It depends a lot on what you are looking for and what you can afford. If you have a good job and a family, the hills are beautiful, with great bay views and beautiful craftsman style homes.
If you are a student, you probably can't afford the hills so Southside or Elmwood with a couple of roommates will put you close to campus and Berkeley nightlife.
If you are a graduate student with a family then the northern neighborhood all the way by the tunnel and Solano Ave. might be the way to go--still relatively affordable but quieter and more family oriented. There are a lot of possibilities depending on what you are looking for.
Good luck with the apartment hunt, Maja.
