<p>I’m sort of wary of these college welcome days. It’s like, when you know the principle will be visiting your class tomorrow and your teacher tells everyone ahead of time to behave, and that class next day is 3 times more interesting than usual. :-)</p>
<p>Will Cal Day give prospective/undecided students a good feel of not only what the school offers but what being a student at Berkeley is really like? Or is at just like…pomp…?</p>
<p>Well, for starters its on a saturday, so in that way its not like the real thing, but I don't think its supposed to be either. Between Cal day, visiting on your own time, and Calso (should you decide to attend), you will have good feel for the school.</p>
<p>Cal Day is a public relations open house for prospective students and the community. This is in no way a bad thing. Of course they will put on UC's best face. That is what public relations is all about. </p>
<p>You will get out of Cal Day what you put into it. What are your issues with UC Berkeley? Make a list, i.e. dorm life, classroom and course availability, classes taught by professors -vs- TAs, crime/safety issues on and off campus, social life in general, competitiveness, greek life, etc., whatever is on your mind.</p>
<p>Then be prepared to ask all of the questions you need to and request honest, open answers from everyone. Talk to current freshmen as well as upperclassmen. If you are from an ethnic group or other affinity group, talk to Cal students who share your ethnic, political, religious or other interests. Don't just talk to the official Cal Day representatives. </p>
<p>And above all, have some fun visiting the Cal campus!</p>
<p>There is a ton of s**t to do on CAL day. Unless you are very rah rah, you can probably forego the morning session for admits. After the fifth 'Go Bears', I'd had enough. But, it was still ok - just more fluff than meat.</p>
<p>In front of Zellerbach Hall there were representatives from the student clubs. Just off Sproul Plaza, there were information booths on just about everything - majors, colleges, dorms, etc. There are dorm tours. There are coop tours (we were somewhat focused on housing). There were some lectures, presentations, and tours - we were too busy to get to any of them. </p>
<p>I agree with gsp<em>silicon</em>valley, talk to anyone and everyone.</p>