University of California, Berkeley

See also Wikipedia's article about "University of California, Berkeley".

UC Berkeley (also known as Berzerkeley) (Californians know it simply as Cal) is one of the few schools more protest-happy than Columbia.

As a public school, one would think that it would be overshadowed by the more prestigious and affluent nearby private school, Stanford University, much like Rutgers is overshadowed by Princeton and Penn State by UPenn. This effect does not take place because Cal just might be more prestigious and academically achieved than Stanford. In fact, Cal is generally credited with being one of the two best public universities in the States, along with the University of Michigan.

It is also known for its debilitating bureaucracy, but at least it has school spirit.