A lot of high school seniors who got admitted to UC Berkeley asked me about whether they should or should not choose to come to Berkeley when they're premed, prepharm, predental, or any pre-health track. The one thing that everyone seems to be worried about is academics. YES, berkeley is a hard school, especially for premeds. BUT, that just means you're going to rise to the challenge. If you shy away from a school just because you think it's going to be hard, how are you going to survive med school, residency, etc.? Trust me on this one- I had panic attacks at the thought of coming to berkeley and failing my classes and not getting into any med school. I was torn between cal and UCLA because UCLA was a bit easier than berkeley: better gpa = better chance at med school right? However, I realized that UCLA wasn't the school for me, and today, I can say that I've made the right choice. I was scared coming into berkeley- absolutely terrified. I bombed my first tests, cried for a week, and then had to motivate myself to keep going. If I can do it, then you can too. It won't be easy, but you'll grow so much in the process. Berkeley teaches its students to really work for what they want. No easy rides here. But the teachers are amazing (for the most part) and they're so passionate about their subjects. Don't be afraid of a challenge. Rise up to it.
Another thing that future college students are worried about when thinking about coming to cal is the balance between social life, academics, and extra currics. If you're smart enough to make it into cal, then you're smart enough to manage your time wisely. People here go to frats, clubs, etc, while researching in labs, and still manage to pull off a decent gpa.
So when you're making your final decisions about a college, don't think about the difficulty because no matter where you go, it's going to be difficult (although not thinking about it might be hard since pre-health students are always looking for higher gpas). Think about where you're going to be the happiest at for the next 4 years. Think about the possible opportunities each college has and what you can make out of it.
Best of luck, and please leave a comment if you have any questions!
-K
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
On Berkeley Admits
Congratulations to those who have been accepted into UC Berkeley!! And for those of you who have been rejected or waitlisted, don't be too disheartened. I promise that you'll love the place you end up at, and you'll say to yourself "I'm so glad I decided to come here : ) "
I know it may seem like the hard part is over (the waiting game we like to call college admissions) but I assure you the work has just begun. For a lot of you, deciding on where to go now that you have some options open will be one hell of a stressful time. For others, it'll be a piece of cake.
Please, take caution when choosing your college, since it's going to be where you live for the next four years and will be a great influence and how the rest of your career pans out. Don't go into college thinking you can just transfer whenever you want. It's not that simple- trust me, i've looked into it hahaha.
Make a pro/con list if you have to, visit the campuses, and talk to people you know at the institutions you're looking to go to.
Also, think about which college will be best for your career path and your major. Which college will have the best opportunities/job market? Which college gives the best financial aid, counseling, etc?
Choose wisely, and Best of Luck!
-K
I know it may seem like the hard part is over (the waiting game we like to call college admissions) but I assure you the work has just begun. For a lot of you, deciding on where to go now that you have some options open will be one hell of a stressful time. For others, it'll be a piece of cake.
Please, take caution when choosing your college, since it's going to be where you live for the next four years and will be a great influence and how the rest of your career pans out. Don't go into college thinking you can just transfer whenever you want. It's not that simple- trust me, i've looked into it hahaha.
Make a pro/con list if you have to, visit the campuses, and talk to people you know at the institutions you're looking to go to.
Also, think about which college will be best for your career path and your major. Which college will have the best opportunities/job market? Which college gives the best financial aid, counseling, etc?
Choose wisely, and Best of Luck!
-K
Thursday, March 17, 2011
On Research & Volunteering
So the majority of you come to this blog because you are interested in being pre-med and are thinking about coming to Berkeley or want to compare Berkeley with another undergrad school, such as UCLA, UChicago, whatnot.
A big component of why people choose to come to Berkeley as a premed and not other institutions where being premed is known for, such as UCLA, is Berkeley's world renowned research. Yes, berkeley has incredible research opportunities, but not for first and possibly even second years. A lot of the research is taken by undergrads who really need it (such as 3rd and 4th years who are applying to grad/med school and need the research experience) or by graduate students. Although Berkeley's undergrad is well known, Berkeley's graduate program is even more well known. Berkeley's graduate program is what makes Berkeley famous first and foremost- not their undergrad.
Now that I've cleared that up- don't be afraid to come to Berkeley. If you go to sites such as collegeconfidential and search for the likelihood of finding research positions at berkeley and/or volunteering positions, you're not going to get very good feedback and you'll most likely be thoroughly disappointed. Because it's damn hard finding research/volunteering at berkeley hahaha. But don't despair just yet. The people on those forums who make it sound impossible for the younger crowd to gain any experience haven't tried their hardest to find anything suitable.
For the past half year or so, I looked up and down the bay area to find a good volunteering position at a hospital (bay area as in Oakland, Emoryville, SF, Berkeley, Richmond, etc). However, the only problem with that is that each hospital requires two TB shots taken within the last twelve months. Meaning, if I got a TB test now, I would have to wait a few more months before getting the next one, and then go through orientation, interview, etc. I wasn't willing to wait a whole year before starting something. I wanted something now.
The URAP program berkeley offers (where undergraduates can work in labs at berkeley) didn't have anything that interested me (mind you, I was a bit late in signing up- those positions go extremely fast). Also, if you are interested in any of the positions available, you have to write a paper on why you are interested and whatnot. So, since I would have to wait a whole semester for positions to become available again, I decided to try a different route for research.
I noticed that a hospital somewhere nearby (I won't name anything for obvious reasons ; ) also conducted research. So, I contacted one of the researchers and long story short- I found myself a research position! I probably won't start for a while since the project is new and they haven't figured out much about it yet, but the job is mine if I want, or so they say hahaha.
Moral of the story: Don't give up on finding positions, be it research and/or volunteering. They're out there somewhere, you just have to look closely to find it.
Also, I wanted to start research early for multiple reasons but a majority of the pre-meds here don't begin research until their 3rd or 4th year and sometimes even later. So don't fret if you can't find anything for the first few years. When I first got to college, research was the last thing from my mind. I was so worried about my grades and adjusting to this life. hahaha : )
I'll let you know if I find any volunteering opportunities that are worth mentioning (one that doesn't take a lifetime to start - slight exaggeration of course ; )
-K
A big component of why people choose to come to Berkeley as a premed and not other institutions where being premed is known for, such as UCLA, is Berkeley's world renowned research. Yes, berkeley has incredible research opportunities, but not for first and possibly even second years. A lot of the research is taken by undergrads who really need it (such as 3rd and 4th years who are applying to grad/med school and need the research experience) or by graduate students. Although Berkeley's undergrad is well known, Berkeley's graduate program is even more well known. Berkeley's graduate program is what makes Berkeley famous first and foremost- not their undergrad.
Now that I've cleared that up- don't be afraid to come to Berkeley. If you go to sites such as collegeconfidential and search for the likelihood of finding research positions at berkeley and/or volunteering positions, you're not going to get very good feedback and you'll most likely be thoroughly disappointed. Because it's damn hard finding research/volunteering at berkeley hahaha. But don't despair just yet. The people on those forums who make it sound impossible for the younger crowd to gain any experience haven't tried their hardest to find anything suitable.
For the past half year or so, I looked up and down the bay area to find a good volunteering position at a hospital (bay area as in Oakland, Emoryville, SF, Berkeley, Richmond, etc). However, the only problem with that is that each hospital requires two TB shots taken within the last twelve months. Meaning, if I got a TB test now, I would have to wait a few more months before getting the next one, and then go through orientation, interview, etc. I wasn't willing to wait a whole year before starting something. I wanted something now.
The URAP program berkeley offers (where undergraduates can work in labs at berkeley) didn't have anything that interested me (mind you, I was a bit late in signing up- those positions go extremely fast). Also, if you are interested in any of the positions available, you have to write a paper on why you are interested and whatnot. So, since I would have to wait a whole semester for positions to become available again, I decided to try a different route for research.
I noticed that a hospital somewhere nearby (I won't name anything for obvious reasons ; ) also conducted research. So, I contacted one of the researchers and long story short- I found myself a research position! I probably won't start for a while since the project is new and they haven't figured out much about it yet, but the job is mine if I want, or so they say hahaha.
Moral of the story: Don't give up on finding positions, be it research and/or volunteering. They're out there somewhere, you just have to look closely to find it.
Also, I wanted to start research early for multiple reasons but a majority of the pre-meds here don't begin research until their 3rd or 4th year and sometimes even later. So don't fret if you can't find anything for the first few years. When I first got to college, research was the last thing from my mind. I was so worried about my grades and adjusting to this life. hahaha : )
I'll let you know if I find any volunteering opportunities that are worth mentioning (one that doesn't take a lifetime to start - slight exaggeration of course ; )
-K
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
On the Asian Rant on Youtube
For those of you who do not follow Youtube like a religion like many people do, there has been a video going around about a girl at UCLA who rants about Asians and their rude manners, especially talking in the library. There are a few things I would like to address about that video.
First, Asians did not come from Asia yesterday. I believe we've been here for some time... For those who have immigrated recently, I'm pretty sure they're smart enough to acculturate themselves with the manners here (not like they're very different)...
Second, Chinese, or any other Asian language for that matter, does not sound like "Ching Chong Ling Long Ting Tong", and if you're going to mock the Asian language, then get your dialect right at least...
Third, the video showed a complete lack of regard for the people affected by the Tsunami in Japan.
I understand that the girl in the video probably didn't expect the video to blow up like it did, but that's no excuse for posting the video up in the first place, where it can be accessed and spread like a disease. I talked to one of my friends at UCLA and she said she got an email from the dean. She thinks the girl might be expelled because the dean stated in the email that they do not tolerate this on their campus and so on and so forth (although in my opinion, expulsion is slightly extreme).
Speaking of UCLA, Congratulations to those who got accepted! And if you didn't, who wants to go to a school with those kind of people (meaning the racist prick) anyway? ; ) If you didn't get in, no worries, it just wasn't meant to be, and wherever you do end up will be the school where you say "I'm so glad I decided to come here : )"
-K
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
On Organic Chemistry Part I
I know its been a while since I posted (again) but I was busy with my classes. Once again, I apologize. :)
So, this semester, I'm taking the dreaded and notorious organic chemistry. Like many before me, I was terrified of ochem, mainly due to the horror stories about how difficult ochem is and how it's the biggest weeder class in college, etc etc. However, lucky for me (and the rest of my ochem class), our teacher this semester is none other than Carolyn Bertozzi, and to put it frankly, she's a genius- literally. Look her up on google hahaha. Supposedly, she won this prestigious 'genious' award at a very young age. Anyhow, everyone was scared about her teaching because she was known as the 'new' ochem teacher since she hadn't taught in over ten years (nothing on courserank and ratemyprof). Bertozzi is, how should I say this... she's very cool- a lot like Obama. Obama might be old and elite, but he's someone that a lot of the youth can relate to and very down-to-earth. He's cool. And so is Bertozzi. She makes jokes here and there during lecture and it's like talking with a friend more than an internationally renowned chemist.
Enough about the teacher.
Today was our first ochem midterm (out of the two midterms and one final we have to take for the class), and I would have to say that it was o.k... fair... more difficult than the practice tests but fair nonetheless. Not like genchem where we didn't know what to study for and the lectures were absolutely pointless...
But I can't say anything until I get my results back, in which case, you will be the first to know!
Between genchem and ochem however, I would have to say that I like ochem far more than general chemistry. Usually its the other way around, but for the kids at berkeley, ochem over genchem seems to be the general consensus : )
I have a math midterm tomorrow and a classics midterm on friday...
Wish me luck!
-K
So, this semester, I'm taking the dreaded and notorious organic chemistry. Like many before me, I was terrified of ochem, mainly due to the horror stories about how difficult ochem is and how it's the biggest weeder class in college, etc etc. However, lucky for me (and the rest of my ochem class), our teacher this semester is none other than Carolyn Bertozzi, and to put it frankly, she's a genius- literally. Look her up on google hahaha. Supposedly, she won this prestigious 'genious' award at a very young age. Anyhow, everyone was scared about her teaching because she was known as the 'new' ochem teacher since she hadn't taught in over ten years (nothing on courserank and ratemyprof). Bertozzi is, how should I say this... she's very cool- a lot like Obama. Obama might be old and elite, but he's someone that a lot of the youth can relate to and very down-to-earth. He's cool. And so is Bertozzi. She makes jokes here and there during lecture and it's like talking with a friend more than an internationally renowned chemist.
Enough about the teacher.
Today was our first ochem midterm (out of the two midterms and one final we have to take for the class), and I would have to say that it was o.k... fair... more difficult than the practice tests but fair nonetheless. Not like genchem where we didn't know what to study for and the lectures were absolutely pointless...
But I can't say anything until I get my results back, in which case, you will be the first to know!
Between genchem and ochem however, I would have to say that I like ochem far more than general chemistry. Usually its the other way around, but for the kids at berkeley, ochem over genchem seems to be the general consensus : )
I have a math midterm tomorrow and a classics midterm on friday...
Wish me luck!
-K
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
On a Schedule Update
I wrote a post a few weeks ago about being on the waitlist for several of my classes. Well, I am glad to say that my schedule has been worked out and I have obtained all the classes that I need for the spring semester. : )
My schedule is as follows:
Monday:
9-10AM Asian American Studies (I needed the units and it's a breadth)
10-11AM Classics (Roman Civilization)
11-12PM Math 16B (this was the class that I was most afraid of NOT getting into)
12-1PM Chem lab lecture (yes, there is a separate lecture for ochem lab.. unfortunately...)
1-5PM OChem lab (painful as usual)
5-6PM Asian American Studies Discussion..
(As you can see, my Mondays are absolutely terrible- usually I skip math lecture to have lunch hahaha)
Tuesday:
8-9:30AM OChem lecture
(That's all... hahaha.. )
Wednesday:
9-10AM Asian American studies lecture
10-11AM Classics lecture
Thursday:
8-9:30AM OChem lecture
9:30-11AM Math discussion
Friday:
10-11AM Classics lecture
1-2PM Classics discussion
Well, there you have it! Personally, I like my schedule. Sure my mondays aren't the best, but that means the rest of my week is extremely chill. I'll take it : ) Also, I prefer to have my classes early in the morning and get them over with so that my afternoons are free for studying and whatnot. Also, I have Ochem review tuesday, wednesday, and thursday nights for about two hours each.
Total Units: 16
-K
My schedule is as follows:
Monday:
9-10AM Asian American Studies (I needed the units and it's a breadth)
10-11AM Classics (Roman Civilization)
11-12PM Math 16B (this was the class that I was most afraid of NOT getting into)
12-1PM Chem lab lecture (yes, there is a separate lecture for ochem lab.. unfortunately...)
1-5PM OChem lab (painful as usual)
5-6PM Asian American Studies Discussion..
(As you can see, my Mondays are absolutely terrible- usually I skip math lecture to have lunch hahaha)
Tuesday:
8-9:30AM OChem lecture
(That's all... hahaha.. )
Wednesday:
9-10AM Asian American studies lecture
10-11AM Classics lecture
Thursday:
8-9:30AM OChem lecture
9:30-11AM Math discussion
Friday:
10-11AM Classics lecture
1-2PM Classics discussion
Well, there you have it! Personally, I like my schedule. Sure my mondays aren't the best, but that means the rest of my week is extremely chill. I'll take it : ) Also, I prefer to have my classes early in the morning and get them over with so that my afternoons are free for studying and whatnot. Also, I have Ochem review tuesday, wednesday, and thursday nights for about two hours each.
Total Units: 16
-K
Saturday, February 5, 2011
On Toy Story 3
Now I'm not the biggest fan of the Toy Story franchise, but I must say, Toy Story 3 was one of the best movies I have ever seen. Not that the story line was amazing or anything (although it was pretty good), but the fact that it was so relatable made the movie one of my all time favorites. In the movie (for those of you who haven't seen it), Andy makes his final preparations to go off to college. In doing so, he has to give up his toys and his mom recommends he donate them to a daycare center (was it a daycare? I can't remember). Well, it so happens that the daycare toys are overrun by a dictator bear Lotso (who also smells like strawberries apparently).
Anyway, in the movie, Andy ultimately decides to give the toys to a family friend/neighbor's young daughter. And as he's playing with her and the toys, it broke my heart to think that our childhood was really coming to an end (mind you, I was freaking out about going to college and really sad to be leaving my home and friends). And it took all my willpower not to cry when Andy drove away into the sunset with his toys looking after him (I was with my younger sister so to have cried would have been embarrassing hahaha).
We grew up with Andy, and when he left for college, we too were leaving for college. The movie really hit-home the fact that we were all grown up and we had to move on, and that, my friends, is a really scary thing to realize. And when it does, believe it or not, you'll be ready. Just hang in there. I promise it'll get better : )
-K
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