<p>What’s the definition of “subpar” in this context anyway? Let’s be honest. The average transfer student is simply not as smart as the average freshman student here. I can say that from my own experience with a lot of transfers. Transfers make up for it by working a lot harder, resulting in an comparable (though slightly lower) GPA. So yes, most of them are “subpar” intelligence wise. It’s just too easy to get into Cal as a transfer, almost anyone who is a little hardworking, but not necessarily smart, can do it. I think Berkeley should make transfering a lot harder. I doubt that transfers are looked down upon in Stanford, where the transfer rate is ~2%. These 2% must have achieved extraordinary things.</p>
<p>That being said, intelligence is overrated. I would rather employ someone who is hardworking, has some life experience and is easy to get along with than someone who arrogant and doesn’t know anything about the real world, but is a little smarter. When I spend time with people who came here as freshman I often wanna bang my head against the wall because of their naive point of view, which comes from living in a bubble world their whole life (high school with E-parents, and then the time at Berkeley).</p>
<p>I’m thankful there are a lot of transfers at Cal. Many of them may not be the smartest, but they are definitely more enjoyable to hang out with and have interesting stories to tell. (Freshman mostly talk about their clubs and frats both which are totally irrelevant in the real world)</p>