<p>This isn't a very serious or life/death type question, just a simple one I could use some info on.</p>
<p>Open house for Cal is coming up soon, it's somewhere around April 19th. I live about 7 hours away, so i'd have to either fly or drive there and spend the night.</p>
<p>Quick question: Is it more beneficial to go during open house than just showing up during the summer and going on a tour?</p>
<p>I ask because my mother works 7 days a week, so I don't want to ask her to skip work if not necessary. </p>
<p>If cost and having your mother skip work is an issue, go over the summer - but if you can, I’d say come to cal day. All the groups are out on sproul and around campus, and it’s a lot of fun!</p>
<p>Cal day in the morning and prom at night! Stuff starts real early xDDD But I’m guessing you’ll probably be a normal girl (unlike me) and get your hair done and dress up hours in advance ;P</p>
<p>Cal day and UCB-sponsored tours are probably gonna be more fun because there’s a lot of activities and events, but I wouldn’t say they are representative of what going to Cal feels like. </p>
<p>If you carefully plan your own day ahead you would probably have a closer feel to what it’s like being a Cal student (sit in on lectures, walk around campus, visit dorms, etc).</p>
<p>The tours on Cal Day are the same as the tours given throughout the year, only condensed to one hour instead of 90 minutes. You should really try to come for Cal Day, though! There’s lots to do other than just the campus tour. But if you’re just concerned about the tour, your experience won’t be much different.</p>
<p>Well I’m going to Cal regardless, it’s more so for my parents to see where I’ll be for 4 years. I’m also staying overnight the 13-14th so I can get the experience then. And yes my hair appointment is at 2 soooo I didn’t wanna risk the drive up and back in time!</p>
<p>Maybe send your parents for Cal day, while you focus on the prom. There are plenty of activities there to ‘sell’ parents on why Cal is a great school for their children. As well, there are sessions that advise them how to back off and learn to deal with an independent college student, something very helpful to you as they learn to make the transition from ‘in control’ of a minor to supporting someone who makes her own decisions. Wait until they find out that even if they are paying tuition, they won’t hear anything about grades, problems, financial account status or your time at Cal unless you tell them, the university does not disclose anything to parents.</p>
<p>For someone who’s on the fence about Cal, would it be better to visit on a normal day to get a more accurate perception of everyday life? Cal Day sounds fun but I don’t want to be oversold on a school that’s not like that everday (obviously :D)</p>
<p>I’d say do both - I personally think Cal Day is just a ton of fun. You can do the normal day thing too, but it’s honestly just people walking back and forth around campus, getting to class or events, with tables out on sproul haha not too interesting. Kinda like a giant high school xD</p>