Before my visit to UC Berkeley, I thought about how college would be, the people, the dorms, and the work. Not only that but classes and the huge cost. I heard more negative things about college than good, so that’s what I expected. People in college told me classes were tough and not so much fun, and of course how expensive college is. I positively knew that college wasn’t all bad like some say, I thought there had to be something good. For example the beautiful campus with huge buildings and historical sites. Also all the different kinds of people you could meet, that came from all over the US and are really focused on school. I didn’t expect much before, since I didn’t know much.
I came back knowing a lot more than what I expected. I’m surprised about how much freedom they give students in college, they expect them to be responsible for themselves and their actions. Also students can start their own clubs and stand up for what they think is right. I also got to talk to one of the students at UC Berkeley, she told me about how college isn’t all about work and studying every single day, it’s actually a really fun experience. Some people call it the best years of their life.
I think what impressed me the most was how grad students can teach the first year students without a real teacher and classes can be 800 people in one class! Also I learned about scholarships and loans to help pay for college, since college is so expensive and many people can’t afford it. I’m shocked at how much you have to do to apply to a UC, like take the SAT and write a 1,000 essay, and only about 25% get accepted but I know it’s all worth it. That’s why people go through all that trouble to get accepted. I want to be one of those people and part of that 25%, because whether you go to college or not, your future depends on it but if you want a successful job and make memories to always remember, it’s better to go to college.
