Summer Bridge vs Freshman Edge

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>Okay, so I know there has been like a bagillion posts on this topic, but I just wanted to know how rigorous and difficult courses in summer bridge and freshman edge is compared to say...a regular UCB course that you would take during the year. Are courses about the same thing, or are they more student oriented and helpful? I'm mainly concerned about the rigor of the courses and which one would benefit me more for the upcoming fall. I don't want to have my brain fried before I even get to start my first semester at Berkeley! I know that Freshman edge offers a wider selection of courses, and is specifically designed for freshman admits, but what are the advantages to taking summer bridge over freshman edge?</p>

2

<p>Summer Bridge’s course offerings are mainly for students with weaker high school preparation to better prepare them for normal college work in the fall, while Freshman Edge’s course offerings are normal summer session courses which would be better suited for students at normal level or advanced level coming out of high school.</p>

<p>What is your intended major?</p>

3

<p>My intended major is Chemical Biology, and I’m thinking of doing summer bridge because I feel like I need that extra help. But, do you know whether the courses that you pass in the summer count as credit for regular classes that you would take during the year?</p>

4

<p>Yes, they count.</p>

<p>Summer Bridge offerings are here:
<a href=“Summer Bridge | Student Learning Center”>Summer Bridge | Student Learning Center;

<p>Basically, the offerings are:

  • Various Reading and Composition A courses.
  • Remedial math courses.
  • A chemistry course for students who have not had a high school chemistry course, but intend to take Chemistry 1A or 4A.
  • A statistics course less advanced than Statistics 2.
  • A few humanities and social studies courses.</p>

<p>According to [2012</a> Growth API School Report - Patterson High](<a href=“http://api.cde.ca.gov/Acnt2012/2012GrowthSch.aspx?allcds=50712175036256]2012”>http://api.cde.ca.gov/Acnt2012/2012GrowthSch.aspx?allcds=50712175036256) , Patternson High School is only slightly below average in API compared to the state of California overall, so it is not likely to be one of the extremely bad high schools whose students are most in need of Summer Bridge courses.</p>

<p>What level of courses have you completed in high school in subjects like math, chemistry, physics, and English, and how have you done on tests like SAT writing and AP tests?</p>

5

<p>I’m taking AP Chem, AP Gopo, AP English Lit, AP Calc BC, AP Statistics and AP french lang this year. And I’ve passed my AP chem(self-studied), AP English lang , AP Euro, and AP Us history exams. In terms of science courses I also took physics and biology. I’ve taken all AP courses available at my school except for Spanish though.</p>

<p>From your explanation it appears that Summer Bridge is for disadvantaged high schoolers who need the most preparation for Berkeley. But would you suggest applying for summer bridge to get credits/ to get ahead in courses that may be taken in freshman year? Also, when we apply for summer bridge, how do we know the amount of financial aid we will get?</p>

6

<p>Do Freshman Edge (or take courses at a local community college if allowed) if you want to get ahead. With all of your AP courses, you should have no need for what Summer Bridge offers, which is intended to help students who are behind due to coming from bad high schools.</p>

<p>The courses likely to be most helpful to you are:

<p>You need to take Chemistry 4A in the fall, regardless of AP credit.</p>

7

<p>Okay, Thank you so much ucbalumnus! Your tips are really helpful and now I understand a lot better. Are you an administrator or counselor at Berkeley? It would be great if I could ask you questions when I go there in the fall.</p>

8

<p>No, just someone who graduated a while ago.</p>

<p>There are other current student posters here in the College of Chemistry, so if you want to attract their attention, you may want to put College of Chemistry in the subject line.</p>