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Alex Lau
Nutritional Sciences - Physiology and Metabolism major |
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"I was especially impressed by professors who knew me by name after just several office hours, the abundance of biological research, and the one-on-one faculty advising that far exceeded what was offered by other departments."
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...after I graduate.
Deciding on postgraduate plans is a continuous process. For me, my plans evolved throughout pretty much all four of my undergrad years. It went something like this:
First I entered Cal as a freshman BioE major. I had done some research in high school, loved it, and thought for sure that'd I'd do that as a career. Maybe a PhD?
Then I took Chem 3A spring semester of my freshman year and hated it. This was a turning point for me, as I really began questioning whether I wanted to be in the sciences. At the same time, I took NST 10 and really like the course.
Summer after freshman year, I transferred into CNR as an NST major, emphasis in physiology and metabolism. Fall semester, I started working at an IB lab at Berkeley.
Then I took an English R1B course sophomore year on Cultural Studies, which really piqued my interest in writing. By the end of the spring semester, I was seriously thinking of majoring in English. What ultimately kept me from declaring was the L&S breadth requirement, which I hadn't fulfilled. So I ended up minoring in English instead.
The summer after my sophomore year, I interned at a doctor's clinic and developed an interest in medicine.
Junior year came and I took the MCAT and worked towards completing my major and minor.
Summer after my junior year, I applied to MD/PhD programs.
Senior year: I've been going to interviews and finishing up my coursework!
So that's my college life story in all its randomness. Ultimately I did figure out what I wanted to do. The best piece of advice I can give is to keep an open mind and pay attention to what piques your academic interests.
To be really upfront and honest, I've been in university housing for pretty much my entire time at Cal. Which, for me, has not been a bad thing. Of course, I had been doing some housing searches before I settled in university-owned apartments, so here's my lowdown on what's available around campus:
A) The dorms: this is often an unappealing option for freshman who've been through a year of loud hall-mates and bad food, but the downsides are balanced by the fact that it's the easiest option to apply for. Since housing's now guaranteed for two years, you can use Cal Housing as a safety cushion in case you can't find off-campus housing.
B) University-owned apartments: they're a great option in my book, because the application process is simple, there are no landlords to deal with, there's a weekly cleaning service, they are close to campus, and all the apartments are really new. Moreover, meal plans are not required, making them much cheaper than dorm rooms. The main downside is that they are more expensive than some of the off campus options and do not offer parking. Wada apartments also close during the summer, while Channing Bowditch Apartments offer year-round contracts.
C) Off-campus apartments: the benefits of your own apartment come in the form of freedom. You can finally get your own room, seek lower rent and find, and get that house pet you've always wanted. But you also have to deal with utility bills, old facilities, landlords, and the fact that you'll have to actually take care of your own apartment. Looking for an apartment can become a huge hassle, especially if you're seeking one that will please both you and your prospective apartment-mates.
D) Greek system: frat and sorority houses are relatively self-explanatory. Keep in mind that during the summer (and also during the school year), they often have rooms for rent at really low rates.
E) Co-ops: it's the quintessential Berkeley residence: cooperative living where everyone performs chores to lower the cost of living. Different co-ops carry different lifestyless, from extremely wild to calm and quiet. As mentioned before, they are often the most affordable option.
Happy hunting! Be sure to drop by our office hours with any questions.
Yes, finals are right around the corner, and we can all feel the tension that's building up to those pesky exams. Most are worth significant portions of your final grade, so the anxiety definitely gets to some students.
But in all honesty, final exams aren't actually much worse than your midterms. Why? Because you have more time to prepare for them. After this upcoming Monday, you'll enter what are called "dead days," or days where there's virtually nothing going on in campus: no classes, no club event, no distractions. All you have at hand are the final exams to study for.
Now that doesn't mean one should put off all studying to those select days!! Many students actually have exams that are clustered (even on the same day). So ultimately, the key is to plan ahead and come up with a rough schedule of how you'll juggle your various courses. Which days are you going to study for o-chem? For nst 10? Start preparing for the exams now, if you haven't already, while keeping in mind that you may have large chunks of time during finals week for further studying.
And with that, I hope y'all have an excellent winter break, and we'll see you back in the spring!
So you have some free time, you've got friends you are crashing at your dorm this weekend, and they want to go somewhere cool. Where to take them?
Despite how cool the RSF may seem to you, that doesn't qualify as a hip hangout. Here are a few more iconic "places to go" around Berkeley and the nearby Bay Area...
Cal Performances events @ the Greek Theatre and Zellerbach: work that student ID! You get 50% most concerts and shows on campus. If you're stripped of cash, consider a trip to one of Superb's flicks, which come at $3 a pop.
Berkeley Art Museum: FREE for Cal students. Let me repeat that. FREE for Cal students. There's an Asian American art exhibit going on in that concrete building as we speak...or write, whatever, you get the idea. It's FREE for Cal students. Do it.
Colisseum: Go watch an A's game, or if you're brave enough, a Raider's game. Easily accessible by BART; yes, it's that stadium you see on the way to Oakland Airport.
Union Square, SF: consumerist hippies rejoice! SF is home to one of the greatest shopping meccas in the world. There's also plenty goin' on around the area. BART to MOMA. They've got Diego Riveras and Ansel Adams there (their art work, silly).
Gourmet Ghetto, northside: Do I hear Alice Waters? Chez Panisse isn't the only fine establishment north of Shattuck! The first Peet's was founded there and still exists. Food lovers should really check this joint out.
Golden Gate Park: yada yada yada, it's where all SF tourists end up. But it's certainly worth visiting. If you get bored of the roses, check out the de Young museum.
Really, it shouldn't be hard to find something to do when you're at Berkeley. Check out some of the items from the above sandbox. Your friends will be satisfied.
...when I was a wee freshman, my first few weeks of Cal were pretty intimidating. I had heard most of the stereotypes involving Berkeley--the hippies, large classes, bell curves, hangovers, bookworms, football, and even Berkeley time! I was one informed new kid on the block.
No matter how prepared you are for college, it'll still throw you a few curveballs. For me, adjusting to such a large school was probably the most challenging aspect. Coming from a senior class of about 315 (which is probably pretty standard for many suburban high schools), I felt like I was suddenly thrown into a vast pool of anonymity. Yes, that rumor about UC's turning students into numbers became especially true when I enrolled in Chem 1A. That nifty radar what-cha-ma-callit effectively turned my name into DC14953 on the overhead projector. On the flipside, Lonnie's demonstrations were pretty freakin' cool.
Meeting new people also became a daily affair, and I'm sure most new freshman can relate to that. Very few people from my socal high school actually came to Berkeley back in '04, so socially, I had to pretty much start over. In a way that is good, because you can pick and choose who you want to associate. Don't just limit yourself to people on your dorm floor or suite (although they can be cool people); carve out your own niche on campus! If there's one cliche that really rings true, it's the one that proclaims "there is no stereotypical Berkeley experience." The friends you make, the classes you take, the profs you actually talk to, and the activities you pursue will all culminate into a surprisingly cohesive collegiate experience by senior year.
Lastly, you'll have to learn to balance work with play. This may be the hardest to carry out, and many freshmen swing too far towards one side when they first arrive. Some flip out and study like there's no tomorrow. Other's forget that colleges are degree granting institutions. Set schedules for yourself that include both study and free time. Get involved in clubs and community service, but don't let activities take up too much of your time. If you find that you really can't be involved in tutoring children, coaching basketball, and building homes for the poor all at once, make a choice and focus fewer extracurriculars.
Hope this gives some two-sense. If you have any questions about college life, CNR, or anything at all, drop by our office hours on the second floor of Mulford, right outside of room 260! We'll be happy to give advice or simply chat. You can also e-mail us at pal@berkeley.edu
I always get a bit queasy when the end of Spring semester approaches, since it signifies another year of college life that has just sped past me. Now that I've seen three years go by, a very intimidating thought has continuously bugged me.
I'll be a senior.
That may sound really cool to underclassmen who are itching to get out of the lower division classes, but being a senior means it's the last year you've got at Cal, a place we often take for granted until we have to leave. The term "senior" itself implies passed time and age (for better
Continue reading "...and that's a wrap." »
CNR certainly does have plenty of majors to choose from, especially if you are looking for something in the biological sciences. Ultimately, it comes down to which fields and subjects interest you the most, as well as your postgraduate career goals...
Interested in biology at the microscopic level? Consider microbial biology, one of the larger majors in CNR that involves...you guessed it, microbes! Microbio is a great major especially if you plan to pursue professional school, as well has graduate work in the sciences. If the environment peaks your interest, CNR has a host of majors that you should check out, including environmental sciences, forestry, conservation resource studies, society and environment, forestry, and molecular environmental biology. Note that each of these majors have different emphases or "tracks"; for example, forestry has a social sciences track versus a biological sciences track. Review them carefully, as their requirements are quite different, especially at the upper division level.
My own biased opinion, however, will lead me to recommend nutritional sciences...my own major, ahem. The department has three tracks: physiology and metabolism (for students planning for professional or graduate school), dietetics (which specifically trains students for a career as a dietician), and toxicology (which is also a great major for professional and graduate school).
Confused about which major suits you best? Talk to your faculty advisors, or drop by our own PAL office hours to chat.
I actually decided to transfer to CNR after my freshman year because of the nutritional sciences major. The department is small and intimate, while the subject matter is focused and directly relevant to our everyday lives. I really wanted a major that I could apply to health, not only in the context of medicine and research, but also to the meals we take and daily activities we engage in, and nutritional sciences does just that. It links biological sciences to daily, mundane activities.
In the last two years of being in CNR, I've become exposed to many of the benefits that the college itself has to offer. Small classes and student-professor interactions are definitely some of the strongest points of CNR. Office hours are extremely easy to attend (very rarely are they crowded, since class sizes are small) and professors are really interested in helping students learn and engaging them in the course material. Advising within the college is also superb. The faculty advising program is awesome, since you receive help from profs who are involved in your own field of study. The department advisors are also extremely helpful, especially when it comes down to enrollment.
CNR does feel very much like a small, 'private' college in the midst of a large public university, and I'm really glad to be a part of it.
As with most undergrads, my spring break will be highlighted by a visit back home and meeting up with friends from high school. I miss the LA area, especially the palm tree-laden streets of Pasadena, fancy rides that inch past me on the congested freeways, inexpensive dim sum, and the thick band of brownish smog that rests upon the county. Of course, attempts will be made at catching up on school work, especially on the loads of reading I have gently pushed aside for this English course I'm taking. A midterm, as well as a research project, will dawn on me after the break. But for now, I'm looking forward to sleeping in a little later than usual and a break from hectic college life. This spring break should be a good one.
So the second round of midterms is or will be coming up for most of us, either right before spring break or immediately after. To prepare for this, here are a few pieces of two sense I have up my sleeve.
Don't let a mediocre performance on a previous midterm bog you down. If you did well on your first midterm, great! Tackle the next one with the same grace. But if things did not go as well as you'd hoped, try to figure out why: did you not have enough time to study? Was the material too difficult? Was your study environment too distracting? Was the test more difficult or structured much differently than you had anticipated? It's important that you identify "what went wrong" so that you can rectify it. Plan several weeks in advance for studying, seek out some tutoring at the SLC or at office hours, study away from your noisy dorm room at libraries or cafes, and understand the kinds of questions and pointers your professors focus on. Remember that profs love to see improvement, and some may actually give you the benefit of the doubt if your subsequent midterm grades go up.
If you find yourself becoming really stressed over upcoming midterms, try to find a way to "destress." Exercise is an excellent way! You can also hang out with friends and resurrect your inner social being. Again, plan ahead so that you'll have time to balance both schoolwork and fun.
Hope this helps! If you've got anything you want to discuss about midterms or other aspects of college, drop by office hours located in Mulford Hall.
...well, things to do when there's no midterm or paper due. Here's a scoop on movies, TV shows, music, and food that I enjoy watching, listening, and consuming.
I actually don't watch that many movies, but when I do, I usually opt for movies with cool plotlines or supposedly deep emotional messages. Gattaca, which deals head on with the concept of eugenics brought on by genetic selection, and Amelie, a whimsical somewhat sappy French movie, are two of my favorites. Occasionally, I do like watching superficial feel-good movies, like A Christmas Story (don't laugh) which appeals to me for no particular good reason. The Departed, with its intricate storyline, was also amazing. As for TV shows, I have a slight fascination with old-school cartoons. I watch Boomerang a lot (Channel 17), realizing that many of the themes in shows like Animaniacs and Looney Tunes go right over the heads of young viewers. I also watch stand-up on Comedy Central, which provides a good dose of laughter.
I listen to quite a bit of Euro music as well as light Indie. Like movies, I like music that has strong emotional messages, though mainstream cookie-cutter music has its place when I need something to keep we awake during studying or a jog. Food? I like all sorts, though healthy menu items are what I usually go for (salads, sandwiches, fish, low fat chicken etc) as a nutrisci major. But I do indulge: Thai food, pastas, and Hong Kong style dishes are all favorites. As they say, full stomach, happy heart.
At this stage of my college career, when I'm finally settling on a career path that I'll actually stick with, the role models that have affected me are becoming much clearer...
My parents have, without doubt, played major roles in molding my character and personal attributes. Despite how much I try to be unique and different from them, I acquired so many traits from them: my interest in the sciences supposedly "comes" from Dad, while my more linguistic side comes from Mom. Their ultra-healthy home cooked meals gave me an interest in nutrition. Regardless, they have served as points of reference for me, as "unrecognized" role models whose traits I have subconsciously internalized.
The people who have played the greatest role in developing my interest in science are Dr. Rasheed and Joel Sachs. I started at Dr. Rasheed's lab as a high school student, when I signed up for a research apprenticeship program run by USC. She was the one who personally taught me how to culture cells, actually read scientific papers, and to make connections between what I learned in class to what I did in lab. My experience at the lab affirmed my interest in research, which led me to work at the Simms lab here at Berkeley, where I work under the postdoc Joel to analyze mutualisms between plants and N-fixing bacteria. Both Joel and Dr. Rasheed have shown me just how interesting research can be, and that a student's experience in the laboratory is often dictated by the kind of people he/she works with.
There are several other key role models in my life. During sophomore year, I had an awesome GSI for an English R1B class that led me to minor in the subject. I interned with an opthalmologist who gave me an in-depth look into his work, which led to consider research in the medical field. And my high school bio teacher, who was awesome, pretty much set my mind on an undergrad major related to biology.
Perhaps I'm just really impressionable, and many people can easily influence my interests. However, I do believe that we all have numerous role models, if we only dig deeper into ourselves to find them. Let us PALS know about your role models by dropping by our office hours (yes, that was an unabashed plug).
New year's resolutions are always tricky. Coming up with decent but reasonable goals for yourself is harder than it seems. Often times, resolutions sound easy to carry out, only to become increasingly difficult to follow as the year goes on (i.e. I'll get my five servings of fruits and vegetables EVERY day, which, for me, tanked last year around mid February). But...I think the list below will be good habits and activities that I should pick up. Check 'em out...
1. Read more novels for leisure.
I have two English classes this semester, so I'll be doing quite a bit of reading for school. But by goal is to read at least three novels throughout the semester, just by allotting at least one hour per week for sheer leisure reading. Sounds way cool, and I started this weekend:)
2. Write something just for fun.
A short story, a poem, maybe a book even, depending on how much time I have throughout this year. But I've sworn myself into produce something of personal value in writing, just as a form of self expression.
3. Swim three times a week.
I actually set this goal for last semester, and it worked really well! I'm listing it as a 'recycled' resolution to keep up the habit.
4. See at least one concert.
So many concerts go on a the Greek, yet I've never been to one at Berkeley. Something's gotta give. I listen to a lot of European music, so that could be a reason. Regardless, I'm sure at least one band of interest--Keane, Franz Ferdinand, Mika, The Corrs, James Morrison et al--are bound to perform around campus.
Four's a pretty good amount. I'll tack on additional "things to do" as 2007 progresses. I definitely encourage readers to come up with lists of their own (well, not necessarily written out, but make mental notes of what you'd like to accomplish). Have a happy and rather belated new year.
The semester tends to end rather abruptly--we have a series of finals that we all stress over and then, in the course of a day or two, it all ends and you head home. Winter break is actually quite long, and many students have found it to be quite boring in comparison to face-paced life at Cal. But it doesn't have to be mundane! The important thing is to find something productive to do, whether it be an internship, externship, a trip out of the country, or a job.
I recall my last winter break to be quite eventful--I had my first trip back to Hong Kong in seven years, meeting with many relatives I could barely recognize. I also took the time to apply to one of the USPHO scholarships, which I highly encourage you guys to try out! While the scholarships and prizes are awarded for literary work, they are open to all majors. Go ahead and use this opportunity to reveal your inner writing abilities (go tot the Undergraduate Scholarships and Prizes website for more info).
This winter will be a bit less exciting, but I'm still looking forward to it. I have this yearly ritual with my best friend of going to the LA Auto Show. Both of us are really into the auto industry and are really excited about all the new makes that have come out this year. In addition to meeting up with friends from high school, I'll be studying for standardized exams and unwinding a bit before Spring semester starts. Have an awesome break and enjoy the Christmas season.
In this week's installment of blogs, we'll be talking about our career aspirations and goals. It'll be cool to see what all your PALs are interested in, so check this out!
In the future, I plan to pursue a career in biological research. I've spent quite a bit of time in labs these past years and have really learned to enjoy the thought processes that go into developing and carrying out research projects. I find all aspects of biology to be interesting, so any opportunity to apply what I have learned in biology courses is really exciting.
My goal is to enter an MD/PhD program. Not sure exactly what PhD I will pursue, but I'm interested in both molecular biology and biochemistry. Combined programs such as this one offer more flexibility and would allow me to work in both a clinical and laboratory settting. My hope is to combine what I learn from both degrees and conduct medical research.
If you have any questions regarding medical school or graduate school, feel free to send a query via e-mail (pal@berkeley.edu) or drop by my office hours on Wednesday and Friday mornings, 9-10AM. We'd love to get some feedback and also hear about what your career plans are!
For many of us, coming to Cal was a major transition, not only in the caliber of your coursework and college environment, but also in the people you meet. Most of your friends have probably decided to attend a college different from yours, which meant that you had to start out fresh in social networking. And making a new set of friends.
This sounds like a defunct cliche, but friends are extremely important in college. They are the support you have during downtimes and define much of your college experience. Friends can often mediate stressful or upsetting situations, and make "happy" times even better. When you feel overwhelmed by your coursework or activities, they can be there to cheer you up.
Family is also a significant part of our lives. Keeping in touch with parents or siblings can make a difference, no matter how estranged your relationship with them seemed when you left home. Drop them a line occasionally to catch up with what's going on back at home, because family is the one social network that you've always been tied to, and one that you can rely on and trust.
For those of you from Southern California, you'll be familiar with the LA area. I was actually born in East Los Angeles, near Boyle Heights, and spent part of my preschool years in Hong Kong before moving to South Pasadena to start Kindergarten. I'm the youngest in my family and the only one born in the US.
South Pasadena is not a city that many are familiar with, though you could deduce where it's located based on the name. Ever watched the Rose Parade, gone to the Rose Bowl, visited Caltech or JPL? That is all a part of Pasadena, and South Pasadena is, well, directly south of that city.
South Pasadena, however, is unique in its own right. It was a great place to grow up in, as it's located minutes away from metropolitan LA and bustling Pasadena, yet still maintains a well defined "small town" feel. Movies and commercials are commonly filmed in our city, especially "Westerns" that take place on the historic Mission St. where Route 66 passes through. Bruce Almighty and 13 Going On 30 had several scenes from our city, and the house from Scary Movie was actually one of my classmate's. Also, several episodes of Desperate Housewives and Boston Public were filmed at our school. Other unique features include the world's FIRST Trader Joe's, as well as a house that used to be owned by President Garfield's wife.
Since South Pasadena was a relatively small city, going to Cal was a major transition. While South Pas is quite diverse, pretty much all my classmates had similar upper middle class backgrounds and knew one another since elementary or middle school. Take a drive through the city, and you'll see well kept lawns, people jogging with their iPods and pet dogs, and neighbors going crazy whenever USC wins a game. Arriving to Cal was like "starting all over" in terms of meeting new people from all over California and abroad. And I'm really glad I've had the opportunity to do that. For those of you who also come from similar suburban middle class neighborhoods, just take the plunge and use Cal as an opportunity to expose yourself to new ideas and perspectives. My hometown was a great place to grow up, but Cal really has allowed me to see a greater part of the world.
By now, most of you have had plenty of experience studying, and many see the library as the ideal spot for curling up with that G-chem textbook or Ralph Ellison novel as midterms and paper deadlines approach. However, there are other environments that you can study in, and one of my favorites is the cafe. Not only is food and drink allowed, but you can engage in light conversation with your study buddies. Also, the atmosphere of a coffee shop tends to be less tense than the ultra-quiet Main Stacks. It can serve not only as a study spot, but also a place to meet up with friends or reading a book at leisure.
Many people head straight for Strada, on the intersection of College and Bancroft. It has a nice outdoor area, and chances are, you've met up there at least once for a GSI office hour or study group. It tends to get quite crowded however, so here are a few less well known cafes that are quite superb:
Espresso Experience: Located on Bancroft directly across from Eschelman, it's a tiny mom and pop shop that can whip up an intense brew of Americano or Espresso. The cafe can get a little crowded during lunchtime, mainly because of their exquisite Korean Bulgogi sandwiches. Yummm, they're awesome, and actually a rare cuisine that you can't find anywhere else in Berkeley. Great for a light lunch. This cafe is closed on Sundays.
Brewed Awakening: for Northside residents, this is the place to be. It's located on Euclid, near North Gate, and serves the traditional espresso and lattes that other coffee shops. On weekdays, they serve Aram sandwiches and baked potatoes for lunch, along with fruit salads, spinach pies, and delicious pastries. Many of their patrons are actually locals who live in the Northside suburbs. Quieter than most other cafes, so good for studying. Also has many electrical outlets for laptops.
Cafe Milano: convenience is this cafe's greatest asset; it's located right on Bancroft across from Sproul Hall, and right between the new Carvel shop and Bancroft Clothing. With two levels of seating, it's usually not too difficult to find a table. Moreover, pastries, sandwiches, and salads are served throughout the day, so you can have a full meal while studying or chatting with friends.
Other options include the International House Cafe, Cafe Zeb at Boalt, Espresso Roma on College and Ashby, and the ubiquitous & crowded FSM cafe. Enjoy the cafe hopping!
Studying for midterms is difficult, but sometimes, dealing with midterm scores is an even greater challenge. This affects Cal students at every level--even upper division students will get a case of the midterm blues. Staying positive under such situations is easier said than done, but here's a tip from a science major who's had his fair share of unsatisfying midterm scores.
Don't:
Spend too much time despairing over disappointing scores. A bit of sulking will help relieve some anxiety, but don't overdo it. Many students develop an "it's all over, and I'll never make up for this score" mentality that can really affect performance on future exams. They despair over how most of their floormates did better on an exam, and adopt a resigned attitude that's sometimes the equivalent of giving up. If you feel extremely upset about your first midterms, keep in mind that you still have at least one other midterm and a final exam, both of which make up significant chunks of your grade. Which brings me to my next point...
DO:
Focus on how you can tackle your future exams. This begins by evaluating current study habits and how one can study more effectively. Are the dorms too distracting? Consider the library, as well as study rooms, cafes, any place where you'd feel comfortable curling up with that textbook. Did you study too much for one midterm and not the other? Look up your next midterm and final dates, plan ahead, and allot sufficient time for all exams. Did you leave too much material to study at the last minute? Work out a study schedule from now until the exam dates. Or is the material simply too difficult to understand? Consider the SLC services, or forming your own study groups. Working with informed classmates can really help you get through assignments and interpreting concepts.
See your future exams as a way to prove that you can really tackle your courses. Professors often like to see improvements in test scores, and may give a tip-up (e.g. B- to a B) if test scores rise up. It is very, very common for students to "totally bomb" one midterm, but excel on the others, resulting in a satisfying grade.
So go on, look through those first midterms, set them aside, then start prepping for the next ones. You still have more opportunities to shine in your classes. Go and tackle them.
Now that the first wave of midterms has rolled by, you've all experienced the phenomenon of stress at Cal. This past week has been especially brutal for some, with multiple exams and papers to write. It's times like these where being able to handle stress and pressure are crucial, as it does affect your performance in your classes. Since you've been through this first "exam season," you'll have a better idea of what to expect when midterm #2 comes around. Here are some pointers to keep in mind:
Plan ahead. Professors and tutors always tell us to not fall behind on the material. Seems like advice that's easy to follow, but even the most organized students have trouble keeping up. This is partly due to the fact that we simply don't feel an urge to study until the exam date is just a few days away, and as luck would have it, exams tend to be clustered together at around the same time. So look up the dates for your second midterms NOW and figure out how many weeks you have until then. And plan out a reading and study schedule based on the syllabi you have for each class. Keep in mind weekends or days that you'll be participating in activities(e.g. Cal vs. Stanford game or weekend trip to Tahoe) and plan around. You don't have to follow this schedule religiously, but try your best not to fall behind. If you study early, "midterm season" won't seem as bad, as you have already learned much of the material during the semester.
Make sure you have fun, but plan accordingly. As you may have heard too many times before, thiis college, and you're supposed to enjoy it. Leave room in your schedule for 'chilling out,' whether that means exercising, hanging out in SF with friends, or hitting up a party. But...party in moderation. Use it to destress after a series of exams and papers, but don't let your desire to have fun consume your life.
Be active at Cal, but study as well. While it's definitely essential that you become involved on campus, don't let activities overpower your studying. As any college advisor would tell you, it's better to be actively involved in two or three organizations rather than somewhat involved in five or six. Also keep in mind that activities can take up study time, free time, and energy. Pick and choose activities wisely, and get involved in those that'll you'll love to be in and help you achieve your career goals.
Hope some of this twosense helps. Feel free to drop by any of our office hours in 260 Mulford to chat it up.
Here at Berkeley, effective time management is key to success. There's never a shortage of things to do--if classes aren't keeping you completely occupied, there are student organizations to get involved in, and the whole Bay Area to explore during your free time. The way in which you organize your daily routine has a great effect on how much you get accomplished, and how frustrated or composed you'll be come "midterm season."
What I've found to be most effective is coming up with a general idea of what I should accomplish every day. After factoring the time you spend in classes and extracurricular activities, divide up your remaining time between homework/studying and "hanging out." For example, after a day of class, I'm assigned two chapters of reading and homework on biochemistry, and an English paper that's due next week. My goal tonight will be to finish one chapter of biochem, come up with a decent thesis for my paper, and to fit in some studying for a bio midterm I have next week. At the end of the day, go over what you've done and haven't finished, and plan what your next day's schedule will include.
Continue reading "Taming Your Time" »
Although academics are the primary purpose of a college education, undergrad is much more than simply learning in the classroom. You can only study for so long, and pursuing activities outside of classes allows you to meet fellow students, build friendships, and network with individuals who can help advance your college/career goals. Of course, as Cal students, many of you have probably already become involved on campus, which is great! Here's a brief description of what I'm currently into here at Berkeley.
Continue reading "Extracurricular Life" »
Looking back, it's amazing how fast undergrad flies by. Now a junior majoring in Nutritional Sciences, I can nostalgically refer back to my freshman days when I first arrived on the sprawling Berkeley campus. Hailing from a small city in socal called South Pasadena, I had settled on bioengineering as a major. I was really interested in research, and bioe seemed to fit like a glove with my goal of making a living from pipetting growth medium and nurturing cell cultures. It only took two weeks of classes, however, for me to realize that I did not get along with engineering. I didn't find biotechnology especially interesting, and decided to pursue something that would place more emphasis on biology or biochemistry. MCB and IB were certainly viable alternatives, but their large class sizes ultimately turned me away from them (over 40% of undergrads are declared as MCB).
As serendipity would have it, I enrolled in NST 10, introduction to nutrition, during my first semester. It's a class I'd recommend to every undergrad, as it teaches you the importance of exercising and maintaining a proper diet. It
Continue reading "How I ended up in nutrition..." »
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- About
- CNR Majors
- Conservation and Resource Studies
- Environmental Economics and Policy
- Environmental Sciences
- Forestry and Natural Resources
- Genetics and Plant Biology
- Microbial Biology
- Molecular Environmental Biology
- Molecular Toxicology
- Nutritional Sciences
- Society and Environment
- Undeclared
- Events
- Mentors
- Peer Advisors
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