ITT Penn & Berkeley face off and you help me decide Forum

[CCA]

Yea I was expecting to really love Berkeley, but I only liked it. Parts of it are amazing, but there are a lot of bums. Of course, there will be plenty of bums in Philly as well.

I think TCR is that they're tied in the rankings so you should go to the cheapest one.

I thought Berkeley was very ghetto and filled with homeless, even right outside the law school. I personally did not like it at all and anyone considering it should definitely visit first.

There area around Penn is very different - safer with lots of security. There is never any reason to have to be in the worse parts of Philly, unlike Berkeley where the law school itself is not in a good area.

[Dignan]

There area around Penn is very different - safer with lots of security. There is never any reason to have to be in the worse parts of Philly, unlike Berkeley where the law school itself is not in a good area.

There is lots of campus security around Penn because it's located in one of the highest crime areas in the United States. There are homeless people in Berkeley, but they're annoying, not dangerous. I think Berkeley is located in a great area, with literally hundreds of great restaurants and bars within walking distance. I can understand why someone wouldn't like Berkeley, but the area around the campus is not unsafe.

[fortissimo]

Livermore is a very nice area, are you smoking crack?

Are you being sarcastic or are you from Sunnyvale or other places with not-so-nice reputations?

[ughOSU]

Yea I was expecting to really love Berkeley, but I only liked it. Parts of it are amazing, but there are a lot of bums. Of course, there will be plenty of bums in Philly as well.

I think TCR is that they're tied in the rankings so you should go to the cheapest one.

I thought Berkeley was very ghetto and filled with homeless, even right outside the law school. I personally did not like it at all and anyone considering it should definitely visit first.

There area around Penn is very different - safer with lots of security. There is never any reason to have to be in the worse parts of Philly, unlike Berkeley where the law school itself is not in a good area.

Yea I didn't think it was terrible as in dangerous (although it was not as phenomenal of a neighborhood as I expected), I just didn't like it that much.

Also, for whoever said it, Penn is not in the most dangerous neighborhood in the US... That's Temple. It's at least a few miles away!!!

[Georgiana]

I voted Penn... I'm supposed to do that, right?

If you have questions re: Penn you know there's always the Penn thread and you can PM me. Two years here has given me lots of insight

It'll come down to personal preference, but if you're a fan of NYC, remember that its a 2 hour ($8-12) bus ride from Philly so its an easy day or weekend trip. You may be able to get a job there from Berk, but if you want to be able to visit during law school, you're better off on the east coast. Additionally, finding a job in NYC 1L summer will be easier (and less costly) if you're nearby, employers don't usually pay travel expenses for 1Ls. Food for thought.

[Core]

I voted Penn... I'm supposed to do that, right?

If you have questions re: Penn you know there's always the Penn thread and you can PM me. Two years here has given me lots of insight

Lol thanks. I'll probably be taking advantage of that over the next few weeks .

[Kohinoor]

Berkeley. And I managed to do that without reading a single post ITT.

[MC Southstar]

Even though I am going to Penn, I voted Berkeley because I have a Cali fetish.

*traitor*

I think it really comes down to personal preference on location though. Anyone who is worried about "homeless" people, have you been living in a gated community all your life? I'd be more worried about becoming homeless.

[ughOSU]

Even though I am going to Penn, I voted Berkeley because I have a Cali fetish.

*traitor*

I think it really comes down to personal preference on location though. Anyone who is worried about "homeless" people, have you been living in a gated community all your life? I'd be more worried about becoming homeless.

I'm not worried about them. I just don't like seeing them. Like in philly the cops throw them in shelters and/or arrest them for loitering. Then winter comes and they disappear. In Berkeley they sleep on your front lawn and treat public parks like their private restrooms. It's the only time I've ever seen someone take a shit outside in a city.

[20160810]

Berkeley is the best university on the planet, hth

[NayBoer]

The answer to OP depends on the preferred coast. In case of no clear preference, I'd give Berkeley the edge.

I think some people from Sac-town consider themselves to be part of the general "Bay Area" or at least they talk about it when trying to up the region they live in.

Nope.

Bay Area is generally defined as the 9 counties around the Bay with Santa Cruz sometimes added on even though it isn't truly on the Bay. Sacramento is not Bay Area. I lived in Sacramento for a while, and now I live in Marin. They are worlds apart.

[fortissimo]

I'm not worried about them. I just don't like seeing them. Like in philly the cops throw them in shelters and/or arrest them for loitering. Then winter comes and they disappear. In Berkeley they sleep on your front lawn and treat public parks like their private restrooms. It's the only time I've ever seen someone take a shit outside in a city.

The sad part is this isn't a joke and I've seen the same thing. I've seen homeless people in many places, but for the most part they aren't visible on a daily basis. Over there they are truly a different, crazier breed, much, much, much larger in number, and they are constantly in your face on a daily basis. That's a plus with living in a place like Philly with four seasons. You get an annual cleansing of the city.

I lived in Sacramento for a while

I'm sorry.

[mah2012]

I'm not worried about them. I just don't like seeing them. Like in philly the cops throw them in shelters and/or arrest them for loitering. Then winter comes and they disappear. In Berkeley they sleep on your front lawn and treat public parks like their private restrooms. It's the only time I've ever seen someone take a shit outside in a city.

The sad part is this isn't a joke and I've seen the same thing. I've seen homeless people in many places, but for the most part they aren't visible on a daily basis. Over there they are truly a different, crazier breed, much, much, much larger in number, and they are constantly in your face on a daily basis. That's a plus with living in a place like Philly with four seasons. You get an annual cleansing of the city.

Do they really let people this ignorant into law school?

[fortissimo]

I'm not worried about them. I just don't like seeing them. Like in philly the cops throw them in shelters and/or arrest them for loitering. Then winter comes and they disappear. In Berkeley they sleep on your front lawn and treat public parks like their private restrooms. It's the only time I've ever seen someone take a shit outside in a city.

The sad part is this isn't a joke and I've seen the same thing. I've seen homeless people in many places, but for the most part they aren't visible on a daily basis. Over there they are truly a different, crazier breed, much, much, much larger in number, and they are constantly in your face on a daily basis. That's a plus with living in a place like Philly with four seasons. You get an annual cleansing of the city.

Do they really let people this ignorant into law school?

I lived in the East Bay. I assume you haven't because I'm not over-exaggerating. Cleansing = winter.

[Dr. Strangelove]

I voted for Penn. Both schools are very good and it seems you prefer the East Coast anyway.
I think Berkeley is slightly more prestigious but not much more.

[bilbobaggins]

Yea I was expecting to really love Berkeley, but I only liked it. Parts of it are amazing, but there are a lot of bums. Of course, there will be plenty of bums in Philly as well.

I think TCR is that they're tied in the rankings so you should go to the cheapest one.

I thought Berkeley was very ghetto and filled with homeless, even right outside the law school. I personally did not like it at all and anyone considering it should definitely visit first.

There area around Penn is very different - safer with lots of security. There is never any reason to have to be in the worse parts of Philly, unlike Berkeley where the law school itself is not in a good area.

Typical sheltered BS. The area around campus is very safe. You think homeless people sightings correlate with safety. This is false.

Anyone who says "homeless people are constantly in your face" can only mean this if seeing a homeless person constitutes having them "in your face."

If you want to stay in the suburbs away from people who are less fortunate than you are, don't go to Berkeley or Penn.

[fortissimo]

Anyone who says "homeless people are constantly in your face" can only mean this if seeing a homeless person constitutes having them "in your face."

Constantly in your face means they constantly ask for money, food, cigarettes, and sometimes make highly inappropriate sexual remarks about how you look/what they want to do to you.

[ughOSU]

I'm glad I sparked this debate. It's cracking me up. Have the people defending the bums ever been to berkeley? They really are all over the place, and I view that as a negative (sorry). Don't get me wrong, it's not a deal-breaker or anything, and it's not a safety hazard, at least not to me as I'm a pretty big guy that could probably take a 120 lb bum that hasn't had a meal in a month, but they look gross, smell bad, and shit all over the place. That doesn't make me ignorant (in fact it makes me realistic). I just don't like bums.

[bilbobaggins]

I'm glad I sparked this debate. It's cracking me up. Have the people defending the bums ever been to berkeley? They really are all over the place, and I view that as a negative (sorry). Don't get me wrong, it's not a deal-breaker or anything, and it's not a safety hazard, at least not to me as I'm a pretty big guy that could probably take a 120 lb bum that hasn't had a meal in a month, but they look gross, smell bad, and shit all over the place. That doesn't make me ignorant (in fact it makes me realistic). I just don't like bums.

I live in Berkeley. Not liking "bums" does make you ignorant.

[20160810]

I'm glad I sparked this debate. It's cracking me up. Have the people defending the bums ever been to berkeley? They really are all over the place, and I view that as a negative (sorry). Don't get me wrong, it's not a deal-breaker or anything, and it's not a safety hazard, at least not to me as I'm a pretty big guy that could probably take a 120 lb bum that hasn't had a meal in a month, but they look gross, smell bad, and shit all over the place. That doesn't make me ignorant (in fact it makes me realistic). I just don't like bums.

I live in Berkeley. Not liking "bums" does make you ignorant.

I want to live somewhere where everyone is wealthy so that I can pretend that our country doesn't leave mentally ill veterans on the street to die in their own filth! Uh, wait, I mean, fuck bums!

[motiontodismiss]

I'm glad I sparked this debate. It's cracking me up. Have the people defending the bums ever been to berkeley? They really are all over the place, and I view that as a negative (sorry). Don't get me wrong, it's not a deal-breaker or anything, and it's not a safety hazard, at least not to me as I'm a pretty big guy that could probably take a 120 lb bum that hasn't had a meal in a month, but they look gross, smell bad, and shit all over the place. That doesn't make me ignorant (in fact it makes me realistic). I just don't like bums.

I live in Berkeley. Not liking "bums" does make you [strike]ignorant.[/strike] human.

[ughOSU]

I'm glad I sparked this debate. It's cracking me up. Have the people defending the bums ever been to berkeley? They really are all over the place, and I view that as a negative (sorry). Don't get me wrong, it's not a deal-breaker or anything, and it's not a safety hazard, at least not to me as I'm a pretty big guy that could probably take a 120 lb bum that hasn't had a meal in a month, but they look gross, smell bad, and shit all over the place. That doesn't make me ignorant (in fact it makes me realistic). I just don't like bums.

I live in Berkeley. Not liking "bums" does make you ignorant.

I want to live somewhere where everyone is wealthy so that I can pretend that our country doesn't leave mentally ill veterans on the street to die in their own filth! Uh, wait, I mean, fuck bums!

Wow a little artistic license with that one? Sorry that I don't like watching people take shits.

[Tangerine Gleam]

Having lived in both cities, I can say -- without a shadow of a doubt -- that Philly is much, much more dangerous. Berkeley bums amount to nothing. While I was living very close to Penn campus, two of my six housemates were mugged, my friend had a brick thrown at him while he was riding his bike, and my car was broken into twice in two days.

Don't get me wrong, I really love Philadelphia, but I'm LOLing at people who are over-blowing the Berkeley "Bum" Factor. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and preferences, but anyone who is *that* bothered by homeless people wouldn't likely be stoked on three years in Philadelphia either...i.e. take opinions with a grain of salt, OP.

[Dignan]

Having lived in both cities, I can say -- without a shadow of a doubt -- that Philly is much, much more dangerous. Berkeley bums amount to nothing. While I was living very close to Penn campus, two of my six housemates were mugged, my friend had a brick thrown at him while he was riding his bike, and my car was broken into twice in two days.

Don't get me wrong, I really love Philadelphia, but I'm LOLing at people who are over-blowing the Berkeley "Bum" Factor. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and preferences, but anyone who is *that* bothered by homeless people wouldn't likely be stoked on three years in Philadelphia either...i.e. take opinions with a grain of salt, OP.

+1. This thread is hilarious. Many of the people posting here should probably limit their T14 options to Stanford, Michigan, Virginia, Northwestern, Duke, and Cornell.

[worldtraveler]

Anyone who says "homeless people are constantly in your face" can only mean this if seeing a homeless person constitutes having them "in your face."

Constantly in your face means they constantly ask for money, food, cigarettes, and sometimes make highly inappropriate sexual remarks about how you look/what they want to do to you.

If encountering a bum on the street who begs for a $1 and makes a stupid remark is so hard on your existence that you feel the need to bitch about it, then I really, really envy your easy existence. Just how much time do you spend wandering around the streets of Berkeley for this to be such a hindrance to enjoying your own life?