I didn't go to the big info session, but I think the business school is genuinely separate from the rest of the hippy campus. The pan handlers are funny too. I remember some years ago a news show uncovered that a whole bunch of Berkeley students were panhandling - and why wouldn't they, they were making 300+ dollars a day. That's more than undergrads can hope for from almost any job.
I have been to Ithaca twice, and the Berkeley campus and immediate surroundings are somewhat similar; but there several major differences. San Francisco is about 30 minutes away by car or train and it is truly a spectacular place for young people to live, work and hang out. Silicon Valley is an hour away, with some of the most sought after jobs in a distinct second job market. Napa Valley is just over an hour away; I was hooked from the first time I visited and I know that most other people are as well.
If I cannot get into Haas (or Stanford
), this area tops my list for destinations after business school.