<p>Alright CC, I just finished my first semester at Berkeley. I was a junior transfer, Anthropology major Fall 2011.</p>
<p>I remember the stress of this time in application purgatory. Now that my finals are done I can field any questions transfers might have about the application process, acceptance, or about Berkeley in general. Some people who had gone through the transfer process helped me out last year and I know how much that can help.</p>
<p>Ask away!</p>
<ol>
<li>Are you living on-campus? If so, how would you describe the experiences so far?</li>
<li>How did you meet new people/friends?</li>
<li>How much more rigorous is it at Berkeley than your community college (I know its more, but would like details)</li>
<li>How was it transitioning from CC to UC?</li>
</ol>
<p>(Note: Not going to Berkeley, but my questions are universal)</p>
<p>Hey BerkeleyOrBust! Thanks for doing this! Us Berkeley transfer hopefuls could use some advice and moral support during this nerve racking time of waiting! :)</p>
<p>What were your stats at the time you applied? I applied to L&S under Sociology. </p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<ol>
<li>Can you describe registering for your classes for your first semester there?</li>
<li>Is it worth joining a frat?</li>
<li>How many hours a day do you study there? </li>
<li>I’d like to echo lawlking here, how did you make friends? Did you meet them mainly from your apartments or through clubs?</li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks very much BoB.</p>
<p>when can u add class for the first semester? is there enough space left for new transfers?</p>
<p>thanks BerkeleyOrBust</p>
<p>Hey</p>
<p>I was wondering how hard it would be to transfer to a non impacted major at Cal with a 3.7+ (in specific Poli Econ)</p>
<p>Okay, I will try to address all the questions asked so far.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>I am not living on Campus. I am living on the Berkeley/Albany line about 2 miles from campus. It is either a 10 minutes bus ride or a 45 minute walk to campus. I am an older student, so I am living in a one-bedroom apartment with my girlfriend. We found this place on craigslist while I was still in San Diego. Finding apartments was a real pain, but eventually it worked out fine.</p></li>
<li><p>As far as meeting friends, it is a little different for me. I usually make friends with older transfer students pretty easily, because that is just something we connect on. Surprisingly, there are a lot of students over 25 and over 30. Berkeley is such a bustling place. There are students EVERYWHERE and classes are packed. It is super easy to make friends just by the sheer numbers of people you are surrounded by everyday as long as you have the basic minimum of social skills. Besides classes, there are clubs and other venues to easily meet people at anytime. </p></li>
<li><p>Berkeley is a big step up from CC. I wouldn’t say that it is “harder”, but it is for sure more intense. For example, most of my CC classes had 1-3 books. In my 4 classes this semester I had 17 books. Some of them are readers. Readers are collections of Academic Journal Articles your professor has put together. No more textbooks or scantrons at Berkeley. All primary source journal articles or primary source books, and blue book essays. You are expected to have read and understand these articles, but there almost always is discussion or lecture about the hard pieces. My blue book essays were sometimes graded like research papers were in CC. My first midterm I studied my ass off, and I thought I had hit it out of the park. I got it back and it was a 74. My first C in college! But the good news is I met with the professor, the reader, and some tutoring to make sure I improved. I worked really hard in that class to improve, and this morning I got my grade. It was an A. So it is possible to do good here, but that is the hardest A I have ever worked for. There is a saying here at Berkeley that “Bs are easy to get but As are extremely difficult to get” If you are a good student and do everything you are suppose to you will get a B. If you want an A here you have to go after it.</p></li>
<li><p>The transition was rough. I had moved up here from San Diego 2 days before classes began. The stress of moving, being in a new place, and getting slammed with a lot of school work in the first week was tough.It took me until after midterms to really understand how this place works. As a transfer you are at a disadvantage because the students who have been here are already used to the rigor of Berkeley. My advice to everyone is to just be patient with yourself, ask as many people as many questions as you can, and understand that your first semester at Cal will be your hardest out of all your time there. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>I’l answer more throughout the day. Keep asking if you got questions.</p>
<p>My stats were </p>
<ul>
<li>3.81 Anthropology Transfer</li>
<li>Honors Program, Phi Theta Kappa</li>
<li>Non-traditional student, worked 5-20 hours a week while at CC.</li>
</ul>
<p>I transferred to UCB from San Diego Mesa/City this summer and this is how it’s been so far:</p>
<p>-I actually find academics much easier. There is a lot more reading but far fewer tests and assignments so your success depends ENTIRELY on time management and studying habits. After one full semester plus summer sessions, my GPA is higher than it was in CC and should stay that way. The downside to this is if you’re somebody who doesn’t study for tests or blows off assignments, it’s going to kill you because now they’re worth 20-50% of your final grade. My recommendation: DO summer transfer edge if you can. It’ll give you a great feel for the campus and classes, and you can get leftover reqs out of the way. </p>
<p>-making friends here has been a bit tough, but I live alone in an apt so that’s probably part of it. (900/studio a few blocks from campus, goes down quite a bit if you’re willing to live a little farther away - comparable to SD prices). People seem nice but shallow, and genuine senses of humor are a RARE find. Everything I heard before coming about PC hippies running rampant is true. </p>
<p>-I’ve had really bad registration appointments and have had to appeal/waitlist to get into all the classes I need, but I know transfers who’ve gotten first-day appts so idk how they determine it. </p>
<p>Overall it’s been fine. The faculty and classes are AMAZING. All of my professors get rounds of applause for each lecture and I’ve even seen the occasional tear fall. Lecture has by far been the most rewarding part of being here. Socially, I’d rather be in LA where people know how to have fun.</p>
<p>Keely is right about the academics. That is what I mean by it is not harder, but more intense. The concepts we deal with in classes are some of the hardest material I have ever dealt with, but it is amazing. CC was more about survey classes, broad concepts, understanding the basics, ect. As an Anthro major, there is a TON of reading. Reading really dense journal articles that take 4 or 5 run-throughs to fully understand sometimes. The Writing is graded much harsher. On blue book essays, if you just regurgitate what the professor said or what is in the writings, you might get a B. To get the A you have to analyze the material and draw specific conclusions and argue for your analysis. (At least that was my experience in the Anthro dept).
It is easier in the sense that there is very little projects/papers due. The downside is your midterm and final count for nearly all of your grade. So you are accountable for an entire semester of really dense material. But once you get used to that change from CC, things get easier. </p>
<p>I’ll also agree with Keely that the lectures/professors are the best part. Getting a lecture at Berkeley is getting a lecture from the leading people in my field. Many professors wrote the actual books you use in class. The lectures are often coming from first hand experience. So much cutting edge research in my field is constantly coming out of Berkeley and it is amazing. All my professors got applause. </p>
<p>As far as the people, it depends on your personality type. It is not a party school. I came from San Diego and partied all the time with SDSU people. Berkeley is mostly ful of people with academic goals and are very serious about their education. Of course, there is diversity, but overall it is nothing like what I left in San Diego. I like it though. It is really chill. Finals time was an amazing thing to see. Thousands of students all studying around the clock for 2 weeks. Having a real tough time to find a spot in the library system (it is a HUGE library system) and the conversations you hear on campus are students debating philosophy or intellectual concepts from class. </p>
<p>That atmosphere really helps me and inspires me to do better. Berkeley is a huge challenge, but I felt myself get so much smarter in just my first semester. As far as the protesters and overtly PC types, I don’t have too much of a problem with them. I figured it was going to be part of the Berkeley experience. I really just don’t give a **** when people get super PC on me. I am originally from Boston, MA so people think I am a loud mouthed ******* even when I think I am being chill, so whatever.</p>
<p>BerkeleyOrBust, how much have your priorities changed? I’ll try to explain, because we might not even be on the same page but we’ll see (I would think we are b/c you’re non-traditional and you have a girlfriend). See, here in community college, I’ve rarely felt overly pressured. Had to do a couple all-nighters this semester but it was only because I took 6 classes. See even at 18 units, I never really felt like I had to sacrifice friends, family, things I love. Was it like that for you? If it was, do you feel like you’ve had to give other things that matter to you less importance now that you’re at Berkeley?</p>
<p>Another thing, are you working? Regardless, do people just settle for any job while they’re studying at Cal?</p>
<p>Thanks :)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is interesting. What do you mean by this?</p>
<p>^ I guess I should say that the people I’ve met here are incredibly intelligent and I can have very insightful conversations with them about the material or other academic stuff, but sarcasm/satire does not hold much of an audience here since like <em>everybody</em> I meet is minoring some form of ultra-PC race or gender studies. Of course, I’ve also been told I carry myself with more of an east-coast attitude (like BerkOrBust) so that may be a factor, but still it’s just silly to me when people here act like alcohol/cuss words/eating meat/not recycling is the devil. I guess I just wasn’t expecting it, but the astounding brilliance of my professors and GSIs has more than made up for it. Actually, I’ve gotten along with my professors far better than with the students, which I don’t mind :)</p>
<p>Another plus is that for the first time in my adult life, I don’t have to work 40+ hours per week while going to school full-time. Work study is such a great program. You can work in any of the 20 (20!) libraries or countless departments for however many hours per week you think you can spare, and they pay more than most real jobs I’ve had.</p>
<p>^ Oh I see, not the kind of people to invite to dinner huh? It’s not just an east coast thing. I grew up in South east SD (I go to Mesa, by the way) so I’m used to the stupid jokes, bad language, and meat revelries. XD</p>
<p>But you know what, I’m optimistic about places with Berkeley kind of people b/c you stand out and every so often you get it out of some people. When I heard the guys at UCSD were ugly, I was like ‘‘ok I’m going there’’. </p>
<p>It’s funny, a few months ago I searched out Berkeley apartments out of curiosity, and yes a lot of the ads said something like “No meat in this fridge”. Which I can live with as long as they don’t catch me doing it outside of the apartment.</p>
<p>I’d have to say my experience is opposite of Keely but that might be due to different majors. I’m an EECS major but I’ve met some pretty down to earth people. It might be due to the forced student collaboration we have in our courses but for the most part, I haven’t run into anyone who was an outright jerk. EECS students aren’t really all that outgoing because of the huge amount of studying we have to do so I stretch out to other majors for fun. </p>
<p>That being said, I know plenty of people who go out and drink, hit the bars, clubs, etc. I’m 30 now so I’ve gotten to that point where going out all the time isn’t in me but I still hang out now and then. Join clubs or check out frats/sororities if you really want to be a social butterfly. Best way to meet people. </p>
<p>All in all, anyone going into EECS, be prepared. It’s a rough transition from CC to UCB but nothing too overwhelming. If anyone has any questions about EECS, feel free to ask.</p>
<p>Hey BerkeleyOrBust. Thanks for taking away from your time to help us out.</p>
<p>I’m going to visit Berkeley’s campus sometime in the beginning of January, and will be taking a guided tour, but I was wondering what are some places (on or off campus) that you think every visitor should check out. Also, what is the cost of living like in Berkeley? I know San Francisco can be a financially tough place to live, but are Berkeley and it’s surrounding neighborhoods comparable?</p>
<p>Lastly, can you please tell me what you think my chances are? I feel like I’m very borderline.
3.68 GPA (3.71 after 2 classes in Spring semester), Psychology major, all IGETC’s/pre-req’s done after Spring, no EC’s or community service because I had part-time jobs ever since high school senior year, and very solid but not absolutely amazing personal statement. Thanks again.</p>
<p>sorry no one answered my question :(</p>
<p>I was wondering how hard it would be to transfer to a non impacted major at Cal with a 3.7+ (in specific Poli Econ)? any insight would be helpful</p>
<p>Why don’t you just ask in the chance thread? These topics aren’t helpful if we keep asking things that no one can really answer for you.</p>
<p>^^Seconded.</p>
<p>Because if you look for yourself, everyone asks but no one answers. I won’t even bother posting there. And what do you mean "asking things that no one can really answer for you.?..Who’s more qualified to give his opinion than a student who attends UC Berkeley and has offered to help us prospective students. He/she went through the same application/transfer process, talks to fellow Berkeley students (who may be studying the same major we are inquiring about), etc. Still think it warranted the need to act like forum police?.. <em>rolls eyes</em></p>
<p>Sorry about not answering everyone’s questions. I just hop on this board from time to time as I am doing other things.</p>
<p>As far as the 3.7, you probably have a good shot. I got into Anthro with a 3.81 but that department is so not impacted. One of my friends in the dept got in with a 3.3. I am not sure about Political Economy. I don’t know anyone in the major. </p>
<p>But also remember that Berkeley has a holistic admissions process. A lady from UCSD told me that as long as you had your prereqs done and a good GPA they didn’t even read your essay. Only if you were a borderline case. Berkeley reads everyone’s essay and looks at so much more than Prereqs and GPA. Berkeley has a unique admitting system unlike the other UCs. They try to make sure you are a good fit for the school.</p>
<p>That is why I know people here who got in with low 3.0ish GPAs and I know 4.0s that got rejected. Most high GPA rejections I have seen were because of missing prereqs in impacted majors. </p>
<p>The good news is during this financial crisis Berkeley has been admitting more OOS, international, and transfer students to help make up the budget shortfalls. So there may be a greater chance for transfer students to get in these next few years.</p>