<p>i'm definitely going to berkeley and was planning on attending calso (cal student orientation), but then i found out about the $185 fee. to any current students: is CalSO really that helpful? or could i figure out telebears registration by myself?</p>
<p>P.S. I have a brother who goes to cal and has some insight into the courses. would CalSO still be helpful?</p>
<p>CalSO is VERY important because it's not just when you learn about how to use TeleBears. You actually register your Phase I classes during TeleBears, so if you don't go, you'll get screwed because you might not be able to get any of the classes you want. All the spots may be taken by all the students who were already at CalSO.</p>
<p>how do u register for CalSo anyway?</p>
<p>calso.berkeley.edu</p>
<p>so u go to CalSO only if u sign the Intent to Register?</p>
<p>I'm kinda confused of what CalSO is? Is it the same thing as open house?</p>
<p>When is CalSO and is there limited seats or something? And as someone else asked is this after SIR?</p>
<p>CalSO is very important!! Get the earliest possible to sign up for the two/three most important courses.</p>
<p>CalSO is sort of like an orientation. You see the dorms, get campus tours, meet fellow freshmen, register for classes, go to a few workshops...</p>
<p>Again, <a href="http://calso.berkeley.edu%5B/url%5D">http://calso.berkeley.edu</a> will answer ALL of your questions. JUST READ THE STUFF ON THE SITE.</p>
<p>How important is it for parents to attend the parent version of CalSO? Do most parents do it?</p>
<p>I don't understand why we have to actually pay $185 dollars for this..!</p>
<p>The calso counselors get a ~$3k stipend... :) And you gotta pay for the night stay in the dorms, plus the "free" meals.</p>
<p>No...some parents go, but it's really not terribly important. I'd say not that many parents go...</p>
<p>I didn't go to CalSO, and I got all the classes I wanted just fine (Math 53, Chem 1A, CS 3, English).</p>
<p>185- housing, food, programming, who knows what else. <em>shrug</em></p>