<p>Congrats nerds. Today was my final day of classes at Cal and now only three papers stand between myself and a B.A. In an effort to avoid actually doing these papers I have decided to field general questions to the best of my ability. I will sit here refreshing the page for a while. </p>
<p>Things I am of no use at: Financial Aid (figuring this out is the hardest part of going here), Spring Admission, Greek Life.</p>
<p>Things I might be able to give advice about:
Dorms, apartment hunting, telebears, course load, DeCals, bSpace, food, bars, and random other things.</p>
<p>If I don't know, I'll try and point you in the right direction. If I do, I'll answer to the best of my ability.</p>
<p>The majority of Spring Admits I have met have been incoming Freshmen. Most of them enroll in the UC Extension program and a select few end up in the dorms for fall semester. The Junior transfer spring admits I have talked to all seem to have simply waited until spring to enroll (as the majority of Berkeley Extension courses, at least to my knowledge, are lower division). That being said, should you decide to wait until Spring to enroll (and I’d definitely suggest waiting to come here over choosing another school) I have heard of Junior transfer spring admits taking a variety of paths. Some choose to pile on their course load and graduate in three semesters. Some walk during the spring they would normally graduate and come back for a final fall semester. And (this is prior to budget crisis so I’m not sure if you’re still able to) some petitioned for five semesters and graduated in the spring a year later. Honestly though, no one looks down on spring admits. Once you’re in, you’re in and no one cares if you are a transfer/spring admit. I should be meeting up with a few for study groups sometime within the week and I’ll ask them about it and get back to you via pm. Are there any particular questions you’d like me to ask them?</p>
<p>i really don’t know what to ask, there are a few of us Spring Admits on here though so maybe they can interject.
if i choose Cal i would really like to be class of 2012, that is my main concern and how realistic is it with an Anthropology major?</p>
<p>thank you so much for taking the time to help us out :)</p>
<p>I absolutely hated the dorms my first year. I lived in Clark Kerr and hated walking that far. That being said, my current roommate is my roommate from the dorms. If you are planning on living alone, or have a friend you’d like to share an apartment with, I don’t see the dorms as a requirement; however, looking back now I am glad that I did it as the few people I spend time with up here (I knew absolutely no one up here when I moved up. The closest person was my younger brother at Stanfurd) are friends I made from the dorms.</p>
<p>Don’t bring your car. Driving is useless. Parking is terrible. If you want to go to the City: BART. If you want to get around Berkeley: Bus. You can bring a bike, but I don’t have my car or a bike (and I’m from socal and drive EVERYWHERE when I’m home) and I get around just fine.</p>
<p>These are the requirements for completing the Antro major (I think). Most majors are possible in three semesters and a summer session if you’re willing to work your ass off. It is different here though. I worked 25 hours a week and carried 15-18 units while at my JC, but my first semester here I took 16 units of upper div. English and no job and it was more difficult. One thing to mention (that I found out the hard way) is that Berkeley requires one American Cultures course (that must be satisfied here) as well as 6 upper division units (roughly 2 classes) outside your major. I thought I would be able to finish last semester, as I was completing my degree requirements. Here I am this semester done with my major requirements and taking three classes outside of my major (SIDE NOTE: once you do get here, you might not be in such a hurry to leave :X)</p>
<p>eits25 I really appreciate you answering my questions! thank you for the helpful info :)</p>
<p>I feel that I can make a more informed choice, American Cultures sounds kinda like UCSD’s MMW requirement.
The main reason I want to get out fast is because I have only 2 years of FA offered to me. </p>
<p>I’m going to be looking for a two bedroom apartment…cheap and secure and as close to campus as possible. Any recs or sites you can direct me to? </p>
<p>Congrats on being nearly done and thanks for answering questions. I’m an English major too, any random advice you wish you would have known going in?</p>
<p>Is it hard to adjust?
It took me a little time to get used to being away. The first set of midterms and adapting to the reading load were difficult. The dorms were probably the biggest adjustment for me as I was 21 and stuck with a bunch of 18 (see: 12) year olds and had an RA that looked younger than my brother telling me I had to go to some ice-cream meet up crap (eventually they gave up on my room and realized my roommates and I did not care). There is definitely a transition period, but if you were good enough to get in, you’re well equipped to handle it (I told myself I didn’t belong here the first 8 weeks of my first semester).</p>
<p>Is it over-the-top hard?
Sometimes yes; sometimes no. Get used to being AVERAGE. I wasn’t the smartest kid at my JC, but I definitely considered myself one of the top students. Here you will meet someone that speaks 14 languages, is published, produced three movies, wrote two novels etc. </p>
<p>Is the dorm food good or bad?
The dorm food is good enough to eat regularly. Clark Kerr is pretty good for dinner and Crossroads has good breakfast. That being said, you will get sick of it and should treat yourself weekly to something off-campus. (The food in the Bear’s Lair is pretty good if you have to eat on campus).</p>
<p>Are the dorms nice?
The dorms are what you make them. I hated the walk from Clark Kerr, but definitely preferred it to being in the sardine cans that are the units. Clark Kerr is always under construction though, but you get used to the loud noises (no joke!).</p>
<p>Is being a Bear amazing?
I was something like 200/565 at my highschool. Half of my high school went to UCR and the rest to UCI/UCSB. I always got that “look” for going to “Community College.” I have now wound up going to the best school out of my entire graduating class and let me tell you, it feels damn good. Cal was actually my 2nd choice (I was not accepted to U Chicago). I’m glad I ended up here. Also, my younger brother goes to Stanfurd. We have been at Big Game together for the last two years and talking **** while winning is pretty awesome. Also, the professors are absolutely amazing.</p>
<p>Take the minimum amount of units your first semester (13) and stack your GPA so you can get into the honors program. My lowest grade here has been a B+, but because I took 16 units my first semester and earned two B+'s and a couple A-'s. I was unable to boost my GPA enough my 2nd semester to get into the honors program (which you should definitely do). I could have appealed, but I got lazy. Also GO TO OFFICE HOURS. English profs here are the best in the nation (you will have professors that are part of the graduate department).</p>
<p>What do you plan on doing once you graduate? I’m thinking of changing my major to Computer Science just because I’m a bit scared to just have a liberal arts degree (political science).</p>
<p>The majority of work through Callisto (Cal’s job website) for my major is writing content for crappy blogs. Unfortunately, I waited until my last semester to actually look at this site (there are some pretty interesting internships available to students that I am not able to get right now). A lot of work in publishing. I personally knew I needed time to decide between Law school and Graduate school (a decision I still have not made) so I plan to work some boring job for a while and save up enough cash to travel until I am ready to make my decision. Also, don’t switch to EECS solely because you’re worried about job prospects. I can tell you right now (my roommate and brother are both CS people) if you don’t absolutely love working with code all day you will hate your life after two semesters.</p>
<p>Wow thank you so much! I appreciate the responses!</p>
<p>I have more, if you don’t mind :)</p>
<p>What are your thoughts on the meal plan? Necessary?</p>
<p>Since I was offered around $3000 for work study, do you recommend that I take it? I’m a bit apprehensive because I’m not sure what the work load will be like and if it will be manageable :/</p>