<p>I'm curious to know about experiences from current students in getting classes. Has there been difficulty getting classes due to budget cuts? I'm not talking so much about TeleBears registration hassles and being waitlisted but eventually enrolled. Has your graduation date been impacted by not being able to enroll in courses? Seems there is a lot of talk about budget cuts delaying graduation...just want to confirm with current student experiences.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I am wondering the same thing. As an out of state who’s taking on quite a bit of debt to be there, I need to get out as fast as possible. Not getting into classes would be a nightmare for me.</p>
<p>This thread has got quite a few looks and no responses. Hopefully it’s a good sign with no responses.</p>
<p>Unsure, are you entering Berkeley with extensive AP credit? Berkeley is generous with AP credit which will help you skip bigger foundation classes.</p>
<p>I entered Cal with only 5.3 AP units and I am definitely graduating on time (in 4 years). I could of even graduated early if I figured out my major earlier.</p>
<p>UCB:</p>
<p>while not specific to Cal, but perhaps indicatibve to what is happening at the UCs in general: a UCI student has posted that the department has cut 250 spots from next fall’s Organic Chem class, and UCI suggests that majors take it over the summer to be safe. Otherwise, any prereq requiring Organic…</p>
<p>Graduating on time will not be a problem… if you don’t want it to be. Getting the classes you want when you want however might be. You have to be flexible with your schedule</p>
<p>I’ve never had a problem getting into any class.</p>
<p>Son is an EECS major. He has never had any problem getting classes. He is on track to graduate a year early if he wants to do so. Not sure if he will do that, but he will definitely graduate on time.</p>
<p>^^of course, certain majors have a much, much easier time at registration. Engineering courses are some of the most rigorous offered on college campuses, so its not as if there is a long line of students begging to get into them, unlike say, underwater basket-weaving full of athletes. :)</p>
<p>A friend’s kid just finished Eng at UCLA and he said that the advising was strict. There were given a four-year course (graduation) plan during orientation, and any deviation from it required approval from the Dean. Thus, electives were a rarity.</p>
<p>Now in L&S, with rather haphazard advising (UCLA uses volunteer upper classmen) kids can take what they want, when they want, only to find out a couple of years later that they are not on tract to graduate in 4.</p>
<p>The point is that 4-year graduation can be accomplished, by taking a full load every term, passing all classes, and deciding early on a major.</p>
<p>^ Blue, Cal is not UCI or UCLA. Let’s keep this thread strictly Berkeley experiences and not cloud the issue with what may be going on at other UCs.</p>
<p>I didn’t always get the exact classes I wanted, but I was always able to get classes that fufilled my requirements.</p>
<p>I think it’s quite easy to graduate on time. But it takes a little sacrifice. If you want a good professor for X class, you might have to exchange that with a bad professor for Y class. People who can’t get into classes are just generally incredibly picky with what they want to take.</p>
<p>Agree with StarryNights. It’s mostly a myth. I’m a third-year double major on the standard four-year path to graduate. It really is about shopping for classes that you can get into, even if it’s not your first choice (easiest/most popular course or professor for whatever requirement). As for budget cuts, I’m definitely spending less, but with my part-time salary, financial aid and parent contribution I can easily manage my rent, tuition, food, etc.</p>
<p>Myth. </p>
<p>Being wait listed for classes is no big deal, 9 times out of 10 you end up getting into the class. I’ve been in so many classes with a 50+ people long wait list where they tell you on the first day of lecture that they expect to accommodate everyone. I usually overenroll in classes anyway just to keep my options open and drop whichever class seems the least interesting.</p>
<p>I double majored in two completely different subjects, but I still could have graduated a semester early. I have a lot of third year friends who are all graduating with me next week. Two psychology majors, an econ major, and an EECS major. The one person I know who is taking a 5th year is this guy who wants to triple major. </p>
<p>I’ve been here for 4 years and I haven’t seen anything change because of budget cuts. They raised tuition and have been getting a ton of private donations. The school isn’t actually out of money at all. And I don’t think the raised tuition is even a problem, it was extremely subsidized to begin with and is still much lower than privates. There’s also more financial aid offered now, look up the Middle Class Action Plan.</p>