<p>ARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGG </p>
<p>My seminar was cancelled, and I can't even get onto the waiting list for the other seminars because even the waiting lists are full. Should I just give up on seminars? It's just that now I feel so underachieving with my sixteen units and wide open afternoons :( </p>
<p>Well then, must pile up on extracurriculars. </p>
<p>So based on your experience, which clubs/organizations/publications are fun + actually do legitimate stuff + have cool people?</p>
<p>It's all up to you. There are over 500 active student student groups on campus, from social clubs to community service to just plain weird ones (Squirrel Fishing Club or Rubber Band Club, as examples). Join a club that caters to your own interests and dabble around a bit - none of these clubs are obligatory, so if you go to a meeting and find out you don't like it, you don't ever have to go again. You shouldn't join a group just because other people say it's fun, because that may not cater to your specific tastes.</p>
<p>Uhhhhhh if you feel like an underachiever b/c you're only taking 16 units, you need a reality check. Which you'll get within your first month at Berkeley so I'm not worried. </p>
<p>As far as the wide open afternoons go...I felt the same way when I first saw my schedule and was like "how do I have these enormous blocks of nothing!?" Hahhahaha. Trust me, you'll find things to do, whether it's tons and tons of reading, researching in the library for a paper, or just sitting in front of facebook for four hours. </p>
<p>(I took 17 my first semester for the record, and wish a little that I had done less.)</p>
<p>What are your interests? (in regards to the student organization question)</p>
<p>I feel like the underachiever. I think I'm only going for 13 units :/</p>
<p>Gah. See how I feel, damn it.</p>
<p>my seminar as cancelled too =[</p>
<p>13 units is a fine amount to take. If you really feel like you're underachieving, devote significant thought and energy into those 13 units, amongst other things.</p>
<p>Edit: I'm sorry, some of those cancelled seminars look pretty awesome and interesting. Sadly, one of the best (and one I took last year) was cancelled because the professor, L and S dean Robert Holub, is moving to the University of Tennessee after being at Berkeley for about 27 years. It's a big loss for Berkeley and gain for Tenessee.</p>
<p>What are your interests? I can only recommend what I've personally been a part of, really. If you play a classical musical instrument, join the University Symphony (Music 141, 2 units) or the Chamber Music Decal (<a href="http://www.decal.org)%5B/url%5D">www.decal.org)</a>.</p>
<p>Thinking about law? Try mock trial (<a href="http://www.calmocktrial.org%5B/url%5D">www.calmocktrial.org</a>, or contact me--I'm a member).</p>
<p>Like international relations? Try BMUN (<a href="http://www.ucbmunc.org/)%5B/url%5D">http://www.ucbmunc.org/)</a>. I'm not a part of this club, I joined and quit due to time constraints.</p>
<p>If you're a tennis player, you can check out the tennis club (I don't remember their website...sorry).</p>
<p>Anyway, lots to do. The ones above are only the ones I was considering joining or did join. If you have junior or senior standing and do well your first semester and are in engineering, join TBP. If you're in EECS, join HKN. Those are by invitation only, though.</p>
<p>haha sorry...I thought I was being sarcastic with my underachiever thing, but it's hard to convey sarcasm online.
Ocean-no worries! from what I've heard, taking 13 units freshman year at cal is totally a smart thing to do
Sweetdream-no worries! Cal will definitely screw me over! :)</p>
<p>but ya by clubs, I was thinking that all you non freshmen could offer some kind of master list of clubs that you heard or know are legitimate and interesting, just like you offered a master list of good classes to take.</p>
<p>Well....a master list of clubs would be difficult because there are 500, and none of us know all the ones that are legitimate/interesting. Especially since an interesting club to one would be incredibly dull to another. For instance, there made be some pre-med society that's very helpful etc., but I wouldn't know a damn thing about it. A lot of clubs are known if only because of their size; that doesn't mean that smaller sized groups aren't good. </p>
<p>Again, what are your interests? We can compile a list of good clubs from that...</p>
<p>really? you want to help me, personally?? I was thinking you guys could just talk about the clubs you liked or heard your friends liked to benefit all freshmen reading this, but this personal attention is very nice too. :) and I suppose...the point of these individual forums...ah...such a revelation. </p>
<p>Anyways, I'm a newly converted pre-med, and I already went to the student organizations website and I scrawled down all the pre-med organizations and some biology and biotech ones that help you get internships, so d'you know which ones are any good?
and while I'm sure the squirrel fishing club is a perfectly wonderful club, what I'd really like to know is what are some good community service clubs? and what have you heard about calcorps? and oh also, how is the cal forensics team? and what are some good publications on campus? y'know...ones that actually have a decent readership.
thanks in advance guys! hehe...I like college confidential...</p>
<p>Hmmm unfortunately our interests are a bit different (so me listing the clubs I know wouldn't have been terribly helpful anyway) but I'll take a stab at it:</p>
<p>PREMED
Pre-Medical Honor Society (PMHS)
Sigma Mu Delta (SMD)
Kappa Gamma Delta (KGD) (does lots of comm. serv too)</p>
<p>COMMUNITY SERVICE
Alpha Phi Omega
OASES (tutoring)
American Red Cross at Cal
Bears for UNICEF</p>
<p>PUBLICATIONS
The Daily Cal - I worked there first semester but didn't like it much and quit
Berkeley Political Review
The Cal Patriot (Republican)
Smart Ass (Democrat)
Squelch! (humor)</p>
<p>If you're interested in getting bio/biotech internships, I'd also suggest you look into doing research with professors. you can look at URAP</p>
<p>There's a mock trial team? Mock Trial was my FAVORITE part of high school... how hard is it to make the team?</p>
<p>It's not too bad, maybe about 60 applicants with about 30 accepted. If you want, send me your e-mail address (to <a href="mailto:eudean@eudean.com">eudean@eudean.com</a>) and I'll forward it to our vice president (who is in charge of tryouts). She'll then contact you in the fall once tryouts get started.</p>
<p>(Note that our website is a little out of date--I'll fix that before school gets started, but for specific info contact me directly and I can direct you toward the appropriate people).</p>
<p>there's a master list of clubs on some Berkeley website.</p>
<p>Any other good acting opportunities besides BareStage, Theater for Charity and GIANT (Student Film-Making)?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Circle K?</p>
<p>I'm in Key Club and I'm wondering how Circle K is and what's different.</p>
<p>There a Circle K at Berkeley?</p>
<p>Yes, there is.</p>