<p>So I visited Cal and I loved it. When I saw that I was accepted specifically into the Spring semester, it put a VERY sour taste in my mouth. Over time, I learned about FPF and was fortunate enough to sign up the next day, just in case I end up wanting to go to Cal after all (my other option is UCLA Engineering, but I hear that it is HARD as all hell, which scares me). As I researched further, I guess it doesn't seem like such a bad gig. I get to take small(er) classes and mingle with a miniature student base, and come Spring it will be hunky dory for the most part. Sounds great.</p>
<p>However, I am scared still by the timeline of events that leads up to whether or not I get housing. I won't be able to afford FPF if I have to find some random apartment to live in all of my freshmen year. What happens if I dedicate myself to Cal and FPF just to find out that there is no housing available? How does this all work, the sync between Cal's housing and the FPF students? How do privately-owned dorms work, and can FPF students be part of them? Has anyone experienced this and can give me a bit of a testimonial? This is really the one thing stopping me from being totally confident about possibly attending Berkeley.</p>
<p>If finances are a big deal, you can take a full semester of transferable courses at a community college instead of FPF. Then you’ll only have to have the costs of 7 semesters of Berkeley instead of 8 semesters of Berkeley.</p>
<p>Chill. Talked with Cal housing and they can’t guarantee it but they are very optimistic that they will have dorms for all interested FPF students. Of course you may not get in the dorm you want but you would have campus housing. Alternatively, there are private dorms to choose from as well and they accept FPF students. I imagine you consider it important to have campus housing to feel part of the Fall freshman class (as you will be in FPF) and odds look good you will get your wish.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. It may not be so much a money issue, but rather that I want to assimilate in the Fall rather than take CC classes in my home town or live alone off campus.</p>
<p>Hmmm, this is all sounding progressively better as May 1st comes nearer. :)</p>
<p>Look into Telegraph commons. They are also a dorm but just not part of the university. My FPF friends in hs went there and had the same experience as anyone else in the dorms.</p>