<p>I originally started writing this post for the Berkeley forum, but it’s so broad and far ranging, I want you parents (or anyone reading) to contribute too if you can. Thanks!</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/571028-these-my-dreams-help-me-figure-them-out.html#post1061038513[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/571028-these-my-dreams-help-me-figure-them-out.html#post1061038513</a></p>
<p>Whoa, as in stop looking so far ahead and trying to micromanage all of the details. Keep it much simpler. I scanned your post but got lost/bored with the details. First of all, decide on a general undergrad major/field. Then check on schools offering it. Next, realizing your instate schools are the best bet financially, apply to Berkeley and one or more other CA schools as safeties. You may choose other private elite schools also. Do your online homework to learn about these schools and visit those you can. As those on the Berkeley forum stated, you can get to know professors at a large school.</p>
<p>Always keep in mind your audience when trying to communicate- never try to state everything, start with the briefest summary you can. They can always ask for more details but will lose your point among all the superfluous details. Change the paragraphs to short sentences- don’t make people have to read a lot and try to figure out what you are asking. You would do well to make a numbered list of the points of your paragraghs and eliminate those you have answered for yourself already. In other words, EDIT. Then we parents can help you better,</p>
<p>dollyflower:</p>
<p>I’ll give you a few opinions as a dad with a D at UCLA in CS and another D who just graduated with a CS degree from UCSD. Both UCLA and UCSD engineering won’t be that different from UCB.</p>
<p>Firstly, I agree with Wis75 - you’ll get more responses if you restate your questions here in a consise way.</p>
<p>Regarding emailing potential profs and interviewing them about their classes - keep in mind the number of students at Cal. Trying to do this will be logistically difficult to impossible for all of your classes although you probably can do it somewhat for some of them. You’ll most likely end up doing what most students do - pick classes based on feedback on the prof, the availability of that prof’s courses given your class signup time, the time of day of the class, and what other schedule conflicts you might have. I think you should plan to follow this more typical method and squeeze in any of the more in-depth ‘interviews’ if you can. I’m just speaking practically.</p>
<p>Regarding saving $100K by going to Cal versus an expensive private - you might well save that amount or you might find out that a private will offer some merit/grant money which could make it even less expensive than Cal. You might also get accepted to Cal as a regular student but to another UC with a Regents scholarship which might be a ‘full-ride’ (minus housing). You’d then be in the enviable position of deciding which package is best for you. Also keep in mind that you might not be accepted to Cal in the first place so make sure you keep other options on the table. Cal rejects some highly qualified candidates every year (so does UCLA and sometimes UCSD).</p>
<p>Regarding Cal’s ERG programs - it looks like this is a grad school program so there’s no point in getting too excited about it now since you likely wouldn’t be involved. I could be wrong though so check it out more deeply.</p>
<p>Regarding grad school at Cal - don’t worry about it until you’re considering grad school. You don’t need to go to Cal undergrad to have a shot at grad school there.</p>
<p>EECS at Cal - This will likely keep you plenty busy should you choose to pursue it. CS at the top UCs is one of the more difficult majors and it requires a lot of time and effort to do well. There’ll be a lot of grading ‘on the curve’ and you’ll have some top-end students in your classes helping to set that curve. Once you attain a CS degree you can then decide what field you’d want to head into and exactly what you’d want to do. It’s a more general degree than some people realize and there are many avenues open to CS grads - I assume probably even in the ‘sustainability’ field.</p>
<p>As a professor, I have to say I think this aspect is completely unrealistic. </p>
<p>“Then I see myself e-mailing professors, introducing myself as a potential student, and asking them if they’d be willing to talk with me over lunch about their career (past, present, and future), work, interests, how they view teaching, their teaching philosophy, how they set up their courses, how they grade and why, how their interests may overlap with mine, what they think their course does for their students, how they think they improve students’ writing, how to improve writing skills in general, and what they/their class might do for me specifically. And then I see myself picking the right class and teacher.”</p>
<p>I’m a very dedicated professor. I spend a LOT of time with my students. I meet on short notice, I email frequently. I care very much about them. Would I meet with a prospective student such as yourself for lunch to be interviewed to see if you want to take my course? No.</p>
<p>Maybe at a smaller LAC where professors spend more time teaching as part of their position you might get that kind of attention. Berkeley is at the entire other end of the spectrum with undergraduates. I just don’t see it happening. Even as a faculty member, it is very difficult to get the time of other professors to meet.</p>
<p>You won’t hear this often on CC, but which college you go to won’t affect your ability to do great things with your life.</p>
<p>I think the only important (as in - maybe should be addressed first) question is whether or not you attend a large public university or a smaller, private university. (I am going to toss out the issue of money, since your family can afford it and while saving 100K is a great idea, it isn’t a sticking point. If you have too many criteria to juggle, which you do, start eliminating some!)</p>
<p>Don’t get too romanced by how pretty a campus might look (Berkeley at night, etc.) It seems that you might benefit from a few things</p>
<p>1) some flexibility in course selection/choice of major/ability to explore other majors - I think some of Berkeley EE/CS majors will rope you in very tight and not allow a lot of time for other liberal arts classes, so check that out. In contrast, a place like Stanford doesn’t make you choose a major until late in the game and when I’ve talked to people, it seems like they enjoyed that freedom. So - is this what is key for you?</p>
<p>2) Professor availability. While I’m sure there are Berk profs that are available, many classes are taught by grad students, classes can be huge, and professors don’t often have much time for students during office hours. In contrast, a private school like Stanford or Santa Clara University or many of the other privates up and down the state pride themselves on accessibility of professors to students. Is this what is important to you? If so, I would lean away from a place like Berkeley, unless you feel you can deal with that type of environment.</p>
<p>In short, if you are bright, curious, hard working, courteous, and tough when needed - you’ll do fine at any college you pick and don’t need to spin in mental circles as you have been doing. Focus on one or two MAJOR issues (probably not the money, but that’s just my take on it) and realize the rest are minor considerations - and decide from there.</p>
<p>Also, you have about a 50/50 chance of getting into Berkeley (only 50% of students with a 4.0+ gpa get accepted)… so apply to a range of colleges. Sometimes the fickleness of college acceptances will narrow down the choices for you.</p>
<p>I agree with the person who said that college professors won’t be able to be “interviewed” by you to such a deep extent before you take a class from them. I do recommend some basic checking out of a class (read a syllabus if posted online, read ratemyprofessor dot com, check out their book selection, etc), but beyond that, I think for a good college experience you need to not micromanage your class selection so intensely.</p>
<p>If you love college, there is always grad school. So don’t freak out so much about the undergrad!</p>
<p>Annika</p>