Just got back from freshman year. Because everyone at CollegeConfidential helped me through the college process before and after the admissions process, I thought it would be nice to give back. I was in the Berkeley FPF Extension for my first semester, so if anyone has questions about that, I can definitely answer those. Most of my experiences have been with the math/engineering area, both personally and witnessed through my friends. So ask away! Or not.
MODERATORāS NOTE: Anyone is free to ask or answer questions in this thread.
Hi! Iām doing FPF Berkeley with an intended Physics or Maths major. I had a few questions:
Would you say that FPF Berkeley puts you behind on earning your degree? I heard that the unit limit for FPF Berkeley is 13, but Iām not 100% sure.
Do many people have bikes to get around campus and/or the Berkeley or San Fran area, or are there bike sharing systems? Iām international so obviously a car wouldnāt be an option, and biking seems like an easy way to get around campus (but Iām not sure if the campus is hilly or flat).
What would you recommend for a meal plan (for someone who eats 3 meals a day/21 per week)? The Ultimate Access one is the only one that provides at least 21 meals per week, but from the other options it seems that some people donāt eat at a Cal dining location most of the time. Where do people eat, and whatās the ābestā to do, in terms of both pricing/value and quality meals?
FPF was not one of the best experiences, in my opinion. I wouldnāt say it puts you behind in your degree, but it essentially forces you to take your breadth courses (general education requirements) because the course selection is rather limited. For example, seeing as you are either Physics or Math, depending on whether you took AP Calc AB or BC, the math track is Math 1A, Math 1B, Math 53, and then if itās the math major, Math 54, Math 55, all of which must be done before you declare. FPF only offers up to Math 1B, which is the equivalent of AP Calculus BC. So if you already got a 5 on that AP exam, you wonāt really be able to take a math class for your first semester unless you want to repeat something.
With that being said, I have already gotten all of my general education requirements done after the first year, which is a little nice because I found them rather boring. Some people like to take them all at once, other people like to sprinkle them in among technical classes; it differs from person to person.
The unit limit for FPF is not 13; the minimum is 13. If I remember correctly, the maximum amount of units is 16. I personally took 16 units. Once you hit main campus, the max moves up to 20.5.
The campus does have some slow but long hills, which I think is actually harder to bike than steep hills. Yes, many students use bikes, depending on where they live and where their classes are. Itās definitely a viable option (make sure to get it registered with the police department). However, I managed to get by with just walking. Side note: you have to be careful with your bike; when you get here, you will see many abandoned bikes with their wheels stolen.
I personally did the Standard meal plan. You will find that you will end up eating out quite a bit more than you expect, especially with friends (trust me on this). I almost always had extra points. However, I wasnāt much of a breakfast or lunch eater, so I would recommend either the Standard of Premium. Hardly anyone gets the Ultimate Access.
The place that most people eat is Durant Avenue. There are many restaurants here. We have the Asian Ghetto, which has a bunch of Asian restaurants, ie Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, etc etc, thereās Sather Lane, which has more Asian food, frozen yogurt.
On campus, there are many places. Once you get to know Cal, you probably wonāt be going to the main Dining Halls; youāre more likely to eat at Pat Brownās, Free Speech Movement Cafe, Cafe Zeb. The Golden Bear, located on Sproul, is very popular as well. These places all have higher quality food than the dining halls.
Hope that helps! Let me know if you need more questions answered!
To add to the meal plan discussion, D had the Standard meal plan this year as well. She ran out of points during finals week in the fall, but then had a surplus part way through spring finals (we are 1 hour from campus, so some of her meals wound up being at home, admittedly).
You will not be eating an average of 21 meals a week on campus. You will tire of the dining halls, guaranteed, and you may only eat two meals on a Saturday or Sunday if you do the whole brunch/dinner thing. Also, if you get a to-go box ($5.00 up front), you can take another meal from the dining hall on your way out from having a meal all year long.
Even with a meal plan, students will tend to search for any and all free food opportunities: Calapalooza, clubs, dorm parties, etc. No college student will pass up free grub if they can help it.
While the food quality is decidedly better, on-campus food purchases outside of the dinings halls (i.e. those listed above) are on a one-point-equals-one-dollar ratio, so this eats up meal plan points fast (ask one of Dās roommates who ran out of points by Thanksgiving buying smoothies and potato chips).
There a lot of great, cheap places to eat off-campus: Asian Ghetto, Top Dog, pizza, etc. Depending on what you order, you can easily squeak another meal out of it. You will be doing this more than you think.
The Ultimate Access plan tends to cater to athletes who are burning a gajillion calories a day and need the fuel that 3 swipes a day can provide.
You can roll over 100 meal points from Fall to Spring. If you still have extra points at the end of the year to burn (because you use them or lose them), you can buy stuff at Golden Bear Cafe or wherever (D came home with wasabi peas and chocolate bars). People have been known to buy french presses and anything else in order not to waste meal points.
If you will have little to no extra money to eat off campus (and arenāt close enough to home to bum meals there), you may want to go with the Premium; otherwise, stick with the Standard.
@anxiousenior1@Undercrackers Thanks a lot for those tips I think Iād just stick to the standard since I do want to try other food from the bay area, and Durant ave is right next to campus.
@anxiousenior1 about the whole biking thing, so I got placed at Stern Hall, which is like the furthest away from all of my classes that I plan to take (three 4-credit classes at Hillegass Avenue) except one of my classes which is way closer at Evans.
Iāve already put down a request to transfer halls, but I doubt Iād get any luck. Do you think I should get a bike or something for these trips, especially since Iāll have to be at Hillegass at 10am MWF and 8am TTh?
Also, are there nice places to study around Hillegass, or would I have to travel back to the main campus area for a nice study spot?
@SpicyRamen Ouch! Yes, I would get a bike. Itās about a mile and a half walk from Stern to the FPF building. I was lucky to get Unit 2 which was a one minute walk.
The FPF building does have a student lounge where you can study, but most students either go back to their dorms or go to main campus, since most of their friends are on main campus.
@Undercrackers ā1) You will not be eating an average of 21 meals a week on campus. You will tire of the dining halls, guaranteed, and you may only eat two meals on a Saturday or Sunday if you do the whole brunch/dinner thing. Also, if you get a to-go box ($5.00 up front), you can take another meal from the dining hall on your way out from having a meal all year long.ā
Thanks for the info. The $5 to go box for the semester sounds like a bargain.
Hey thanks for the info! One of my main questions is that I took AP Calc AB a year ago and scored a 4. Should I jump right into Math 1B first semester FPF or take 1A then 1b? Iāve heard that 1b is extremely difficult. Also what are some easy FPF breadth courses? Thanks!
@uofc32 Math 1B in FPF is much, much easier than Math 1B on main campus. I would brush up on my calculus this summer and take it in FPF. I would also skim the textbook early (which you can find online for free) and just go over some of the new material. Nothing too rigorous, but just exposure and preparation.
I personally took Asian American Studies 20, Poli Sci 2, Sociology 3AC and Math 1B. I would definitely not recommend Poli Sci 2 as a breadth, but would highly recommend Sociology 3AC and Asian American Studies 20 in that order. In general, classes in FPF are easier than the same class on main campus.
@uofc32 Yes, Math 1A is heavily connected. The first week of Math 1B starts with more advanced integration techniques that require the Math 1A background.
@anxiousenior1 why would you not recommend pol sci 2 as a breadth? I read some reviews of the teacher for this yearās FPF pol sci 2 (thereās only one teacher), and apparently people learn a lot from her classes.
@SpicyRamen If itās the same as last year, I assume you are referring to Professor Sinek. Engaging, witty woman. Yes, I did learn quite a bit in her class. However, I felt that her grading was rather arbitrary and difficult for me to grasp. Perhaps other people felt she suited their style; I personally felt otherwise.
Hello everyone. I signed up for FPF: San Francisco because I was admitted later than most people and had to do so because I will be participating in the NROTC program starting Fall 2017.
I know this page is for people who are interested/participating in FPF: Berkeley, but I couldnāt find a SF page so here I am!
I would like some advice/info regarding transportation from the UC Berkeley campus to the San Francisco campus.
Do most FPF students take public transportation (AC transit, trains) or would taking a car helpā¦ I am worried because I have to wake up early (5:30 AM??) to do PT on certain days and also make it back to the UC campus before 2 on Thursdays to attend my NROTC classes. Would taking a car help or would it just be a hassle?
Also, if I took AP Calc AB and BC in high school, should I just opt out of taking a math class?
Would taking fewer classes in the Fall (maybe like 3) be helpful to transition smoothly?
I think Iād just stick to the standard since I do want to try other food from the bay area, and Durant ave is right next to campus.