Usefulness of Summer Sessions

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

<p>My goal is to apply to Haas.</p>

<p>I'm reading the Summer Session benefits (<a href="http://summer.berkeley.edu/mainsite/freshman/benefits.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://summer.berkeley.edu/mainsite/freshman/benefits.html&lt;/a&gt;) and I noticed something interesting:</p>

<p>"In fall and spring semesters, required courses fill up quickly. In summer, you'll have much better access to popular required courses." </p>

<p>How accurate is this? </p>

<p>Also, is taking a course during the Summer cheaper than taking it in the Fall. </p>

<p>If you guys can list some pros/cons, benefits, etc. of summer sessions that would be great.</p>

2

<p>Are you a prospective freshman? If so, I wouldn't suggest summer sessions because I think you should try to enjoy the summer after high school ends the best you can. </p>

<p>Some required courses to fill up quickly, but I think it's just a matter of when you sign up for them. Econ 1 and BA10 (two classes you'll need to take in order to apply to Haas) are easy to get into IF you sign up for them in Phase I. </p>

<p>I do know that a lot of pre-Haas people like to fulfill their computer science requirement at a community college or online, but I think they usually do that the summer after freshman year.</p>

3

<p>I agree. I'll be very blunt here and apologies beforehand if I insult anyone.</p>

<p>I think it's extremely stupid for students who just graduated to take summer sessions. Why? Because it's the most carefree summer you'll ever have. You just graduated from high school. You got accepted into college. This is probably one of the two best summers you'll ever have to enjoy life without worrying about anything. The other summer that I'm assuming will be carefree is the one after college graduation and before full time work. It'll be like preschool again when you didn't have to worry about anything, just play :)</p>

4

<p>those summers during elementary and middle school were pretty damn good too though</p>

5

<p>oh man anon5524485 i would have to agree w/ you lol.</p>

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<p>Hahahaha. "just play :)"</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the replies. I am indeed a prospective freshman.</p>

<p>So the general consensus, I shouldn't take Summer Sessions and that I can get all the necessary classes if I pick them early?</p>

<p>How early can I start picking classes?</p>

8

<p>um...i was also wondering about this, i'll subscribe to this thread.</p>

9

<p>You can start picking classes at orientation (CalSO), which you sign up for after you submit your SIR, I believe. Try to pick an earlier CalSO if possible (bear in mind that it's not just freshman who will be enrolling in these classes. Continuing students will be signing up for fall classes in the next few weeks). During orientation, you'll have a chance to talk to CalSO staff and advisors so that you can plan out your first semester schedule. You'll sign up for your first 10.5 units at that point (Phase I), and then sign up for the remainder of your units at some point in August (Phase II). You will be emailed the specific time. The stack enrollment into two phases so that people who have their Phase I later don't get screwed. </p>

<p>Scheduling and enrolling is sort of confusing, so don't worry too much if that seems hard to understand. CalSO will really help you</p>

<p>So, don't take summer sessions and don't worry too much :)</p>

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<p>I don't think taking summer sessions is a bad idea for everyone. I mean, you get familiar with the campus, get to see what it's like in a college course (if you haven't take one before), get to see what it's like in a Berkeley class, get to explore the Bay, get to experience some great weather . . . but you do miss out on times with friends you might not see much in the future and some other things. All in all, in general I'd advise people not to take it, although I could see many exceptions.</p>

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<p>can someone tell me what Phase I and Phase II are, or point me to the web link please?</p>

12

<p>I really wanna get out of SoCal ASAP. So basically, I looked at the Freshman Summer program but it seems a bit too limiting. OK, I'll take a List A course <a href="http://summer.berkeley.edu/mainsite/freshman/courselist_a.lasso%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://summer.berkeley.edu/mainsite/freshman/courselist_a.lasso&lt;/a> but I'd also like to take a course NOT LISTED ON EITHER LIST A OR B. Anyways, I emailed an advisor in the classics department and he told me that I have all the pre-reqs for taking Republican Prose (Under LATIN) over the summer. Can I still take this course or do I have to put it off? </p>

<p>I'm actually really interested in this and kinda wanna take it...</p>

13

<p>Yeah...I was a bit hesitant about bringing those terms up in my earlier response, because they are weird and confusing, and I remember when I heard them I was like, "Oh no, I don't understand anything! I'll never figure out how to sign up for classes"</p>

<p>Phase I is when you sign up for your first (up to) 10.5 units of classes. Most classes are 4 units, but they range from 1-5. Then later on, you sign up for the remainder of your classes during Phase II. For freshmen, "Phase I" happens at CalSO and you are emailed your time for Phase II (basically, a 24 hour window where you're allowed to register for classes). </p>

<p>Don't worry too much about figuring all these logistics out; CalSO will make it all clear.</p>