Any Q's for a UCB Transfer?

binarybanker · 10-09-2012, 09:27 AM

College Confidential helped me a lot when I was in cc. While i'm procrastinating and not studying for midterms, I figured i'd give back a little. A little about me:

Major: Haas
3 years spent at cc (multiple major changes)
Took summer classes summer before I came here
Know a lot of L&S majors (anthro, poli sci, peace and conflict, econ, cs etc.)
Was formerly on pre-law track/took LSAT
Live in Unit 2 Wada w/meal plan
Some knowledge of social/professional frats

Cheers!

pirateXking · 10-09-2012, 12:37 PM

On a basic level what do you think about being there? Was it your first choice? What If any work experience did you having going into Haas? Could you speak a bit about the possibilities of internships as a transfer? If you could do the whole process over from your first class at CC to this day what would you do different? Do you by chance know any Econ majors? If so, do you by chance know how they are liking their program? Do you like the dorms +meal plan?

I know it's a lot please don't feel obligated, by any means, to answer all of them.

Thanks in advance.

Dahbes · 10-09-2012, 08:44 PM

was it extremely hard to get used to the difficulty of the haas classes? what was your gpa and how would you say the student atmosphere around haas is? is it tiresome like that of a typical engineering major?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using CC

DescartesQ · 10-09-2012, 08:59 PM

How difficult is it to declare as a double major in an impacted L&S major like Econ or CS?

binarybanker · 10-10-2012, 01:04 AM

@DescartesQ

My understanding is that, as long as you take enough prereqs while in cc, it's not too much trouble. One caveat though: for econ and some other majors, you need to declare at the end of your first semester here. That means having all of your prereqs done by Fall '13. Also, cs61a/b/c equivalents can be difficult to find in cc, but are extremely helpful if you can find them. 61b especially is a huuuuuuggggee time-suck/GPA-killer.

I don't think CS is a very impacted major though, especially compared to econ, so econ prereqs are a priority.

binarybanker · 10-10-2012, 01:19 AM

@Dahbes

I've found the difference to be staggering. My GPA in cc was 4.0 and I breezed through micro/macro econ, accounting, and Calc 1/Calc 2. Technical classes here can eat upwards of 20 hours per week each (not counting class-time). Haas classes tend to cover relatively uncomplicated subject matter, but all Haas classes are curved to a mandatory 3.2 average, and you're competing against people who have 3.8+ through their first two years at Berkeley. Doing well here is definitely possible, but you need to be extremely efficient with your time.

Most of the people here are pretty friendly, but there's always the unspoken knowledge that you're talking to your competition for jobs. The atmosphere gets really tense when recruiting times come around (sucks to be a senior right now). It can get tiresome always feeling like you are competing for something. When everyone's going nuts you just have to slow down and realize how lucky you are to have the opportunities you do.

binarybanker · 10-10-2012, 01:42 AM

@pirateXking

Wow, lots here

Was it your first choice?
Berkeley was tied for first choice with Upenn and Brown. Got into Brown, but figured it wasn't worth the price tag compared to in-state tuition.

What If any work experience did you having going into Haas? Could you speak a bit about the possibilities of internships as a transfer?
I had three internships (investment banking, business development, legislative analyst), a part-time job, entrepreneurial experience, and I was a district employee at my cc. For transfers, most internships are within reach if you network effectively, have past work experience, and interview well. I'd say that most internships are as available to transfer as to 4-years. The main drawback for transfers is that there are some really legit 4-years who interned at Facebook as freshman/Lazard as sophomores, etc. You have to somehow prove to recruiters that you are better than these people. In other words, if you just want a job after graduation, you'll be able to get something if you put in the time and effort. If you want Goldman/McKinsey/Facebook/etc., you better have a brand name internship before you come here.

What kind of careers are you interested in? I can talk for hours on how internships/recruiting works if you get more specific.

If you could do the whole process over from your first class at CC to this day what would you do different?
I would have worked hard to get better internships earlier in my college experience. After you transfer, nothing else from cc really helps you. I also would have practiced soft skills like case-interviews and financial modeling.

Do you by chance know any Econ majors? If so, do you by chance know how they are liking their program?
Some of my dorm mates are econ. It's a competitive program and upper-div econ gets pretty crazy, but they seem to like it. They like their profs and they all seem happy with it.

Do you like the dorms + meal plan?
I love the dorms. It's pretty close to the campus and my dorm mates are amazing. It's a lot of fun. Meal plan is a little pricey and the food is hit-or-miss, but it's super convenient.

I think i'm making this place sound crazy, and it definitely is at times, but it's also an amazing and life-changing experience. You experience your highs and lows and you'll work and play harder than you ever have before.

emprex · 10-10-2012, 01:51 AM

How difficult is it to get into Econ vs Haas? I assume it's 3.7+ just to be competitive for haas. Also do you know of any low gpa admits to haas via transfer? I read in a decision thread here not too long ago an older student got into haas with a 3.4 but had 14 years of work exp.

binarybanker · 10-10-2012, 08:26 AM

It's impossible to say exactly how much tougher Haas admissions is than econ. Even the adcoms probably couldn't tell you that.

There's a few older students here who transferred with tons of work experience, but they had 3.7+. The lowest GPA admit I can think of was a 3.71. Even if there was one person admitted with a 3.4, you can't base a decision off of outliers.

HockeyGiant · 10-10-2012, 01:13 PM

How is the social life as a transfer?

Dahbes · 10-10-2012, 10:50 PM

Sorry one last question, I have constantly read about the cs class(comp sci right) needed for transfer, yet I cannot find anything like that on the assist.org for either one of the community college I am attending. I am extremely confused when it comes to this and as far as foreign language goes, I took French 3 in High School, would that suffice? Or would they want to see one more year in college?

emprex · 10-11-2012, 12:04 PM

thanks binary

binarybanker · 10-12-2012, 12:49 AM

@HockeyGiant

Social life is amazing. Berkeley is so huge that you won't get an intimate environment that you'd get at a small private college. The upside of this is that there is a club, group, or some peer group that will be a perfect fit for you. You just have to find it.

I live in Unit 2 Wada, which is a dorm specifically for transfers. My roommates are all awesome and we go out most non-midterm weekends. If you can make friends with people in the frats or join one, you'll never have to worry about finding a party.

If you're not into partying, there's literally hundreds of events and organizations. If you don't want to be bored, you don't have to be.

binarybanker · 10-12-2012, 12:55 AM

@Dahbes

Like I said above, CS 61a/b/c are extremely hard to find anywhere, but are well worth going through trouble to complete them if possible. You might have to attend multiple cc's to do CS 61a/b/c.

I think you should be ok on your foreign language requirement (sounds like you went about as far as I did). You should call the admissions office to make sure.

mermaker · 10-12-2012, 01:03 AM

Was it easy making friends at the transfer dorms? Since everyone there is a transfer student, were people eager to make friends?