student life

How Study Abroad Changed Me

December 6, 2024
Jordan S.

I went to Sydney, Australia for my spring semester of junior year and it was a life changing experience. Going abroad was something I always knew I wanted to do and I couldn’t wait for the opportunity to go abroad. I planned it out my freshman year that I would go abroad my junior spring semester in order to give myself some time at Berkeley first and then also to ensure that I did not have to miss football season my junior year. When it finally hit my time to go abroad, I was so nervous but also incredibly excited. Here, I’m going to tell you about my experience and why I highly...

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...

My Last Big Game + Some History

November 22, 2024
Jordan S.

It is crazy to think about the fact that I am a senior at UC Berkeley and that this is my final year as an undergraduate at this amazing university. As a student, my mindset has always been to become heavily involved in school spirit and events. I mean, I hoped for years I would attend such an excellent university, I might as well be proud of my school, right? With that has come a large investment in campus traditions and spirit throughout my time as a Berkeley student, but nothing is more exciting than the annual Big Game against Stanford.

For those who do...

“A Berk-Life Balance” Part One: Confronting Imposter Syndrome

October 30, 2024
Nichelle W.
“A Berk-Life Balance” Part One: Confronting Imposter Syndrome

People sometimes have concerns that Berkeley is academically cutthroat. As Ambassadors, we love to explain that the culture is much more collaborative than competitive. But it can still be difficult to deal with the “Berkeley bubble” of overachievers; imposter syndrome is definitely real.

This feeling can happen any year, but as a current junior, I feel it’s especially relevant. Many of my classmates have taken up officer positions in clubs while juggling internships...

Two Months into My Study Abroad in the Netherlands

November 1, 2024
Ally M.
Two Months into My Study Abroad in the Netherlands

I am currently writing to you from a train somewhere in the Netherlands, where I am studying abroad at Utrecht College University (UCU). To be honest, I have no idea where I am. Someone could tell me I am actually in Austria and I wouldn’t doubt it. But that is what I love about being abroad. The past two months have been a series of adventures, escapades, and learning how to be lost. This weekend, I am going to Germany to celebrate Oktoberfest and enjoy the city of Dortmund for the weekend. The train ride is gorgeous, there are...

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...

What I’d do With a Weekend in Northern California—A Love Letter to Home

October 25, 2024
Mallory S.
What I’d do With a Weekend in Northern California—A Love Letter to Home

It’s mid-October right now. The temperatures might drop to the 60s during the day if you’re lucky, but there’s surely still a few scorching days left for those in NorCal. In the high Sierras, mountain tops are receiving their first snowfall, and in the valleys below, trees are turning brilliant shades of orange and yellow before they drop their leaves. Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and apple orchards are being swarmed before all the attention moves on to Christmas tree farms.

...

How Studying Abroad "At Home" Solved My Identity Crisis

October 23, 2024
Maylis P.
How Studying Abroad "At Home" Solved My Identity Crisis

Everyone says studying abroad changes you. It throws you into a new place—into a new culture —and forces you to learn how to navigate it all while trying to make friends, do well in your classes, and figure out the cheapest grocery store near your new house. And it’s true!!

But for me, it was a little different: I studied abroad at home. I am French, and I chose to spend the 2023-24 academic year living with my family in Paris, a city I am very familiar with after spending every summer...

Flying to Berkeley From LA and Back

October 21, 2024
Madison K.
Flying to Berkeley From LA and Back

When I got to Berkeley, I was so excited, but it also meant that I would have to move away from home. Moving away from home has been a brand new experience, but I have to say that that there truly is nothing like home.

I’m from Southern California, which means it's a six to seven-hour drive or one-hour flight to get to Berkeley. It’s not that far if you compare it to out-of-state students or international students, but for me, it’s more than enough.

The one thing that I...

The Dos and Don’ts of Packing for a Study Abroad Experience

September 18, 2024
Mallory S.

Hello, hello! My name’s Mallory, and I’m currently in my third year at UC Berkeley. As I write this, I’m far, far away from Berkeley’s campus in Reykjavík, Iceland—where I’m studying abroad for the Fall 2024 semester at the University of Iceland. Because of this, I think I have a pretty good sense of what you should and shouldn’t bring for your time abroad! So let’s get into it—

DO- consider the climate of your host city

I know, this one seems obvious. However, this is hugely important to consider and will be the biggest factor in...