<p>My main concern is: will the classes I take at a community college prepare me for the upper division classes at Berkeley? Especially those that are engineering? I just don't want to have the disadvantage of coming from a community college.</p>
<p>The workload and material will definitely be a lot tougher but as long as you developed good study habits (especially if you’re an engineering major) then the transition should not be that overwhelming.</p>
<p>I dunno about berkeley, but before CC I took 50 credits at a 4 year school (actually two of them!) IT’s harder work but it’s different-I mean, it was all lower division (but I did take one senior level class as a freshman–it was amazing!)
It’s just an adjustment–I didn’t think h.s. prepared me, but there’s less work so it’s not like cc where there’s a lot of busy work
oh-and bonus? forget about it. for most classes. It was a real treat when they gave bonus haha.</p>
<p>You’ll probably be able to understand it. Just be prepared for a steep increase in workload. </p>
<p>I’m a M.E. transfer just finishing up my first semester and I’ve found that my fellow transfer students (2 others from my CC, as well as others I’ve met) generally do BETTER than most who’ve been at Cal since high school. </p>
<p>In short, don’t worry about it but never be overconfident.</p>
<p>I’m finishing up my first semester at Cal, albeit in a different major (poli Sci). My experience is that there is a lot more expected of you at Berkeley. It’s similar to CC, but just everything is more intense. </p>
<p>My experience is that the transfer students that cared did well. I was one of those students at CC that always did all of the assignments and reading and got good grades. I’ve met other students like myself and we are doing well in our classes because we’re willing to work hard when it is required. There are a few transfers students here that seem to be “proud” of the fact that they “never opened a book” while at the community college. Those students don’t do so well at Berkeley.</p>
<p>Students who really are willing to engage themselves in the increased workload I think did really well, whether they were from a community college or not. Be prepared to devote your life to your studies, don’t overload in classes in your first semester and be sure to see your GSIs and professors when you need help, and I think you’ll be fine. Also, I don’t know how it is in engineering, but in Poli Sci, study groups really help a lot, so be willing to join or start those if you think it will help you study!</p>
<p>it’ll probably be a lot tougher but i might feel that way though because i slack off so much and still get the good grades at CC. UCI felt easy because i actually managed my time for doing work among the day, so as long as you know how to manage your time properly, you should do well</p>
<p>yea i don’t know why but i noticed that transfers do better than kids that started from high school, maybe its because a new school keeps us fresh.</p>
<p>Wow. I never heard of transfers doing better at the new school than their actual students! I’m glad I know now 
Thanks guys!</p>
<p>I bet you it’s because (for the MOOOST part, no scrutiny intended!) CC transfers may not have done as well in high school, (not that they did poorly but maybe 3.2-3.3), and so went to cc to make up for that and get a sort of 2nd chance. Those people that got into the UC’s from high school busted their butts and learned what you learned about studying a few years back and they probaby have all burned out (take me for example lol.) So, that’s probably why because you’re just starting to explore your intellectual curiosity and whatnot, but that’s just my opinion. You know? I worked way too hard in high school and college is way way harder and I am forever burnt out haha</p>
<p>Jeremey: I’m going to community college because I bit off more than I could chew in high school. I was literally number one in my class before I was diagnosed with a chronic disease, resulting in poor grades.</p>
<p>Jeremy overgeneralized the students at community college but its all good. </p>
<p>I think that if you have taken community college seriously to prepare yourself for the UC…you will be good to go. I think we just need to stand together as transfer students and be confident in our abilities as students. Regardless of our past, a lot of us will get into our “dream schools” and excel. </p>
<p>I know there are those people who dont take community college seriously and still get a 4.0 and get into cal and get straight a’s there…but that is pretty rare. I think if we work hard and dedicate the time at the UC-level, we will be successful.</p>
<p>I agree. At the end of the day, it really depends on the student to make most out of their time at a CC, and later at a UC.</p>
<p>To the OP: </p>
<p>Nah man, we be BALLIN’!!</p>
<p>Michael Powell is considered by many students and teachers at UCLA as the legendary departmental scholar for Econ. He is a fifth year PhD student at MIT right now with a near perfect GPA. He got a 4.0 at UCLA. He came from a community college.</p>
<p>How did he do it? Hard work. People who knew him always tell me he worked his butt off and he was efficient at studying. If you put in the time and the effort, you will succeed at Berkeley. Don’t worry about the fact that you came from a CC. If you get into Berkeley as a transfer than you are just as qualified as student getting in as a transfer. You would have been accepted for a reason, not by accident. If you get in it definitely means you are smart enough and prepared. The only thing that left to determine your success will be the amount of effort you will put into your studies.</p>
<p>Of course the work load might be more difficult and the competition will be intense, but as long as you have good study habits then you will learn to adapt. I’ve taken about 8 CC classes while I was still in high school and I found that those classes to be incredibly easy. I felt there was a huge lack of competition, so I was able to “shine” in those classes. Even though the CC I attended during hs is considered a great CC, it still wasn’t much of a challenge.
Now I’m at a UC and taking upper divs and it’s really a whole different field. Of course the work load increases, but now you’re with students who are dedicated/interested in the same major. I went from setting the curves in my CC classes to REALLY studying to get that A at a UC. It’s not too much of a shock if you know how to adapt to your college, but it’s not always a walk in the park either. If you can stray away from procrastinating or becoming lazy, you’ll do fine. I’m only a soph right now, but I’ve gotten a 3.9 GPA in just my 5 upper divs.</p>
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<p>Should read as:
If you get into Berkeley as a transfer than you are just as qualified as student getting in as a freshmen</p>
<p>i think it will be tough but the thing i figure is that if you made it into the school than you have just as much a right to be there as those who started as freshman. for me i cant wait to get into classes for my major. and since ive been taking like 5 classes each semester i havnt gotten a chance to like actually sit down and ever read the book, its always just like trying to memorize the important things and study for the exams. i cant wait to actually read the books!</p>