The P.A.L. Program

Thanksgiving Away From Home

2009-11-06T20:02:29Z

I know that many students at CAL choose to spend the holidays close to campus instead of going home. Finals are right after the Thanksgiving holiday and travelling can be extremely time consuming. In order to avoid homesickness during the holidays I’d suggest getting together with a group of friends and sharing Thanksgiving dinner at someone’s apartment if possible. The adventure of cooking Turkey-day dinner can be quite a fun bonding experience for friends if everyone helps out or chooses to take on smaller tasks so it’s not overwhelming for the host. This also can generate a family like atmosphere here on campus once you have celebrated together.

There are a few things you should know before attempting to make a turkey if you have never done so. First make sure the turkey is fully thawed out before you cook it otherwise it won’t cook right. Second put the turkey in the oven pretty much right when you get up in the morning, yes it does take a turkey all day to cook. And lastly, definitely use a meat thermometer to make sure the middle is done. The last thing you want is food poisoning when you are trying to study for finals. On that positive note, enjoy!

Local Eateries

2009-11-04T09:22:27Z

One of the most frequently visited locations around the UC Campus is the Durant Food Court or what was once known as Asian Ghetto. Since its convenient for students and house a wide range of cuisines, its no brainer that this is the first thought in people's mind as an alternative to cooking or eating in the dorms. I, too, have a couple of favorite restaurants there. Normally, when I eat there with friends, I order the Kimchi Spam Fried Rice from Bear's Ramen House. Even for those of you who are afraid of spicy food, you should try it because its actually more sweet than spicy and has a lot of delicious flavor. Thai Basil is another favorite among my friends, who often swear by their Pad Thai over any other Thai restaurant around the area. Although, Gypsy's look like a small, crowded and oily restaurant, you will be surprised by the satisfaction a large plate of Italian homecooking can bring. However, I also want to introduce you to MANY other incredible restaurants in Berkeley to visit before you graduate. So here is MY LIST!

]]> Brazil Fresh Squeeze Cafe: located on University Ave, next to the hardware store. This is, in my opinion, a golden nugget in a haystack. Most people dismiss the little family-owned restaurant, as a little shack with sketchy food. But in reality, this is one of the jewels of Berkeley. They offer the best tri-tip sandwich I have ever tasted and have many authentic platters like the Tri-tip plates which will definitely fill you. Also, ask your friends if they have a free mango smoothie coupon. While most of their sandwich items come with a mango smoothie, plates do not. I like their smoothies because its natural--no added sugar!

Gregoire's: a small french gourmet take out restaurant located in Gourmet Ghetto. Between the intersection of Shattuck and Cedar St. Before you order anything from their monthly menu, you have to consider trying their handmade potato puffs. Crispy outside and buttery, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth inside, is sure to satisfy your taste buds. I like the fact that they try to be innovative and introduce a new menu every month. The menu is uploaded on their website so be sure to check before you go. One of my favorites was House-smoked salmon with Tangy Guacamole over Puff Pastry. Deeelicious.

Cheeseboard: One of the two most famed pizzerias in Berkeley (the other being Zachary's which offers some of best chicago deep dish pizzas around. The only problem is that its far away from camps. But definitely go with your friends at least some point in your 4 years in Berkeley). It is also located in Gourmet Ghetto next to Andronico's supermarket. You will have no problem locating this little gem because there is always a line of people waiting to order a slice. Cheeseboard is known for offering a new vegetarian, thin crusted pizza every day Tuesday-Saturday. Although the ingredients sound tame in taste, as a combination, they bring out a unique pizza flavor, highlighting the taste of each ingredient. My favorite ones have been corn with onions, roasted eggplants with fontina cheese, pear with onions, and lime. They use different combination of cheese each time as well.

La Note: Since this semester started, I have already visited La Note thrice for their gorgeous brunch menu. Be forewarned that you may leave with a terrible case of food coma. Each entree is rich with french flavor. I highly recommend Cote Nord which is a (stolen from their online menu): 2 eggs lightly scrambled with cream cheese over Levain bread with garlic roasted russet potatoes (which may change every now and then) and roasted tomatoes. Also, order a plate of the Brioche Pan Perdu, a whole new way to enjoy french toast. Brioche Pan Perdue is thickly cut cinnamon swirled brioche bread, coated with french toast batter and lightly toasted. I also love LOVE their real maple syrup for pancakes and pan perdu.

Joshuya's and Norikonko: Norikonko is a small family-owned authentic Japanese restaurant located in The Village down on telegraph. They offer traditional Japanese homecooked meals which consists of normally a main fish dish, several smaller cold dishes, and korokke (potato croquettes). They are known for their home-made ramen. Joshya's, sushi restaurant, is located on the intersection of telegraph and dwight. This is the only sushi restaurant that I consistently return for their fresh cuts of sashimi and nigiri. They also offer a wide selection of sushi rolls as well. Be sure to purchase their $25 gift certificate for $10 on http://www.restaurant.com/rdc_site.net/listings.aspx?StateID=&zip=94720 before you visit!

Tropical Paradide Ghanaian Restaurant: located on University Ave. is a great place to try Ghanaian cuisine. To be honest, I visited here with a friend because she had a gift certificate. But I am glad that we went because it was a new experience. I've never tasted African cuisine but I enjoyed each entree we ordered. What I found was interesting was that Ghanaian stew reminded of chinese stewed meat. Also, their fufu (thick pillow of cassava and yams) tasted wonderfully with their stewed dishes. I recommend this restaurant for those of you who love spicy food.

Lucky Thai House: located on university and across from Brazil Cafe, has a great selection of thai curries and noodles. My favorite dishes from here are their peanut curry with chicken. Many of my friends have recommended me to come here because it leaves them with nostalgic feeling of their mom's home cooking. You can't go wrong with any of their curries.

Why I love CNR!

2009-11-04T08:29:52Z

As I went into my last telebears appointment with my advisor, Susan, I couldn't believe how fast the four years on college has gone by. It seems like just yesterday when I didn't even know how to use telebears. I started thinking about the things that have really shaped my college career, and being in CNR was definitely one of the things that defined my life at Berkeley. The free printing and the very comfortable couches are not the only great things about CNR.

]]> First, CNR offers so many opportunities for undergraduate research. Especially through SPUR, which offers both opportunities to do research with faculty or start your own independent research project. I noticed that especially in CNR, the faculty really love working with students and welcome many undergraduates into their labs. In addition, CNR offers small majors, if that's what you prefer. As an environmental sciences major, I know everyone in my year in my major, and it's really cool to be able to discuss each others projects when we see each other. I feel that CNR offers the small college environment within a large public university, so you get to experience both in one location. Also, everyone at the resource center is very friendly and helpful, and I love using the computer labs in 260. The PAL program has also allowed me to meet many of the staff, faculty, and students, and it has been a great opportunity for me to give back to the college. CNR has grown a lot since I first got here as a freshman, and I hope that it continues to grow so that more students can make use of the wonderful opportunities that CNR has to offer.

Fun things to do for Turkey Day

2009-11-03T06:26:44Z

I know it's early to think about Thanksgiving already but its not that many weeks away. My second round of midterms are in less than a week and after that I want to relax, celebrate and have some fun with friends/families. Yeah?! Well, I am planning to go home for the three day holiday since I haven't been home for weeks or even months. But if any of you guys are wanting to stay at Berkeley, then plan ahead on the things that you want to do (get started on the holiday shopping? haha). Usually if I am staying in Berkeley over this short break, I would go shop, eat and chillax in the city. Last year, I went out to Pier 39 and basically hung out there with a couple of friends for most of the day. We went sailing on the boat, past alcatraz. It was cold but so nice and refreshing!! Afterwards, we went ice skating, a leisure activity that I really enjoy and its a lot of fun if you go with a group of friends. Of course we went to eat after that. Food was delicious although I forgot the exact name of the restaurant, I believe it was an Italian restaurant. Anywho, it was definitely a fun/memorable event which I shared with friends. Of course finals are soon approaching after that, so you can always get a head start on that, spend some productive time hitting the books which can relieve some stress before the actual day of exams.

Some suggestions on how to tackle the issue of scheduling class and graduating on time

2009-10-27T05:06:01Z

Hey everyone, I hope you have all met with your faculty advisors and have made up a tentative class schedule for upcoming spring semester. Under the influence of budget cut, you may not be able to take all the classes you have planned. It is a good idea to prepare some alternatives and try to accommodate the change with the following semesters. If it is possible, try to plan for summer schedule along with spring semester schedule. When it comes to the classes only being offered once a year, it is best to check the prerequisites in advance.

]]> For nutritional sciences major students, it is very important to get into all the required major classes in fall or spring semester when they are being offered, since most of the upper division required classes will be only offered once a year. Most of these classes are not available for summer session as well, with the exception of MCB 102, PH 162A. I would recommend taking MCB 102 during summer prior to junior year, in order to alleviate some work load and schedule conflicts for the proceeding fall semester, since it is a required prerequisite for NST 103, which is only taught in the fall. Other upper division classes will be built on these two classes. Therefore, to avoid falling behind schedule and not being able to graduate on time, try to pick up some prerequisites over summer would be a consideration. It is very important to be prepared and be proactive. As for physiology and metabolism track students, first priority of making four year plan is to take all the major core classes during the semester that are allotted, and then spread out the electives with considerations of difficulty, work load, personal interests, and final exam schedule. The listed electives are who faulty believe they might compliment the learning experience for major classes, but they are not the only classes that can fulfill the requirements for elective units. Students can take any upper division biological science classes based on personal interests and availability. Stay flexible and plan ahead are keys to graduate on time and enjoy your college experience at Cal. I think this is true for everyone, every major.

Midterm Breather and Getting Prepared for upcoming Exams

2009-10-27T01:45:44Z

I'm about to enter my second round of midterms, as I'm sure many people are, but it is important to try and relax a little in between exams. I like to study more at cafes and outside when I don't have an exam right around the corner; you might not get quite as much done as in the library, but it's a nice change of pace and you can enjoy some of the nice weather before it gets colder :) Also you can use some of your free time to make sure you are eating right and getting a good amount of sleep. You don't want to get sick right before your next midterms or papers.

]]> Another way I help myself to not stress out too bad with exams is to start preparing a little bit at a time. I try to make myself gather all my notes and papers for the class a good while before my test so when I want to start intense study-time I already have everything together, and I don't have to worry about a missing page or quiz. It can be helpful if you skim through you notes once, and download all the power point slides a couple days before you plan to buckle down so that you have a better idea of how much material you to go through. If you have a second round of mid-terms then you might have the benefit of already having a test with your professor, which can make the second test less stressful since you're familiar with how they write questions and grade answers.

Exams seem to always come in clusters, so make sure to know when all your tests and assignments are due so nothing sneaks up on you. It can be hard to get going again for a second round of tests, but if you give yourself a little break you can comeback more refreshed to study. While you have a week or two test free make sure to take a deep breath, or an extra nap or watch a guilty pleasure movie and let yourself unwind a bit. You'll study better if you are well rested and mentally ready to begin your next round of tests!

My personal way of how to stay on track

2009-10-25T20:35:28Z

Telebears is here once again, I don't know about you guys but I am frantically trying to plan my classes not just for next semester but also for the two after that. Due to budget cuts, many classes are not offered anymore but its important to have back up classes to take just in case. When I was a freshmen I planned out my four year plan to make sure that I can graduate within the four years. The funny thing is every semester by '4 year plan' looks a little different from before.

]]> Right now I am planning to finish all my upper divisions on time. In CNR for MEB we need to take 36 upper division units and 15 units of those needs to be in the College of Natural Resources. However, I found out that the 36-15=21 units and those can be taken from any college. So besides major requirements I am loading up my schedule with some fun classes! Balance is the key to a schedule, I like to balance my hard requirement science classes with some fun classes such as psychology, music and marine science. Another good tip is that at the beginning of the semester try to find out when all the midterms are. It is very hard to do well in a class when all the midterms are around the same week and then you have three weeks of no midterms. Its hard to stay on track and hard to study and focus on one midterm per class. This is why I love my major, besides having to take MCB102 as a upper division requirement, everything else is pretty flexible, so if midterm schedules conflict, I can just choose another class.

The key to graduating on time is to plan ahead. I know that telebears for the spring is coming up, but it won't hurt to plan out all the classes you should take after the spring semester. Sometimes we think "oh I don't want to put physics 8A and chem 3B all in the same semester because I hear those classes are hard" but as you plan your schedule for the upcoming semester you'll figure out sometimes in order to declare your major on time, or graduate on time that is actually the best way to go. Just load some easy fun classes with the prereqs and everything will be fine.

Plan carefully and plan ahead!

Switching into CNR vs. Telebears

2009-10-20T20:47:43Z

Time passes by very quickly and it doesn't feel like Spring Telebear appointments are coming up shortly. If you are new to the University or if you are wondering switching colleges or majors, here are some tips for you!

]]> How to switch into CNR?
If you are a freshman, you are allow to switch colleges only after you complete your first semester at CAL. You need to pick up a petition form from 260 Mulford, fill it out, and turn it in to the office.

Make sure that you have talked to the major advisor of your intended major and be aware of what are the courses you need to register for the upcoming semester. Some required classes filled up really quickly, so make sure you know what are the courses you would like to enroll first during Telebear Phase I.

If you already transferred into CNR, make sure that you meet wity your faculty advisor with your Telebear form and check your email regularly. Your major advisor will send you an email for you to sign up an appointment for advisor code, except NST and MT majors.

If you are still switching colleges or majors during the first couple weeks of the new semester, and you might be required to register courses for your previous major, pay attention to the maximum and minimum unit caps of different colleges. Also be aware of the following late fee:

-A Late Registration Fee of $150 is charged to all students who are not officially registered by Friday of the third week of instruction.
-An Add Fee of $5 per course is charged to students who add classes after the third week of instruction.
-A Drop Fee of $10 per course is charged to undergraduates who drop classes after the second week of instruction, and charged to graduate students who drop courses after the third week of instruction.

If you have not decide which major you would like to declare, it is recommended for you to take some lower division seminar courses offered by different majors so you can have a general idea about that major such as what you will be studying for that major, what are the future career paths, and research opportunities within that major.

Also, feel free to talk to the Peer Advising Leader for that major to get to know different classes and student life or academic advices. If you cannot make it to the office hour, don't hesitate to send us an email to pal@berkeley.edu and we will get back to you as early as we can.

Tips for planning out your best fit spring schedule

2009-10-14T07:10:13Z

Wow it's amazing how telebears phase 1 is here yet we are in the middle of getting through this fall semester!! For this reason it is important that we start looking into classes and start asking our friends about classes they recommend.

Something that I have learned from planning out my schedule (for the past 4 years) is that we should not set our schedule in stone early on but have some options to decide on the first week of classes. Although those classes may seem very interesting to us, during the first week we may realize that two of our most challenging classes will have midterms on the same day. If you have other class options you can have the choice of taking another class (this happened to me for PH162A- Microbiology and MCB 102 and I had a horrible semester even though the classes were interesting I was not able to study as well as I would have liked to because both of the midterms were back to back from one another).
This brings me to another very important point that when choosing classes it is important to understand that everybody can handle different levels of courses and that you need to realize what would be a good fit for YOU!!!! Just because your roommate was able to take a combination of classes it doesn't make it a good fit for you and vice versa. Especially for the lower division classes like chem 1a, chem 3a/b, the math 16 series, the bio's etc, it is important to understand that these classes take up a lot of time to study and people can handle certain combination of classes better than others. It does not make you inferior if you need to make a preparation course for chem 1a or need to start with precalculus (I needed to), if it will help you in the long run than you should definitely go for it. The truth of the matter is that people come to Cal with different levels of preparation based on what their high schools offered -it is not a fair playing field :-( The best we can do is acknowledge it and take classes that we can handle. Obviously we are stressed to graduate on time, but if you have the flexibility to spread out some of your core science classes (you know the classes that you need to really super dedicate yourself to), then why not. After all the classes have to be a good fit for you!!!!

TELEBEARS IS HERE! Spring 2010 advice on classes?

2009-10-13T23:38:30Z

Telebears is here! The big question is... What classes do you take?! Don't go completely crazy yet, we can figure this out. Taking the wrong combination of classes here at UC Berkeley can make a student crawl into a hole and never want to come out. Never fret, CNR PALS are coming to your rescue! I have some quick tips on how I've come to select classes....

1. Try to stay in between 13-15 units, especially if you're "doubling up" on science courses.

2. I've found that many "intro" labeled courses are very time consuming.

3. Balance, balance, balance your workload! For example, MCB 102, Math 54, NST 103, Chemistry 3 A/B, and Physics 7/8 series are very difficult and time consuming classes for most students at Berkeley. Try not to take more than 3 of these courses at the same time.

4. In addition to 3, figure out how you will fair with professors! "How do I do this?" you may ask. There are many resources! I feel the best resource ofcourse come from UCB students who have taken the course already, preferably with the same professor you look to take it with. (I tend to use ratemyprofessor.com as a last resort because it has been VERY inaccurate at times from my own personal experience.

5. I think the main point I am trying to get across is to.... ASK! Ask your adviser. Ask a former student! Ask your prospective professor. ASK! ASK! ASK! It is the only sure way you will know what you are getting into for Spring 2010! Who knows, you may get an old syllabus or exams to gauge just how the class may be.

These are my two cents about the issue. If I have left something out you feel is equally important, please feel free to share! I mean hey... This is a BLOG right? :-)

Be Careful and Stay Dry,

Wellington

Ready for Spring 2010? Recommended classes offered only during spring

2009-10-13T03:57:56Z

As telebears approach, we all have one thing in mind "what course should I take to fill up my schedule?" Below are the classes I've taken, enjoyed and recommend to students.

PH162A lec/lab-
Microbiology is a memorization intensive class that gives students insight on the etiology, causes, mechanism, and prevention of diseases and infections. The class itself uncovers the world of bacteria, virus, fungi, and other microbiological organisms. The class is straight forward but the only drawback is that there’s a lot of information to remember. Overall, it is a rewarding class because the amount of time you put into it correlates to the grade that will be achieved.

NSTC114-
Pesticide Chemistry is a broad overview of issues, mechanisms, and uses of pesticide. Overall, it is a very chill and easy going class. It solely based on the lecture and does not deviate out of it. The fun part of this class is that students will be able to present a pesticide of their choice. Again, the amount of time you put into it correlates to the grade you will achieve. This is a must if you are a Molecular Toxicology major.

NST 120-
Molecular Toxicology is a toxicology major core requirement that is course friendly to other biology majors. The class explores administration, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of xenobiotics.
Three reasons to take this class:
1.) The professor is AWESOME
2.) There’s a field trip
3.) The midterms and final are take-home. It is only offered during spring so take it if possible.

EDU 30AC-
Diversity in and out of schools is a must class for anyone who wants to deviate out of the sciences. Issues such as race, diversity, and equality within schools will be covered. The structure is based on reading, writing, and analyzing articles. The only draw back is the amount of reading that is required for the class but midterms and finals are take home essays.

Why I chose to become a CNR Peer Advisor

2009-10-06T20:47:55Z

My primary reason for becoming a PAL was to meet people from a variety of majors throughout the College or Natural Resources. Normally my shyness prevents me from talking to many new people and I felt that having the position of the peer advisor would give me opportunity to have something about which to converse with other students. Also the PAL program has allowed me to find friends within the PAL program. As a result of talking to many students in a variety of majors I have been able to learn about the majors that CNR has to offer and many of the classes offered here at CAL that I normally would not have found out about. I have been able to learn some details of administration through answering questions. Through this new knowledge and my life experience as a returning college student I hope to help other students navigate through paperwork and strategies.
The outreach portion of the program appeals to my interest as a peer advisor. PALs provide outreach seminars within the University to undeclared students and throughout the community in high schools, junior colleges, etc. I know that when many prospective students are looking at CAL as an option the larger colleges may seem overwhelming in size or the majors may seem broad for what they are looking for and this gives us the opportunity to share about the smaller size of CNR and the smaller community feeling compared to the other colleges here. Also, a career in the sciences may seem intangible to may students in preparation for graduation or transfer but hopefully with meeting students who have been in a similar situation applying to our science majors will feel realistic.

Places to Study

2009-10-05T06:07:56Z

With the first round of midterms here it's important to find a good place to sit down and study. Luckily at Berkeley you can find a place to get your work done no matter what your learning style and preference is. Here are some places I recommend around campus. Also, make sure to becoming a member of the PAL Facebook Fanpage and use the discussion page to let the PALs know where you like to go to study.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Berkeley-CA/College-of-Natural-Resources-Peer-Advising-Leaders-CNR-PALs/138439192417?ref=mf

]]> 1. Main Stacks in Doe Library. This is my favorite place to study on campus because it's always very quiet and I can easily concentrated on my work. Also, my cell phone gets no signal there so I can't get distracted by outside things. The Doe Library is open pretty late, and during finals it's even open 24 hours. You can use either the cubicles, or there are several comfy chairs that you can sit on. Just remember to bring your Student ID Card since you'll need to show it at the desk in order to get in.

2. CNR Resource Center in 260 Mulford. This place is great for CNR students since you can sit on the couches if you want to have a more comfortable environment or use one one of the long tables to lay out all your papers and books. It's also a great place if you are doing a group project or study group since you can talk and eat/drink there. Also, the computer lab is located there so you can check your assignments online or write a paper. And if you need to print something you get 10 free pages a day as a CNR Student.

3. Free Speech Cafe. This place is nice if you like a more casual and noisy environment to study in. There are several outlets located inside so you can plug in your laptop, or if the weather is nice you can sit in the patio. Also, if you get hungry you can grab something to eat, or get some coffee to help you stay awake. :)

These are such a few of the many places you can go to at Berkeley to study. No matter where you go, make sure you spend your time wisely to review for your exams. Good luck on midterms!! :)

Health and Wellness Tips

2009-10-04T06:18:44Z

Of the many topics I have blogged about in the past years, I have never really touched upon the health issue. Especially since the H1N1 flu is going around, I thought that I would offer some websites and some of my personal tips to staying healthy. Please keep in mind that I'm not a health expert and that I have gotten sick many times.

Obviously, the first place I looked was the University Health Center website. Despite stories about long waiting times (if you go in person) and other forms of inefficiency, the website does offer really great information on how to stay healthy. Plus, they have an online scheduling appointment so you don't have to call in or walk in (if it's not urgent).

]]> Two things interested me:

1. Information about H1N1 and what to do: It has a great FAQ section, so if you find yourself in one of those situations, please take a look at this to figure out what to do.

Whenever I get sick, I try to get as much sleep as I can or just rest in bed. Drink lots of water, especially hot water. I find that this helps me the most when I have runny noses and sore throats. Don't tire your body out because it's already weak from trying to fight whatever is in your system. BUT to prevent myself from getting sick, I try to sleep as much as I can (or take naps), try not to stress out too much, and find other activities that make me happy (ie going to dance performances, symphony concerts, reading novels). :)

2. Wellness Portal: This is a wonderful, comprehensive tool/guide to staying healthy. If you explore the wheel, you find that there are so many components to staying healthy besides eating right and exercising. It also has mental and emotional components. So really, it's a balance of all of these components: make sure you are engaging your mind, body, and spirit. And even though your life is basically revolving around school, it is an amazing time to learn more about yourself, to explore interests, and enjoy life.

So for example, I am engaging my "intellect" by taking classes, conducting research, attending concerts and dance performances, and every so often, doing Sudoku puzzles. Physically, I try to walk to my destinations and take the stairs, but I also take dance classes 2-3 times a week. Plus, I try to eat balanced meals with lots of fruits and veggies. I'm part of several communities - the PALs, CNR, my lab (Specht lab), and Cal Habitat for Humanity - and I find enjoyment when I'm part of these communities. Emotionally, I tend to talk to my friends (share my excitement and disappointments), but usually, I find the most support in my parents; somehow they always see the bigger picture when I can't. Career-wise, well, that's a bit hard since I don't know what I would like to do in the future, but I know my interests, have steadily "networked," and I know my potential and talents. Career-wise, well, that's a bit hard since I don't know what I would like to do in the future, but I know my interests, have steadily "networked," and I know my potential and talents.As for that spiritual aspect, I like to look around me, kind of in that "stop and smell the roses" idea. Just pause and take in what's around you; you'd be amazed by all the details around you. I especially like looking out into the bay and seeing if it's a clear day or when the fog is rolling.

So basically, take care of yourself! And find that something that makes you enjoy life. :)

Midterms are coming...Are you panic?

2009-10-01T03:45:28Z

The next two weeks seem to be the busy weeks for Cal students as midterms are coming. I know some of you; especially freshman and newly transferred students, might be panic about your first midterm season at Berkeley. As for my own experience, I was very stressed during my first semester and didn’t do well on my tests; thus, I want to share some tips that might be helpful for you to survive through your first challenge.

]]> In order to do well on midterms, it is very important to understand the materials thoroughly. Going to professors’ office hours during this time, however, is not my first choice since there will be many other students coming to their offices and that makes it harder for you to ask questions. On the other hand, GSIs’ office hours will be very helpful for any last minute questions since they are accessible and you can also request private hours with them. Study groups could also be a good way to help each other in solving problems, practicing old exams or clarifying concepts.

As for a place to study, Berkeley has many amazing libraries such as BioScience in VLSB, main stack in Doe or Moffit that you can try. The good thing about them is that they open pretty late; VLSB library usually opens until 11pm while Doe and Moffit libraries open until 2am. I personally like the BioScience library since it is comfortable and quiet, but most Cal students prefer Doe since it keeps you from distraction. I don’t study outside the campus; thus, I don’t know much about other places outside Berkeley. However, some of my friends usually study at Milano Café, Yali, Starbucks or other coffee shops around campus. For any of you that don’t know about Milano café, it is located on Bancroft and I heard it has wireless Internet there too. So, you can check out those places to see which one can help you focus on your studying.

One last thing I want to mention is that besides studying, taking care of your health is also important. You don’t want to study too hard and get sick right before the tests. Using your time wisely, eating healthy food, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep might help you to be more concentrated and effective. I know it is hard to balance things out due to the heavy works at Berkeley, but try to do them as much as you can and don’t be too nervous before the tests. School is important but your health is more crucial since a healthy brain can only come from a healthy body.