College Updates  

December is rapidly approaching and the semester is coming to an end. There are only a few things left to say before you get to enjoy a much-deserved Winter Break.

First, if you are still looking for open classes for next semester, be sure to check out "Looking for a Class" found on the L&S website at http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/lfac/. Here you will find some interesting classes from different departments that still have open seats and may fulfill College or major requirements too.

If you are thinking about withdrawing from this semester, the last day to do so is December 8th. To do so, you would need to do is come to 113 Campbell Hall and meet with an advisor. Remember also that the "semester out" rule is imposed in which you would be ineligible to return for the spring semester. However you can meet with a College advisor and have this waived.

The last day of instruction is December 8th. Finals start the 12th and end the 19th. Be sure to check your BearFacts to see the locations and times of your final exams!

If you are planning to graduate this semester, don't forget to file for degree candidacy by Dec 19th. You can do so by filling out an "Add to Degree List" form found here: http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/fp/00Late_Add_Deg_List.pdf You will need to attach a memo from your major department that approves you of your candidacy.

Fall semester ends Dec. 19th and Spring semester starts Jan. 16th. Time flies, doesn't it??

Best of luck studying for finals and have a great rest of the semester!

Cheers from your Peers!

Tiffany and Maya

Ever wondered what it's like to work in the residence halls? You get the opportunity to work with other students who are dedicated to making the residents' college experience as positive and interesting as possible! This is also a chance to practice your leadership skills while receiving some extra compensation. Now is your chance to take advantage of this opportunity.

The Office of Student Development is hiring for Residence Hall Staff positions and Academic Services Supervisors for the 2007-2008 school year! The positions available are: Resident Assistants, Theme Program Advisors, Security Coordinators, Peer Advising Supervisor, Tutoring Program Supervisors, Academic Services Center Supervisors, and Marketing Supervisor.

Becoming a hall staff member or a student supervisor is an opportunity to create change in the residence hall and campus community, positively impact the lives of students, transition them into UC Berkeley, and learn valuable skills.

Applications and more information are available on the website:

http://reshall.berkeley.edu/selection

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE November 29, 2006 by 5pm
to 1st floor of RSSB, 2610 Channing Way.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact selectioninterns@berkeley.edu.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cheers from your Peers!
Maya and Tiffany.

Many students choose to take courses at community colleges near their homes over the summer in order to satisfy various requirements. If you have either taken a course or are planning to take a course to fulfill any requirements, read on to see what you have to do.

Assist.org is a useful website to search for courses at most California community colleges. Using the search fields, you will be able to determine if the course you take is transferrable to Berkeley and if it will satisfy a specific requirement.

Once you complete a course, don't forget to send an official transcript to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 110 Sproul Hall.

If you take a course at an outside institution that is not listed in assist.org, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to see if the course transfers to Berkeley. If you would like to use that course to satisfy any College requirements, you will need to meet with an evaluator at 113 Campbell Hall. Bring a course description with you to the meeting. No appointment is necessary. If you have any quick questions, you can also call the evaluation unit at 642-7391.

Cheers from your Peers!
Tiffany and Maya

Are you looking for a fun or interesting way to fulfill one or more of your breadth requirements next semester? There is a plethora of classes offered at Cal, so it can often be a daunting process to choose ones that will interest and excite you, and also fulfill the L&S requirements. To make it easier for you, the College of Letters and Science offers a fascinating array of classes titled L&S Discovery Courses.

The L&S Discovery Courses are taught by distinguished UC Berkeley faculty selected by the Dean. These well-known and respected professors choose a creative topic that is "off the beaten path" in their area of study, and design a course that appeals to students of all years and majors. The Spring 2007 semester offers numerous L&S Discovery Courses that satisfy all seven breadth requirements. These include "History of Popular Culture", "War and Peace in the Middle East", "Thinking about Not Thinking: Approaches to Buddhist Meditation", "Physics and Music", "Physics for Future Presidents", and "Archaeology of Sex and Gender" among many others. You can find a listing of all these courses as well as course descriptions at http://lsdiscovery.berkeley.edu/

So, take a chance and expand your horizons!

Cheers from your Peers!

Maya and Tiffany

School has been in session for awhile, and students are now getting used to the flow of midterms, reading, problem sets and papers. But as soon as you are starting to get a handle on things, final exams become an inevitable new source of stress. Although there are still several weeks left in the semester, it is a good idea to start thinking about study strategies and making time to prepare yourselves now so that finals week doesn't sneak up on you.

The Student Learning Center (SLC) is a great resource for one-on-one tutoring in various subjects as well as study groups. A lot of students find that by attending these drop-in tutoring sessions, they gain greater understanding of the material covered in class. Practice problems and explanations of the work are available for students as well. The SLC is located in the Cesar Chavez center in Lower Sproul.

Another tip for success in the classroom is to take advantage of either your professor's or GSI's office hours. While this may be intimidating, especially for new students, it is important to remember that office hours are there to make professors and GSIs available and to help students.

Remember to stay organized as you begin to prepare for finals and to keep a consistent study schedule so you won't have to cram during finals week. Don't give up because the harder you work during these weeks, the more rewarding your winter break will be.

Cheers from your Peers!
Tiffany and Maya