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13 March 2008
Berkeley Events
One of the best things about living in Berkeley is all of the exciting events, talks, and festivals available for us to partake in. It is a good idea to check out the events calendar every week or two to see who is coming into town to talk about their latest book or research, and what kind of performances are happening at Zellerbach and the Greek Theatre. Check out: events.berkeley.edu
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Posted by Liz Dow at 4:53 | Permalink
19 February 2008
Dealing with Challenging Classes
There are many difficult classes at Berkeley that we all have to struggle through. It is almost a right of passage for the science majors to take Organic Chemistry and Bio 1A, but it wasn't until I took my Environmental Modeling requirement, Energy and Resources 102, that I really met a challenge. Some people went through this class very easily, but I had never taken a subject where I had to draw on all of my knowledge gained from the big Chemistry and Calculus classes. I had to answer questions such as: “What would the pH of rain be in the absence of anthropogenic sources of sulfuric and nitric acids?” and “If the burning of fossil fuels were to cause the CO2 concentration in Earth’s atmosphere to become twice what it was at the beginning of the industrial revolution, how would Earth’s surface temperature be affected?” The problem sets became my third job as I began to spend and average of ten or more hours a week on them. So how did I deal with this difficult material? Here are some tips!
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Posted by Liz Dow at 1:21 | Permalink
04 November 2007
The CNR Community
One of the things that I love most about the College of Natural Resources is its dynamic community of faculty, staff, and students. As a transfer from the College of Letters and Science, this is something that I was never able to find in such a large college. Now almost two years later, I find myself as part of the community as a peer advisor and as a student. However, this didn’t happen over night. I didn’t even know about CNR until late my freshman year and it took a little time after I transferred spring semester of my sophomore year to really feel like I was part of the community. You might be wondering: how can I be more involved in this community? I’ll give you a few pointers that really helped me become more involved in the CNR community.
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Posted by Liz Dow at 1:34 | Permalink
01 October 2007
Midterm season is here, now what?
This is the time of the year when summer’s glow is finally fading and the reality of classes, commitments, and dreaded midterms start to seem like a lot of handle. So what can you do to balance your schedule and kick start your studying? Here are a few pointers.
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Posted by Liz Dow at 8:42 | Permalink
This semester has been one of the most difficult so far at Cal and I am really looking forward to a crazy, but fun summer. Once finals are over, I’m going to have about two and a half weeks to relax, do some research on grad schools, work on my senior thesis, and prepare for the rest of summer.
Once this long overdue break from school is up, I will be heading to Costa Rica to start my study abroad program through the School for Field Studies. This is an environmental study abroad program that focuses on field work and community involvement. To the best of my knowledge, this summer I will be working with other students from around the United States to develop an eco-tourism program for one of Costa Rica’s national parks. Because this is such an intense program, with at best one day off to explore on my own, I’m going to take about 10 days after the program is over to travel around with a friend and see the country a little.
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Posted by Liz Dow at 2:46 | Permalink
01 May 2007
How to enjoy Berkeley
Berkeley certainly has a lot more to offer other than academia. When I’m not in class, one of my favorite things to do is try new restaurants. Some of the best I have tried that you might want to check out are Berkeley Thai House on Channing, Café Gratitude on Shattuck, and Fondue Fred’s on Telegraph. I think this is a great way to catch up with friends, take a break from the ramen, and enjoy some great food. If you are feeling adventurous, I would also really recommend checking out the eateries in San Francisco. The Mission District and North Beach are great places to explore and find good, cheep food.
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Posted by Liz Dow at 2:44 | Permalink
22 April 2007
Finding the right major
Choosing a major is not always the easiest thing to do. Rarely do I met someone who has it all figured out from the get go, and I think coming to Berkeley ready to explore your interests is a great approach. A useful thing you can do is to take classes in subject areas you enjoyed in high school, and even some in areas you know little to nothing about. Declared freshman should consider this as well, because there could be another major waiting for you that fits your interests even better than the one you are intent on now. Researching different majors and the careers they can lead to on the career website can also help if you have any career goals in mind.
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Posted by Liz Dow at 6:30 | Permalink
22 April 2007
Remember to have fun!
It has been my goal since coming to Cal to try something new every semester. My first semester here, after being in wind ensembles since 5th grade and studying jazz in middle and high school, I decided to join the Cal Band. I had never marched in a marching band, but I picked up things quickly and really enjoyed having so many friends right off the bat. Today I am still in the band and can’t wait for the opening Tennessee game next year. If marching isn’t your thing, you can also get involved musically in the university wind ensembles, jazz ensembles, a capella groups and vocal jazz groups.
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Posted by Liz Dow at 6:28 | Permalink
When I knew I wanted to be an Environmental Science major, transferring into the College of Natural Resources was a clear choice. I could have remained in L&S as an ES major, but I felt I could get more attention as a student in CNR. I was tired of having to see a different advisor with a different philosophy every time I needed a question answered. I didn’t like not knowing a single person when I went into Campbell Hall and sometimes having to wait over a week for an appointment with an advisor. A small, friendly college looked very appealing when declaring my major, and I couldn’t have made a better choice.
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Posted by Liz Dow at 9:57 | Permalink
25 March 2007
Spring Break!
Spring break is never a very exciting time for me. I usually use break to catch up on work, sleep, and catch a few movies I never got around to seeing. I always look forward to having good, home cooked meals, and enjoying a cup of coffee with old friends. This year I plan to do all of this as usual, but instead of staying in Sacramento for the whole week, I am going on a camping trip along the Northern California coast for the last four days of break. I don’t have the exact itinerary picked out, so perhaps my only real plan will be to be back in Berkeley in time for my 10 o’clock class on Monday. I’m looking forward to an enjoyable and relaxing break.
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Posted by Liz Dow at 3:33 | Permalink
Midterms can be a pain, but there are a few things you can do to make your life easier before, during and after exams. After about the first week of school, when you have finally weeded out what classes you are going to take for the semester, it is a good idea to check out how your midterms are spaced out. If you have three during the fifth week of school, you will want to anticipate this and start studying early. Also, going to office hours and clarifying topics you don’t understand during the week they were presented is much more effective than having a laundry list of concerns during the review session. This allows some time for the information to settle and makes your studying right before the exam more like a review and less like a night of cramming.
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Posted by Liz Dow at 7:15 | Permalink
12 March 2007
My Favorite Music, Movies, and Food!
Music is one of my passions in life. I have played some sort of instrument ever since I can remember, and finally settled on the saxophone in fifth grade. Since then, I have played in various wind and jazz ensembles, and have cheered on the Bears as a member of the Cal Band. When I am not playing music, I usually have something on to listen to. I really enjoy jazz and like going to jazz clubs when I can find the time. One of my favorite activities of the summer is going to the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, dancing, and listening to jazz on a warm summer night. I also like blue grass, rock, and classic rock, and try to go to music festivals and concerts as often as I can.
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Posted by Liz Dow at 6:49 | Permalink
04 March 2007
Some Amazing People
It’s hard to not talk about your parents when discussing role models. Parents can’t help but be huge influences on their children’s lives, and without a doubt, my parents shaped the person I am today. Among many things, I admire my mom for fighting for teacher’s rights all of her life. It is from her that I learned how much better life can be when you are passionate about your work. My mom is a very kind and thoughtful person to others, and everyday I find myself trying to live up to this example. Also, I will always treasure my mom introducing me to all the varieties of food I enjoy today, and for teaching me to love travel and adventure.
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Posted by Liz Dow at 1:20 | Permalink
