Big Classes-Hard to make friends?

maintainyourvelocity
Thu, 15 Feb 2007 05:47:59 +0000

Hi! I’m a freshman and planning on studying comparative literature (English and Spanish), and possibly doubling in history (if I ever finish the paper I’m working on right now…sigh). Anyway, the English prereq I’m taking right now has about 150 kids in it, and the professor is one of the funniest, smartest, most knowledgeable teachers I’ve ever had. He’s writing a book about Shakespeare and is an excellent lecturer. I’m taking intermediate Spanish; the class (and just about every other class) has less than 20 kids. I’m taking a fascinating seminar about language and politics in southern Africa with a world-renowned linguistics professor who has worked with Noam Chomsky and teaches Swahili – 20 kids. And as an aspiring journalist, I write for the Daily Cal! It’s an excellent, excellent publication; the students I work with pour their hearts and souls into it, with the editors working upwards of 60 hours a week. Your daughter will be covering one of the world’s best universities in one of the nation’s most interesting cities – what better journalism experience could you ask for?

Point is, I love Berkeley. I initially was scared about all those big scary lectures, too – I’m quite shy – but my independent streak has emerged and I’ve become more social, outgoing, and engaged. Join clubs, introduce yourself to people in class, talk to people in the dorms – it’s the same shtick no matter where you end up.