Life and Academics at University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley is a world-renowned school for academic excellence. Cal, as its students affectionately call it, consistently maintains the top spot for US public colleges, and claims prestigious Nobel Laureates as its faculty. Indeed, it seems to be the perfect school as a perfect school ought to be. However, as Hamlet would say, ‘There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy’.

Academics

From the traditional to the non-traditional, you’ll find everything you’re looking for at Cal. If you don’t find it, you’re able to create your own classes. The professors are at the top of their game whether it’s the liberal arts or engineering, although they are not necessary at the top of the students’ game. Many courses are heavily dependent on Graduate Student Instructors rather than the professors. One on one time with a professor is mostly based on office hours.

As an undergrad, the general education and core requirement classes start out huge. There are several large auditoriums that could fit hundreds of people at one time, although throughout the semester, you’ll see the number of attendants drop to half, at least until midterms or finals. However, don’t let that fool you, the competition is still immense and the people are exceptionally intelligent. If you’re waiting for the bell curve to drop, then you’ll be waiting a long time.

Life

Interesting. Whether you’re actively engaged in group activities or just going about your business, you will find life at Cal most interesting. From spontaneous protests to nudist parades, it’s hard to pinpoint what makes Berkeley so colorful. People from all corners of life, from the students to the residents, are gathered in this college town, making it more diverse than most colleges. People aren’t the only thing that makes Berkeley so unique. From on campus art exhibits to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Berkeley is also a mecca for arts and technology.

At Berkeley, you either sink or swim. You must seek out your own support system; it is unlikely to come to you. You must seek out help from graduate students, professors, and counselors because individual attention is out there only if you ask for it. There are many students who find the transition from a small high school to be difficult. The secret is being active, because all students start out as a student ID number, nothing more.

Conclusion

The school itself is a lot like Sproul Hall, its administrative building, large, intimidating, and catacomb-ed. You will need to find it within yourself to navigate through the maze. If you have what it takes to get to the end of the maze, you will come out a little different, a little strange, with a little more Berkeley in you than you realize.