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luvtoolearn · 01-12-2008, 04:46 PM

For any of you who are older students (over 25) and considering transferring to Berkeley here is my experience:

I am not going to lie to you. It was very difficult my first semester, but you have to remember I am not only an older student but I worked full time and I am a parent. I did well in most of my classes but I did poorly in one of them, whick is difficult because you start your UC GPA w/ a 0.00 and whatever you get for your first semester there starts to shape your UC GPA since CCC GPA does not transfer. It was very difficult switching gears and I would have to say that the biggest change that I am still having a hard time adjusting to is having GSI's & sometimes just graders grade all of your work instead of the professors. One of my classes, more than half the class failed and was in the professor's office complaining about the grading policy of the individuals grading the papers. I can see why Passionate's experience as a math major went well because math is universal..I am in the social science (L&S dept) so all of our work is very subjective.

Although it was a rough the first semester, I have to say that I absolutely love Cal and do not regret my decision to go there. They have plenty of classes including evening classes, really fun decal classes (student taught classes), fantastic transfer programs (I practically live in the transfer center), fun clubs and groups, a great student-parent program and always plenty of things to do around campus and the bay area. I am never bored. They have a fantastic family student housing program which is where I live. Get on the waiting list now even if you haven't gotten accepted yet. You can sign up up to 2 years in advance.

my suggestions:
1.) really check out the professors before taking a class (this makes a huge difference)
2.) try to take one fun or decal class a semester.
3.) do all of the readings in your readers (trust me there is allot of reading!)
4.) if you can, go to all the lectures even if it's not required
5.) try to limit the amount of groups or clubs you join the first semester. They are allot of fun so I suggest getting involved but they are also time consuming.
6.) try to get into study groups w/ your classmates. I noticed that the classes I did well in were the classes I exchanged email/phone numbers w/ other students and worked on assignments together at the coffee houses or student lounges.
7.) like passionate said...have fun on the weekend ...there is plenty going on around campus and just a BART ride away from The City.
8.) try if possible to reduce your work hrs. I burned out working full time and at the very end of the semester reduced my hrs to very part time & am now sane.
Oh and btw no one cares what year you are or if you are a transfer student so that was never an issue.

Good luck everyone!

01-12-2008, 04:46 PM	#18
luvtoolearn Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UC Berkeley Gender: Female Threads: 15 Posts: 691	For any of you who are older students (over 25) and considering transferring to Berkeley here is my experience: I am not going to lie to you. It was very difficult my first semester, but you have to remember I am not only an older student but I worked full time and I am a parent. I did well in most of my classes but I did poorly in one of them, whick is difficult because you start your UC GPA w/ a 0.00 and whatever you get for your first semester there starts to shape your UC GPA since CCC GPA does not transfer. It was very difficult switching gears and I would have to say that the biggest change that I am still having a hard time adjusting to is having GSI's & sometimes just graders grade all of your work instead of the professors. One of my classes, more than half the class failed and was in the professor's office complaining about the grading policy of the individuals grading the papers. I can see why Passionate's experience as a math major went well because math is universal..I am in the social science (L&S dept) so all of our work is very subjective. Although it was a rough the first semester, I have to say that I absolutely love Cal and do not regret my decision to go there. They have plenty of classes including evening classes, really fun decal classes (student taught classes), fantastic transfer programs (I practically live in the transfer center), fun clubs and groups, a great student-parent program and always plenty of things to do around campus and the bay area. I am never bored. They have a fantastic family student housing program which is where I live. Get on the waiting list now even if you haven't gotten accepted yet. You can sign up up to 2 years in advance. my suggestions: 1.) really check out the professors before taking a class (this makes a huge difference) 2.) try to take one fun or decal class a semester. 3.) do all of the readings in your readers (trust me there is allot of reading!) 4.) if you can, go to all the lectures even if it's not required 5.) try to limit the amount of groups or clubs you join the first semester. They are allot of fun so I suggest getting involved but they are also time consuming. 6.) try to get into study groups w/ your classmates. I noticed that the classes I did well in were the classes I exchanged email/phone numbers w/ other students and worked on assignments together at the coffee houses or student lounges. 7.) like passionate said...have fun on the weekend ...there is plenty going on around campus and just a BART ride away from The City. 8.) try if possible to reduce your work hrs. I burned out working full time and at the very end of the semester reduced my hrs to very part time & am now sane. Oh and btw no one cares what year you are or if you are a transfer student so that was never an issue. Good luck everyone!