Ask questions about Cal Berkeley here!

<p>^Oh sorry, I must have misunderstood your question as the school directly paying for your rent. Lolol. Yes, the money is refunded to you (sign up for EFT!)</p>

<p>Everyone’s finaid package is different; I guess from here on it’s up to you to budget your rent and expenses based on how much you get back, and we can’t really advise you on that. But keep in mind that you have utilities, food, laundry, parking(?), textbooks etc., and other moving in costs like furniture and cleaning supplies to take care of (:</p>

<p>^ Yeah thanks. sorry for all the question. As for the price of my place ($730) it is a 2 bedroom shared by 3 people, myself and two other people.</p>

<p>And you get the single room for $730?</p>

<p>Can someone please comment on the grade deflation in humanities majors? I’m a prospective polisci/interdisciplinary studies major and I’m concerned that a bad GPA will limit my chances for grad school and internships.</p>

<p>Also, someone mentioned earlier that being a Berkeley undergrad could actually make the chances of Berkeley grad school slimmer for the humanities. Is this true?</p>

<p>Re: your first point.</p>

<p>There is no explicit grade deflation; however, Berkeley doesn’t award 4.3s for A+ grades. So in comparison with those schools that do, you don’t have the chance to “make up” for bad grades by getting an A+. Otherwise, grades are usually handed out fairly; it’s just the difficult material (at times) that makes the overall grades lower, for instance. No free As in this school, for the most part.</p>

<p>Your second point:</p>

<p>I think I did. Yes, this is generally true. It’s not an official documented policy, however, the selection committee is made up of professors from the department you wish to enter, obviously, and there are two possibilities:</p>

<p>1) They know you, they might know your weaknesses that aren’t on the application. That MIGHT disadvantage you.</p>

<p>2) Even if they know you’re amazing, they will want you to explore other options other than Berkeley in order to get a group of grad students with diverse research backgrounds. If you’re especially amazing, you’ll probably get lots of other offers anyway. </p>

<p>I have had professors tell me that option 2) is what happens a lot of the time. Their entering classes are small and they feel that you’ve had the benefit of a Cal education already, so they want to give the opportunity to another student (of course, this is all assuming that you both have equally excellent applications).</p>

<p>By the way my experiences are in the social sciences, not humanities. It seems like since you’re a prospective poli sci major that my experience will answer a bit of your question; I’m not sure about interdisciplinary studies though.</p>

<p>Thanks for the quick and helpful response Eloriel!</p>

<p>How difficult would you say it is to get into an ivy-level/Berkeley caliber grad school? I know that’s a pretty vague question lol but what kind of GPA would one need to get into that kind of grad school? Does Berkeley typically send many grads to top grad schools? Thanks again for your help :)</p>

<p>Oh and random question - does Berkeley provide cheap, temporary housing for admitted students? Or does anyone know of any affordable options close to Berkeley?</p>

<p>I really want to go to CalDay but unfortunately the overnight host program was full by the time I realized I could go. I will be flying in to California from Canada so I would need a place to stay.</p>

<p>Hmm… well I’m not considering going to grad school at all so I didn’t do the necessary research. Sorry I can’t answer your first query. For Berkeley though, all the grad students I know are pretty much geniuses. Stellar GPA, significant honors thesis, research project or experience, job experience, the works… It’s pretty insane how crazy awesome their CVs are. Of course there might be (literally) one who’s not so amazing, but still very good nonetheless.</p>

<p>Sorry about the overnight host program thing… You can choose to stay at a hotel (Hotel Durant is really close, Golden Bear Inn is further but quite affordable, lots of inns and motels on University Ave) or perhaps go on Craigslist and list your situation. Otherwise there isn’t much provision for “cheap, temporary housing”. If you know someone in the dorms you can just crash at their place, though.</p>

<p>many of the top schools, including most of the ivies, tend to not want their undergrads as grad students. For example, a Harvard undergrad is disadvantaged applying to Harvard Law. It is considered a good thing to have the student experience a different school. Not lesser, just different.</p>

<p>So I have two more questions:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>How important is the essay for the theme program application?</p></li>
<li><p>When do students “officially” sign up for classes?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>im a rather strong student academically. cream of the crop in a small pond. i know that uc berkeley is competitive especially how cut throat it is for premeds. i was wondering how hard and manageable it is to maintain a 3.7 GPA for a pre med student? how many a’s and b’s does that entitle? I plan on doubling majoring, if that is possible, in mcb (genetics emphasis) and public health to get that interesting mix of courseload and perspectives. I know that I can always settle for a career in the public health industry or as an academic researcher w/ Phd, but my ultimate dream is to go to a fairly decent medical school. I know that i will be taking a risk by attending cal as a premed in mcb (its so interesting though!) but i know it will be the most frustrating and yet the most enriching experience for my growth as an individual. i was just wondering with some reassurance if studying hard enough (w/ still a bit of social life in a cut throat field of study) will bring me far to be a competitive medical applicant from cal. If any pre med or mcb students can give me some insight on their courseload and the impact it has had on their gpa ( in terms of how much studying involved and social/personal time) it would be much appreciated. i dont want to give up on being a premed student ( it can all change once i actually begin) but theres just been so much negative posts about it that just worries me.</p>

<p>Is there a way to visit the campus with an overnight stay at Berkely? My D’s schedule is in conflict with the leadership scholarship semifinalists progra but would like to visit before deciding to attend.</p>

<p>Ginyutokusentai - signing up for classes is done in two phases for each semester - phase I for the first 10.5 units of classes, then complete your schedule in phase II.</p>

<p>For new admits, the CalSO session you attend is your phase I appointment. You will log in and register for classes as one of the activities during that day. It is a motivation to attend the earliest possible CalSO, as that gives you preference getting into classes that many freshmen will be taking. Those who don’t attend CalSO are given a code that lets you log in after the last CalSO. </p>

<p>Phase I for Fall classes begin on April 9th and will continue until approximately July 10th - soon after the last CalSO session. Phase II begins about July 12 and continues until mid August. At the beginning of May, you will be sent your phase II appointment - the date and time that starts a 24 hour window to register. </p>

<p>Registering for summer classes, in case anyone is going to get a head start taking some classes, is already open and does not have the phaseI/phaseII pattern.</p>

<p>iglooo - there are several programs for overnight visits, at least one of which should have been posted as an offer on your daughter’s MyBerkeleyApp page. </p>

<p>Here is one [Overnight</a> Stay Program 2012 | CAA](<a href=“http://alumni.berkeley.edu/services/student-programs/leadership-award-scholars-association/overnight-stay-program]Overnight”>http://alumni.berkeley.edu/services/student-programs/leadership-award-scholars-association/overnight-stay-program)</p>

<p>Are there other overnight programs? My D received CAA program. Neither date works for her. The first one was already full when she tried to book, the second one conflicts with an event she can’t miss.</p>

<p>@rider730</p>

<p>So when we sign up for classes during the CalSO session, will we be able to get help on choosing what classes we should take and get more info about those classes?</p>

<p>(And you didn’t answer my other question about the theme program)</p>

<p>On MyBerkeleyApp, it tells me to complete the online academic orientation for L&S before going to my CalSo meeting. A few weeks ago I was able to complete the tutorial but stopped where I choose a tentative schedule because I had no idea about which classes to choose. Today when I tried to give it a second shot, it told me that the orientation would only be available from May 1st. I know I will make the deadline but will all my saved work be gone? And do you have any tips on how to pick your classes?</p>

<p>Mysweetwawa - Can’t say for sure on whether the saved work will be preserved, although it is probably linked to your MyBerkeleyApp site and available again in May.</p>

<p>Picking first classes may seem daunting, but it is not a critical task because you have so many equally valid combinations you could take this early in your four years. Planning the first classes is a two step process. First, work out all the classes or types of classes you may need to get to the degree(s) you think you might pursue. Second, look at the classes available for the coming semester, including the current availability of seats, and build a list of classes you might want to take in Fall. </p>

<p>Step 1 - list every major you might study - include some options not just one. </p>

<p>Step 2 - look at the department websites to list the pre-req classes that would be needed to declare into the majors you listed.</p>

<p>step 3 - list all the types of courses you must complete to earn a degree per the rules of your college. For example, at L&S you would need R&C, American Cultures, seven Breadth classes, American History, Quantitative Reasoning, Foreign Language, and American Institutions. Some are already covered by HS coursework, SAT/ACT or AP scores, the rest are on your list.</p>

<p>note - R&C must be completed in your first two years, but most of the other general stuff can be addressed anytime during your four years. These are great to choose when the major classes you want are full in a particular semester, thus don’t go overboard scheduling too many of these for Fall. </p>

<p>step 4 - look at the classes that are offered for Fall (schedule.berkeley.edu) and note which are on your list. You can search by category, such as R&C or American Cultures). To find breadths for the semester, use [Degree</a> Requirements-L&S Seven-Course Breadth and R&C Search](<a href=“http://ls-breadth.berkeley.edu/search.php]Degree”>http://ls-breadth.berkeley.edu/search.php)</p>

<p>step 5 - start tracking the open seats in the class - schedule.berkeley.edu lists the course along with seats. when you are close to CalSO, start clicking the “Click here for current enrollment and course restrictions” to get an up-to-the-minute seat availability. The numbers show on the schedule before you click the link are the count as of the last evening, not current. Track it for each date/time offered</p>

<p>Step 6 - figure out which sessions conflict and with what other course you are considering. In particular, you want to know the sessions that are most desirable for you because they </p>

<p>step 7 - don’t worry about back to back classes - all classes operate on Berkeley time which reserves ten minutes in each hour for moving between classes - and you can make it between any two even if it might be quite a hustle at worst case. Don’t worry about time of day or who is teaching it or finding the ultimate combination of sessions that minimizes trips onto campus or maximizes time off. Your first couple of semesters, your registration priority is low enough that you will have more limited options - you take what you get into.</p>

<p>Actual registration involves another step - the classes must still have openings and the day of week/times must not conflict. Often you will find two classes you want to take conflict in a way that can’t be resolved. You will have to choose one and take the other in a future semester. Courses you prioritized to take this semester might already be full. You then swap in a lower priority (to you) course and try again next semester. Or, you might choose to waitllist if the number ahead of you is low, hoping to clear into the class - this strategy becomes more useful as a course becomes more urgent either because it limits future course scheduling, or it is given only once every other year, or you are approaching a deadline like declaring the major without it.</p>

<p>i’ve noticed in berkeley’s online course catalog that any course taught by a professor is upwards of at least 50 students in a class (and that’s more for upper div classes, lower div tend to hover around 100 more often than not.) others either don’t list their instructors or state that the instructor is “the staff.”</p>

<p>I’m assuming this is a reference to the GSIs, but what I’m wondering is - are we allowed to ask GSIs for a recommendation come time for graduate school? does it hold the same weight as those from professors? I don’t mind large classrooms but I’m not the kind of student that goes to the professor during office hours and I can’t seem to find any class taught by a professor that has a small classroom number (or do these not fill up as much as I think? I’d be taking primarily social science classes in the sociology/anthro/english field)</p>

<p>50 students in a lecture class is pretty much the smallest you’ll get, especially in those fields you mentioned. Also, “The Staff” is a placeholder and DOESN’T mean you’ll be taught by a GSI; it just means they haven’t settled the faculty allocations yet. It’ll still be taught by a professor. (I assume you’re talking about Fall; for Summer it is entirely possible you’ll be taught by GSIs.)</p>

<p>As for grad school recommendations, I think GSI recommendations are helpful but ultimately a good rec from a professor is what will really help. If you are concerned about the large class sizes, there are a myriad of seminar classes (the Sociology 190 series, for example) that have about 15 students to one professor. You usually complete a significant research paper at the end of the class and get to know the prof really well. That is definitely an option for you.</p>