<p>It may be hard to believe, but students really do make it through college without doing alcohol and drugs, even if others on your dorm floor are obviously involved. Do druggies still try to cover up their activity with incense? Dorm life can be like going to an outdoor concert or event and being confronted with the aroma of someone nearby doing drugs. You just ignore it or move elsewhere. You will survive…really!</p>
<p>I wasn’t gonna share, but since msagaski asked I will…</p>
<p>My first year was a deathly experience (for my sanity), as we had this drama-queen on my floor, she was 23, out of community college and somehow FELT the need to make her the center of the social scene. Of course, naive freshmen bought into this because she would buy them liqour. This would usually end in people being loud and obnoxious, and showed the true side of “liberals.” They got in my face about my political views at one point and I said simply, “Libertarian.” And they were like," #^#%ing REPUBLICAN WANNABE ■■■■! F#%! YOU! GO TO IRAQ! DIE FOR YOUR FUHRER!!!" </p>
<p>Of course, this same chick was a “Green”, and tried to force her views down everyone elses throat. The entire floor grew increasingly out of control, and the RA was a manic-depressive who sold herself out and did not doing anything to stop it. I didn’t even bother to get her help because I knew it would cause tensions and crap would get even worse. (These kids were the type that if you are victimized or bothered by their activities, it’s your fault because you aren’t part of the greater whole.) It almost turned me into a far-right wing fascist, but I came back towards the center, a bit right of where I started. Almost dropped out and joined the Army I did!</p>
<p>My example might be a bit extreme, but that is how it went down and it boils my blood. College is not supposed to be like this. I don’t care if pot and booze is a major part of college life (hell, I love Beer), but it shouldn’t get to the point where kids are disruptive and being jerkoffs.</p>
<p>Andrew, where did you stay??? Thanks</p>
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<p>First year: Clark Kerr, second year: Davidson Hall Unit 2</p>
<p>andrew you are making me frightened of berkeley… and i am liberal!</p>
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<p>Yes, I am also frightened.</p>
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<p><em>sigh</em> Don’t be. I’m a freshman dormer, and I love the dorms. Most everyone I know really likes it, though there are those itching to get out. But that’s mainly so they can go grocery shopping and cook, go to the bathroom w/o toiletseat covers and shower w/o flipflops on, and live in more than two square feet of room. lol…</p>
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<p>Seriously, don’t be afraid. My experience is likely unique.</p>
<p>is it possible to switch colleges? say from the college of natural resources, to letters and science?</p>
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<p>Sure, happens all the time.</p>
<p>How do you go about switching? I’m in the same boat. Can I switch when (???) if first get there to undeclared L&S?</p>
<p>i imagined my experience at cal would be great, but after hearing these stories… i don’t think i’d like the ppl there and the social environment isn’t very supportive. no one seems to care bout neone else and it’s like the epitome of social darwinism.</p>
<p>thats why I like smaller colleges</p>
<p>On switching colleges… it’s not that tough, you usually do some work to prove you are interested and then switch into your college and major. It is very RARE that they let anyone go from Undeclared in CNS to CL&S. </p>
<p>It is socially darwinistic, I hate to say… I heard stories, but I never anticipated it to be as bad people said. You steel yourself and learn to fight back after awhile. People here challenge you and try to get you to reverse yourself for the sheer pleasure of it, it seems.</p>
<p>If I get in, my major will be forestry in CNR. I really don’t want that as a major. I’m really interested in biology in L&S. Is it better to switch from forestry to biology, OR change to undeclared L&S, take some bio requirements and then change my major to bio. My reason for changing to undeclared is that once I start taking science classes I may decide that I want another science major different than bio.</p>
<p>Andrew, how would you rate the happiness of the non-nutty/hippie population at Berkeley?</p>
<p>I suppose they are happy enough. In fact, the people who seem to be the unhappiest are infact, the nutty, hippie population. They’re always complaining about Bush. Bush this, Bush that, jeez, if you don’t like it – vote for somebody other than Nader or run yourselves.</p>
<p>Hey I read about how in the impacted majors u shouldnt expect a social life? Ok how about majors in Engineering? I’m assuming that people in it are also zombie-like? If so, then bekerley is not right for me, despite its great academic reputation…</p>
<p>Is bio considered an impacted major?</p>
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<p>People afraid of work shouldn’t apply to Berkeley engineering. But people afraid of work shouldn’t apply to any school’s engineering…</p>