College Updates  

We are sad to say, but this is our last entry of the year! Summer is nearly here, and College Updates is taking a break until the Fall semester. We wanted to leave you with some things that we've learned during our year here as peer advisers.

1. To avoid long and frustrating lines, come to drop-in hours as early as you can. The office opens at 9 am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and at 10 am on Wednesday. In the afternoon, student traffic is unpredictable and waiting time can get to be over an hour. In the mornings, there are fewer people, and advisers will see you sooner.

2. If you are graduating or writing an honors thesis, you do not need to take 13 units. All you need to do is come in to 113 Campbell Hall at the beginning of the semester, and you will be approved to take a reduced course load.

3. Make photocopies of forms and petitions that you turn in to the L&S office. In the unfortunate case that your petition or form gets lost (since the office serves over 18,000 students), if you have another copy, you will be able to take care of things more efficiently.

4. The L&S website has a lot of information. Instead of trying to call in or waiting in line at the front desk with questions, you may be able to find the answers online. The website also has a list of all the courses that satisfy breadth requirements in a given semester, as well as many downloadable forms and petitions. Visit http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/ and explore!

5. If you have questions or are dealing with many issues, please do not hesitate to come see an adviser. You may also benefit from asking the peer advisers at the blue carts, since they have a student perspective to offer. We are located outside of Moffitt Library and on Sproul Plaza every day.

6. Most importantly, remember to keep things in perspective and try not to get stressed out. Berkeley is a huge school with many great opportunities, but it can also get overwhelming. Try to stay open-minded to all of your experiences here, and make sure to relax and have fun as well. After all, that is most important for your health and sanity!

Good luck with finals, and have a great summer!

Cheers from your Peers,
Angela and Maya.

The first step you take after graduating from college is often scary and unpredictable. However, there are things you can do to smooth this transition. Whether you are planning on graduate school, law school, medical school or getting a job, here are some suggestions for you:

Almost every graduate program requires you to submit at least three letters of recommendation from your professors. In a large school like Berkeley, this is a very intimidating process. However, even if you do not know most of your professors, you can still ask them for letters of recommendation as long as you do this early and in a polite and organized way. If you are planning on applying to schools during the Fall of your senior year, then it is recommended that you approach your professors at the end of your junior year. Go to their office hours, and explain to them why you are asking them for a letter of recommendation. Be ready to provide them with a packet of information about yourself and your goals for the future, so they are better able to write a strong letter for you. Remember, although professors are very busy, they are understanding of students' needs, and will most likely be willing to help you out.

Another bit of information: the Career Center is open during the summer. This is a great opportunity to go visit it when you are not stressed with schoolwork. You'll be able to talk to counselors, browse the career library, and look at possible career paths.

Talk to recently graduated students and ask them about what they're doing. You never know - you might learn of a possibility that you never heard of before.

Also, you might want to talk to your undergraduate major advisor. They are very familiar with your department and can give you suggestions about how to approach your next step after college.

Most importantly, remember to not get stressed out. Life is unpredictable and that's what makes it exciting. There will be many opportunities for you after graduating from Berkeley, so it's important to keep an open mind and you will find the right path for yourself.

Cheers from your Peers!
Angela and Maya.

Whether you're just finishing up your freshman year or are about to graduate, your life after college may seem daunting and undecided. The Career Center is a great resource for learning about future career paths and getting information about graduate schools. This week, April 16th-20th, is "Career Week" on campus. There will be lots of interesting panels and events going on, so make sure to check some of them out!

Here are some highlights from this week. For the full schedule, go to: http://career.berkeley.edu/CareerWeek/CWprograms.asp

Are you interested in working in the publishing world? There are several career opportunities for you. Check out the panel, "Word Games: Intern and Career Opportunities in Publishing" on Monday, April 16th, from 1:30-3:00 pm in 315 Wheeler.

Are you passionate about diversity and cultural issues? There is a career out there for you. Go to the panel, "All In: Diversity and Cultural Careers" on Tuesday, April 17th, from 2-3:30 pm in the Stephens Lounge on the 3rd floor of the MLK Student Union.

Planning on going to law school? There is a panel about career opportunities for those with a law degree: "Mastermind: What To Do With A Law Degree" on Wednesday, April 18th, from 7-8:30 pm in the Alumni House.

Do you love animals? You could make a career out of your love! Check out the panel: "Barrel of Monkeys: Intern and Career Opportunities in Working with Animals" on Thursday, April 19th, from 2-3:30 pm in 110 Wheeler.

Do you spend some of your free time playing computer games? You could make that your career! Go to the panel, "Beyond PAC-MAN: Careers in Computer Gaming" on Friday, April 20th, from 1:30-3 pm in Sibley Auditorium in the Bechtel building.

The Career Center provides many services that may be useful to you. For more information, go to their website career.berkeley.edu

Cheers from your Peers,
Angela and Maya.

The year is soon to be over, so you all must be busy with last midterms, term papers, and final projects. Here are a few news and reminders of some upcoming events! Don't miss out!

Dance Marathon 2007 is a philanthropic event raising money for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. This year the theme is World Tour, so there will be performances, prizes, games, activities, and dancing from across the globe. This year, this event is happening from May 4, 2007 at 8 pm to May 5, 2007 at 8 am at the MLK Pauley Ballroom. It is a 12-hour dancing extravaganza for a great cause! Students, faculty, and alumni are able to register for the event and/or donate money. Please go to http://www.asuc.org/dancemarathon/ for more information.

The Major Madness Fair, sponsored by the College of Letters and Science, is this week from April 9th-11th. Come to the MLK Pauley Ballroom to check it out!

Tele-Bears phase I registration for Fall 2007 has begun. Make sure to sign up for classes during your appointment time, and don't forget to obtain advisor codes if necessary.

ASUC elections are also this week. Voting takes place April 11th-13th. You can vote online or on campus at the voting booths. Get your voice heard!

Cheers from your Peers!
Angela and Maya.

Welcome back from Spring Break! Spring semester is starting to wrap up, and Fall 2007 semester Tele-Bears is just around the corner! We wanted to write down a few reminders so that you are not caught off guard during your appointment time.

Make sure to check BearFacts before your Tele-Bears appointment to see if you have any blocks on your registration. You must remove your block(s) before registering for classes. If you have a block, please call the L&S Office at (510) 642-1483 to find out the steps you need to take to remove it.

If you need an advisor code in order to sign up for classes and you are declared in a major, you need to go see your undergraduate major advisor to obtain the code. If you are not declared, then come to 113 Campbell Hall for your advisor code.

If you are planning on graduating in Fall 2007, make sure to add yourself to the degree list via Tele-Bears.

Remember, you will be able to add or drop classes through Tele-Bears until the end of the 5th week of the semester. So don't be afraid to try out new classes and "shop around" because you will be able to adjust your schedule in that period of time.

Once you've had your Phase I Tele-Bears appointment, you will be able to log in to Tele-Bears during open hours throughout Phase I. Open hours are from 7 am to 8 am and 7 pm to 12 midnight, Monday through Friday, and 12 noon - 12 midnight on Saturdays and Sundays. Phase I for Fall 2007 begins April 9th and ends July 17th. The same rule applies for Phase II.

Cheers from your Peers!
Angela and Maya.