Make the most of your first year at UC Berkeley
When arriving at UC Berkeley, it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start, what to explore, and how to maintain a balance between schoolwork and your personal life. Here are three tips that helped me make the most of my first year at UC Berkeley.
1. Explore the Berkeley area
Living in a new city means that you have so many new spots to explore! Throughout my freshman year, I had a great time checking out what the Berkeley area has to offer. I love discovering new coffee shops, so over the weekends, I would study at different cafes to enjoy the ambiance and drinks. I’m also an avid thrift store and antique shop fan, so I made sure to check out Berkeley’s secondhand shopping scene.
I also took advantage of BayPass through my Clipper Card, which grants me free access to public transit around the Bay Area. One highlight was when my friends and I took Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) out to San Francisco. We went to a cafe downtown and had lunch at Baker Beach with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge — the perfect activity for a sunny Saturday.
I have enjoyed exploring other parts of San Francisco, as well. Walking along Pier 39 was lots of fun; the view of the city is unmatched, and there’s always an entertaining show put on by street performers. I would also recommend going to one of the many museums that the city has to offer — I loved visiting the Legion of Honor and seeing the wealth of incredible art they have on display. Chinatown is another highlight; I happened to be there the weekend of their Lunar New Year celebration, so I was able to see the streets decked out with ceremonious decorations and festivities.
The intuitive and convenient public transportation in Berkeley was an unexpected highlight of coming to Cal, so be sure to dedicate some time to exploring the Bay Area!
Scenes from exploring San Francisco!
2. Carve out time to recharge
Both academically and socially, Berkeley students seem to always have their schedules filled to the brim with activities. Amongst all of the club events, coffee chats, and the seemingly perpetual midterm seasons, it can feel like everyone is “locked in” at all times. As a result, I initially found myself defaulting to working or studying whenever I had a free moment in my schedule. But I can’t stress this enough — know when to close your laptop.
This year, I learned that carving out time for myself isn’t optional — it’s necessary. Once I started dedicating time in my day to doing things that help me recharge, I felt much less strung-out. Having a healthy school-life balance is critical to avoiding burnout early in the semester. For me, recharging can be something as simple as reading a book I enjoy before bed, watching a baseball game, or exercising.
Taking time for yourself is critical to your mental health, and I wish I learned this sooner. I would recommend finding a reliable way to destress, and integrating that into your daily routine at the start of the semester.
Taking a walk through campus is a great way to recharge.
3. Say “yes” to spontaneity!
As someone who thrives off a schedule, this one was a bit of an adjustment for me. However, I learned that while it’s great to have a rough plan for your day, it’s also important to leave room for spontaneous side quests or trips with friends! Many of my favorite memories from this year have arisen from this — Menchie’s runs during “Dead Week” (Reading/Review/Recitation Week), picnics in the grass on a sunny afternoon, and games of pool in our building lounge.
This goes hand-in-hand with saying “yes” to things. Freshman year is the perfect time to explore new hobbies and pursue interests you’ve always had but have never been able to try out. For me, this meant signing up for a DeCal in spring semester, Journalism 101: Taught by The Daily Californian. I’ve always been interested in journalism, but had never had the opportunity to formally take a journalism class. Through this DeCal, I’ve learned more about journalistic style writing and reporting. Say yes to these opportunities, you never know what you might discover!
One campus, endless possibilities
You know that phrase, “The days are long but the years are short?” I never really knew what that meant until I came to Berkeley. While the days here can certainly feel long, the months speed by, and before you know it, you’ll be a quarter of the way through your college years.
What I love about UC Berkeley is that each day is filled with so many possibilities — new places to explore, new people to meet, new experiences to pursue. Embracing these possibilities is what allowed me to make the most of my first year here!
Shae Cogswell, Class of 2029, is majoring in English. Cover photo courtesy of Student Affairs Communications.
Want more?
- Learn what Nina, Class of 2026, recommends students know before coming to Cal.
- Looking for more guidance throughout your first year? Discover the mentorship opportunities available at UC Berkeley.
- Not sure what to bring with you to college? Prepare for your new living situation with this move-in checklist.