University of California-Berkeley Top Questions

Pursue something you like, not what your parents or what other people want you to do.

Be flexible and willing to give new and unexpected things a try. It can feel like the end of the world when you receive a rejection letter from your top-choice school but I promise, life does go on. The right school for you may not necessarily be the same one as the one on the flag that has been hanging over your bed since birth. If possible, definitely visit every school you are accepted to; being on campus offers an entirely different perspective from websites and books. While visiting talk to students at the school about what they think of it. Yes, it may seem intimidating asking a complete stranger for advice but the majority of college students love to talk about their school and share any advice they can. Also, be sure to check out the area around the college. Depending upon the school you could be spending alot of time in the nearby town or the city across the bay. Once you have made your choice and are at your school don't be afraid to try something you've never considered; learn italian, go skydiving, play a sport, study in Brazil, now is the time.

Choosing a college shouldn't be based solely on academics. Since the surrounding city or town is essentially where you will be living, it's important to take that into consideration, especially if it's a dramatically different environment from what you are used to at home. Additionally, college is a time to really gain experience and find yourself in terms of who you are and what makes you tick. Extracurricular activities are a great way to help figure this out as well as making the most of new experiences. New adventures could be as simple as exploring the surrounding area further or something as dramatic as going skydiving with your new roommate. That said, students should make safe choices while they're entering the independent life and parents need to be able to let their children make decisions on their own and perhaps some mistakes along the way since the whole point of going to college is growing more as an individual.

Really take the time to visit campuses and talk to students. You will be able to get a better feel for what the school is really like, the things you can't find on their website or in college books. Good starting points are alumni from your high school who attend that college. Get involved early in a variety of student groups that interest you. That way, you have a chance to narrow it down to groups you truly enjoy and have time to move up to a leadership position within the organization. It's also a great way to meet people other than classmates and people who live in your dorm.

An important part of the college experience is choosing the right campus. Make sure parents and students visit the campuses to see what life is really like, how the weather is, how students behave outside of the lecture halls, how professors teach in large and small classes. Money should not be the sole reason for attending a college because there are countless financial aids to help with tuition.

Students- Just know that it's very hard to meet people in Berkeley, and it's very hard to make friends unless you are living in the dorms. A lot of people want to make friends... I think... but it's very hard to, since everyone is so driven and focused on school.

Students should explore their options and find a college that suits them socially as well as academically. I would definitely recommend visiting the campus and the surrounding area of the colleges. Find an area that you fall in love with, as I did at Berkeley. To make the most of your life at college, keep an open mind. You'll be meeting many different kinds of people that you may not have interacted with before. Try to make friends outside of your normal social circles, with the many varieties of students that you meet. That will make your college experience extremely rewarding.

The only way to properly judge if a school is right for you is to experience life there for yourself. Reading brochures, watching videos, reading statistics, and hearsay will never create a complete picture of the place you are going to spend the next four to six years of your life in. Campus visits and tours are a good start, but most colleges or off-campus organizations have programs where you can live in the dorms, or off-campus housing, or live with a host for a few days. I would recommend doing this during from Thursday to Saturday during the academic year, to get a full academic, extracurricular, and social view of the campus. Once you are accepted, the key thing is to experience everything, while not spreading yourself too thin. Try a new sport, dance, or club; something you never would have thought to try. While you don't have to become a wild partier, let go of your inhibitions a little bit, it's very important to keep socially sane. Try alternative living situations to dorms, at least after your first year. Take classes in things you're interested in, not just for your major.

Understand that a large part of your college experience is discovering new things about yourself. Arrive on your campus with an open mind. If you "know" exactly what you want to study, reassess yourself, ask the hard questions, and never close yourself off to new possibilities. Do you have any interests that you've always wanted to get involved in? Now is your chance. Put yourself out there because you may never have the same opportunities offered to you again. When you search for a college, ask yourself these questions: What kinds of extracurricular opportunities does this college have to offer for me? Will this college challenge me? Will this college help me grow and mature as a person? Why does this college interest me? Is it prestige? atmosphere? weather? location? And then ask yourself just how important each of these factors are to you. Remember you will be establishing a new life for yourself in this place, and if you can't see yourself living happily in that environment than you probably won't want to commit yourself to that place for the next four years.

I would definitely recommend visiting each university before applying - take a campus tour or come when the university has its day such as Cal day for UC Berkeley. Research its strenghts and weakness - is it prominent in the field that the student is interested in? Does it offer the major of interest? Are the facilities satisgyin? etc. Definitely make sure that it fits. Most of the students know what college feels the best by walking around the campus, taking a look at the lecture rooms, etc. To make the most of the college experience....try and do things you are interested in. Join clubs of your choice, meet new people, take classes with friends. Become involved in the community and on the campus. In order to make the most of the time in college is to do what one enjoys. Grades are important, especially when one considers applying for grad school; however, it is not everything. Its not all about transcripts but also about how one spends its free time. Four years go by so fast. You really need enjoy it.