<p>Basically, what is the purpose of CalSO? Is it required? Etc etc. Anyone who has questions can post as well.</p>
<p>It's not required (you can easily opt out of it.) It's basically to explain to you how to manage your academic courseload at Berkeley (signing up for classes, knowing what your prereqs are, stuff like that.) Nothing you cannot find on the Berkeley website.</p>
<p>I'm not going.</p>
<p>AND you have to pay money! :O</p>
<p>Thanks. Who else is and isn't attending?</p>
<p>It's a nice way to get yourself acquainted with Cal. Before attending this school, I only visited the campus like 3 times. I think CalSO is good for the experience and meeting people who could be your potential friends. I'm still friends with 2 people I met from CalSO. Also, CalSO is helpful for teaching you how to register for classes. It is a bit pricey, but I thought it was worth it.</p>
<p>calso is a great way to get a taste of college life. it's important to remember that your phase I session will occur during calso, as all students will go through a registration process as part of calso itself. personally, i thought the rest of the diversity understanding-type activities were utterly useless, as well as the campus tours. however, they group you according to major, and it's a great opportunity to meet and make some new berkeley friends in your major. i would still recommend going, though not necessarily going to all of the activities.</p>
<p>I would recommend it to meet some people, get acquainted with the campus and register for classes. </p>
<p>It could be different for freshmen in large majors, but as a transfer student in chemical engineering, I thought it was well worth it.</p>
<p>CalSO is the summer camp selling of the university combined with some administrivia. It's a way for the school to pump up your pride at coming and get some of the more annoying FAQs sorted out really quickly.</p>
<p>For most people, though, CalSO's main benefit is registering for classes. If you do not attend CalSO, you don't get to register until mid-July.</p>
<p>Does that really screw you over in regards to getting decent classes? How hard is it to get classes you want?</p>
<p>@undecided: Are you serious? The CalSO website doesn't say anything about earlier registering! :O</p>
<p>Bartleby: yes.</p>
<p>I was a CalSO counselor so I can answer any questions you may have.</p>
<p>@unlimitedx: If one doesn't go to the CalSO meeting, is it more difficult to register for classes that you want?</p>
<p>@Castel: Yep. It's in the FAQ on calso.berkeley.edu:</p>
<p>1. I can't attend CalSO this summer. How will I register for classes?
It's essential that you log into our website at <a href="http://calso.berkeley.edu%5B/url%5D">http://calso.berkeley.edu</a>, click on the "I Can't Come to CalSO" link, and let us know why you aren't coming. Please do this no later than June 13, 2008 in order to receive critical enrollment information. Students who do not attend CalSO will be assigned Tele-BEARS registration appointments in mid-July. If you can't join us for CalSO this summer, we encourage you to attend our Getting Your Bearings program on August 26 (more information to be posted on our website in July).</p>
<p>Registering late WILL make it more difficult for you to take the classes you want, especially the large introductory sections for popular classes or prereqs for popular majors. There is no guarantee, however, that an early CalSO will make that much of a difference -- it'll just make it more likely. Keep in mind that registration for continuing students begins April 14, so the longer there is between this next Monday and your registration time, the more luck you'll need.</p>
<p>Thank youuu.</p>
<p>I got good advice from my CalSO counselor for classes and other things. It's a pretty good experience IMO, but I don't think it's really that necessary.</p>
<p>CalSO obviously isn't necessary, but like others have said it's a good experience and is worth going to. It does cost a lot, but if you can get reduced fees based on financial status (I did and it all worked out in the end). I'd highly recommend going.</p>
<p>Do Cal students generally bring their parents to CalSO?</p>
<p>^
I wanna know that too!</p>
<p>Well I didn't. If your parents are that enthusiastic about learning more about your future college and are willing to pay more for transportation/the program/a hotel/etc, then they might as well do it. I did see a few groups of parents during CalSO.</p>
<p>if we bring our parents and siblings, they will be attending a different program right?</p>