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Is berkeley major competitive?
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The university itself is not incredibly competitive. One can major in plenty of easier fields besides biology. All of the lower division pre-med classes (bio 1a/l, bio 1b/l, physics 8A/b, chem 1a/3a, math 1a/b) are quite difficult in the sense that most of the classes are designed to be intensive and challenging. AP Biology is really nothing compared to Bio 1A/B in my experience.
I've also hard that some students are reluctant to share information with one another, this is certainly not consistent with my observations and experiences; all of the lab partners and people I have had have been working with have been fully forthright and helpful on assignments; I'm sure there are some scum somewhere though, they are the ones that are scowling in the corner sitting alone...
The curve generally helps alot though and rarely hurts; for example, when I took chem 3b I remember that the class average on one of the midterms was just 50%...I had scored a measly 70% or so and ended up with an A. I've never had a curve hurt me, I suppose it happens but I haven't seen it.
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is it possible to get a 4.0
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I guess its possible, I don't think it happens too often as even an A- is a 3.7. I imagine its quite rare to get a perfect 4.0 for 4 years.
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What major did you choose for pre-med school
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I chose MCB, (CDB Emphasis). The MCB department was particularly enticing because alot of the lower division classes were the same as premed requirements and upper division classes align directly with my interests and they are great prep for MCAT exam material. (ie MCB 130- Cell Biology, MCB 102- Biochem). Of course, you can major in anything that you want provided that you finish the prereqs. CDB is also an emphasis which allows for alot of wiggle room if you are interested in many different things, at the cost of specialization.
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What pre-med school are you applying to?
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I'll be applying broadly, I still have to think about this some more.
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I just heard berkeley's pre-med courses are killers.
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Granted, the pre-med courses are hard. I imagine this is the case at all reputable schools, if this isn't the case let me know. The classes are killers if you don't have the natural talent or study skills necessary to do well; they prepare you extremely well for the MCATs if you really learn the material. If you have the skills needed, then obviously you're set. In other words, it depends on who you are.
This may be useful:
http://career.berkeley.edu/MedStats/MedStats.stm
Send me a pm if you have other questions.