Hi everyone! I was accepted to UC Berkeley 2 days ago, which is crazy I’m still in shock. However, I don’t know if I should go there. I’m from Santa Barbara, CA and the drive will be 5 hours there. I get really homesick from my family. Also, I’ve been to Berkeley several times and the area it is not that safe. I’ve also heard people say that it’s not safe to be there as a student during the night. Additionally, I heard that housing there is horrible. I don’t know if that’s true or not. I also want to change my major from the College of Natural Resources to the College of Letters and Science but I heard that it’s so hard to change your major. Also, grade deflation. I don’t like that and I don’t want to get low grades when in reality I was supposed to get a higher grade. I’ve also heard that no one helps you and there is such a competitive culture there. However, I do like how Berkeley has greek life and I plan to join a sorority. I also like how CAL has alot of pride. I just don’t know if I should go there. I don’t want to commit and then drop out. What should I do? Please help.
Berkeley is not safe? Wut?
Compared to what?
What are your other options? It sounds as if Berkeley may not be a good fit, but really depends. It really isn’t for everyone. I live close to CAL. Great school obviously, but there are issues that you need to get past to be happy there.
I say this as a fellow high school senior who lives really close to Berkeley, not a current student or alum, so take this with a grain of salt. I have some friends that go there who tell me that it is fairly competitive but not as crazy as some people make it out to be. Also the whole Berkeley area is pretty safe, although it is dense and urban.Its geek life/ sport scene is defiantly there but not super dominant like USC. I don’t know what your other options are but with in-state tuition and Cal’s reputation I assume it would be one of your top choices. If you’re super homesick the drive to SB isn’t bad at all.
You have been given a lot of misinformation about safety in Berkeley. But it’s true that Berkeley has housing issues (although being in a sorority would solve that) and that it can be difficult to get into certain majors, for example business. Which major do you want to get into in L&S?
More importantly, when you were in Berkeley, did you like the campus? The area? What is it about Berkeley (reputation aside) that made you apply there in the first place? BTW, Cal has many students from Southern California who have no problem visiting home quite often if they need/want to. It’s 300 miles. Easy peasy. And probably good for your growth and independence.
As for grade deflation, my kid and I was just talking about this last night. If anything it seems like the opposite. He currently is taking a class where for the first midterm, a 55% was the borderline for a predicted A-. The median score was 49%.
I think transferring from CNR to L&S should be pretty doable.
Berkley is incredibly competitive, do you have other options? If so take a hard look at going to one of those.
Yes. My other options are two private schools (Westmont or Point Loma) where I received a great amount of financial aid.
The housing situation is getting much better. Before, after your first year, it was extremely difficult to get university housing after that. This year, the university expects to be able to grant university housing to any second year student who requests it. My kid was able to get his very nice dorm again for next year. Off campus housing seems to be pretty plentiful. Not cheap, but I see all kinds of listings every week so if you plan ahead enough and find a roommate(s), off campus is pretty easy to find.
Given the other schools that you listed, I would think that you should give Berkeley a go so that you don’t have any regrets later on in life. You can probably always go back to either of those schools if things don’t work out. The opposite won’t be true.
The following describe changing into L&S if you are not in L&S:
https://ls.berkeley.edu/advising/academic-progress/changing-status/change-college-ls
https://ls.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/advchangeofcollegepetition.pdf
UCB course grade distributions can be found here:
https://www.berkeleytime.com/grades/
Another reason is that my parents don’t want me to go far. What do I do??
What are you looking for in a college? UCB definitely has a different culture than Westmont and Point Loma just because it’s a huge state school. As for security, I wouldn’t worry about that too much. The area around Berkley can be kind-of seedy at times, but so long as you’re on campus you have campus security and that blue-light system to make sure you’re safe.
Did your parents sign off on you applying to UCB in the first place? Is there a financial hardship should you attend UCB?
They told me to apply to Berkeley but they thought I wasn’t even going to get in. The only financial hardship I would have it in the future with finding off campus housing. Also, my parents aren’t willing to make the drive up there.
I’m not quite sure what is the point of this thread then. There’s more than enough reasons to come but it doesn’t sound like you want to come.
From your original post, I got the impression that UCB was not where you want to be for 4 years, so do decline your offer and select a school where you would be happier. Is this parental pressure to accept UCB?
Not necessarily Parental pressure, but overall family pressure. My aunt and uncle are constantly pressuring me to go there.
Are they the ones paying for your college education? They should have no say in your decision unless they are contributing to your college costs. You are the one that will be going to college for 4 years, so you need to make the best choice for you as long as your parents approve of your choice and are willing to support you.
No they are not as my parents will be paying. Thank you, it’s just been frustrating as they constantly text me asking if I have committed yet. Additional family members have been pressuring me to go there as well. Thanks again!