I was wondering what measures can be taken to create a private school experience at a public school. I will be attending UC Berkeley as a regents scholar, and I know UCB does not have an honors college or anything that separates students of different academic caliber. As such, I was wondering what steps could I take to ensure a private school experience?
Please define a “private school experience”.
What particular aspects of “private school” experience are you looking for.
Some private schools are comparably large like USC, NYU, BU. Or are you looking for something like a smaller school experience?
UCB does have some honors courses (e.g. various math courses, Physics 5-series, honors thesis in every department). Some other courses exist which are “harder” versions of other courses.
@TomSrOfBoston easier time of professors getting to know you, more academics/academically minded people, secluded away from the city, smaller class sizes, etc.
@ucbalumnus please refer to my other post
It looks like you are choosing the wrong school for your preferences. UC Berkeley is what it is, the top public college in the US. You cannot make it anything else.
It should not be hard to visit faculty during their office hours other than around exam time.
UCB has plenty of academically minded people. It is probably not as preprofessional as Penn, Northeastern, or Drexel.
Obviously, UCB is not secluded like UCD or UCM. Of course, USC, Harvard, etc. Are not secluded either.
Class sizes can be large, though it depends on your major and whether you choose “harder” courses.
Most people at Berkeley are of high academic caliber. To create the “private school experience” you have to take the initiative and find your own niche at the school. Their are so many clubs, organizations, and various events going on that you will likely find people very similar to you.
You can get to know your professors even at a large university if you’re proactive. On everything else, it is what it is.
Seems like you really want a LAC in a rural area like University of Minnesota - Morris.