<p>I was thrilled with my acceptance to Berkeley -- it has been my top choice for a few years now, and I fell even more in love with the school when I visited the campus last month. I never expected that I would be accepted however, and as a result never really put myself in the shoes of a Berkeley student... and now that I am reading reviews and students experiences, I am beginning to question whether or not Berkeley is the best place for me. Davis, my second choice, is where I have been mentally preparing myself to go for these past few years. Though I did not like the campus/atmosphere as much as I did Berkeley's when I visited perhaps Davis is the better choice for me?</p>
<p>Specifically, I am worried about:
- Berkeley's academic rigor. The competitiveness is very unappealing to me; I want to enjoy my time at college.
- Student amiability. Based on what I've read, students are cold are difficult to befriend--the exact opposite of what I've heard about Davis. </p>
<p>Any insight from past/present/prospective students is much appreciated :) Thank you!</p>
<p>Have you been reading reviews on here? Because for future reference, reviews and the internet in general is a place where negativity seems to thrive. </p>
<p>What are you planning on majoring in? Some majors are more competitive than others, if you don’t want to have a lot of academic stress, then Berkeley may not be the place for you (though it’s not like Davis is a cakewalk). </p>
<p>There are a lot of friendly people, just like everywhere else. If you loved the school when you visited, don’t let rumors deter you. However, if you don’t think you’ll enjoy the academic rigor, then that’s something to think about. </p>
<p>I was admitted into the CNR as an Environmental Science major, but I will most likely change to a Psychology major (apparently switching to the College of Letters and Science isn’t too difficult). I’m not one who needs to be the best, I just enjoy learning and challenging myself. </p>
<p>My daughter has been hanging out on the berkeley class of 2018 Facebook page. Seems like there are lots of happy people, including upperclassmen, with lots of enthusiasm. Sure there is some FUD being thrown about too, but honestly it seems like a great environment from what I’ve seen. </p>
<p>My son is a freshman at Berkeley. I would definitely characterize him as a happy guy. He is in a fraternity and seems to have made tons of friends. His high school was not extremely competitive, but he has had no trouble with the academic rigor and has not mentioned other students being overly competitive. We have visited twice (October and February) and walking around I definitely got a friendly “vibe”. And I second that Davis will not be a cakewalk. </p>
<p>Hard science majors, like Chemistry, Physics, Molecular and Cell Biology, Engineering will be very competitive. The students in these classes all strive to be the best and set very high standards for themselves.</p>
<p>Soft Science majors, such as CNR majors, Integrative Biology, Psychology, Cognitive Science Are mildly competitive. </p>
<p>Upper tier Humanities majors, like political science, philosophy, English, Anthropology are difficult, and around the same competitiveness as soft science majors, perhaps a little less. Philosophy is quite tough at Cal.</p>
<p>Lower Tier Humanities majors, such as Art, Music, Theater, anything with “studies” in the name are by far the easiest majors and have grade point averages near 3.8-3.9</p>
<p>Economics: For this major, the competitiveness for Economics varies quite a bit, because some are studying as a more quantitive route to careers in finance like investment banking, and some are studying it as an alternative to a business major, Id say it’s between hard science and soft science. </p>
<p>Replying to this just cause… yeah.
Currently a second year going into 3rd. Planning to major in IB/MCB, declaring in the fall.
Experience: whether the horrors or happiness depicted at berkeley really depends on your experience, motivation and your foundation( how well you did in school, understood concepts etc).
Personally for me I came from an underprivileged/low-income background. Didn’t have the resources to excel or truly do well in school. Reason probably I did well in school is probably because I realized I was capable and just utilized all the resources around me and just did everything each classes told me. Berkeley isn’t like that, you have to figureo out your own study plans, figure out every thing for yourself. I am still trying to figure out the system in berkeley.
In terms of academic horrors and happiness. It’s true to some aspect that the academic rigor in berkeley is real. There are weeding classes, specifically those that are STEM. In terms of the college, CNR is a much easier college/access to majors than L/S if you want to go into premed and save your gpa. For me personally I was in LS and the classes were just harder because it’s such as broad college with thousands that are still trying to figure out what they’re trying to major. Thus before you go to berkeley, try to figure out what you want to study because you don’t really have that much options to study.
Looking back at College now, I wish I figured out everything before I came here. I took a few classes here prior enrollment through summer sessions(some of the classes were easy (such as ethnic studies or planetary science) and once you come here… it’s just different. It’s somewhat true too that summer courses are easier than the semester. Your first and second year here at Cal, it’s all you. The colleges don’t care for you. The classes are hard so that they can weed you out.
Coming to Cal as an undergrad 1st-2nd year is a moulding process; those who can survive or endure all the struggles and difficulties will be a more developed and stronger as an individual because you’ve been through the ■■■■. The upper divs will be a lot easier. But yes, the happiness in college really depends from where you come from. Some people have more access to resources and opportunities and thus have more experience/skills to succeed while others don’t.
Thus before you come to Cal, figure out what you need to do to prepare yourself.
In terms of majors, what I would have done was thoughtfully seek out the resources or programs that will help me. I am still interested in premed and in the bio/sciences field; kinda wish I was capable of also studying in CS or just explore other majors too but because I didn’t do so well my 1st-2nd year, don’t really have the luxury to explore other classes. It’s also not a race, but I guess for me I’m limited on financial aid; I’m just trying to finish whatever classes I can and graduate.
I am finishing my second semester of organic chemistry (chem 3b) and our avg for the first and 2nd midterm is 50%. Other weeder classes such as math and somewhat english(if you want to save your gpa) could probably have been taken at CC). If I did that, could have saved my gpa. My gpa isn’t necessarily low but could have been better.
Funny how some majors makes it harder for incomers too. As a somewhat IB major, the prereqs for IB/declaring only had to take math 16a or 1a prior fall 2012. Those who entered cal after 2012 have to take 1a and 1b. Thus for those who excelled in calculus in 2012 have a better and stronger advantage. Comparing to IB majors who came in 2011 and 2012; 2011 of course has it easier (they had less/easier prereqs).
In terms of majors I think you should check out and have fun with are:
Public health/Psychology/IB/MCB/Chem majors. Like for me if I was capable of getting into public health; the classes I would have planned out would have fit perfectly. I can actually still try to double major in public health and IB/MCB.</p>
<p>In terms of easier cakewalks and easier colleges. It’s true that Berkeley might be harder than other colleges.
I’m in this program that consists of faculties as mentors and is a program that is geared for the success in STEM for minorities/students who came from underprivileged backgrounds. A quote that I still remember, a dean asks how can you tell if your class is doing well? a professor replies, I know because most of my students failed the first midterm, had an average of 25%.
This was one of the class in engineering. The academia at Cal is hard and that’s what shape cal students; it moulds us through a lot of challenges and once we pass it, we thrive as individuals. We’re different compared to other uc students (maybe similar to LA).
But yeah all of this is just personal experience. Everyone has their own experiences though because a lot of changes can happen each year, etc.</p>
<p>I don’t know specifically, but the average GPA for History majors is about a 3.6 according to the offic eof the registrar, so I don’t think it’s hardcore. </p>
<p>But don’t get me wrong, you need to have very good writing skills for papers. Professors grade hard on essays/ research papers. </p>
<p>Course difficulty aside, what about just the level of happiness in general? And would you have gone to another (perhaps smaller or less competitive) college given the chance to do it over?</p>
<p>Happiness for the general student population? Thats a tough question to answer. for example, Student groups hold protests sometimes for things they feel passionate about, so you could see they are not happy so this is why there protesting, or that protesting makes them happy. Different things make different people happy. Some people derive happiness mainly from social interactions, while others derive happiness from work/school related effort.</p>
<p>Also, you have to remember Berkeley is a place where people go to achieve their dreams, to make it big in life. I guess if you are passionate about what your learning and your future, you will be happy. One thing I have noticed there is that, the people who come in NOT KNOWING what they want to do or study, tend to be less happy. This is probably because your not sure why your working so hard, which can be troubling. Berkeley isn’t the place to flounder for too long, because you might not have the right motivation to succeed in this type of environment.</p>
<p>It’s a tough question of whether I would go to Berkeley specifically again, given that I changed a lot as a person from when I first started to now when I am finishing my second year. If you ask me now, I would go to Berkeley or an even more competitive school like Harvard or Stanford if I could. I learned that the goal of college is achieving your dreams, and social life/parties/girls are all side kicks. At first I wanted to be Pre-Med, but now I know I don’t want to be practicing under all those regulations and restrictions set by the bureaucrats in the government, the AMA, HIPPA etc. Now my dream is to be extremely wealthy as venture capitalist or to work in a private equity firm.</p>
<p>Berkeley is the best place to be on Planet Earth for so many reasons. As long as you stay focused you can definitely enjoy your life here in Berkeley. And don’t listen to “someone who is in a fraternity and seems to have made tons of friends” since they are a bunch of losers… many of them don’t even graduate in 4 years. or no jobs.</p>