Commuter Assistant Advice
If you have a short personal comment or some advice to share about your experience as a member of the commuter population at Cal, we'd love to add yours here! Contact us at commuter@berkeley.edu for more info.
Favorite lounges/ hangouts
Durant Food Court, Lower Sproul, Memorial Glade
Favorite campus eateries
GBC, Free Speech Movement Café, Durant Food Court, Barney’s, Ann’s Soup Kitchen
Favorite to-go snacks from home
My own lunch (rice and vegetables, meat, etc.), fruit snacks/granola bars, fresh fruit, water!
Most helpful items that I bring to campus
Umbrella, water bottle, extra change
Jennifer (Contra Costa County)
My name is Jennifer Tran and I’m an intended Molecular and Cell Biology and Psychology double major. As of fall 2009 I will be a sophomore, and it will be my 3rd semester, including summer sessions, as a commuter student. I’ve grown up and lived in the small city of Kensington almost all my life, my hometown being Oakland. I have commuted from Kensington, which is located in the middle of Berkeley and El Cerrito, for my first semester using the AC Transit system, taking the one and only bus line going from Kensington to Berkeley, the 7. I’m looking to start biking to school as well, but I’m also pretty knowledgeable about the BART system to/from the Richmond area.
To all incoming student commuters: first of all, welcome to Cal and congratulations on making the decision to commute. Don’t feel like you’re the odd one out however because there are many others who made the same exact decision! It’s going to be a hard tiring choice but in the long run, it’ll be worth it! Best of luck in your academics and in your commuting experiences!
Commuter Advice
Find friends who live on campus so you can use their dorms as a locker--be prepared to be carrying your backpacks’ weight ALL day!
Contact Jennifer: jtran565@gmail.com
Favorite Lounges/Hangouts
Pat Brown’s Grill, Library Main Stacks, Student Learning Center
Favorite On/Near Campus Eateries
Gypsy’s, Durant Food Court, Top Dog, Smart Alec's
Favorite to-go snacks from home
Snack bars, bottle of water
Most helpful items that I bring on my daily commute
BART/bus schedules, umbrella, cash
CLAYTON (San Mateo County)
Hi, I’m Clayton. I’m a 3rd year student majoring in Political Science, commuting from Daly City by BART daily. My commute takes about two hours every day and you will likely find me on campus early in the mornings until late into the evening. Despite being a commuter the past two years, I’ve been able to get involved on campus, such as working to stop rising student fees with Tuition Relief Now, volunteering with CALPIRG to combat local pollution problems, and being an active member with the Undergraduate Political Science Association (UPSA). In the process, I have also worked on commuter issues on campus since coming to UC Berkeley by hosting commuter events, working with the ASUC, and helping incoming commuter students transition to Cal.
If you have any questions about commuting, getting involved, or anything else, feel free ask me if you see me on campus or simply send me a message.
Commuter Advice
Even though you're a commuter student, try to get involved on campus, join a club, meet friends on campus and actually get to know them, explore the campus, go to campus events, try different places to eat, and experience what Cal is really like during the day. What I’m trying to say, is that don’t let being a commuter stop you from doing what any other Cal student would do. There is so much to do when you’re on campus. Try to enjoy your time at UC Berkeley and utilize your free time effectively.
Contact Clayton: claykoo@gmail.com
Favorite Lounges/Hangouts
Memorial Glade, "Reading Room" at Doe Library, FSM Cafe, Sproul Plaza
Favorite On/Near Campus Eateries
Amanda's, Barney's (by Rockridge BART- BEST garlic fries), Cafe Milano, Cafe Strada, Chipotle, FSM Cafe, Gypsy's, House of Curry, Jamba Juice, Joshu-Ya Sushi, Papamingo Yogurt, Smart Alec's, Yogurt Park, Zachary's Pizza (by Rockridge BART). You can also purchase a campus meal plan.
Favorite to-go snacks from home
Almonds/nuts, Kashi bars (or any breakfast/snack bar), pretzels, fresh apple slices, juice/protein drinks, and candy. Bring a bag lunch from home to save money.
Most helpful items that I bring on my daily commute
Re-usable water bottle, BART/bus schedule for emergencies, Cal 1 Card for free bus rides/discounts.
Angelica (Contra Costa County)
Hello! My name is Angelica Tripp, and I am a 2nd year majoring in English. I commute from Antioch, AKA "the Yoch". First, I would like to congratulate you on your decision to attend UC Berkeley! It's true that we are located at one of the most exciting and beautiful campuses in the world, and I definitely recommend that you take time to explore the school and the city.
I mainly commute on BART from the Pittsburg/Bay Point station to Rockridge, where I transfer to the 51 bus line that goes to and from campus. Sometimes commuting can feel challenging, but remember that Student Commuters at Cal is here for you every step of the way. Go Bears!
Commuter Advice
Avoid 8 AM classes if you can. If you need a nap or down time between classes, the Doe Library "reading room" has comfy couches and chairs for sleepy/relaxing students. If you take BART or the bus, studying and finishing reading during your commute is helpful. Come to at least one Commuter event--Berkeley is a big campus, and it's good to know other commuters are sharing a similar experience to yours.
Contact Angelica: antripp@berkeley.edu
Favorite lounges/hangouts
Dwinelle Hall (there are plugs at the 3rd floor café, and also in the campus Libraries) and the Golden Bear Cafe on Sproul (there is a bathroom inside, which is a total lifesaver sometimes!)
Favorite campus eateries
Consider buying a meal plan if you are on campus a lot so you can eat at Campus Restaurants and Dining Halls. SF Soup Company is also really great because they package everything to go!
Favorite to-go snacks from home
Nuts and dried fruit because they don’t go bad and they give you a lot of great energy
Most helpful item I bring to campus
My backpack! I made sure to buy one that had a lot of pockets and a slot for my laptop so I wouldn't have to worry about all the extra stuff I have to carry around.
Kasondra (San Mateo County)
First off, congratulations to my fellow commuters for making the decision to come to UCB and for making the tough decision to be Cal Commuter. My name is Kasondra Walsh and I will be starting my second year at Cal in the fall of 2009. I intend to double major in Integrative Biology and Theatre and minoring in Dance. I am currently commuting on BART from San Bruno, which is almost the end of the BART line on the SF side. I live at home with my mom and my 4 siblings, and yes I was able to survive my first year this way despite what people may say. One of my reasons for choosing Cal was because I knew that I could commute from home, which would save thousands of dollars that I knew I did not have.
Being a commuter means needing to prepare yourself ahead of time, but it also means that you have to be able to take things as they come, to be able to deal with any situation that is thrown at you or any last minute changes that may happen because you can’t run home and back if you need something. Surprisingly, balancing college and helping out at home wasn’t as hard as I anticipated, especially when I made last minute study plans. I found that I used commuting as an excuse for a lot of things, such as backing out of evening study sessions which I would have benefited a lot from. And yet, I have no regrets about my decision to commute. I knew dorm life wasn’t for me, I knew I needed to save money, and in the end I met some of my best friends because I was a commuter. It’s not an easy choice, and it’s not one to be taken lightly, but there are people out there (starting with us, Student Commuters at Cal) who will support you no matter what, you just have to take the time to find them.
Commuter Advice
Rent a locker from the RSF for $15 a semester (trust me you will use it, especially if you have to stay on campus and need to get ready for a formal event). Make sure you know where and when you are allowed to ride bikes, they do actually ticket for this.
Contact Kasondra: kasondracarleen@berkeley.edu
Favorite lounges/hangouts
Sproul Plaza, where most of the flavor of Berkeley lies. There’s almost never a dull moment.
Favorite campus eateries
With regards to food, the best sandwich to be had in Berkeley comes from The Sandwich Zone on Shattuck near Addison. Ramona’s, located in Wurster Hall, is a close second.
Favorite to-go snacks from home
Being an economical commuter student, however, I usually bring a sandwich from home.
Most helpful items I bring to campus
Always make sure you have your Class Pass, BART schedule, and some bus schedules packed with you—you will thank yourself later.
Chris (Alameda County)
New commuter students: welcome! Over the past four years I have found UC Berkeley to be a unique and enjoyable place to learn, and I hope you will enjoy your years here as much as I have.
My name is Christopher Chandler, and I am a first year M.S. student in Civil and Environmental Engineering. I earned my B.S. at UC Berkeley in May 2009, and I have been a commuter student since I began my undergraduate studies in the fall of 2005. On a typical morning I drive from my home in Newark to the Union City BART station, take a train to Downtown Berkeley, and then take either AC Transit’s 52L line or the campus shuttle P line to the northeast corner of campus for my first class.
Commuter Advice
I highly recommend that long distance commuters use public transit, especially BART. By using public transit, one helps the environment, avoids the truly dreadful Bay Area traffic, and allows for study time that would otherwise have been spent behind the wheel.
Contact Chris: chriscommuter@gmail.com
