<p>I know Cal admissions are coming out soon, so if anyone has any questions about my experience there, I am more than happy to answer. I was a political science major and I graduated last semester. I was also accepted into UCLA/UCSD/UCD and UCSB so I can answer any questions about that process although a lot has changed since my transfer experience.</p>
<p>I am an engineer but what was your experience like learning at Berkeley? I hear horror stories that it is overrated. The courses are too hard. etc…</p>
<p>Also, what is your experience living there? How are the involvements at Cal help you?</p>
<p>My engineer friends are pretty much studying 24/7…that’s the bad news. The good news is that an engineering degree from Cal is pretty much going to set you up for life. Is it hard? Yes, but there are ways to mitigate the pain. I don’t think it’s overrated at all.</p>
<p>I’ll be honest with you, when I first moved to cal, I hated it. But towards my final couple of semesters I really started to love it there. I was involved in numerous groups and programs which definitely expanded my horizons and helped me figure out what it is I want to do with my life. Live close to campus, don’t slack off and I guarantee you’ll be fine. Enjoy yourself, make your 1st semester easy, no rush.</p>
<p>Have you graduated already? What was your GPA at time of graduation? Were you able to secure a job after graduation? Did you intern for any top firms? if so, did being a Berkeley student give you an edge?</p>
<p>Thanks for helping us out MortimerC.</p>
<p>What are the ways to reduce the pain that you talked about?</p>
<p>What CC did you go to and what was your transfer GPA?</p>
<p>I’m a history major. How tough are classes? Big impact from a ccc? I’m a 3.8 gpa student… Will I be fine lol. Thanks</p>
<p>@mort
Why did you not like cal when you first went?</p>
<p>@ Evity I had a 3.47 coming in, and I had a similar GPA coming out. So honestly, there is more work at Berkeley but for my major at least it’s not THAT much harder.
I interned at a smaller firm, but I also did some other work in government. I graduated in December, but I took some time off and have a couple of job offers standing. I’m not sure if Berkeley gave me an edge, compared to my peers I seemed to have more opportunities than them, but maybe that’s because I’m such a cool guy?? </p>
<p>@Waterox- Live close to campus, schedule intelligently, make as many friends as you can without getting distracted, Get your work done early, join some clubs/ organizations, do cool things like EAP, alternative breaks etc. Don’t overwork yourself. Don’t let the other students psych you out.</p>
<p>@ineedadegree I answered the transfer GPA question, but let’s say that I went to a CCC and was able to complete all of my prereqs</p>
<p>UCdoggy You’ll be fine, do your work and don’t get distracted. I Wish i could have taken more history classes. </p>
<p>Ucisee- I lived too far away, was hard to make friends. Once I moved to a co-op, joined some culbs and met my girlfriend, social problem solved.</p>
<p>Don’t let the freshman admits intimidate you. You’re just as smart as them, trust.</p>
<p>Was Poli Sci an impacted major when you applied at UCLA?</p>
<p>@crazycollegedays
I believe so. You aren’t really polisci when you transfer to UCLA, you are “pre polisci” and you have to do something or other in order to get full fledged status.</p>
<p>“Don’t let the freshman admits intimidate you. You’re just as smart as them, trust.”</p>
<p>I’m sure we’re all way smarter than the freshmen admits haha ;)</p>
<p>Although nowadays some of these freshmen admits are insane with their ECs.</p>
<p>Thanks Mortimerc for answering all of our questions… You are a “cool guy” in my books!</p>
<p>Oh yeah that always kind of confused me! Hopefully I’ll get in but I won’t hold my breath</p>
<p>I didn’t think I was getting in to Berkeley AT ALL. Anything can happen.</p>
<p>Sorry for all the questions, but being a Poli Sci major myself with Berkeley decsions coming out tomorrow…</p>
<p>1) Why did you choose Berk over UCLA?
2) Did you consider living in on campus housing? If so, why did you not live in them? (Not enough spaces available, too much $, etc)
3) Is Poli sci impacted in that it is hard to get all the classes you want?
4) How many upper division poli sci classses do you need to take in order to graduate? were you able to take other elective classes for fun?
5) Do you have any information about greek life?</p>
<p>Awesome responses @MortimerC thanks for being honest, thorough, and extremely helpful to us incoming transfers! </p>
<p>And we are DEFINITELY more intelligent academically and socially than entering Freshman.</p>
<p>@SCtrojansfan
First off, this is bear territory so remember to change the screen name if accepted.</p>
<p>1) It’s a marginally more rigorous program, and I don’t like L.A. at all. I have talked with UCLA students and they are just as sharp though so I don’t feel as though there is a huge difference between the programs, but there is a difference.</p>
<p>2) I’m old, I didn’t want to live with kids. And by old I mean like 23 when i transferred, so not “old” old but “19 year olds annoy me” old. Finances were definitely a consideration in where I lived my first semester. I got a paid internship that allowed me to find better housing my second semester.</p>
<p>3) I don’t believe that poli sci is “impacted,” but yes, SOME classes are really hard to get. Let me tell you a little about a thing called Telebears…it is the worst thing. With that being said, it depends on the class, your standing (junior, senior), your declared major and which “phase” you decide to telebears the class (if you phase 1 you have a higher chance of getting it, but you can only phase 1 so many units)</p>
<p>4) Off the top of my head, I want to say 8 and a history class so 9 total. It was not hard for me, just take 2 poli sci classes every semester. You can take classes in other subjects, in fact you can probably double major or take a minor but doing that will make your schedule very rigid. those classes might be impacted though or only available to declared majors, so once again, like everything at berkeley, it depends.</p>
<p>5) They throw cool parties? Honestly I don’t know much about that process for transfers.</p>
<p>@MortimerC</p>
<p>Can you please list the best restaurants within a 15 mile radius of Berkeley? for the following categories;</p>
<p>Italian, Asian-Fusion/ Chinese, Sushi, Mexican , American, French, and Fast food?</p>
<p>I love food.</p>