UC Berkeley Freshman Dorms Ranked
Ranking the best sophomore dorms at UC Berkeley, according to students.
Number 5
Clark Kerr
based on 14 reviews
"Yes, Clark Kerr is far, but it has various good qualities. I usually ate at crossroads, but that was just because there were more options there (the food quality at Clark Kerr is just as good). It was the cheapest option for me since I lived in a quad. Living in a quad was actually super fun since the room was quite large. There are a bunch of athletes living in CK, so, if you are into that, more power to you. I would say my favorite part of Clark Kerr was feeling like I lived far enough from campus. It felt like a whole other little community.
I'll talk about some negatives. Clark Kerr is kind of far, but that encourages you to pick up biking, skating, or scootering to school! Plus, a 5 minute bus ride is always available (AC transit and the Night Shuttle). Other dorms have security monitors , so I did feel that (in theory) CK was less safe. Someone can simply wait for a distracted student to leave a door open, and sneak their way into the dorms. Nevertheless, I never experienced anything like that; it is a possibility though.
Almost forgot, Ck is closer to frat parties hehe" - 4 years ago14 student reviewers said they lived in Clark Kerr during their freshman year
Browse 14 Dorm ReviewsNumber 4
Unit 1
based on 18 reviews
"i lived in unit 1 in putnam and had a really great experience!
it’s right next to campus and about 10 minutes from sproul. close to several bus stops. it’s a few minutes from telegraph, which is close enough to have fun but since that’s where most of the crime is concentrated it’s nice that it’s somewhat removed.
i lived in a double and it was pretty spacious, especially if you push the desks against the windows. the windows let in lots of natural light and have good curtains. some rooms have problems with cockroaches, but setting traps helps.
the bathrooms were nice enough. co-ed situation wasn't a problem. the bathroom stalls and showers didn’t have any gaps in them. water pressure was good. the sinks and stalls were cleaned every day (although at inconvenient hours, usually 9am). the showers were probably only cleaned once a week at most, so hair will start to collect on the floors/walls.
unit 1 is really social, people are friendly and i made a lot of friends here. however, it really depends on luck, some of the floors are socially dead. the only downside is that it’s loud, you’ll hear people playing music/talking loudly all night in both the halls and in the courtyard.
unit 1 is right next to crossroads dining hall, which imo is the best one. there's a lot of variety and the quality is usually pretty good.
the building itself is the only real con. the elevator breaks a few times per semester. fire alarm will go off once a month or so, usually at night. you’ll either have a laundry room/lounge on your floor. most floors won’t be able to access their lounge until the second semester because they’re used as temporary housing. my biggest complaint is the washer/dryer situation — there’s only 6 washers/12 dryers in the entire building and half of them will be broken at any given time. " - 10 months ago18 student reviewers said they lived in Unit 1 during their freshman year
Browse 18 Dorm ReviewsNumber 3
Unit 2
based on 23 reviews
"Honestly Berkeley dorms suck in general but are a significant part of the college experience. I stayed in Griffiths Hall in a triple and for the most part I had a positive experience. You are close to campus, near all the Southside businesses, greek row, good proximity to Elmwood. However the rooms themselves are borderline illegal in how little space you have. 169 SF for three people is not a lot and I would definitely say you need to schedule time to rotate in/out of the room. The good side is that a lot of the other kids on your floor are in the same crappy living situation so you will definitely bond one way or another.
Pros: location, “college experience,” access to buses, nice community balcony with views
Cons: small af, old af, washer/dryers might not work, communal bathrooms for 40+ people, study lounges always full during midterms/finals" - 4 years ago21 student reviewers said they lived in Unit 2 during their freshman year
Browse 23 Dorm ReviewsNumber 2
Foothill
based on 22 reviews
"PROS:
- largest dorm rooms at berkeley, most are only doubles too!
- super close to CoC/Engineering. made going to my 8ams really easy (as a chemical engineering major)
- more quiet spacey area for studying compared to other dorms
- some of the best views on campus!!!
- you are able to hear (and sometimes see) when there's concerts at the Greek Theatre sometimes!
- stayed hella fit/avoided freshman 15 bc of the premade work out up the hill it's on
- best dining hall on campus (and onsite!)
- in a much safer area compared to the other dorms
- option to be in a single gender suite/floor if interested in that
- each suite has a private study room and a private bathroom (shared with less people compared to in other dorms)
- has a mini gym!
- you occasionally see turkey and deer lol
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CONS:
- older building (but still does the job)
- def does lack social life within the dorms. you can def find community/social life outside of your dorms through meeting people through classes and clubs, but it will be difficult within the dorm. (there are def friendly people, just people are more introverted and some are less interested in doing outgoing activities)
- away from a lot of city life compared to the other dorms (again contributes to lack of social life)
- is, again, on a hill (so difficult to get to)
- very little elevator access, mostly stairs (but each building usually only is at most 3-4 floors)
- knew of a few friends who had mice problems!! but did not experience it myself
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OVERALL, this dorm is def suitable for CoC or CoE majors and those also looking for a guaranteed quiet roomy space and aren't into party vibes. It is on the northeast side of campus and so it is far away from other dorms or general city area, but is def quieter and safer. Unlike the other dorms, the dorm is divided into suites instead of floors, so your living space is usually with around 6-8 people instead of like 15+. It is "log cabin: style so to visit other rooms/amenities (ex, doing laundry or using the gym), you must go outside-- everything is not all connected in one big building. However, to enter the entire dorm area / facilities is gated. You then have a key to enter from the outside into your suite, and then a key for your room inside the suite. The dorm area amenities include an onsite dining hall, laundry rooms, study rooms, vending machines, a mini gym, and rec rooms with mixed activities. Personally, I sometimes wish I stayed in another dorm to experience more social life within the dorms my freshman year, but I don't regret staying at Foothill and it was also especially nice having a lot space and quiet when I needed it!
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(I included pictures of the exterior, a picture inside the private common area in a suite, a picture inside the bathroom, and a picture of the view from the dorm!)" - 2 years ago22 student reviewers said they lived in Foothill during their freshman year
Browse 22 Dorm ReviewsNumber 1
Unit 3
based on 23 reviews
"Unit 3 has a reputation for being the crustiest dorm, which is great because then no one requests it and you are more likely to get the room type you want (especially if you want a double, which can be hard to come by)! Unit 3 is one of the closest dorms to campus and has a dining hall in the unit! Having the communal laundry room is great because there are so many washers and dryers that they are almost never all full, though having to walk down the stairs with your laundry is annoying. I lived in Norton, which was known for having a broken elevator (which yes, happened an annoying amount), but Unit 3 Norton had by far the best social life of any dorm on campus. The rooms feel way bigger than Blackwell rooms, and they are set up more like a traditional dorm room. The bathrooms were always clean and there were plenty of showers. I knew almost everyone in my entire building, so if you are looking for a dorm social life, Unit 3 is the best place for it!" - 4 years ago
23 student reviewers said they lived in Unit 3 during their freshman year
Browse 23 Dorm Reviews