<p>I went (with my squigly shirt and all)and there were some things i liked about cal and some things i did not like about calso. </p>
<p>I liked:
=the campus/atmosphere (more specifically the dorms, i loved that science camp cabin feel back in elementary and feel the same way this time around)
=everyone was easy to talk to (both people that are about to go and those going now)
=the pizza actually looked disgusting but it was surprisingly good
=the presentations (some were boring, but all were informative)</p>
<p>I disliked:
=the lack of ac in certain buildings
=the fact that we put telebears as one of the last things in our schedule
=no time for getting out id's (for those going calso later do this at our lunch!)</p>
<p>well this is only based on what i experienced from calso and my one other visit:
8/10</p>
<p>-1 for the lack of class availability (not me personally but for other people i talked to)
-1 for the housing being a few blocks away (some like it, me not so much. i would like it closer)</p>
<p>some need it for summer sessions, but it was said in the id web page that we would get it at calso. the fact that there wasn't specific time allocated was sort of a letdown for those that traveled far.</p>
<p>For me, CalSo was a dissapointment and painfully boring at times. I felt that 95% of the information I received could have been obtained by reading berkeley's website. Furthermore, people who check this website would have already learned transfer tips and strategies, i.e. don't overload yourself first semester. The "options" where we could attend 2 seminars related to different topics such as the career center, housing, financial aid, etc. was not very helpful at all. First, the structure didn't really allow it to be helpful because each seminar was only 30 minutes. Thus, the seminar was extremely general. There was also a one hour lecture on "Health and Safety" which I suppose was necessary but still a little boring--though the numbers they gave us in case of emergencies was very important.</p>
<p>I did like meeting other transfer students, getting a chance to eat in the cafeteria, and registering/planning out classes. There actually was ample opportunity to get your CalSo ID card--I did--if you asked your CalSo counselor if you could get one or if you just went off on your own at lunch or something for 5 minutes to get it.</p>
<p>I'm in the same camp as wannabeabear. The vast majority of the information in the presentation I had already known. I felt it to be more like a Freshmen seminar. "You made it to Berkeley and you deserve it, don't ever feel like you don't." For me that just isn't a problem. </p>
<p>I did like how they reinforced the idea of forming your own support group now that your moving from Community College. The lecture hall was horribly stuffy and everyone grew irritable toward the end. I agree that the options were a complete joke. I went to Housing and Volunteering/Researching. The former I felt was a total waste of time, the co-ops presentation was odd at best. The latter was useful, however, it didn't give all that much information.</p>
<p>CalSo lasted from 7:30 am - 7:00 pm... entirely too long. My group asked the counselors if we could go get our ID Cards during our free-time and they allowed us to. I recommend asking... all you need is your Student ID number and a valid ID.</p>
<p>i went yesterday and i agree with post #'s 6 and 7. if you've cruised cal's website enough then you tend to zone out for long periods of time at certain points throughout the day. however, i think the fact is that alot of the ppl on college confidential care very much: spend alot of time online and on their schools website. i mean, we signed up for a college discussion forum! we sure DO care!</p>
<p>that's why i'm guessing that many CC'ers were bored at calso. what i LIKED about calso was getting to see so many transfers in the same place and getting to see a small cross-section of the students body. </p>
<p>my only advice:
wear shoes that you wouldn't mind walking and walking and walking and walking around in.</p>
<p>The L&S advising is a basic overview. It can easily be read on the website or conducted online through the "TOOLS" orientation. I don't know how the other college orientations were. </p>
<p>My major advising came under the Political Science department. It was a small grouping of about 10 - 12 students. It was general as well but I liked it better cause the setting allowed for greater interactions with the counselors.</p>
<p>The advising will not be on a 1 on 1 level. Everything you do will be done in groups. My best piece of advice is to make a couple of friends in your group early. It helps make the time pass and you can have some folks to talk to throughout the day. A couple of us actually decided to sign up for a class together.</p>
<p>You won't get the advisor code till the end of the day!</p>
<p>It had to be in the mid 80s to low 90s. The website they had advised viewing stated that the weather would only be in the 70s. Boy was that wrong. Many of the people there said that the weather was very unusual.</p>
<p>I went yesterday as well. Overall I thought it was good but it was definitely stuff I had already heard before. I did enjoy meeting with the major adviser (history) and I was able to ask her a bunch of questions and follow-ups in person rather than having to email her. </p>
<p>Everyone I met at CalSO was really cool. I was pretty burned out myself too though by the time the security/health briefing rolled around. Instead of going to it I just went to the TRSP center and hung out/spoke with the veterans office and I also went and poked around in the student store. I could have spent a long time in the bookstore there but made it back to CalSO at the end of the health briefing. I feel this was a perfect time to skip out for a bit and recommend it to the people who are yet to go.</p>
<p>Also, the only time I experienced bad customer service was by one of the girls in the Cal 1 card office. Nothing that bad just kind of rude, short/rushed responses, etc. I had read on the Cal 1 card website that you're able to view your pic and have another taken if you don't like it. Apparently the girl didn't know (or care) about those rules and didn't let me see it. So I recommend you guys get your picture right the first time, or tell them you know website says you're allowed to see it and take another picture if you need to.</p>
<p>I bailed out after my group was done picking classes and missed the dinner. It was all the way beyond the other end of campus and I had to catch the BART which was close by so I just told the group I was out and left.</p>
<p>All the CalSO counselors seemed really nice and eager to help with any questions you have. A couple were pretty hot too. Except in certain cases...the female student transfers - not so much (no wonder the wife insisted on me attending Cal...I kid, I kid.)</p>
<p>I'm glad I don't have to do it again. All in all it was a long ass day but pretty good.</p>
<p>Yes, it was 96 degrees in Berkeley today, and currently 87 in SF - VERY unusual! It is normally about 20 degrees cooler in SF at this time of year (last Monday it was only 47 degrees at noon), probably 15-20 degrees cooler in Berkeley. I use the NOAA website for my weather report. It seems to be the most accurate.</p>
<p>Edward04: Too bad you didn't go to the June 11 CalSO, there were some hot transfer students at that one...well, at least the girls were hot! ;)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Edward04: Too bad you didn't go to the June 11 CalSO, there were some hot transfer students at that one...well, at least the girls were hot!