Getting into Cal and what to expect when you finally get there

Undercrackers
Fri, 02 Mar 2018 20:25:45 +0000

You learn more from dealing with failure and figuring out how to move on than from never ending successes. We often say in our house that college is the “unreal reality” - it is a bridge between the immaturity of high school and the adult world. It’s the time and place where you learn many things unrelated to class content: how to live away from home; how to live with strangers; how to navigate a classroom/campus/administration/geographical area; how to advocate for yourself; how to make decisions when the mom-and-dad check and balance isn’t there looking over your shoulder. The process is accelerated at some schools more than others: Cal is one of those schools.

My sophomore D - an introvert from a public HS - has learned so much about herself and impressed us with her decision-making skills and resourcefulness. Yes, it’s difficult at times. Yes, she gets frustrated/sad/scared/stressed. But she’s a tough cookie who knows how to work hard and is willing to do it to reach her academic goals. She’s got friends, clubs, research, and done so much more socially than she ever did in high school. And, over and over, she affirms she’s in the right place for her.