany and Alameda...even parts of Oakland are very nice and just minutes to Berkeley.

Good Luck. I'll check back on your question...if you have more specific things I can answer for you...just let me know!!

**Edit** Wow the two posters above me seem a little angry about something...LOL.

It does have probably more than it's share of "pinko-commies"...it has a world-class university which attracts left-leaning ideologies (like any world-class university). You'll find that people her are a little more tolerant of ALL views than the harshly judgemental Mr. jazbac...who's probably only read about Berkeley in a book...or watched something on it in a Fox News report.

And, unlike Ms. Tapestry...the Bay is my choosen home (originally from the Mid West)...and I wish her all the luck in the world finding a place where the people are as "diverse and cultured" as SHE thinks they are :o)
Others

It is filled with a bunch of left-wing, pinko, yahoos, who sit around coffee shops and constantly bash America.
Berkeley its own entity of crack pots, that live in the magnetic fields and active seismic area of the Bay Area, they consider themselves diverse and cultured. If you like artsy towns, the haze of marijuana and PC'rs its your kind of town.
No place in the Bay Area is safe anymore, its right near Oakland, Richmond and San Francisco. There might be affordable places in the area try rentals.com to see prices.
I lived in the bay area all my life(Oakland) and when anyone heads there I recommend they take a passport and make sure their visa is up to date, yeah its a joke, but that is how strange that place is more like another country. Right now I am trying to find a state to live in far away from the Bay Area, the only thing good about the area is the weather.
I agree with Widewillie. The first two people seem really angry about something, try to take them for what they are. Berkeley is a crazy place, no doubt. BUT, it is center for one of the nation's great universities. And those areas that house that kind of institution are usually liberal and ideological in nature. That is not a bad thing. But some people don't like it, and that's ok too. The Bay Area is like no other place in the country. And that's a good thing. Diversity is a norm, and very educated people is another. But you will get out of it what you put into it. It will be a shock from SoCal and Las Vegas. So be prepared. Come spend a little time here before making any decisions about moving here. It is very expensive compared to most other areas of the country. But people that like it here are more than willing to pay for it. Material "stuff" only matters for a while. Then it becomes a burden. I can tell you that from experience. So, try it on, good luck and have fun. That is what life is about!
I moved to Oakland from Eugene, Oregon two years ago. I work in Berkeley. Culturaly, I do not find it much different than Eugene, but with more to do. There are a lot of liberal people here. There is a great deal of diversity (at my work place -which is professional - I am often the only white male in meetings or on task teams). Berkeley offers a lot of different cultural opportunities - it just depends on what you are looking for. As far as affordable, that depends on your definition. As one post suggested, there are nearby areas where you can find rentals for less, but if you are determined to live in Berkeley, then it can be expensive. I commute ab out 15 minutes from Oakland to Berkeley (city streets only) - If you are going to be going to Cal, there is good bart service to the university from many different areas. I would suggest you could get a lot of information in regard to what is happening in the community and housing prices from craigslist.