<p>I'm a newly admitted transfer student. I have been looking at the fall schedule and it looks like I don't have many options for some of my classes. I work in Concord Wed-Sun from 3-11pm. I'm married with two children. I have a mortgage and my wife doesn't work because child care is too expensive. I am willing to quit my job to go to Cal but I have no idea where we are going to live or how we're going to get by financially. My question is are the fall schedules that I have been looking at all there is to choose from? There appears to be only 1 lecture course for Econ 100A and it conflicts with my work schedule. Has anyone else out there had to make a similar decision?</p>
<p>Sure have. And I definitely made the wrong choice by not quitting. I thought I could handle it, and time- and energy- wise that was certainly true - the problem was that it was almost impossible to clear my mind of work-related stresses and focus on something unrelated to my tangible, daily struggles when I still had those to worry about. I underestimated how difficult that would be and how thoughts about my coworkers would intrude every time I struggled against a subject. You really NEED to quit; trust me. And don’t think because you were able to juggle demands at CC you’ll be able to do so at Berkeley. I learned the hard way that even if the work isn’t too difficult, it demands your full concentration and attention in a way less demanding classes do not.</p>
<p>You’re getting financial aid, right? See if you can work out a budget based on that. Borrow from friends and family if you can and need to. And honestly, if you’re not getting government assistance of some sort, swallow your pride and do it for the sake of your education. I waited until it was literally EBT or starve and I’m kicking myself for not getting it sooner. If any agency out there - federal, state, private, whatever - decides you qualify for some sort of aid, take it. No shame in taking what they’re willing to give.</p>
<p>It goes without saying that providing for your family comes first, but your education comes second - **** your job, because even if it’s a good one, you’ll be a be able to get a much better one after college. But only if you prioritize school and do well. I’d take private loans if necessary and go full-time if I were you, but if you absolutely can’t figure out a way to swing it financially and decide to keep your job, post your major, classes you need etc. and we can help you work something out.</p>
<p>Best wishes~</p>
<p>Hi, I’m also a newly admitted transfer student who has a child.<br>
I currently live in LA, so I have been looking for all these information as well.
For Financial Aid Package: Did UCB offered you the parent grant? If they haven’t, you can appeal for that, and you can also appeal for higher budget for family expenses. UCB has a great student parent services, they will help you with the financial budget appeal, family housing, and childcare. You can reach them at (510) 643-5729
Berkeley also offers family housing close to the campus if you looking for a place to live.
This is their website: [Living</a> at Cal 2011-2012, UC Berkeley Housing](<a href=“http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal/studentsfamilies.html]Living”>http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal/studentsfamilies.html)
It also offers subsidized childcare, here is their website: [Early</a> Childhood Education Program](<a href=“http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/child/]Early”>http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/child/)</p>
<p>I was hoping to be able to work for at least the first semester socI could pay off my car. I’m an Econ major and Im using the GI bill. I didn’t fill out FASFA because I didn’t think I would qualify and I didn’t need help paying for school. I went to the welcome reception last Saturday and the veterans rep told to apply anyways, so I submitted my FAFSA application a couple days ago. This kinda sucks because I’m able to provide for my family very comfortably right now and it would kill me to see them suffer while I finish school. I’ll have a million questions when I go to Calso next month. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise because I’ll have time to participate in research and focus completely on school if I quit but it is hard walking away from the money I make now :(</p>
<p>You should definitely fill out the FAFSA. You can get both the GI Bill and Pell Grant. You probably wouldn’t get any Pell Grant if you were still working because of the GI Bill. Just pm me if you would like to get an idea of how much you’ll be getting from the Pell Grant and GI Bill if you quit your job and come here at Cal (from experience this past year). </p>
<p>Meh…to be honest those people at the VA rep office don’t really know what they’re talking about except for that one guy (forgot his name though). Most of them are pretty clueless so I doubt Calso will be of much help. It’s still always better to just call up the VA.</p>
<p>Fill out the FASFA. Apply for University Housing at the UC Village.</p>
<p>There are many, many people in my classes who are in the same situation as you. They get by very well.</p>
<p>You have to look at it practically. You worked really hard to get into Berkeley. As a transfer, you only are given 4 semesters here. That is less than 2 years. Make the most of it.
If you think you can have a family, maintain a job, and do well at Berkeley, I’m sorry but you can’t. Berkeley is much more intense than Community College. Especially if you are an Econ major. Berkeley will consume all of your time and mind. But that is what makes this place so amazing. </p>
<p>You have the GI Bill, great UC Aid to students with families, and 4 semesters at the best public university in the entire world. Set yourself up to experience all of Berkeley. Your resume just saying you graduated from Berkeley vs your resume saying all you participated in here is a big difference. In less than 2 years you will be a graduate of Cal and can spend the rest of your life making money. </p>
<p>I cannot stress this enough, the demands of Cal are far beyond that of CC. It is not “harder” per se, but the intensity and time you will need to devote to school is great. It is entirely manageable if you are smart about it. I have seen students try to maintain the life they had at CC and crash and burn hard trying to do that. Plus you are cheating yourself out of all this school has to offer. I am on campus 5-7 days a week. Studies, study groups, student opportunities, on-campus work, etc.</p>
<p>be sure to stop by the re-entry student offices at Cal. they have information for students with children and families to support. maybe they have ideas about childcare facilities, not sure. it is only two years. it might be a bit of a jumble, but you can do it. good luck dude. and don’t overload on classes the first semester. take it easy and get good grades, good grades always help.</p>
<p>See if it’s possible to work with your employer to reschedule you to something that works with your educational schedule. If not, you might just need to find a job in the area.</p>
<p>Congrats on getting admitted and good luck!</p>
<p>It should be the COMPLETE OPPOSITE. You shouldn’t be working in your first semester here (even if you are taking 13 units. Those 13 units can take up SO MUCH TIME). Wait to see how your first semester works out and decide if you can juggle with school and work (and I am not even mentioning about family, thinking that your wife has it all taken care of for you) at the same time. </p>
<p>I’m not an Econ major, I’m in something known to be more intense. I rent an apartment in Berkeley and I find myself ONLY going back to the apartment to sleep at night and the rest of the time I’m on campus dealing with classes or class related stuff. And I’m assuming you would be utilizing the campus too to focus on studying/doing homework before going home?</p>
<p>I’m a senior and I specially PLANNED for my senior year classes to be “chill”, taking only 3 classes each semester, with the plan to work a part-time job to feed myself. Turns out this 1 class from each semester (major required class) is SO INTENSIVE, I find myself working harder than previous years, spending SO MUCH MORE time with homework and learning the material. Needless to say, I barely even have enough time to sleep (although I’m glad the amount of work required by the other 2 classes were minimal), so I didn’t get to work. But then again, my major is more intense.</p>
<p>If you are providing your family a comfortable life now, WHY are you coming back to school for two years that MIGHT affect family income?
If you wanted to get a college degree, WHY do you want it? Just for the sake of having it OR because it might help you get a EVEN BETTER job? In getting your college degree, do you want to DO EXTREMELY WELL or just passing all classes to get the degree is good for you?</p>
<p>Know your background motivations and you will know what’s the priority. With mortgages it’s hard, but hang in there for 2 years and you’ll have a better pay that surpass what you missed these 2 years when you graduate.</p>
<p>I’ll try to keep it short. Quit your job or you’ll regret it. Trust me.</p>
<p>My motivation for going to school is more about personal fulfillment than making more money. In fact I am sure that I will be taking a pay cut upon graduation and switching careers. I have a union blue collar job but I don’t find my work rewarding and my hours suck. I want to work somewhere where I can contribute to the organization in a meaningful way. After reading everyone’s advice it seems like I’m going to have to quit. I’m so glad that I got into Cal because I would not be willing to quit my job to go SF state or St. Mary’s. Thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>If it were SF State I’d tell you to keep it. But, seconding everything berklebear said…you’re going to be so glad you quit, not just for the peace of mind and concentration you’ll have, but ALL THE EXTRA TIME to really get involved on campus and soak up the “college experience”. You might not miss it now, I didn’t when I got here, but it’s SUCH an enjoyable thing to suddenly be having “the best years of your life” as an older student who knows EXACTLY what “the real world” is like without that fear of graduation hanging over your head. It’s something I couldn’t appreciate that semester I had a job and I was surprised by just how much I wanted it. But gods, its great to have that college experience for no other reason than its own sake. Make the most of it. You’re doing the right thing to quit and you’re going to have a BLAST.</p>
<p>Just to update this thread in case other people who are in a similar situation are curious, I was able to keep my job and adjust my hours by taking 4 hours of PTO on Wednesdays so I could go to all of my classes. I ended up working 36 hours a week and passed all of my classes with an A, A-, and a B-. It was pretty stressful because I always felt like I was behind in the reading and never had any time to really study. I feel like if I did not work I could have gotten a 4.0 but a slightly lower GPA is worth keeping a roof over my head.</p>
<p>Grats :)! Glad everything went well for you!!!</p>
<p>Nice job! Glad everything worked out.</p>