I’ve heard that Berkeley is extremely stressful, has high rates of depression, and generally has a tough grading curve. To what extent is this true?
Expect it to be the same as at any excellent school.
It’s true to some extend. Some can handle it, some can’t. UCB, or any other school, is not for everyone.
What do you expect? A party school with top ranking in academic?
Any top ranked school is going to be academically very challenging. Some students thrive in such an environment, some do not. Some very smart students do not do well under a lot of stress. IMHO in terms of attending a very challenging university, it is not enough to just have great grades and SAT scores, just as important: You have to want to do it.
Each student should think carefully about what they actually want in a university, and not just go from rankings.
as a student there right now, its hell. Worse than other top schools. Because we are public, we have deflated grades. Very few classes have an average grade of an A. Unlike Stanford. However, I dont do well with stress and I messed up a midterm so I am a little salty.
Fun Fact: im literally in class right now
I’ve heard from many that stress level at Cal is very high - way higher than other top ranked places. Many complain about a “cut-throat” environment. I personally know two people who got admitted to Cal and chose to go to other schools (UCSB and UCI) because they both are going to apply to med schools and were concerned that their GPA will be way too low.
However, you can still have a little lower GPA, say 3.6-3.7, at UCB and get into a decent medical school compared to that same GPA at UCSB or UCI and may not get into a decent medical school. Medical schools, at least the CA ones, recognize the intense competition at UCB.
For those kids who are used to working hard for the good grades, you will have to work harder there. For those kids who didn’t have to work so hard in high school, prepare to completely change how you do school. Because of the grade deflation and the curves (not all classes curve, but the weeder STEMs, for instance - yeah), you have to readjust what “good” means to you. You will not be a failure because you did not get an “A”. You will not be a failure because your GPA isn’t a 4.0. The expectations are high because the professors know that the quality of the admitted students is high. It’s their job to challenge everyone, even the very tip top.
D had a very good GPA after her freshman year, but we still got a teary call yesterday because the first physics midterm result was not so hot (never mind that she NEVER took physics in HS - no excuse in her book). Was wondering whether to do pass/no pass so her GPA wouldn’t take the hit, but then she would have to change her major somewhat if she did that. It’s her choice in the end, but we had to remind her to 1) not let one class derail her plans if the major she’s chosen is what she really wants to do, 2) stop getting hung up on GPA - she’s not going to med school, so I’m sure her chances at grad school are not scuttled her 3rd semester in, 3) admit that she hasn’t exhausted all of the possibilities to better prepare (office hours, hire a tutor), and 4) if she fails the class, she will have to retake it, and that’s OK. Today, she’s pulled herself together, shooting for a B in the class, and looking for a tutor. Because she wants a degree from this school and she’s going to grind it out until she gets it.
In the words of @DadTwoGirls , you have to want to do it.