<p>I've heard that Berkeley has a very competitive school environment to the point where things get mean. I don't have any specific examples because I've just heard this about the school but is it true?</p>
<p>I understand competition is a natural occurrence but the acceptable type to me, is friendly; there's good sportsmanship. People helping each other out and such while still competing for internships or whatever. My worry is that Berkeley doesn't foster or have this type of competition but the harsher version where everyone's out to get each other.</p>
<p>friendly competition… you know we live in America, right?</p>
<p>jokes aside, it depends on what type of student you are. if you’re bloodthirsty for A’s, sure you’ll compete hard, play coy during section and review sessions, and not want to help others out too much for fear it will draw you down. </p>
<p>if you’re a friendly student who honestly wants to compete based off a level playing field then you’ll help out as much you can with a smile, shake hands, and then try to grab the best grade you can. </p>
<p>i don’t think “berkeley” itself facilitates one or the other. it’s on the students themselves. </p>
<p>what kind of student are you btw? (intended major, goal for grades, etc.)</p>
<p>i mean, to be honest, there are a lot of people here buzzing by and thanking their lucky stars they even got in to college. while there are also a few people here even “above” competition in the sense that they’re just good/familiar with the material in a way most of the class can’t really touch. you have to accept both extremes and just compete with whatever “tier” of student you’re in. I mean, people “compete” over B’s… people compete over A’s. maybe even C’s (i mean some classes have 30% C’s here so i have to presume those 30/100 are trying hard not to be the ones with C-'s)</p>
<p>yeah but i don’t think berkeley is at fault for what you may see as “bad” or “mean” competition
nor is it at credit for “good” competition among students. it is what it is. schools everywhere have both types, so it shouldn’t worry you, just accept the reality it exists and overcome it.</p>
<p>I’d assume the competition would only be in classes that are graded based on a curve or in the “money-making” majors (i.e., Haas, EECS), but even then the idea of competition is a little far-fetched.</p>
<p>I think the real competition is with getting URAP, research, or work positions, especially within the sciences/pre-med.</p>
<p>I think MCB is one of the most competitive majors. This is because many MCB students are pre-med, and it incredibly difficult to get into med school with under a 3.6-3.7 GPA. I don’t think that EECS and business are nearly as competitive, at least in terms of upper divs, just because by that point these students probably know for sure that they will be engineers or businessmen/businesswomen but for pre-meds it is so much more uncertain.</p>
<p>I think the “competition” just comes from people being really smart and pulling the curve up. I don’t think people actually go and hunt your notes down, or your throat.</p>
<p>you can be resourceful and not smart and still pull up the curve. like getting an old exam (whether you have strings in good places or something like that) & that exam isn’t readily available to your classmates even if they went out and looked for it on their own, and then you decide to not share it. so you have an advantage. </p>
<p>I would imagine that “cutthroat” type of competition would be more common among students for whom GPA is a strong factor in their future plans:</p>
<p>pre-med students, especially in pre-med courses
pre-law students
undeclared students who want to declare a major that one has to apply to get into (e.g. business or any “capped” L&S major)</p>
<p>There can also be different angles to competition. Theoretically, Chemistry 1 may be full of “cutthroat” pre-meds, while Chemistry 4 may have students who are less “cutthroat”, but better or more confident at chemistry (chemistry and chemical engineering majors). Math 16 versus Math 1 or Physics 8 versus Physics 7 or H7 could theoretically be similar. Of course, this may not actually be true, but it is possible.</p>
<p>@crowslayer91:
I’m considering pre-med (I listed biology as my potential major) but my concern of a high GPA is causing some anxiety because as others have mentioned in this thread, it’s one of the most important factors to medical school admissions.</p>
<p>My goal for grades would just be to maintain the highest GPA possible. I suppose I have the ability to be more competitive, but it’s not something I wish to have happen. I’m more for the friendly competition.</p>
<p>Others: Based on my current goals, are there any tips or classes to avoid/take that you can recommend from other threads or just based off of your knowledge?</p>
<p>You do not have to major in biology to do pre-med. You can take the pre-med courses alongside any other major.</p>
<p>Note that biology majors have poor job and career prospects at the bachelor’s degree level if they do not go to medical or other post-bachelor’s degree school. So you may want to consider your other academic and/or professional interests, and/or subjects that may be useful supporting subjects in a medical career.</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus:
You seem like you know your stuff, so first off, thanks for the considerate reply.</p>
<p>Secondly, I’m kinda open to any major; I picked biology because I thought it’d be easier to get a high GPA in. You mentioned other subjects that could support a career in the medical field, so that being said, do you have any suggestions for any subjects? I’m pretty open-minded; ok at math and stronger in language.</p>
<p>Subjects that can support a medical career include:</p>
<p>Business (if you might go into private or small group practice)
Economics (understanding people’s economic behavior as it relates to medical services and costs)
Other social studies (more about understanding people’s behavior)
Statistics (understanding medical research papers that use statistical analyses)
Foreign languages and cultural studies of large immigrant groups in areas you may want to practice; also cultural studies of large ethnic minority groups in those areas
Nutritional Science and Physical Education (if you tell patients to diet and exercise, it may be more helpful to be able to tell them how to do so effectively)</p>
<p>Taking useful courses in such subjects would not necessarily require a major in them.</p>