U.C. Berkeley's prospective Bachelor of Arts undergraduate student information help!

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

Hi, I’m a prospective (U.S. Citizen but have lived in Argentina almost my whole life) U.C. Berkeley architecture undergraduate student for fall this year, and I have some questions regarding it. I have already applied to U.C. Berkeley but I need to know more about it in order to make my final decision regarding other universities I have also applied for.

Here’s the list of questions:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of living on or off campus?
How hard is it to get an affordable rent or dorm (in good conditions) near the campus?
Would you recommend the bachelor of arts in order to later go for a Master of Architecture?
How would you rate this university’s bachelor in arts program?
What ranking would you give it academically speaking?
How do you handle all the costs that imply studying at U.C. Berkeley if you’re not yet a Californian Resident? Is it easy to get financial help as a non-Californian Resident?
Is it hard to get the Californian residency in order to not only lower your tuition costs but also live in California after your studies?
Finally, in your opinion, do you think it’s great for an 18-year-old to pursue his dream of becoming an Architect in the U.S. while leaving his family in Argentina?

I would really appreciate if anyone could help me, thanks in advance!

2

I will answer your residency question by referring you to the following information. Do not count on establishing residency or getting in-state tuition unless your parents move here with you.
How to establish CA residency:::

Undergraduates: If you’re a nonresident undergraduate student with nonresident parents, obtaining California residency for the purposes of tuition is extremely difficult (this includes transfer students from community colleges and other postsecondary institutions within California). Virtually all nonresident undergraduates with nonresident parents remain nonresidents for the duration of their undergraduate career at UC.

Establishing physical presence and intent

To meet these requirements, you must be continuously physically present in California for more than one year (366 days) immediately prior to the residence determination date (generally the first day of classes) and intend to make California your home permanently. You can demonstrate your intention to stay in California by relinquishing legal ties to your former state and establishing legal ties to California.

Here are some ways you can establish intent:

Remain in California when school is not in session.
Register to vote and vote in California elections.
Designate your California address as permanent on all school and employment records, including current military records.
Obtain a California driver’s license within 10 days of settling in California. (If you’ve never had a driver’s license in any state, then obtain a California identification card.)
If you have a car, obtain a California motor vehicle registration within 20 days of settling in California.
Work in California and file California resident income tax forms from the date of entry into the state. Income earned outside of California after that date must also be declared in California.
Establish and maintain active bank accounts in California banks and close out-of-state accounts.
Surrender all out-of-state identification (including driver’s license).
Establish a permanent home where your belongings are kept.
Obtain a license for professional practice in California.
You’ll need to relinquish out-of-state ties and demonstrate intent while simultaneously meeting the physical presence requirement.

Absences from California

In order to demonstrate intent, it is important to stay in California during nonacademic periods. If you’re a nonresident student who is in the process of establishing California residency, and you leave California for more than one month during the summer before the term in which you are establishing resident status, your intent will be questioned.

Graduate and law students who must leave for nonacademic-related reasons for more than a month during the summer should contact the campus residence deputy to seek advice prior to leaving and filing for classification.

Financial independence

Nonresident undergraduates

This requirement makes it extremely difficult for most undergraduates who are not financially dependent on a California-resident parent to qualify for classification as a California resident.

If you’re an unmarried undergraduate under the age of 24 and your parent(s) are not California residents, you must be able to document (for example, using tax returns, W-2 forms, bank statements) that you have been totally self-sufficient for two full years prior to the residence determination date, supporting yourself, for example, through jobs, financial aid, commercial/institutional loans in your name only, and documentable savings from your earnings. This also means you can’t have been claimed as an income tax dependent by any individual or have accepted gifts (cash or other support) that contributed to your subsistence for two tax years immediately preceding the term.

3

Thank you very much! This is of extreme help, would I be able to register as a dependent on a second cousin who is a Californian resident? Would it make it easier to establish in-state tuition fee?

4

NO registering as a dependent with your 2nd cousin will not work either. You have a couple of choices:

  1. Your parents come to California with you and make it their permanant residence 1 year prior to you starting at a UC
    Or
  2. You come here as an independent meaning you receive no financial help from your parents and family, work, get a driver’s license, vote, rent and apartment etc…for 2 years prior to attending a UC.

    Or
  3. You pay the OOS tuition rates for 4 years like the current OOS students attending the UC’s.

You and your family are not tax paying residents of California. The UC’s are public unverisities that give in-state tuition rates and financial aid to in-state students. If you want to come to California for school, you should consider private schools that are not residency dependent for financial aid or you wait until you over 24 and consider coming to UCB for graduate school.

5

There is an Architecture forum where they can help you with your architecture questions.

Yes you can get a BA of Arts and then a masters in Arch. You should however read up on the masters requirements so you take the required courses ahead of time.

My D is in Arch at WashU and is getting a BS in Arch. She plans to continue and get a 2 year Masters in Arch.

I believe a BA would mean 3+ years of Masters in Arch so definitely come up with a plan. Obviously this is an expensive route unless you get your UG for free.

6

I was also considering other universities to get my undergraduate Arch Degree, they are Louisiana State University, Washington University, Iowa State University, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University Torcuato Di Tella in Buenos Aires (which has a much lower tuition fee of about $7000-$6000). However, I don’t really know what would be more convenient for me at this time, should I stay and get my undergrad. arch. degree in Argentina or should I move alone to the U.S. and start a life as a student.

7

I have a senior at Cal presently who is OOS, so I can try to answer some questions, but go with a student over me please. 1) its a big place. living on campus your first year if you can would keep you at close proximity to classes 2) there is affordable living near the campus, and many students go in together on apartments since housing is not guaranteed 3) BA is fine 4) this is a world class university not just noted for its grad programs. More and more the reputation of their undergrad program is going up and up 5) it is costly 6) getting FA is hard 7) its near impossible to get CA residency - look at the university website on how to establish residency 8) personal choice.

That said, Berkeley is a great place but it’s big. You have to be a self advocate. It can be hard to find your social group. Greek system is big. Athletic system is big. You can find your niche but if you’re not into frats and sororities, or an athlete, it may be difficult. Great education, great place to be. Great weather. Good Luck!

8

@JamesWiz I can help on the architecture questions, but will defer to UC experts on the general Berkeley questions.

Berkeley’s BA Architecture is an excellent program, one of the best in the U.S. It would be a strong entree to a Master of Architecture program, at Berkeley or at any other school of architecture.

There are pros and cons to getting a BArch versus getting a BA or a BS + an MArch. Because there are so many variables in undergraduate funding and in the time it takes to get an MArch, it’s difficult to generalize, but before you make any decisions, you need to carefully consider costs. 4.0 years of undergrad plus 2.0 or 3.0 years of graduate school at out-of state tuition rates will be very, very expensive.

If you see yourself practicing architecture in the U.S., attending an American school of architecture would be a good idea, because of the school’s name recognition in the U.S., because of the connections you would make through professors and visiting architects and because of the availability of summer internships which will be the foundation of your professional resume.

Getting an undergradutate degree in Argentina and then going to the U.S. for your MArch is another option.

9

Hi, I’m a prospective (U.S. Citizen but have lived in Argentina almost my whole life) U.C. Berkeley architecture undergraduate student for fall this year, and I have some questions regarding it. I have already applied to U.C. Berkeley but I need to know more about it in order to make my final decision regarding other universities I have also applied for.

Here’s the list of questions:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of living on or off campus?
How hard is it to get an affordable rent or dorm (in good conditions) near the campus?
Would you recommend the bachelor of arts in order to later go for a Master of Architecture?
How would you rate this university’s bachelor in arts program?
What ranking would you give it academically speaking?
How do you handle all the costs that imply studying at U.C. Berkeley if you’re not yet a Californian Resident? Is it easy to get financial help as a non-Californian Resident?
Is it hard to get the Californian residency in order to not only lower your tuition costs but also live in California after your studies?
Finally, in your opinion, do you think it’s great for an 18-year-old to pursue his dream of becoming an Architect in the U.S. while leaving his family in Argentina?

I would really appreciate if anyone could help me, thanks in advance!

10

Hi, I’m a prospective (U.S. Citizen but have lived in Argentina almost my whole life) U.C. Berkeley architecture undergraduate student for fall this year, and I have some questions regarding it. I have already applied to U.C. Berkeley but I need to know more about it in order to make my final decision regarding other universities I have also applied for.

Here’s the list of questions:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of living on or off campus?
How hard is it to get an affordable rent or dorm (in good conditions) near the campus?
Would you recommend the bachelor of arts in order to later go for a Master of Architecture?
How would you rate this university’s bachelor of arts program?
What ranking would you give it academically speaking?
How do you handle all the costs that imply studying at U.C. Berkeley if you’re not yet a Californian Resident? Is it easy to get financial help as a non-Californian Resident?
Is it hard to get the Californian residency in order to not only lower your tuition costs but also live in California after your studies?
Finally, in your opinion, do you think it’s great for an 18-year-old to pursue his dream of becoming an Architect in the U.S. while leaving his family in Argentina?

I would really appreciate if anyone could help me, thanks in advance!