When you picture a UC Berkeley student, it’s hard to avoid the stereotypes: the crusty nerd whose only social life is their textbook, the liberal arts kid who can turn casual conversation into debate or the pack of furries casually roaming campus. Sure, there may be truth to these cliches, but haven’t they been recycled enough?

The reality of being a Golden Bear is far more complex. Beneath our caffeine dependency and existential crises are quieter commonalities that somehow unite us all. We share the same rituals, mob the same places and accumulate the same oddly specific experiences that only make sense once you’ve lived through them.

For a campus so full of eccentric individuals, we actually have an impressive amount of things in common. Sometimes, all it takes is a little self-reflection — and perhaps nearly dying on Durant Avenue — to realize this. So, forget about past stereotypes; it’s time to unpack the new and improved UC Berkeley student archetype, one characteristic at a time.

Get ready with me: UC Berkeley edition

Walking through a sea of students on Sproul, certain similarities stand out. Performative wired headphones, heads of unwashed hair and thrifted upcycles seem to be fashion staples. Some of us wear sweatpants for every occasion, while others show up in full-on suits (likely a hazing tactic). Then, there’s the absurdly bright blue and gold of our overpriced Berkeley merchandise. Whether you’re wearing a sweatshirt from the student store or you’re one of those athletes decked out in monochromatic team gear, there’s no escaping our unofficial uniform. Somehow, in a school this big, we manage to coordinate on the daily, looking like “The Sims” characters dropped into our own little universe.

UC Berkeley-specific vernacular

“Berkeley Time,” “Brain like Berkeley,” “crash out” and “lock in” are just a few phrases we’ve all heard thrown around campus. From academic jargon to chronically online brainrot, UC Berkeley has developed a vocabulary all its own. Just think about it. Where else is “cracked” used as a term of endearment for one’s GPA rather than their sex life? And “I’m cooked” can mean anything from failing an exam to surviving an awkward social interaction. Add in some popular nicknames, such as Haasholes, Croads and Unit Third World, and you’ve got yourself a language that makes perfect sense to a UC Berkeley student but to absolutely no one else.

Apps we cannot live without

When you open your phone, what is the first app you check? While there are plenty of answers to this question, some are more essential than others at Cal. Socially speaking, you will not make it very far without Yik Yak or Doorlist. Among the self-yaks, absurd invitations and occasional campus drama, there is an endless supply of intel you can glean from both. Then there’s Slack, which is practically the lifeline of Greek life and just about every other school organization we have. And, if you give a Berkeley student enough free rein, they will eventually discover Duffl and start having all their snacks delivered right to their door. Lastly, and let’s be honest, ChatGPT. As much as we all want to deny it, AI has become a friend, tutor and even academic savior to pretty much everyone here. In a place that seems to have all the answers, UC Berkeley might just have an app for everything, including getting through itself.

What are we on?

From the outside, UC Berkeley students can seem like well-oiled machines. We manage packed schedules, battle grade deflation and somehow survive on little to no sleep. While we might make it look effortless, only the truest of UC Berkeley students know our dirty little secret: We’re all running on something. Some of us chug Celsius and coffee like our lives depend on it. Others find solace in the head rush of a fruit-flavored vape. We have our usual potheads, casually smoking like everyday is 4/20, as well as our study warriors popping Adderall before the great lock-in. Whatever you choose, you are surely not alone at UC Berkeley. From vibes to prescriptions, we’re all just trying to make it by, and we’ll take whatever measures necessary to do so.

Berkeleycore

To call UC Berkeley students “something else” is an understatement. With its matcha-drinking, scooter-riding, thrift-shopping, protest-attending enthusiasts, UC Berkeley is home to a wide range of interests and hobbies. We make hanging out on Memorial Glade a personality trait and buying Taco Bell at 2 a.m. seem like a perfectly reasonable life choice. We participate in the same corny traditions, like avoiding the seal and rolling down 4.0 Hill, and go all out when the Big Game comes around. We somehow find ourselves at the same parties, complaining about the same professors and standing in the same insanely long lines for food we insist is worth it. Additionally, we’ve all realized that getting from one end of campus to the other without looking winded and sweaty is nearly impossible. Despite our differences, these oddly universal experiences connect us. Perhaps that’s the truth behind the UC Berkeley student archetype: not one particular mold, but a collective agreement to be uniquely ourselves together.