Reasons Why I DIDN'T Want to Go to UC Berkeley as an Incoming Freshman (and why I was wrong...)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 มิ.ย. 2024
- Addressing the reasons why I didn’t want to go to UC Berkeley when I was an incoming freshman 3 years ago… and my honest thoughts on them now that I’m in my third year (hint: I was wrong)! I was initially hesitant to commit to Berkeley due to these reasons and I am SO GLAD that I came here anyway--change is always a little scary but Berkeley has overall been a WONDERFUL experience for me and I can honestly say these initial concerns aren’t as big a deal as I thought they were.
If you just were admitted or waitlisted to Berkeley please DM me or comment with questions! I’m always happy to chat!
LIKE this video and SUBSCRIBE for more college videos--the next few months will be full of new experiences and honest thoughts on college and I can’t wait to document it all here :)
Wait a minute… who ARE you? 🤠
Hi! I’m Seneca, and I’m a junior at UC Berkeley studying Molecular & Cell Biology. I make videos on study tips, life as a college student at Berkeley (and online!), and more! Definitely SUBSCRIBE for more college content!
Follow me on IG! @senecabrynn
Email (business inquiries only please!): senecabrynnyt@gmail.com
Past videos to check out! ✨
Favorite Spots on the UC Berkeley Campus:
Sorority Move-In Vlog: • College Move-In Vlog: ...
How to Survive Online School (Tech, Tips, and Equipment!): • How to SMASH Online Sc...
Dead Week Vlog: • Dead Week Vlog - Study...
How I Take Lecture Notes: • How I Take Biology Lec...
Resources Mentioned:
BearWalk: nightsafety.berkeley.edu/home
Housing page: housing.berkeley.edu/
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Music by Kissmykas - You Glow (I Will) - thmatc.co/?l=2790EB6A
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#ucberkeley #acceptedtocollege
tags: applying to uc berkeley, applying to uni, college day in my life, molecular and cell biology, study with me, is uc berkeley really cutthroat, university of california, is berkeley competitive, berkeley sororities, is berkeley safe, premed at berkeley, housing at uc berkeley, dorm life, i am berkeley, studytube, a2c, accepted to college, where should i go to uni, berkeley crime, choosing a college, uc berkeley, college advice, debunking myths about uc berkeley
This helped so much! I just got in and I kept seeing so many negative things but this makes it a lot easier to make a decision!
CONGRATS on your admission, so excited for you! 🥳 So glad this helped 🥰
I love your eagerness to help the potential future bears, and your demeanor is lovely! You are just radiating positivity!!
Thank you so much! 🥰
Comment down below if you're a new admit or waitlisted student with any questions about Berkeley--I would love to help out if I can and hope to see y'all on campus someday! 🐻
i heard that greek housing was rlly racist and only had a few token black, latin and asian pple...guess im out, lucky u i guess, but its the US so shouldnt be surprised
@@gingyrocka6039 Hi! This is definitely an important issue and I agree, Greek life is definitely flawed representation-wise and that's often reflected structurally. I think it's super important to recognize that. I can't speak for every chapter at every school, but I know that within my chapter at Berkeley we've been trying to make Greek life more accessible to members from all backgrounds by eliminating the legacy system, providing scholarships for new and continuing members, trying to keep ourselves educated on combatting the injustices that the Greek system historically has perpetuated, and appointing an executive DEI officer and committee to ensure our chapter continues to become more welcoming and inclusive to all. You can learn more about the overall system's initiatives here: www.calphc.com/. There's definitely an effort, but of course, there's always more to do!
That being said, there are many other housing options that provide similar feelings of community to Greek housing and also have better pricepoints than the traditional off-campus apartments, like living in the co-ops or in shared houses. I think it's all about choosing a community that you feel most at home in, and I wish you the best with that!
@@SenecaBrynn yh thats all great but i heard that at rush that they dont give POC the time of day...just going to suck it up as one of the components of US institutional racism...my caucasian friends wont rush either thankfully as they said they didnt want to be involved in a system of unfairness
Just got accepted friday and undeclared I wanted engineering and now I just can’t decide :(
thank u so much for this video! this blew away pretty much all the biggest concerns that I’ve been having. gonna commit soon! 💙💛
Ahhh CONGRATS!! 💙 I'm so glad, so excited for you! Go bears! 🐻
Great video! Just accepted Berkeley's grad school offer!! Will be doing mechanical engineering. SO excited, can't wait to join Berkeley!
That's incredible, congratulations!! I'm so happy for you--go bears! 💙💛
Wow this is super helpful! I just got admitted to UC Berkeley and this is the kind of video I need to make my final decision in May! Thanks a lot!!!
Aww thank you so much! I'm so glad it helped, feel free to DM me if you have any other questions!
Thanks. This helps greatly. My daughter got in to Notre Dame, Berkeley, Univ of Florida and Emory. Trying to figure the best path is challenging but this helped greatly. Econ and pre Med track is the goal.
I'm glad to hear it! Best of luck to your daughter with her decision--those are some pretty awesome choices!
What a good video idea! Some really great things to consider! 🤩🐻 I miss the Berkeley boba 🧋
Thank you so much Rachel! So true, the boba is honestly unmatched 😋
thank you for this!! i was recently admitted and this def cleared some of my concerns. (btw were you in an official berkeley zoom?? i think i saw you there LOL)
CONGRATS on your admission, that's amazing! 🥳 Glad this helped! Haha I may have been 😉
This video was incredibly helpful! Even though I'm not a freshman applicant (ccc transfer still waiting for admission decision 🤞🏼), everything you said still applies. Cal my top UC choices and your video rly helped alleviate my fears surrounding competitiveness! Being an upperclassman, how have your post-grad goals changed since starting at Cal? Is undergrad research easy to come by?
Ahhh that's so exciting, sending you tons of good thoughts for your admissions decision!!! I'm glad this helped a bit, I was also so nervous but it's honestly not as bad as you hear! As an upperclassman, I'm a lot more interested in learning about the industry side of careers (especially in biology/biotech), whereas when I began as a freshman I was more into the pre-med/academia side, but I find as the years go by, I have even less of an idea because everything seems so cool! I've been using the career center/going to career fairs and events a lot more this year to gain more insight which has honestly been SO helpful 😊
As for research, I'd personally say that if you make it a priority it is definitely there, you just have to make the effort to get it, whether it be through your department, a program like the Undergrad Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP; urap.berkeley.edu), or even just talking to a professor (or cold-emailing them!). Personally, I've done more research through student groups I'm in and was shadowing in a lab when the pandemic started, but it did take a lot of cold-emailing and talking to people to find opportunities outside a program--I'd say start emailing early and don't be discouraged if they don't respond. Most of my friends for whom research was a major priority have found it!
LOL that was a very long response but hopefully that helps? 😆 Best of luck for your decision, feel free to DM me if you want to chat at all!
I just committed! Also planning to do MCB :)
Just got accepted a few days ago!! Thank you for this video, it is really helpful with narrowing down my decisions! 💓😊 ps. You’re beautiful!!
Aw CONGRATS!!! 🥳 That’s so exciting, good luck with decisions! Thank you so much, you’re too sweet! 🥰
Thank you so much for this video!! I was wondering, how does roommate matching work for freshman?? I might have to be away from my phone/email during the summer for a work opportunity, but I don’t want to miss out on finding a roommate!!
Aw thanks for watching! 🥰 It can work multiple ways! Many people choose to go random, where you fill out a short survey on your preferences (ie when you go to sleep, how clean you like your room, your vibe, etc.) and then the university matches you with a roommate who has similar preferences. Many of my friends did this and they met some of their best friends like that! You can also join your incoming class' Facebook group and people will post there to try to find a roommate (this is what I did) to indicate on their housing application (which is due May 2 for freshmen!). I basically just scrolled through posts and DMed anyone I thought might be a good roommate. It's totally up to you! ☺
hey, i heard that it's like really hard? especially if you apply undeclared, apparently its extremely competitive (like ultra, ultra competitive) to be honest though, i go to a high school that is apparently "super competitive" but i literally do not feel that way at all, tbh it seems like most of my classmates either are 1) allergic to work 2) have no capability to simply make their lives better themselves and see it through a better perspective 3) have no drive to learn, so it's weird? all i want is a school that constantly pushes me to be better, like always. and people who will NOT rain down on my growth-mindset, because everyone at my school is so negative, i just want to be around people who will push me to be a truly better person
In my experience, Berkeley is such a big school that if you're looking for competitive people, you'll find them, but on the whole everyone is super collaborative and wants to help one another out! I've had a great experience working with peers and learning from each other through collaboration, and on the whole everyone I've met is super excited to learn! If you're in Letters and Science, you actually start undeclared, but it's more just to allow you to explore different interests--you're not really competing with people in that respect.
Regarding it being hard, the workload is definitely a step up from high school, and I would say it's a lot more responsibility on the individual, which I personally enjoy. I would just experiment with ways of studying and time management that work best for you, and remember to take breaks! There are some semesters that are harder than others as well, so it's definitely important to remember that if you're going through a rough patch, it will pass. Hopefully that helps!
Such a great video! I recently got waitlisted by Berkeley. It has been my dream school for long time. Any tips?
Congrats on the waitlist--it's a huge accomplishment and I know that Berkeley's waitlist in particular moves very fast, so DON'T lose hope! You may still be a Berkeley student yet 😊 I know there's a space on the form to opt-in to the waitlist to include any additional info you want to send in and this can be a great time to update the Admissions Office on any NEW awards, grades, accomplishments, or life updates that have happened since you applied that may ~sway~ them into an acceptance! Check out my friend Rachel's video on writing letters of continued interest (LOCIs) for more in-depth advice: th-cam.com/video/NJNFG9zWCaU/w-d-xo.html
hey seneca!! omg i have the exact same concerns about Berkeley 😭 so thank you so much for making this vid it was SUPER insightful and reassuring 💖
quick question: what do you think about the semester system?!
Hi! Aw I'm glad it helped 🥰 I personally LOVE the semester system, it's really nice to be able to have the time to absorb the material and also get to know the instructors better. I had heard concerns that I wouldn't be able to take as many classes, but that's totally not the case--I've been able to take a bunch of non-required classes just for fun! I'd also heard it wouldn't be great if you didn't like your instructors, but many classes are taught by multiple professors so that you get multiple points of view on the topic (ie 3 professors where each teaches 5 weeks over the entire semester), which can help if you need a different perspective! Overall it's fantastic, 10/10 recommend 😊
@@SenecaBrynn wow really? That would be so awesome to learn from multiple teachers for the same class!! Would you say the classes that are taught by multiple professors are more major courses or GE? Thanks 🥰
It’s really neat! I would say it depends a lot on the department/major, but for MCB it’s pretty much all major courses that I’ve experienced, both lower- and upper-division courses.
Hi! Thank you for sharing this video, it was really informative! I recently got admitted to Berkeley as a transfer student and I'm deciding if this is the right school for me. Do you know if it is challenging or competitive getting into your major of choice in the College of Letters and Science or do you have any information on how this process works?
CONGRATS!!! 🥳 That's so exciting, way to go! It honestly depends on your major--there are a few, like computer science, that can be a little harder to get into, but on the whole my friends (including myself) have been successful with getting into majors. The process differs by major though so definitely visit your department's website to see if there's an application/what the process looks like ☺ Best of luck to you!
What is the dating culture like? Are all clubs selective? How many classes do students usually take? Thank you for doing this! Very helpful :)
Hi! From what I've heard, the dating culture varies a ton because there's so many students, so I'd say that you'll find people with all different hopes for relationships.
Same with clubs--some are very selective and others take everyone, though most do involve some sort of application or recruitment process. I'd try to talk to people in the clubs you're interested in ahead of time to learn more about their recruitment process!
The number of classes does vary a lot as well, but between 13-17.5 units is pretty normal for most people--I'm currently taking 16 units, which is 4 classes, but other semesters I've taken 5 classes. It more depends on the workload of the classes you're taking and planning it out so you don't get too stressed. One major tip I have for this is that you're allowed to talk to major advisors ahead of time, so you can always reach out to them to learn more about your potential classes! ☺
I recently got into Berkeley and I am excited to attend!! I am still unsure however if there are mandatory subjects a student has to take in freshman year such as languages etc. I understand one can choose their major but are there certain subjects all students must take? Thanks!
That's awesome, CONGRATS! 🥳 It all depends on the college you got into--most colleges have "breadth" courses outside of your degree that you take as graduation requirements. However, there are no specific classes you have to take, moreso just subject areas and then you choose the classes you want to take within those--I recommend visiting your college's website or just googling "uc berkeley college of ___" to find those requirements!
Hi Seneca, which high school classes do you recommend for a pre-medical degree?
Hi! By freshman u mean what age? Can I apply here to study for grade 9? Loved your vid btw
just got admitted! my biggest concern is if the course work is gonna kill me
Congrats on your admission, that's super exciting! 🥳 I would honestly say that it's all about how you plan your courseload--they'll do something called golden bear advising over the summer before you start where you learn to make a 4-year plan. Definitely try to meet with you major advisors (you don't have to be declared to do this), not your college advisors, to plan your schedule--they're super knowledgeable about courses and what courses to avoid taking simultaneously!
Other than that, I would just experiment with ways of studying and time management that work best for you, and remember to take breaks! I definitely will say that there are some semesters that are harder than others as well, so it's definitely important to remember that if you're going through a rough patch, it will pass. Best of luck with your decision!
How did you ease your nerves in terms of safety getting to campus/ home from campus? I’m really nervous about the area and walking home.
Honestly I think it helped a ton to buy my own pepper spray and just always have it in my hands when walking home at night! Also walking with a group/friends! During the day it's honestly okay it's just more at night that you want to be careful.
Did you get a freshman edge email sent to you before acceptance letter?
How difficult is your workload? I’m nervous that I could be spending all of my time on homework.
Do you have advice for courses like Bio1b and chem 3a?
Thank you for this great video. My girl got in Berkeley and she has asperger syndrome and social anxiety. I want to know more about is there any assistance for her at school?
Congrats to her! 🥳 I would reach out to the DSP Office: dsp.berkeley.edu/about/contact-us. While I can't speak for what sorts of assistance/accommodations are available personally, I know that they have incredible resources for many students and have been a great resource for many of my friends!
@@SenecaBrynn Thank you for the information.
Do you know if there's any way to transfer scholarships I received from other UC campuses to UC Berkeley? I got certain scholarships from schools like UC Davis, but nothing from Berkeley and some aid would be much appreciated if I could transfer it 😅
Can I talk to a financial advisor? And another question, how can I talk to a major advisor to discuss the classes I'll be taking? I got in for the same major as you 👍
Congrats on your acceptance! 🥳 I'm not sure, I would guess not because I think most UC scholarships are campus-specific, but it can't hurt to ask the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships! Here's their contact page: financialaid.berkeley.edu/contact-us/.
I know you can also apply for private scholarships from outside organizations and even some on-campus organizations, so I definitely recommend reaching out to any organizations you're a part of to see if they offer scholarships!
As far as talking to a major advisor, for MCB there are a bunch of different advisors, and I'm not sure of their policy for talking to prospective students, but it can't hurt to try! Here's the general advising page (mcb.berkeley.edu/undergrad/advising/advising-office/advising-services), I'd maybe try emailing them--the MCB advisors are super nice and have great info. If you're unable to get ahold of someone I'd try talking to peer advisors, also at that link!
im an incoming freshman!!! do you have any tips for off campus housing? especially for out of state students 😳
Omg congrats, go bears! 🥳💙 I highly recommend living on-campus your first year just bc you meet so many people and it's a great part of the freshman experience, but after that I'd say to start talking with your friends around January to see who you want to live with the following year and what kind of housing you're interested in! This could be an off-campus apartment, Greek housing, the co-ops, etc and each has its own process--overall though, I'd say the earlier you look the better and if you have any older friends maybe ask if they're looking for someone to take over their lease/apartment (you could get free furniture this way!).
Hi! What is the best way to find a roommate? Or what if we can't find one?
Hi! It can work multiple ways! Many people choose to go random, where you fill out a short survey on your preferences (ie when you go to sleep, how clean you like your room, your vibe, etc.) and then the university matches you with a roommate who has similar preferences after you submit your housing application. Many of my friends did this and they met some of their best friends like that! You can also join your incoming class' Facebook group and people will post there to try to find a roommate (this is what I did) to indicate on their housing application (which is due May 2 for freshmen!). I basically just scrolled through posts and DMed anyone I thought might be a good roommate. It's totally up to you! ☺
Your super pale skin color is soooo beautiful!
when did you feel the spark, or at least be content with it?
This is SUCH a good question! I’ll probably address this in a Q&A video coming soon, but for me it was my freshman year, about halfway through fall, when I was walking home and thinking about plans I had that night or something with friends and just had this feeling of fulfillment. It’s hard to describe but it’s funny how it hit me in such a mundane moment and how I was so certain after this that I’d made the right choice.
Honestly I’m scared about going to Berkeley cause it feels like I won’t make any friends
Omg no! I had this concern too and I can honestly say now not to worry about it! People here are so lovely and welcoming, especially when you first arrive, and the great thing about having such a large school is that you'll never run out of potential new friends to meet. My best recommendations for meeting friends and building a community here are to live in the dorms your first year, which helps immensely because everyone else is new as well and wants to make friends! Also, join clubs/extracurriculars--this can introduce you to people with similar interests/backgrounds and for me has been the easiest way to make friends. Sending you lots of good thoughts, I promise you it'll be so much easier to meet people than you think! 💙
Riley Gaines ROCKS!!!!!
Hi! I am an incoming freshman who is also planning to be MCB major at UCB, and I am wondering, how did/do you balance free time with your coursework throughout college? Also, how is it like to make new friends at UCB? Is it difficult (cuz I know that UCB is HUGE, like there are classes with hundreds of students, and it may be hard to actually make new friends)? I love your video by the way, it sounded really genuine and relatable :)
Hi! Congrats! 🥳 This is definitely something I reevaluate every semester with the different courseloads that I take, but it's honestly all about experimenting with what works for you! I try as much as I can to block time out to hang out with friends, schedule "me" time, and make time for extracurriculars, but I think the best way to determine how to balance it is to ease into it your freshman year! I recommend taking the minimum number of units your first semester and maybe doing 1-2 clubs/extracurriculars and seeing how that goes, then reevaluating as you go! As for finding friends, for me it's been amazing to join extracurriculars and meet new people who have similar interests through that, which is where most of my friends and I have met! Even professional/academic organizations often have a social side. Living in the dorms is also great for meeting people! Thank you so much for watching 🥰
@@SenecaBrynn Thank you so much for the detailed response! I will definitely try your method out ❤️❤️❤️
Berkeley truly has grade deflation. Bio has the worst on average, at B- but I once had an Econ professor that curved to C+.
Also, there are 35,000+ students but only one gym.
Also also, there is no housing post-freshman unless you can afford to pay $2,000 for a shoebox.
Also also also, there is a lot of crime, mostly homeless.
hi! I’m a newly admitted student and am wondering, so after freshman year we are required to live in apartments? or is it after sophomore year
Hi! CONGRATS!! 🥳 That's so exciting! There's no requirements for housing--most people live in the dorms their freshman year and then move off-campus afterwards but you can choose to keep living on-campus if you want. There are also a ton of options for after freshman year--you can live in off-campus apartments, the co-ops (you do chores and cook in exchange for reduced rent in houses around campus), Greek housing if you're in Greek life, or in on-campus apartments. It's honestly up to you ☺
I want to like to say that you are very sweet girl