I’ll be entering this fall as undeclared L&S major (applied for stats, but might try cognitive or computer science) as a transfer student from Mt. SAC. I am well aware of Cal’s reputation as a GPA deflator and know better than to underestimate what’s needed to succeed in the classes. I just wanted to learn about any tips or “life hacks” anyone would like to suggest regarding studying at Cal especially as a transfer student which I bet could differ a lot from studying in community college. Any advice given would be much appreciated.
Know what courses you need to take first semester to declare one of your majors. Know what grades/GPA you need to earn if any of your majors is capacity-limited (like statistics or computer science).
Go to classes. Do the homework. Study for the tests. Take advantage of on-campus study groups and tutors if you need it (my D has done this and had some very good experiences). Access Free and For Sale for books and other resources. Be prepared to be humbled.