I somehow luckily got into UC Berkeley (pretty sure its a fluke).
Anyways I am strongly considering it but don’t know if am sure about attending there.
I got in as Materials Science and Engineering. I originally wanted to be premed but am also interested in engineering. I know that premed at Cal is very hard so if I chose to attend, I most likely won’t make it through as a premed.
Anyways I have a few concerns:
How is MSE at Cal, or even engineering in general?
I liked the campus, especially the classic architecture and stadium, but I feel that the surrounding area isn’t that safe, compared to areas like UCLA and UCSD. I live like an hour away (my parents are moving to SoCal tho) so I visited few times and can handle weather. I liked the diversity and culture of UC Berkeley, but I feel like there would be too many liberals. I am not into politics, so I am not a fan of riots and stuff.
I also want to do engineering, but fear that it will be insanely difficult at Cal. I don’t think I am that smart compared to my peers: 4.18W, 3.72 UW, 1490 SAT, and I feel like I am not strong at engineering despite my interests. I got a 750 on SAT math2, 720 on chem, 3 on AP chem, 5 on AP Calc, am I don’t even think I can pass the AP Physics 1 exam!
I want to study but I also want a social life.
How hard is it to maintain a balance between the two? I don’t want to constantly be grinding work all the time, I want to socialize and hang out with others. Will this be hard, or will everyone be studying?
Everything seems sooo overwhelming and I am not sure I can handle it. UC Berkeley seems good, especially because of strong students and reputation, but there is still is negativity circulating around it, as opposed to UCLA (which I got rejected from and trying to appeal).
Looking through other threads the main concerns are: everything is costly, overcrowdedness, hard to get social life?, classes are super difficult, cutthroat/competitive students everywhere, bad dining halls, campus doesn’t feel welcoming, area is unsafe, professors don’t care, liberals everywhere, too much depression, I MIGHT FAIL CLASSES, hippies, riots, unattractive girls, bad athletics, etc…
Including these concerns I want to know if I could fit in with the environment and handle the academics, since I am not super strong at STEM despite my interests.
Can people help answer my concerns???
I also want reasons to attend Cal over other schools like UCSB and UCSD.
Seriously? One of your concerns is “unattractive girls?” You might want to give a rethink to how you are evaluating your college choices.
^^^^ what she said.
Congrats!! Berkeley was my dream school (REJECTED LOL) But I did a lot of research on the school and here’s what i have to say:
- Even if it isn't safe, remind yourself that you are surrounded by thousands of students in the same situation as you. Just get a bottle of pepper spray or something :)
- The liberal culture of Berkeley is exaggerated a lot in the media. Sure, you'll maybe see some naked dudes in the streets on Pride day in SF, but the majority of the students are there to study and are more moderate that they are portrayed. It's just so happens that the people with extreme views tend to catch more attention and be more outspoken because they have strong opinions. For instance, the group Antifa is the one the caused the damage/violent protests even though they really aren't affiliated with the school.
- You can easily transfer out of engineering if it is too difficult. That said, the engineering curriculum at any school will be the same regardless of where you go. Engineering at ANY school is difficult. It just so happens all the geniuses at Berkeley make the curve really hard to beat.
- From what my Cal friends have told me, as long as you don't sweat about getting perfect grades (you can aim for decent grades), and you have focused study sessions WITHOUT distractions (no facebook, snapchat, etc.), you'll have plenty of time to chill. There are many students at cal who will study like crazy on weekdays and party super hard on the weekends.
- All the problems about professors not caring, overcrowdedness, expensive food, etc. are not unique to Berkeley. My friend at UCLA says it's quite similar there. She has taken classes with hundreds of people and says most professors care more about research than teaching.
- LOL THE BERKELEY GOGGLESS-- I find this really funny, but it doesn't bother me. You'll find attractive people wherever you go. Besides, beauty is all relative.
- People. I've met quite a few friends who go to Berkeley, and they are some of the nicest, most intelligent and quirky people i've met!
- UCSB and UCSD are fantastic schools. Don't see why you wouldn't attend. Going to a prestigious school like Berkeley isn't your ticket to success. If you really feel like it'll be too much for you, don't go.
- It's very hard to say you'll do well based on your stats. SAT is more of a measure of socioeconomic status. And AP exams are graded ridiculously (seriously? a 75% is an A? LOL). You really don't know.
- Speaking as a high school who has met many prospective engineers, be prepared to feel stupid and meet many intelligent people. Most of my engineering friends have at least taken multi variable calc by graduation and build computers for fun (they're going to Davis and UIUC).
Background: My D at 16 yrs old started at UCB as an EECS undergrad, and started her CS PhD studies when she was 19. She’s been living on the north side in an apartment, 5-minute walk from campus.
>> I somehow luckily got into UC Berkeley (pretty sure its a fluke).
Fluke or not, congratulations.
>> How is MSE at Cal, or even engineering in general?
I don’t 100% believe in ranking. But if an institution has been consistently on the top of the list for so many years, it must be doing something right.
>> I feel that the surrounding area isn’t that safe, compared to areas like UCLA and UCSD.
Understood. I had the same feeling and even now still feel the same sometimes. But if you’re aware of your surroundings and don’t do anything risky, UCB is not safer nor less safe than UCLA and UCSD. My D has been there for 6 years now, with no incident.
>> I feel like there would be too many liberals.
That’s probably true. But if you don’t force yourbelief onto anyone, people will leave you alone and won’t force theirs on you.
>> I am not into politics, so I am not a fan of riots and stuff.
If you don’t want to participate and/or watch the “riots and stuff,” noone forces you to. Let’s say that my wife, who lives 1 hour from UCB, knows more about “riots and stuff” than my D does.
>> I want to study but I also want a social life.
How hard is it to maintain a balance between the two? I don’t want to constantly be grinding work all the time, I want to socialize and hang out with others. Will this be hard, or will everyone be studying?
Everything seems sooo overwhelming and I am not sure I can handle it. UC Berkeley seems good, especially because of strong students and reputation, but there is still is negativity circulating around it, as opposed to UCLA (which I got rejected from and trying to appeal).
Sorry. I don’t know the answers to these questions. Each person is different, thus the answers will be different.
>> … unattractive girls, bad athletics
If these are really your concerns, don’t go to UCB.
There are a ton of cute gils at Cal. Football games are fun. Worl hard, play hard, thats what everyone does. People will stop you in the streets to talk about going to Cal. It will open doors and you won’t regret going here. or go to UCSB and be happy there also. It’s good to have choices. Congrats!
May I ditto what @stressedoutEE said above? perfect response on all points. I’m just sorry that stressedoutEE didn’t get into UCB.
I was just listing stuff I saw from reddit posts; the unattractive girls and bad athletics were just one of them. Sorry if I offended anyone, it’s not really a big consideration. However I am interested in sports, maybe play intramural if I have time.
Anyways, I am mainly worried about the academic environment and whether I could fit in. I liked UC Berkeley overall and would love to go, but I don’t know if it is right. I don’t want to go to another school and keep thinking about Cal.
I heard from others how really smart people fail classes and even people committed suicide because of depression!
I just want to be a good student and have fun at the same time!
If you are admitted, Cal must see something in you to think you are a fit for them. My two sons are engineering students, a junior and a freshman. The first year is tough for many students, lots of weeder classes, but don’t give up, don’t lag behind homework, study with friends, go to office hours, and you should be fine. Both my kids play intramural sports and it’s tons of fun for them. They are not into politics and no one forces them to go to any protests. I’ve been to Cal football games and it’s very fun, great school spirits, win or lose. Last point, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Good luck.
The stress, riots and all of that are greatly exaggerated. People’s inclinations are always to tell others about bad experiences (and for people to want to hear them), while the good ones get lost in the shuffle. It’s a big school with a lot of different view points and room for all.
Why should you go to Cal? Because I bet it’s the best school you got into.
I agree with everyone. This is a very good thread that covers all of the major points well. I’ve found that some pretty random people get into Berkeley because they did cool things. Like some people that I’ve met at Berkeley I was sort of wondering how they got in, and then I find out that they started a nonprofit or have an internship at an investment firm and work for a startup. Your stats seem fine. I bet your essays were on top of it because they really do care about those. Once you reach a statistics baseline, it’s all about essays and extracurriculars.
College is all about the people. You can get used to everything else. So go talk to some people who go to the schools and don’t completely hate them and see if you like them and the activities that they talk about, but also realize that there are a whole lot of worlds inside a 40,000 person school and you can probably fit into one of them.
Berkeley is just as hard as honors classes. You seem okay at honors/AP classes. You’ll be fine.
There was a good meme on our meme page (we’re the original)that this reminded me of.
Failure is the real world. Berkeley helps us thrive post-graduation.
Berkeley is really interesting in how it pushes us to improve and challenge ourselves. People do fail sometimes (they usually know why: didn’t go to lectures, didn’t read the textbook, didn’t do the homework, etc.) and they learn how to deal with failure. Fear of failure is not something that will help you be the most innovative and creative and most hardworking person that you can be, and Berkeley sort of helps you overcome that. You just retake the class and it’ll be fine.
You want to have fun? Join a fraternity or sorority, go to parties, get high if that’s your thing (not my thing. But it is now legal in California if you are over the age of 21 so might as well get over the taboo. Plus it’s 4/20), go to SF, watch plays or acapella, join a club, start a club, join an intramural sports team. Life is what you make of it. College is complete control of your life. You make your schedule – maybe take less units if that’s what you want. College is fun. Enjoy.
I don’t go to UC Berkeley, but I live with Berkeley students so I get it.
Don’t worry about the political thing. There’s a lot of political activity, but it’s really easy to stay away from it. Nobody I know personally has ever really gotten involved politically, and there doesn’t seem to be much discussion or influence, at least in my friends classes (they’re all psych, MCB, IB, physics, chem majors).
Out of all my friends, only one has failed a class (Ochem 2) and that’s mostly because of work ethic. The classes are hard but I think it’s overblown. You won’t get a 4.0 but you’ll still do well.
The area isn’t the best. But again, I’ve only heard of one person having a bad experience. Be smart, try not to walk alone at night, don’t be absorbed in your phone, and it’s not bad. You’ll adjust and know what areas to avoid quickly.
In terms of social life, a lot of people I know still have crazy social lives. There’s a lot of fun stuff in Oakland and San Francisco. Plus there’s clubs and lots of student involvement. Most people don’t want to study 24/7, save for midterms.
Yes, it’s incredibly expensive and competitive to get housing. But you’ll find it easier to live in certain places than others. Be ready to share a room!
Thanks for the info guys! I went to CalDay and the campus and everything are a lot better than I expected!
My concerns are still: The classes might be too competitive, especially physics since I am a bit weak in it.
At other classes it won’t be as competitive, and most people in my classes would be top students in their high school physics classes.
Also, would premed be too hard at Cal?
If anything you have imposter syndrome. It’s the syndrome known at top notch schools where all students think everyone else is worthy but them. If you were admitted, you’re worthy. I think lots of grading on the curve happens because everyone is so smart, not competitive. Personally, as a physician myself, I think premed is hard at any large university, but those who aren’t up for it are weeded out in both large and small colleges alike.
True, but I still don’t think I am as smart as others at Cal, especially since I got in for an easier major for admission.
And also wouldn’t premed at a school like UCSD or UCI be easier?
@SREE33
Imagine your high school honors or AP classes, specifically the ones where 20% of your high school takes it, then imagine all of those people at Berkeley.
How did you do in those classes? If you were fine in those classes, you will be fine there. People always expect it to be the top person from every high school in California, but it’s not. Yeah, you’ll do a bit worse in classes that you’re weaker in but if you took AP Physics in high school, you’re already ahead, and other people will probably be less prepared and less capable than you. I’d expect a B+ in physics, which is a 3.3, which is fine. Other classes will balance it out. You’re just aiming for about a 3.7 average. Med schools don’t only care about GPAs. They care about MCATs. It’s like high school. A high school might give you a 4.0, but it might not prepare you to do well on the standardized test. You need both sides.
@Walter924 thanks for the info!
And i understand that I can succeed (I am still doing poorly in high school physics lol), I just feel like it will be easier to succeed at a school like UCSD or Irvine.
I am not fully sure on premed (medicine was my dream since childhood but I am reconsidering now for some reason) and am afraid that if I commit to it I may have the risk of not getting into med school.
UC Berkeley has the tradeoff of a good backup for jobs but having smarter students compete for med school.
@SREE33 Yep. If you have Berkeley on your resume, it’s respected all over all around the world. It’s great for backups. Can you say the same about all of the other schools that you’re considering? People in Lebanon and China know about us. Respected all over the country for every field.