<p>Can any students / parents who have gone through this previously, please provide some insights.</p>
<ol>
<li>Can spring admits actually graduate in 4 years</li>
<li>Will they have the same opportunity to register for classes in Spring - if they go through FPF</li>
<li>Specifically, as far as Econ is concerned, they have some pre requisites (courses and GPA) that are mandated - does doing the FPF fulfill these?</li>
<li> What about advising in Fall?</li>
</ol>
<p>My older D thinks that "spring admits" are "looked down" upon - any truth to this? is there any stigma?</p>
<p>Obviously, we are thrilled our child was admitted to UCB -- this will help her/us decide the best options in terms of picking schools.</p>
<p>My D accepted spring also. In addition to question above what about housing? If you do FPF do you get housing with regular fall admits? If you just come in in spring what about housing? It says on website no guarantee for housing. Anyone who knows please answer, thanks!!</p>
<p>@camama2 If you choose to do FPF, you live with everyone else. My dorm floor has 3 students who were in FPF for fall 2013. FPF classes, however, are separate. If you don’t do FPF, my understanding is that you still have a housing guarantee for 2 years, just like everyone else. One of my high school classmates was a spring admit who chose not to do FPF and went to community college for a semester instead; since he submitted his housing paperwork on time, he didn’t have any trouble moving in and transitioning to the dorms at Berkeley in January.</p>
<p>There are several useful thread from last year about spring admits and the Fall Program for Freshmen. They were back in March-April 2013 if you do a search. It sounds like the FPF can work out well and the GE classes are smaller and taught by professors.</p>
<p>Luckily my son got fall admit but I was worried. It seems like there is no rhyme or reason to who gets it, and Berkeley won’t say what the decision process is. </p>
<p>My son is in his 3rd year at Berkeley and was a spring admit in FPF. He will graduate in 4 years with a double major. FPF fills up quickly and if you are even considering it, I would recommend getting your application in by tomorrow. FPF will work great for a social science or liberal arts major but not as well for a science major because you won’t get started on year long sequences your first semester. As far as spring registration, registration works in two rounds, with students able to register for a max of 10.5 units in the first wave; realistically this is two classes. He was low priority in the first wave and high priority (relative to 1st years) in the 2nd wave (a snake format). The grades transfer over to Berkeley GPA and econ should be fine. Essentially you get your general ed requirements done that first semester. In some ways FPF is better because class size is 110 students instead of 600 on the main campus. My son got two years of housing in the dorms and definitely wasn’t looked down upon; the admissions process has randomness and the fact that you were a spring admit doesn’t mean you will do worse (in fact he is on track to graduate with distinction). In the end, he has a Berkeley degree just like everyone else. As far as waiting to attend in the spring, I think it is generally possible to get into the dorms. Let me know if you have more questions. </p>
<p>Hi, I found out that I got admitted to Berkeley for Spring 2015.
I honestly did not expect to get in at all.
I will be visiting private out of states colleges, and UCSD next week.
I’m not sure whether I want to go to UCB yet.
However, I understand that FPF fills up very quickly, and I have to submit my SIR if I want to reserve a spot.</p>
<p>If I submit it, can I cancel it later, if I end up wanting to go to UCSD?
Or is that unacceptable? Please tell me ASAP.</p>
<p>i think its just a $100 deposit that goes toward first semester if you attend Cal, but if you decide another school you just lose the $100 since its nonrefundable.</p>
<p>My son is a freshman. One of his roommates is a Spring Admit who did FPF. From what I understand, jumping into some of Berkeleys classes can be overwhelming, and so doing FPF is more of a kinder/gentler transition. </p>
<p>@kobeiverson So withdrawing my SIR will have no consequences except for the fact that I’ll lose $100? I guess I should reserve my spot before space runs out. </p>
<p>I was initially pretty sad and upset about being a spring admit, especially when I felt that I had the stats and qualifications to be a fall admit. But now, I really think it’s a hidden blessing (not being delusional or anything either!)</p>
<p>It’s like a free gap year. I’ll tutor kids from my HS, maybe intern or find a job, get to do my hobbies, travel, study what I want to study, go to my local CC and get my GE done, and do a lot of things I couldn’t have done. It’s a break from HS - essentially an extension of summer break for me. Plus, after I enter the school, I hear there aren’t any differences. </p>
<p>I also disagree that Spring admits are for borderline people – in fact, the people I know who’ve gone through the process have generally high grades, high # of AP classes (more credits perhaps plays a part), and generally succeed as well if not better than a few fall applicants I know. Just my opinion, but I think getting a Spring admit is making the best out of it - it’s an opportunity not many people easily get, and at the end, I’ll be a Bear like any other Cal student! </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Do you count the fall semester (if the student attends FPF or community college) as one of the eight semesters? It should not be any more difficult if the student chooses a full load of relevant courses in FPF or community college during the fall.</p></li>
<li><p>The FPF course selection is limited, but the economics major prerequisites can be fulfilled in three semesters or less, so if the student merely covers breadth requirements and math in FPF, that will not prevent timely declaration of the economics major.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>The economics major prerequisites: <a href=“Freshmen Information”>Freshmen Information; (note: Math 53 and 54 are also needed if the student wants the more mathematical option to prepare for PhD study in economics, as they are prerequisites for the more mathematical Economics 101A and 141 courses)</p>
<p>My son had maybe 40 units (many of which won’t really count for anything) from AP, and did FPF, and I think 3 of his classes counted towards a requirement for his major (e.g., calculus) or a breadth (art history and ESPM 50AC, which counts for TWO requirements - -bonus!). He could finish his major, MEB (molecular environmental biology), in 3.5 years and graduate…but he will go abroad for a semester instead and stay four years. So no problem finishing in 4 years by doing FPF!</p>
<p>I personally know four spring admits. This is a non issue.
You worry, obviously, about being a known second-tier. From the cases I know well, these kids are not marginal admits in the least, but rather kids whom admissions perceived as using UCB as a safety and probably not intending to go there. In the cases I know, UCB admissions was half right. (One went to Stanford, another to Harvard. Two took UCB’s offer and enrolled in Spring.)
A few years later, the two who went to CAL are graduating on time with their class, one double majoring.
I hope what I know, though anecdotal, is helpful to your daughter. No doubt there are lots of stories out there, and the university will not explain their process, just as much about holistic admissions everywhere is not transparent. We are left with real people’s experiences. You are wisely asking about this.</p>
<p>Thank you all - appreciate all the help. We have also talked to Cal students since last evening & everyone seems to think that this is a non issue. She has already registered for FPF and looks like there are only 230 spots left. So, of there are any student/families still ambivalent about spring admittance, please enroll in FPF as soon as you can. You have only a $100 to lose if you change your mind. FPF students are guaranteed housing this year.</p>
<p>Yep. If you have can afford it, absolutely send in your SIR and claim your FPF spot.</p>
<p>If you’re worried about the canceling SIR process, I sent an email to Cal Admissions and they said that if I want to cancel my SIR, I’ll have to send an email to <a href=“mailto:admissions@berkeley.edu”>admissions@berkeley.edu</a> stating you are cancelling your admission. I must also include your student ID number and the reason why I’m cancelling. It’s not that hard of a process.</p>