I’m one of those students; PM me if you want to discuss more why. This is a good flowchart of my life here:
disappointment from academics/something upsetting in life–> depression–>force myself to be strong and move on while trying not to die–> study/work–> stress over exam/quiz/assignment–>anxiety shoots through veins as midterms approach–> stress, anxiety, skipped meals and sleep–>pre-exam heart attack, anxiety shooting through veins at like 300 mph–>waiting anxiously for results to come back–>apathetic if did okay/slightly disappointed if okay but not that great –>more work–>takes L–>disappointment, and cycle starts all over again
Being from SoCal, my daughter was so disappointed when she was waitlisted by UCLA so she chose Cal. Initially she was planning on transfer after 2 years, but when she was home during spring break I asked if she was still going to apply to UCLA in the fall, her answer is No. I like Berkeley. She has made so many new friends and joined 2 clubs. She’s maintaining good grades. Only thing she wasn’t keen on was the wet weather, but overall doing well. She is definitely busy, but not just course load. Sometimes I call her and she’s in SF with friends, shopping, visiting museums, concerts. I like that she’s there and I can go up to visit because I love the Bay Area.
Just chatted with D last night about this and that. She credits being involved in a club as THE way she started to feel connected to a very large, often very challenging school. The key is getting involved in clubs and organizations as soon as possible. Automatic opportunities to be social and meet people with very low risk. A friend of hers was seriously thinking about transferring out after his freshman year, but his his roommate really encouraged him to get involved before he made that decision. Now a sophomore, he’s getting more involved and staying put. You just have to be very pro-active about the search for your “people” - Cal will not hold your hand on this. Each person will have highs and lows which may or may not have anything to do with academics - that’s life away from home in the “unreal reality” that is college.
@Walter924 I’m surprised you don’t know Helen Keller Hall. Yes in Clark Kerr. My daughter lived in it for the academic year 2014 - 2015. Sure, it has a number, but yes, it’s name may be a remnant of its past since the whole Clark Kerr campus used to be part of the California School for the Deaf and Blind. Go take a look at the front of the building that faces Warring Ave. You’ll see the name of the building “Helen Keller Hall” Some of the letters are off.
@AboutTheSame Yes, you are right. It has survived, at least as of 2015. And it was quiet,not rowdy at all.
I’m looking at the map now, and the building may be on Derby St. not Warring, perhaps bldg. #17?
@emvic8100
I read your old posts, and feel sorry for you.
But IMHO, the source of your problem is not UCB. Anyone expecting a GPA of 4.0 at UCB is setting up to be disappointed. Any parent expecting his/her kid to get a 4.0 GPA at UCB will be even more disappointed.
And anyone expecting to meet Mr./Miss Right at UCB in addition to a 4.0 GPA will be extremely disappointed.
The “land of milk and honey” to one can be the “land of fats and cholesterol” to another.
@Pentaprism I, well, am trying to tell myself that a 4.0 at Berkeley is not easily achieved, but well, it’s quite a new reality I suppose. And all hell goes to my house if I get anything below an A; I saw this in HS and after my first semester of college. I am not looking for an SO right now.
I’m very happy at Cal, but I came in as a transfer student, so I didn’t have to deal with any so-called “weeder” classes, which are lower-division classes that are have artificially harsh grading to prevent too many people from declaring majors that are really popular.
Cal is very challenging and it can feel alienating, but the people here are generally kind - at least in my major. I’m really glad I picked Cal over UCLA.
“If stress is interfering with your life (socially or academically) or if you find yourself depressed or anxious for weeks or longer, this will interfere with your ability to learn and perform academically. Talk to a professional mental health counselor. Campus counselors at University Health Services at the Tang Center are available on a drop-in basis for urgent concerns. Visit the CAPS website, call Counseling and Psychological Services at (510) 642-9494, or, when the Tang Center is closed, call the after hours counseling line (855) 817-5667.”
Seems like the source of your problems is the artificial pressure from your family (beyond the GPA pressures of pre-med), which would have followed you to whatever college you could have chosen.
@ucbalumnus You’re right, but Berkeley isn’t the most generous with grading so perhaps if I had gone to an “easier” college I’d be getting more A’s. The pressure would still be there, of course, but maybe my grades would be better and hence the situation would be better.
I think that’s right, @emvic8100. If you go to college to be challenged, to learn as much as you can, to push yourself to the limit, …, you should try to get into UCB. Note that all these don’t necessarily make you “unhappy and depressed.”
On the other hand, if you are after “easy” A’s, UCB will likely make you “unhappy and depressed.”
As stated, the “land of milk and honey” to one can be the “land of fats and cholesterol” to another.