academics

Econ@Cal

July 6, 2022
Jeffrey Zhou

Hey!

Hey you!

Yes you. You look like you clicked on this article looking to get a better sense of what studying Economics at the University of California, Berkeley is like!

First of all, congratulations! You have made a truly wonderful choice in pursuing an education in Economics! While the word “Economics” has been increasingly used as a convenient scapegoat that exists to be pointed at when talking heads need to blame something for something else, I truly believe that there is no more rewarding (or interesting...

Answering Questions and Demystifying Negative Stereotypes as a Campus Ambassador at Cal

May 10, 2022
Josephine Lee

As a Campus Ambassador at Cal, a major part of my job working at the Campanile and giving tours is answering all the questions that our visiting guests, alumni, and students have to offer. That being said, having just worked my 18th tour and 18th campanile shift, I’ve started to notice that with each shift comes very similar patterns in the questions being asked. And because of that, I wanted to discuss the five most frequently asked questions that I have received (with some responses of which may make Berkeley an even more appealing school to you:)).

“Is it true that Cal...

Course Highlight: L&S 12, The Berkeley Changemaker

April 18, 2021
Katia Gibson

As a campus ambassador, some of the most common questions I get on my tours are: what are some of the best classes to take? And, this one is a big one, but why Berkeley? What makes our university different from the rest?

The answer to these questions lies in L&S 12: The Berkeley Changemaker, a 2 unit course that students can take on a pass/no pass basis.

...

Things I Wish I Knew Before Senior Year

December 2, 2024
Jordan S.

As my final Fall semester at UC Berkeley comes to a close, I am reflecting on my time as an undergraduate student here. Through this reflection, I realized many things about myself and how I’ve grown throughout my time at Berkeley. Let’s have a look at some of the things I’ve learned and hopefully my stories can help provide you guidance with your college experience.

If you don’t like your lower division major classes, maybe consider changing your major

A common thought I had throughout my lower division classes was “yeah, I don’t...

How I Stay Organized at Berkeley as a STEM Student

October 28, 2024
Mallory S.
How I Stay Organized at Berkeley as a STEM Student

Before I came to university, I always considered myself a fairly organized person. In high school, that meant having a different binder for each class and a to-do list in the notes app on my phone. But flash-forward to my first time reading a course syllabus at Berkeley, and I realized that I needed to change my approach.

Firstly, I think it’s incredibly important to put all of your classes into a calendar. Most students use Google Calendar for this. In university, unlike in high school, your...

Rocks! Rocks! Rocks! (or, How I Discovered the Best Department on Campus)

September 16, 2024
Mallory S.
Rocks! Rocks! Rocks! (or, How I Discovered the Best Department on Campus)

When I was a little kid, I loved dinosaurs.

When I got to be a little bit older, I started a rock collection.

When I was in high school, I would say that my dream job was to go on expeditions to Antarctica to drill ice cores.

I’d dreamed my whole life of becoming a geoscientist, but I hadn’t had much exposure to the earth sciences during my education, so I didn’t really know that a career in them was possible.

All I...

Memories and Their Ability to Sweeten Things: My Newfound Love for Evans Hall

September 9, 2024
Jasmin H.
Memories and Their Ability to Sweeten Things: My Newfound Love for Evans Hall

Evans hall used to be the building that would cover the sunset view from my dorm. The building where my math discussions would take place at 9am. The building that dulled in comparison to the physics building. That said, Evans hall has a special place in my heart.

I often think about how places or things can have greater emotional capital depending on the person who is experiencing them. Similar to how the smell of a certain food or thing can unleash feelings of safety and...

A Letter Before The Start Of My Senior Year

August 28, 2024
Madison K.

The day that this blog is being published, August 28, 2024, is the first day of my senior year at UC Berkeley. Also known as the last first day of school I’ll probably ever have. It’s definitely bittersweet. After Berkeley and obtaining my Bachelor’s, I don’t have any plans on returning to school, at least not for the foreseeable future.

I’m not against pursuing a masters or higher education. I’ve actually thought about it for a few years, more so now that my time as an undergraduate is coming to a close, but I just didn’t find myself committed enough to pull the...

The Best Class I Took Was A Class I Hated

August 23, 2024
Kail M.
The Best Class I Took Was A Class I Hated

The most impactful class I’ve ever took at Berkeley was a class I hated. This class changed my life. Let me explain.

If you’re a Berkeley student in the College of Letters and Science (or 70% of all Berkeley undergrads), you’ll be taking one class for each of our seven “breadth requirements” to graduate. A breadth requirement is Berkeley’s version of general education. Berkeley students are exposed to seven different fields of study from doing our “breadth requirements”, ranging from international studies, physical...

Focus and Managing Stress During Finals and Midterms at UC Berkeley

August 19, 2024
Anna R.
Focus and Managing Stress During Finals and Midterms at UC Berkeley

Summer sessions at UC Berkeley can be intense. This past summer, I found myself buried under a pile of midterms and finals, all hitting at once. It was overwhelming, to say the least. With everything happening at lightning speed, I barely had time to catch my breath, let alone keep up with the endless stream of assignments, exams, and projects. As the dust settled and the fall semester started to peek around the corner, I figured it was the perfect time to step back, reflect on what I’d just been through, and come up...