Big Classes-Hard to make friends?

writermom
Tue, 13 Feb 2007 13:57:38 +0000

fiskelove, I graduated from Berkeley ('73) and my daughter is currently a junior there. Yes, there are a lot of big classes, although class size does get smaller as you become an upper-division student and start taking more classes in your major. Most large classes are broken into sections taught by “GSIs”–graduated student instructors. My daughter has really enjoyed those and has learned a lot from her GSIs, some of whom have actually tutored her in difficult math, chemistry, or physics classes. There are also very small seminar-type classes–probably moreso in a major like English. If your daughter is the type of person who needs lots of personal attention and does not have an assertive personality–i.e., doesn’t feel comfortable going up to professors after class or during office hours and asking questions–then Berkeley may not be for her. Students who do well at Berkeley are those who are not afraid to seek out and go after what they want. There are a huge number of resources there, but they don’t come to you; you must be assertive and confident enough to look for them.

As for friends, my daughter has had NO trouble making friends whatsoever, and she was somewhat shy and very studious in high school. Like at any other school, the place where most kids meet their core group of friends is in the dorm (or in some cases, frat/sorority). There are zillions of clubs and casual sports teams, etc.–many opportunities to make friends outside the dorm too.

I think the bottom line for your daughter is the gut feel she has/had when visiting Berkeley. If she loved it, chances are she WILL love it. My daughter applied to and was accepted by 6 UC campuses, and Berkeley wasn’t high on her list initially. But after she went to an overnight stay program in the dorms, she called me the next day–much to my delight as an alumnus!–and told me Berkeley was it. She hasn’t regretted that decision. Good luck!