<p>Hello everyone,
This is my first post on this site. I used a lot of the threads in this forum when I was applying to Berkeley, and I got in!</p>
<p>So thanks.</p>
<p>But about CalSo:
I am a very poor student as it is, and I am expected to be poorer come fall when I go to Berkeley, which I don't mind. </p>
<p>But I cannot afford to go to CalSo, because of the $55 for the day there, $35 for the overnight stay, and plus taking the train from Sacramento will cost a bit much. </p>
<p>Plus, I cannot afford to bring my mom because that's another $110 + $35 overnight stay. And frankly I think it would be lame to spend $80 and go through the program by myself. </p>
<p>Sorry for the long explanation. But I'm wondering what I'll be missing in the program. My parents never went to college so I really don't have the pearls of wisdom "when you get to college..." thing going on. </p>
<p>Can anyone tell me what I'm missing from the CalSo program who actually went?</p>
<p>Thanks, I'm a little in the dark.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about it, you’re not missing much.</p>
<p>I’m sort of in the same situation, since I can’t afford to fly 3000 miles out there for one weekend on top of the $210 program fee and everything.
Basically, you’re just missing two main things:
- choosing your phase one classes
- learning more about cal</p>
<p>Since you’re going there in the fall, number two isn’t such a big deal, and picking a light first semester load isn’t too hard either. Look on your college’s website (i.e. chemistry, engineering, letters&science) for sample semesters :]</p>
<p>Awesome, thank you.</p>
<p>I thought with it costing so much I’d be missing a hell of a lot, guess not. : )</p>
<p>katattack, are you a freshman or a transfer student?</p>
<p>What major are you declaring? If you’re not in an impacted major, you should be fine. If you’re going to declare a major like Econ, you should do your best to go so you get the pre-req classes in phase one.</p>
<p>very few bring their parents, so drop that out of your cost estimates. you would be segregated from them anyway, with students in different activities than parents.</p>
<p>it’s ok I didn’t go to Calso before my freshmen semester either… I think the only thing that made me worry was not getting the advisor code on time like all the other students, but I was still able to get into all my classes. Just make sure to add/waitlist the core classes (math/sciences) first which fill up pretty fast…<br>
But once you do get to berkeley, make sure you take a tour around campus to familiarize yourself and talk to your college advisors before the classes start… (or even before you sign up for classes, I think you can call for college advising to make sure you’re signing up for the right classes.)</p>
<p>Good luck and congrats in getting into Cal!</p>
<p>lots of people i know didnt go to calso and they got alll the classes they wanted. they still had higher standing cause of ap credits and stuff but i think it will be fine. </p>
<p>goodluck -0-</p>
<p>I would recommend going to CalSO. I’m not sure if it’s the same as in the past, but is the cost of the program still charged to CARS? In which case, you should just weigh CalSO as part of tuition costs; I am not certain, but I don’t recall ever “paying” for CalSO, as I think my grants covered that as part of tuition costs. Orientation is a great way to preview life on campus, and it really does get one excited for college (even more so). Being able to choose classes early is b/s part of the package to convince (trick, haha suckers) purely rational thinkers to come for the program. I met a some really cool people in my group and that carried over to the start of the school year. Most likely first semester friends = kids in your dorm + CalSO folks.</p>
<p>Why would you need to pay extra for the overnight? Just leave at 6 the morning of like I’m gonna do lol. Also, it IS charged to your CARS account and therefore you don’t have to pay it right now. It is put into your “bill” on your account</p>