berkeley finds

The Secrets of UC Berkeley Campus

July 14, 2025
Sanya P.

“So, how is your first year at college, Sanya?” my family friend, Fatima, asked me as she decided to visit me during the summer.

We walked through the main part of campus, as I promised her to show her the famous Sather Gate. Her daughter excitedly walked beside us, thrilled to hear that Sather Gate inspired the gate in the Monsters University movie.

“It was good–” I grinned, planning on talking about my experience in the dorms before Fatima stopped walking abruptly. ...

Don’t Touch It: Hiking at UC Berkeley

April 18, 2025
Alia L.

Despite being located in the midst of a city, one of my favorite aspects of the Berkeley campus is its proximity to nature. I have some of the fondest memories of camping with my family, and as someone who was involved with the Girlscouts for 13 years and Boy Scouts (or scouts BSA) for 4, nature was an important part of my childhood. Many of my fellow ambassadors have written about some of the best trails to hike on, up and around Berkeley, and while I could lament on the breathtaking views and sites for literal pages, there is a bit more that one should be informed about before...

Getting Lost on Berkeley Campus, an Ongoing Saga

April 4, 2025
Alia L.

My friends often joke that I have no sense of direction. Yet, contrary to popular belief I am actually excellent at navigating when I have a map. The true problem stems from my optimistic confidence and relaxed attitude when I have no map, and in fact no idea where I’m going. Why let a little thing like that stop me? In that scenario, yes, I tend to end up lost.

Now, I’m no urban explorer, but since coming to Berkeley I have found it can be rather enjoyable to end up lost. This started as an accidental discovery, but at...

A review of LINK rideshare scooters

June 20, 2022
Lillian Jiang

In the era of convenience, electric scooters and skateboarders have become the norm for transportation, especially for UC Berkeley students. Almost everyone has an electric scooter or skateboard, or is thinking of getting one. As someone who prefers walking and street skateboarding though, I vowed to never buy an electric scooter / skateboard.

My morals were questioned however, until one of my most hectic summer days. Starting off with an 8:30am work shift at the visitor center, picking up the keys to my new apartment in downtown Berkeley, then moving all mine and my roommates’...

Living in Berkeley: Ultimate Travel Guide [Part 1]

April 13, 2021
Vincent Ooi

Are you a new or prospective student to UC Berkeley? Or are you a returning student who needs new travel ideas around the Bay Area? Either way, this travel guide will give you a sense of how many options Berkeley really has to offer…I will feature my all time FAVORITE places to hike/visit, restaurants to indulge at, and more!

As an incoming student at Berkeley, you may have done your research on the Internet regarding places to visit. But you might have also wanted an opinion from a fellow golden bear. This is what I’m here for! I’m currently a junior at UC Berkeley who has lived...

Course Highlight: L&S 12, The Berkeley Changemaker

April 18, 2021
Katia Gibson

As a campus ambassador, some of the most common questions I get on my tours are: what are some of the best classes to take? And, this one is a big one, but why Berkeley? What makes our university different from the rest?

The answer to these questions lies in L&S 12: The Berkeley Changemaker, a 2 unit course that students can take on a pass/no pass basis.

...

Berkeley Small Businesses to Love and How to Support Them!

October 14, 2021
Dina Katgara

yellow and blue street banner of the campanile at the intersection of telegraph and bancroft

Telegraph and Bancroft

When you first come to Berkeley, you might be bombarded by how much there is to do and see here. From the quirky bookstores to the vegan cupcakes, the city of Berkeley is teeming with unique and cultivated experiences. Working as the lead business and economy reporter for the Daily...

A Guide to Coffee Shops Around Campus

October 11, 2024
Mallory S.

If you’re a college student, odds are that you drink coffee, or tea, or energy drinks, or some sort of caffeinated beverage. I’m happy to report that in my first few years of university, I’ve never pulled an all-nighter, but I’m still guilty of drinking iced lattes at 10pm to help me finish a problem set that’s due at midnight. So that being said, I’ve visited a lot of cafes around Berkeley, and here are some of my favorite spots to get a drink and study at—

Souvenir Coffee Co.

This coffee shop has a few different locations, but my go-to is the one...

Rocks! Rocks! Rocks! (or, How I Discovered the Best Department on Campus)

September 16, 2024
Mallory S.
Rocks! Rocks! Rocks! (or, How I Discovered the Best Department on Campus)

When I was a little kid, I loved dinosaurs.

When I got to be a little bit older, I started a rock collection.

When I was in high school, I would say that my dream job was to go on expeditions to Antarctica to drill ice cores.

I’d dreamed my whole life of becoming a geoscientist, but I hadn’t had much exposure to the earth sciences during my education, so I didn’t really know that a career in them was possible.

All I...

Memories and Their Ability to Sweeten Things: My Newfound Love for Evans Hall

September 9, 2024
Jasmin H.
Memories and Their Ability to Sweeten Things: My Newfound Love for Evans Hall

Evans hall used to be the building that would cover the sunset view from my dorm. The building where my math discussions would take place at 9am. The building that dulled in comparison to the physics building. That said, Evans hall has a special place in my heart.

I often think about how places or things can have greater emotional capital depending on the person who is experiencing them. Similar to how the smell of a certain food or thing can unleash feelings of safety and...