University of California-Berkeley Top Questions

College is so different to what everyone has said of expected. I never knew what I am capable of until I came to Berkeley. It has a lot to offer me and teach me. College allowed me to see the other half of the world, and share many experiences with other students on campus. I have interacted with different students from different backgrounds. This has taught me to appreciate cultures and traditions. Seeing the competitiveness around Berkeley, I have learn to adapt to it and use it to do well in school. The competitive atmosphere pushes me to strive for the best and work harder. For that I am able to get the most out of my college education.

Having only experienced unconventional education (Waldorf, Homeschool, and Hawaiian charter), I wasn't sure I would survive in a conventional college institution. I was afraid I would be pinned down and drilled to boredom. That the learning freedom my "unconventional" education fostered would be squashed, and thus, my creativity and thirst for knowledge with it. Despite my fears, I also had a burning desire to do something "normal." I had a desire to prove that not only could I survive it, but thrive in it. I enrolled in the local community college in my island home of Kauai, Hawaii, with apprehension. After five semesters in a “conventional” college, my fears had faded. I discovered that I was the determining factor in the level of enrichment I got from my college experience, regardless of it being “conventional” or “unconventional.” My strength of will and my yearning were what led me to “thrive.” I proved that I can have faith in myself; that I can be anything and everything I dream. And that in the end it doesn’t really matter how “normal” you are. What matters is how wholeheartedly you engage yourself in the challenges and processes of life and learning.

As an incoming college student, my college experience has been limited. I am soon about to embark upon a journey that will define the person I am, as well as the intellectual I seek to become. Yet just through the acceptance process, my college experience began. The initial seed of growth was that estatic "Congratulations". Each college has a limited supply of these seeds. Each college also look for different students, looking for the perfect person who will cherish their seed and ensure its growth. Luckily, UC Berkeley granted me with a small seed. This winter, I will plant my seed with new knowledge, new developments and new relationships. I will water it with numerous ideas. As my seed progresses to sprout, new challenges will await. Mistakes will be make. The spouting plant may be malnouished at points; yet, after a period of weakness, my recovery will be strong. I will grow and learn, and become the tree I had always dreamed of. After four years, I will be one tree amongst thousands, I will move to the forest, to the real world, with my college lessons permenantly absorbed in my roots.

I've learned most of all who I am and the things that I can handle. I've challenged myself and for the most part have succeeded thus far. Not only in school, but personally just with knowing myself and my own limits. I have learned so many new things and my passion for research has reached heights I never thought they'd reach. I feel good that I have expanded on my knowledge of other cultures. Most of all I am having fun. College is suppose to be the best years of your life, and despite a few struggles, I am having a blast. I've met people who will be in my life forever and have met others who have taught me to follow my dreams and succeed.

My college experience thus far has been vital to my development both as a student and a person. I came into college not knowing who I was or what I wanted to do in life. Attending Berkeley has helped me learn that in order for me to be successful in anything I choose to do, I must persevere through any obstacles that come my way. Berkeley has been valuable for me to attend becasue the school challenged my both academically and socially. Before college I had rarely ever been challenged academically. High school was easy and almost seemed redundant to me, as far as the course work was concerned. Berkeley not challenged in that area but it made me more accepting of different people and was of thinking. This has made me a better person and that I am greatful for.

It has been valuable to attend UC Berkeley because of what I call my "social education." I have grown to become knowledgable in many social issues and conflicts from around the world. More importantly, I have grown to feel that with the education and professional networks that I have built at UC berkeley, I can do something to correct these issues. My college experience has made me aware of want to do and achieve in my life. I am an economics major and have the opporunity to make lots of money; however I have discovered that I am much more passionate about changing society for the better. This passion to change society has motivated me to succeed in every aspect of my life. I must become a leader that has the power to inspire the nation to make something better for itself. I eventually plan on running for office. I want my campaign slogan to read, "We can do more picking each other up, than stepping on each other to get to the top." Wish me luck!!

College has allowed me to experience and appreciate various cultures around the world and let me spend time in other countries. College has also taught me the value of a dollar. Without scholarships I would not be able to afford college. I'm trying to get enough scholarships so that I'l be able to attend my dream college. College allowed me to begin to stand on my own two feet instead of depending on my parents to help and do everything for me and with me. College has made me grow up and become responsible and make me understand that I am responsible for everything that I do and that has my name attached to it. If I had a chance to do things over again, I would definitely attend college but I would make sure that I was completely prepared financially and apply to as many colleges and scholarships as possible and take as many classes as was allowed. At one point I was jealous that all my friends were moving into dorms and I was staying at home going to community college, but everybody's experience is different and what I've done, makes mine specially unique.

At Berkeley, I've not only gotten the chance to attain great knowledge, I've learned what it means to grow up. I've become the manager of a choir, the Vice President of the university's choral system while holding down two jobs and focusing on friends and academics. I've learned what it takes to maintain roommate relationships in my apartment, and how to live on my own far away from parents. I'm constantly star-struck with the history and prestige of the university, and the people who have built it's legacy. I truly believe I'm at the best place possible for me, between strong academics, amazing people and spectacular extra-cirricular activities. The need to constantly keep up with everyone else makes you stronger and smarter, and only makes your potential job prospects better. I love this school, and always will!

I have really matured into a better informes person . I am becoming more involved in my communities politics. Its really interesting what law is about. That is what i am majoring in. Right now I am working on my Associates in the Paralegal Studies. Its so interesting, the instructors really keep me on my toes. They are always having us do projects and research papers on on our current events, and the new laws that are being passed. Its really great. I love doing these things you know because I am learning the laws that apply to all of us. My instructors explain how they affect us and i also put my feedback on how i think new laws and policies are affecting us. All of my school staff is so herlpful and always smiling and in a good mood. I love my school and the experience ive gone through so far. Well see what the future hollds for me at ITT Tech of San Bernardino.

I have gotten a lot of wisdom from my college experience. When I first moved away to go to college, I was immature, now I'm an adult because of all the growing up that I have done. I had to learn how to care for myself, travel alone, and finance myself by getting a job. I am learning so many things about the world, myself, and my field of study: biology. All of this knowledge is opening my eyes to things in the world that I was so narrow minded about before. I think college is valuble to attend because it is a stage in your life where you grow up and fend for yourself for with food, money, and transportation but also with academics. This is because teachers don't hand you resources to use or make handouts to help you study. They make you work hard alone in order to learn more and apply the course material as you see necessary. If you want to pursue a certain major or career path, everything is up to you because no one is going to hand it to you. You have to work exteremely hard to reach your goals.

My college experience has prepare me for my Child Development Career. My college experience obtains information I want to complete to be sucessfull in my Career. My college supports my financial aid needs. My experience guides me in the appropriate direction. My college supplies workshops which are important to building skills in my profession. My professors our leaders who encourge me in my career path. Each course I have completed has influence and empower my learning because the coureses subject relates to information I learn in the follwing fields Child Development, Chicano Studies, and Personal Skills Development. The courses relate because Child Development require Chicano Studies and Spanish 1-3 to earn a degree in Bilingual/bi-cultural and Personal Development is a skill that will allow me to grow in settings. Attending College has given me the opportunity to gain strong relationships with individuals of the community. The relationship I build at my college are the individuals I want to incorparate in my future Day Care business. My college eperience has made me excitied to know I will influence the lives of children through my education and I am glad to be strongly committed to a profession I enjoy.

I have obtained a wealth of knowledge and a sense of purpose. I understand the importance of giving back to one's community and contributing the betterment of society. I feel that one of the greatest ways to serve one's country is by helping fellow community members reach their fullest potential in life. My college experience opened my eyes to human suffering and pain caused by greed and selfness. I have learned that in order to save a people, one must serve the people and in order to lead a people, one must love the people.

I was a refugee, born and raised in a small town in Vietnam until the age of nine. I learned from Vietnam that poverty is directly correlated with the lack of education. My parents hoped that I'd pave the way for my siblings, but I did not know how until I found my interest. The curiosity of my myopic eyes led me to an optometry course at UC Berkeley. I then discovered how vision is strongly interrelated with health while learning of eye diseases. I also became aware of developmental disorders that children face early in their lives and realized the importance of optometry goes beyond my na?ve thought of glasses and contact lenses. Wanting to learn more, I took the Optometric Assistant position where I received full exposure to the demands and rewards of optometry. This is when I knew I have found my refuge .

My experience has taught me that college is more than just preparing for a career or making life-long friends. It has been about the fruitfull cultivation of self. When I first began studying Political Science and Anthropology, I thought it was to understand why other people did things. However, I have realized, more importantly, that my experience has taught me why I do things. College is about understanding your own human condition. Political Science has showed me the intricacies of how I am empowered, as a political actor, to contribute to domestic, national, and international political systems. Anthropology has taught me how I, as an agent, contribute to cultural common sense. The value of a college experience has not just been the pursuit of knowledge itself, but using that knowledge to understand who I am.

My first year in college has been definitely frustrating but more than rewarding. This is the first time that I have experienced the term responsibility. There isn't anyone there to tell me what to do. There isn't any tardy sweep if I came late to school and there are no consquences for forgetting to do my homework. In college, I am on my own. College has definitely taught me to be independent. Not only that, it has also taught me to work harder, for my competitions are fierce. I have to do that best I can do and excel in order to move on to the real world. College is one of the most valuable place that I can be at this point in my life. Not only that I have learned from the academic courses I've been taking but also from the professors that has given me more insights than I can ever grasp hold of. I've been filled with knowledge and will continue to expand it years i have left in College.

Attending UC Berkeley has given me the opportunity to be exposed to a wide range of worldviews and new perspectives. It has been exciting, but in the end, it has refined me into being more grounded in my Christian beliefs than ever before. It has been valuable to attend because I learned that at the end of the day, friendships endure, while grades will not. At Berkeley, you'd find someone on every spot of the spectrum, whether the spectrum is political, religious, economical, ethnic, and so much more. In and out of the classroom, it was wonderful learning different viewpoints and philosophies, and the reasonings behind them. Interestingly, all this made me even surer about my Christian faith, even though that might have been unpopular to do amidst the college atmosphere of "find your true identity." Things that strengthened my Christian conviction comprised of, ironically, my failures: missing a paper deadline but being given an A anyway by a gracious TA who didn't even look at my paper; failing to submit a difficult assignment but consequently having that be the first step towards being freed from perfectionism, and the support of countless Christian friends I made on campus. =)

Well college so far has been a great experience; educationally and socially. Although I am only in my second semester it shows that you are no longer a kid. College is something for the people who push to achieve more than just the basics. College is great life awakener, you realize that you have to be determined, have patience and keep a steady pace so you wont get overwhelmed. College has allowes me to network and meet people that can either be a part of the team or help me climb the ladder of success. College does not guarantee anything unless you push yourself to strive to be the best. The college experience will step me up to the next level in my life to be where I want to be. I will be able to market myself well to the world to show what my talent offers.

After my first semester at UC Berkeley, I developed a brand new worldview and philosophy. My professors provided new ways of viewing the world and humanity as a whole. The research that I have done in my classes on poverty in developing nations and genocides occurring throughout the world has led me to change my intended major to, actually, a double major in Peace & Conflict Resolution and International Economic Development Studies. After speaking to representatives from the Peace Corps last semester, I plan to enlist in the Peace Corps to make a real difference in the world - without resorting to violence. Once I come out of the Peace Corps I plan to attend law school (possibly Stanford Law or McGeorge Law) and focus on International Law. From there I plan to enter the world of Foreign Affairs and Diplomacy or work for a charity. This is what my experience at UC Berkeley has done for me: it has given me the means, inspiration and encouragement to reach out and help others. I'm not attending a university so that I can make money later on - I'm attending college so that I can make a difference now and later.

From attending college I feel that i have a better understanding of what the world will expect out of me. it has taught me the importance of responsibility and punctuality. It has also taught me the importance of having an education. the reason that I say this is because I see all the older people that are going to school just so they can keep up with the technology that they use at work. I feel that by going to college so far that I am a little more ready to take my place in the world.

As a graduate student at California State University at Sacramento, I continue to enjoy a challenging and fascinating environment in which to discover the world's many intersecting pathways. Each class within each major builds and contributes to the next one, while education itself is the single most empowering pursuit possible. UCBerkeley has helped me discover both the pathways and the empowerment to find new ways to experience the world.