<p>I have a dilemma. I’m going to UCLA Welcome Day on the 15th. And my family was thinking of coming back on the 16th, the Saturday. Now, Cal Day is the 16th. So, I wanted to know what kind of stuff goes around on Cal Day and if it’s worth the drive back the same day from LA. Any peeps from last year who know more about this?</p>
<p>Bizzzzzzump.</p>
<p>Anyone? Come on.</p>
<p>Cal Day was useful, but it wasn't critical. In fact, from what I hear, UCLA Welcome Day isn't that important either.</p>
<p>In a nutshell, Cal Day just gives folks a chance to look at the campus, but more importantly, get to know the fields, majors, and departments. A lot of professors will be around, there will be lots of music performances (including the Cal Symphony w00t w00t go us!), and lots of Q&A time. There's lots to do, but nothing that you wouldn't get at CalSO should you choose to matriculate to Berkeley.</p>
<p>My opinion? Go to Cal Day, and come to Berkeley. Screw UCLA :-P</p>
<p>Sorry to go off in a tangent here, but I saw that you mentioned Cal Symphony. Can you email me more information in terms of auditioning, rehearsals, competition, etc.? (Or, are you NOT in Cal Symphony and I completely misunderstood your post..? hahaha.) My email is <a href="mailto:winterpolaris@gmail.com">winterpolaris@gmail.com</a></p>
<p>Here is the official Cal Day website, so you can judge for yourself how useful it is for you to attend...</p>
<p><a href="http://www.berkeley.edu/calday/%5B/url%5D">http://www.berkeley.edu/calday/</a></p>
<p>Cal Day is an annual event for the community to come out and visit the campus. It is not just for incoming freshmen. Cal has events and activities planned for the entire family. It's a big public relations open house kind of event that will certainly include valuable info for incoming freshman and transfer students. </p>
<p>Go if you can, but it is not life threatening if you can't.</p>
<p>I'm going to both. I want to walk around both campuses before I make up my mind. I like UCLA a lot, but Berkeley is friggin' Berkeley. Just from the reaction of my family and friends that I got in tells me that this school is esteemed as high as some Ivies. You'd be a damn fool to turn down one for the other without visiting both.</p>
<p>Aim78: I'm too lazy to e-mail you, so I'll just write it here for any other interested musicians.</p>
<p>The symphony (Music 141) is a two-unit course which lets you play with undergrads, grad students, and professors. Auditions are held at the beginning of every semester, in which you play some orchestral stuff you can pick up at the Library as well as a solo piece or two.</p>
<p>Rehearsals are typically TTh 7:15-9:45 (which means 7:00-10:00 in the conductor's book, evidently :-P), and there are usually two to three concerts a semester.</p>
<p>In terms of competition, if you get in, there is none. For the violin section, seating is arranged like a professional orchestra: first couple of stands are determined by the conductor, then anyone can sit anywhere in the section they please. Since seating tests are primarily used to scare kids into practicing, it's pretty much obviated by the fact that we all actually like playing music.</p>
<p>Lately, David (our maestro) has been going on this modern music binge...we've played Webern, Lutoslawski, Mahler, Shoenberg (sp?), Bernstein, Shostakovich, and all that jazz this year. I'm not a big fan, but it's a change from the usual generic stuff we played in high school.</p>
<p>All in all, a great time is had by everyone. And if you're a music major/minor, it's a great way to boost the GPA and fulfill requirements at the same time!</p>
<p>For those who are coming to Cal Day, watch for us! We're playing a song featuring a synthesizer, as well as a Chopin Piano Concerto and whatever else David feels like pulling off.</p>
<p>My biggest question is this: since I'm pretty undecided right now between Cal and UCLA (leaning towards UCLA), will going to Cal Day change my mind?</p>
<p>depends on mindset, and the weather</p>
<p>haha, good point.</p>
<p>generally speaking, when a person is leaning towards one college, they generally end up in that college.................maybe you should get some hookups at some wild berkeley frat parties...........that might change your mind</p>