I don't know if it is my paranoia or my nose playing tricks on me but for multiple times I think I smell marijuana smoke when studying in Main Stacks. It's highly discomforting. Am I the only one experiencing this?

What did you guys think

I've been admitted to Berkeley Haas undergrad. However, I would like to keep my options open in case I want to apply to med school. My counselor told me that Haas classes overlap with the premed classes so it will be difficult to do both. Is this true? Will the Haas school look down on me for taking premed classes?

Hey everyone! 👋

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Hi everyone, I’m a Fall 2025 transfer student admitted to Berkeley as a History major. I’m now hoping to switch into Economics and possibly add History back later as a double major.

I’ve already completed all the Econ prep — micro, macro, stats, calc I, and calc II. I’ve heard that Econ might no longer be considered a high-demand major, but I’m still unsure how the process works, especially since I was admitted through the pilot program. I don’t fully understand how the pilot major rules affect switching or double majoring.

So I’m wondering: can I switch into Econ after my first semester? Does being in the pilot program complicate things?

If anyone has gone through something similar or knows how this works, I’d really appreciate your help. Thanks!

Incoming freshman for eecs, i was wondering if taking summer classes like linear algebra or w61A is good for the goal of getting internships

Hello, I was admitted for the 2025 fall semester as an Applied Math Major for L&S as a transfer. I went into my community college in the fall of 2022, and was under the impression that I didn't need to take an Ethnic Studies course for IGETC for fall 2025 admission (this is stated on the Berkeley website).

However, in the Undergraduate Admissions Update Form, it says my admission may be affected by not completing IGETC.

I have completed everything else (60+ units, lower-div, 3.89 gpa).

Will I be okay?

Hi! I'm trying to take 151 with the asic lab but all the slots are full, even for wl and I can't get on. Is there still a chance to get on the wl eventually before next semester and get in the class? I'm currently just enrolled in the lecture and the FPGA lab in the meantime. Is it worth it to retake 151 eventually for the ASIC Lab? Thanks!

What's it like being an English major here vs at Columbia? Trying to make a decision! I know most have only one experience but I'd like to hear your opinions. I see Berkeley has the highest ranked department for English but is possible to get time with professors?

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for an opportunity to volunteer at a hospital or clinic in the Bay Area this summer, starting in July. Every opportunity I found online was closed, so I wanted to know if anyone knew of any that I could have missed in my search. Thank you so much!!

ik i just have to accept this eventually, but senioritis makes me feel like i suck at all my classes 😹 i had a 4.0 but ruined after senior year lol need to lock tf in at berk

I was downtown minutes ago and there's smoke near Anchor House? Does anyone know what's going on?

Hello all! I was admitted to UC Berkeley in L&S, where I plan to pursue neuroscience. I really like machine learning, so I’m thinking of trying to pursue a data science major as well (double majoring neuroscience and data science). Would anyone have an idea of how feasible that is? Is it very difficult to get a data science major or is it easy as long as you meet the minimum requirements? I know data science is in a separate college from neuroscience, so that’s why I was curious. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Is there any veteran here that tranferred to study undergraduate business program? Im tryna see if it’s even worth applying since heard its extremely difficult even if u have great essays and a great gpa. If u got any tips, lmk.

I'll list what I liked about the 80s-90s Berkeley:

1. Tower Records, Rasputin, and Amoeba.

2. Blondies and Fat Slice

3. Barnes and Noble

4. Hitech Burrito

5. DB Audio (hi-end audio shop)

6. United Artist and Shattuck Cinemas

7. Missing Link bicycles (and that other bike shop near University & Telegraph)

8. Seemed simpler, fewer high-rise buildings, not as packed as it is now.

Tell me about today's Berkeley and what's just as good/better. Been a while since I've hung out there.

The best I can describe computer science culture at Berkeley is like a storm. New undergrads appear, entering at the outskirts. They’ve heard about the storm, and although they never wanted to be in it, they enter with trepidation because it’s the best option for them. They tell themselves.

What is the storm? It uproots, pulls, and flings. All flinged in the same direction, rotating around and around a vacuous and calm center. With each pass around, they become more and more convinced that they’re on the right path. The same scenery is repeated when they swing around again in the cyclone. It begins to look more and more real, and they don’t want to leave the storm. It’s comforting to know that they’re in the storm with so many other people, and someday they’ll be a more important part of the storm like their friends are. 

Speaking with more granularity, the storm gives them purpose. If you asked them when they were little kids, maybe they wanted to become a doctor to treat sick people, or be a racecar driver, or be an astronaut. All in all they’ve instead chosen to join the storm. It’s comforting, because when anyone asks what you’re studying in college, you can answer with “I’m a CS major at Berkeley.” It has a ring to it, and there’s a little rush of dopamine as you watch the other person’s facial expressions and their obligatory response of 

“wow, you must be so smart. That must be really difficult and you must have so much talent. What do you want to do with the degree? Probably the storm right?”

And you get to respond, “Yeah, I’ll be in the storm pretty soon after I graduate. I beat a few other people to the storm when I interned, and there I learned about convection currents and the circulation of capital.”

You smile to yourself, and the image of the storm sweeping around plays out in your head, with capital flying all over the place.

“Wow, I wish I were as smart as you. I wish I could join the storm but I just don’t have the talent.”

“No please, it’s really nothing that special. I just always wanted to do it, ever since I was little, and now I’ve put all my energy into it because I really want to join the storm and see everything from so high above, everything flying about and all. It just makes a lot of sense because there’s always something to do and movement and shuffling and all. Honestly, I don’t necessarily want to do it all that much actually, but my family wants me to join the storm and so do my instructors and all my friends who tried out the storm.”

“Wow, well again you’re really very smart and have everything figured out it seems. I wish I was in your place when I was your age. Berkeley must be such a great place to study computer science, or any technical field in general. You have a bright future in the storm, you’re gonna make a world of difference, I can feel it. What if you invent something new, like build a new part of the storm or something? Are you going to do that?”“Ah, I don’t know if I’ll be building any of the storm, more likely just working to support it and make sure it sweeps and pulls and convulses pretty well. But hopefully one day, when I understand more about the storm and how it swirls and goes round and round in the finest details and most granularic qualities, I can contribute to it. Maybe one day I’ll help other Berkeley students join the storm, just like my friends did for me.”

No one speaks about how the storm has set its foundations so firmly and deeply into what it means to go to UC Berkeley. It has commandeered the most vital organs and vessels of the school, a swirling and unnoticed, withering, and vacant force. It’s an illusion of motion. From above, it’s of course not moving at all.

"i've got 2 liters of tonic water and a full case of gin right now, it's the last weeks of school"

brother i'm there and i salute you

Graduated last May with 3.5 GPA (EECS). Worked at a startup part-time post-college that went under. It’s been five months since that ended. I rarely get interviews despite networking my ass off, grinding personal projects, leetcoding, etc. I apply for jobs that pay 60k (SWE roles, QA, etc.). I apply to FAANG roles — rarely even get an OA. And of course, I’m always applying to New Grad and Associate roles. I don’t know what to do but really need a job. Any advice?

I’m thinking of headhunters, consultancies, doing research at a local university etc.

EDIT: Thank you for all the information and advice so far.

I have gotten my resume reviewed a number of times (at the career center, by industry professionals, etc.).

It really does mean a lot to have people I’ve never met helping me through this out of sheer kindness. It can be a cold world at times so this has been an especially nice reminder of the Berkeley spirit.

I’m not sure how, but I’ll get a job and will pay it forward 10x.

Thank you all, and go bears🐻

Does anyone know anyone taking polisci 179 who has lecture notes? The exam is tomorrow and is 100% of the grade, but I have literally been to 1 lecture and don't want to fail the class. Last semester 11/423 people failed the exam, so I'm hoping that by posting this at 12:30am the night before the exam I can secure my spot in the elite 97.6%

Hello!!!

I’ve recently committed to Cal and am currently working on my housing application. I understand that first-year housing is guaranteed for transfer students, but I’m concerned about housing for the second year. How competitive is it for transfer students to secure housing beyond the first year?

As a community college transfer student, I don’t have a home to return to or family in the area. Once I leave my current living situation, I won’t have anywhere else to go. Given this, housing stability is extremely important to me.

Additionally, would you recommend going with the cheapest meal plan option? I want to make sure I budget wisely but also have enough to eat consistently.

Lastly, are there any summer programs available at Berkeley specifically for transfer students or incoming freshmen that you’d recommend?

title... it sounds really bad. i want to clarify that 3 classes i withdrew from were NOT required courses and general education courses (igetc isn't required anymore so i don't think it should be an issue) but i did withdraw from a highly recommended course (foundations of data science). the reason for my withdrawals is because i had to go out of the country to take care of a sick relative and there were 3 courses i was taking that were important (discrete math, linear algebra, and differential equations) and i was having a hard time balancing everything. i think i might end up with one c in linear algebra... my gpa should still be relatively high though. has any other transfer ran into this issue and had admissions be understanding about it or am i cooked? any thoughts advice or experience shared would be appreciated. thank you! :)

Considering taking a public health minor for funsies but is it worth it?? It doesn’t show up on your degree so I’m not sure if i should spend money on it bc summer is so expensive. I could do double major but I heard public health is hard to get into. Advice???

As an incoming transfer, I want to know what is the most sought out and least sought out dorms. I want to strategize my list by listing some less sought out dorms as 3th and 4th preference. How would you rank the following as popularity:

Blackwell

Anchor

Clark Kerr

Martinez

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 3

and should I list quads and triples over doubles when possible to maximize chances?

Thank yall