<p>Hi guys, I have a few questions about my situation. I come from a really crappy high school which places no importance on higher education. For example, most classes offered at my school are regular classes in which no actual teaching occurs. Also, there only a few AP classes offered here, however, the teachers that teach the classes only want to play movies such as Planet Earth (AP Biology) to the class. There's only one class that I actually learn anything in and that's AP Calculus.</p>
<p>My question to you guys is: am I capable of succeeding at UC Berkeley? I realize that I'm not as prepared when compared to other that come high performing schools. Will it be sheer hard work that will bring me success at this university? Or will I fail because I lack the knowledge and skills that are necessary to succeed at this institution?</p>
<p>I'm at the top of my class and I work hard to achieve whatever it is I want to achieve. I just feel that the little resources that I've been provided at my high school will prove to be detrimental to my success at Cal. Please give me your honest opinion guys.</p>
<p>If you want to compare what you learned in AP calculus to what Berkeley teaches in Math 1A and 1B, you can follow the links to the old Math 1A and 1B final exams in the <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/1305840-freshman-math-faq.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/1305840-freshman-math-faq.html</a> .</p>
<p>What type of courses and majors are you considering, and how would you evaluate your preparation in the relevant high school courses (perhaps with AP or SAT Subject test results)?</p>
<p>While math builds directly upon high school math, and reading and writing skills are essential in all subjects, many introductory courses do not assume prior knowledge of the subject. Some do recommend high school level background in the subject as a prerequisite, so you may have to work somewhat harder if your high school level background in the subject is lacking.</p>
<p>I’m in the same boat 
I guess we have to trust the fact that admissions officers knew all of this and still wanted to admit us…</p>
<p>It’s a bit hard to transition if you’re worried, send me some PMs :)!</p>
<p>You are admitted because admissions is convinced you have the capability and the attitude to succeed here. The failure/drop out rate is not high here yet Cal takes in many promising but underprepared students every year.</p>
<p>The main point I would reinforce is that you might need to beef up skills even in coursework where your high school passed with with top marks. Plenty of opportunities to do that even while in a course - tutoring and other resources are available. </p>
<p>Its up to you. its not an impossible task littered with the bodies of failed students, its imminently achievable, just put in appropriate effort. Not study 24 hours a day with no life commitment, but also not gonna fit a drunk five days a week, never crack a book lifestyle either (unless you are an Albert Einstein or Isaac Newton).</p>