<p>Well when ever I tell someone I'm going to UC Berkeley they never congratulate me, instead they explain to me that I will die from all the pressure and competition. I bet most freshmen fell that everybody else is smarter than them and that they will not be able to keep up. Its funny how some explain that people there are evil and try to flunk you by passing out untruthful notes and never help you in your studies and conclude their statement by saying that its diverse and I will have fun. The people from my school that are going to Berkeley are kind and very helpful. But I hear that in Berkeley the curve which limits As force students to become ruthless and blood-thirsty, unlike where in high school we all help each other since there is no limit to how many As. So is Berkeley this competitive or is it all out of proportion. I also hear it depends on the major to.</p>
<p>My friend’s brother is doing pre-med at berk and he says he hates it because of the competition between the students. But keep in mind, pre-med is hard regardless of which college you go to. Still, I wouldn’t not go to berk just because its competitive.</p>
<p>Pressure creates diamonds. Do you want to become a diamond or just remain plain old graphite?</p>
<p>I’m mostly joking. Don’t believe everything people tell you – the “cut-throat” nature of most top schools, Berkeley included, is merely a perception and not the whole picture. Your best bet is to take every specific concern you have and put them in context. If you can’t, find someone/something that can add meaningful perspective, such as this forum, and ask away. :)</p>
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Haha! Good one! :)</p>
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It does. What is your major?</p>
<p>chem in CoC.</p>
<p>I’m currently undeclared but intend to go into microbiology in CNR so I think It should’nt be that bad, unlike MCB.</p>
<p>oh please. nothing is ever as bad as some people make it sound. stories just wouldn’t be entertaining if there wasn’t drama and strife. exaggeration is a huuuge part of where the competitive reputation comes from; take everything people tell you about the supposed competition with a huge grain of salt.</p>
<p>yay chem :D</p>
<p>A’s aren’t exactly bountiful, and there definitely is strong competition. However, most people will help you if you ask.</p>
<p>Competition usually varies from major to major and class to class. The same is true for grading scales. During my time at UCSD I generally found most of my fellow students to be laid back and generally nice people. Grades were typically fair. This was NOT the case in the pre-med classes I had to take. In some of the lower division “weeder” biology classes many students were cut-throat and unpleasant. I remember one time when the professor was speeding through his slides and I missed something. I asked the person next to me what the prof had said…that person covered their notes and gave me a dirty look. The guy on my other side turned is back toward me. Since the class was curved I guess that they saw the situation as a chance to get a step ahead of me…of course they failed 'cause I still set the curve ;)</p>
<p>There is competition at Berkeley, but the nature of it is over-exaggerated. In all my weeder classes, I’ve never met anyone who maliciously sabotages others.</p>
<p>Competitive enough to notice the spelling error in your title.</p>
<p>yah sorry i figured out the spelling error like two minutes after I posted the thread, but I cant go back in time.</p>
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<p>Well, you can, but it’s dangerous. You probably aren’t pushing the limit far enough.</p>
<p>Holy ****aki mushrooms I just realized that there was an edit link. I feel so ■■■■■■■■ right now, but thats how I usually act. It seems so funny that I got into Cal with a 3.4 GPA and no AP’s, by the way character is all that matters in admissions.</p>
<p>or giving indications that you are a minority…haha…</p>
<p>oh how did you know. But even if you lie about your race they still believe you. muaaaa hahaha!!!</p>
<p>are u serious? that is horrible…</p>
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<p>Interesting. What good will that do for them personally, considering that a) there are hundreds of people on that course, b) many lectures notes are online and c) textbook. I mean ***.</p>
<p>that’s kind of funny when you think about it…</p>