1.  HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE ADMITTED INTO ENGINEERING?  

Within the last three years, there were approximately 9500 freshmen applicants who applied to the College of Engineering and approximately 17% were admitted.

2.  WHAT IS THE GRADUATION RATE IN COE?

Approximately 85% of incoming COE freshmen graduate from the College of Engineering and 91% from UC Berkeley overall.

3.  ARE COE STUDENTS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE IN FOUR YEARS?

All major curriculums in Engineering are carefully designed to enable students to graduate in four years.  Although the College has a four-year graduation policy, there are times when an additional semester maybe warranted.  We encourage students to work closely with their assigned Engineering Student Services (ESS) adviser in order to keep track of their academic progress.

4.  CAN AN ENGINEERING STUDENT PURSUE A MINOR?

Yes, students may apply to pursue a minor. - All the engineering departments offer minors. Students may also consider pursuing a minor in another school or college. Students who are interested in a minor get information about the requirements and admission standards from the department offering the minor. For a list of minors in the College of Engineering and links to minors offered in other schools and colleges visit

http://coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergradaute/degree-options/minors.html.

5.  HOW MUCH STUDYING IS EXPECTED IN THIS COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT?

A student can expect to study at least three hours per week for every class unit they take.  Example:  15 class units = 45 hours of study time per week.

6.  WILL THERE BE TIME FOR CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES?

Yes, in fact, the College advisers encourage students to join student organizations and participate in recreational sports and outside interests.  The College of Engineering offers over 40 different organizations which students can join.  A list of COE groups and organizations may be found at: 

http://coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/student-involvement/engineering-student-societies.html. 

For the list of all UC Berkeley groups and organizations: http://berkeley.edu/life/org.shtml

7.  IS IT DIFFICULT TO SWITCH MAJORS WITHIN ENGINEERING?

For newly admitted freshmen, it is fairly easy, as all freshmen are required to complete the same core courses within the first year (i.e. math, physics, and reading and composition).  The earliest a freshmen can apply to change their major is after completion of their first semester.  After completing their first semester, the student should meet with their Engineering Student Services adviser to apply for a change of major.

8.  IS IT DIFFICULT TO SWITCH OUT OF ENGINEERING?

Students who decide to switch out of the College of Engineering should meet with their assigned Engineering Student Services (ESS) adviser for referral to advisers in their desired college.

9.  WHICH RESIDENCE HALLS (DORMS) ARE CLOSEST TO ENGINEERING?

The closest residence hall is Foothill, located at: 2700 Hearst Avenue.   Although Foothill is the nearest residence hall in proximity of the College of Engineering, first-year Engineering students will be enrolling in classes located throughout the main campus. You can find more resident hall information at:

http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal/index.html

10.  IS IT DIFFICULT FOR STUDENTS TO GET INTO COURSES THEY WANT/NEED?

Being “flexible” is the key to getting into courses on the Berkeley campus.  In the first semester, newly admitted freshmen are required to take, at the minimum, two technical courses which includes math, engineering core courses or science courses for a total of 12 units and one course chosen from the Humanities and Social Sciences list.  Most of these courses offer several lecture sections along with several sub-sections of discussions and/or labs.  With careful planning and some flexibility, freshmen should be able to get the courses they need.  To aid students with securing a space in courses they need, the UC Berkeley enrollment process is divided into two phases and an adjustment period.  During Phase I, students are allowed to enroll in up to a maximum of 10.5 units (equates to two or three courses and one 0.5-unit PE course). Later during Phase II, students are allowed to enroll in up to16 units.  In the adjustment period students can add up to 22 units.  Waitlisted courses are calculated in the total above (i.e. 10.5 units will include waitlisted units).  For more information please refer to:

Registrar’s link to Telebears: http://registrar.berkeley.edu/telebears_enrollment.html

11.  IS THE CAMPUS SAFE?

UC Berkeley has its own police station.  Campus police patrol the perimeter by car and the interior by bicycle.  There are also emergency beacons situated all around campus to help alert students/faculty/staff to any campus wide emergencies that may arise.  The police also offer a night time “BearWALK” service to the campus community by request.  UC Berkeley Police Dept programs and services: http://police.berkeley.edu/programsandservices/

12.  WHAT KIND OF COMPUTER SHOULD STUDENTS BUY?

In general, students should buy what is affordable and convenient.  There isn’t a particular brand or model that is preferred.    The University has several on-campus microcomputer facilities available to students.  

More information can be found on this link:   http://facility.berkeley.edu/facilities.html.  Residence Halls may also have computer facilities available for students to use.  More information may be found on this link: http://www.rescomp.berkeley.edu/getconnected/resources/

13.  CAN ENGINEERING STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE EDUCATION ABROAD PROGRAM?

Yes, in fact we encourage our students to study abroad.  With careful planning many students can complete a study abroad program without delaying their graduation. However, students who participate in a study abroad program will be granted one additional semester to complete their degree requirements, if needed.  Click on the link below for more information about this subject.  COE information on Education Abroad Program:

http://coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/advising/education-abroad-program.html#1

14.  WHEN CAN ENGINEERING STUDENTS APPLY FOR INTERNSHIPS OR RESEARCH?

Faculty and companies typically search for students who have completed their first and second year of Engineering foundation courses. This means that securing an internship or research is most likely to occur in the junior and senior year or summer. The UCB campus Career Center offers job and internship fairs throughout the academic year and all students are encouraged to attend. For more information about internships and research opportunities, go to the following websites:

   • COE Research Experiences: http://coe.berkeley.edu/students/current-undergraduates/student-research

   • Engineering News article on Internships: http://coe.berkeley.edu/news-center/publications/engineering-news/archive/engineering-news-vol-79-no-6f/thinking-about-internships

   • Career Center link for Internships: https://career.berkeley.edu/Internships/Internships.stm

   • For research opportunities visit: http://research.berkeley.edu/.  There are some internships and research positions targeted at freshmen and sophomore level students. 

15.  WHAT IS THE JOB PLACEMENT RATE FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS AFTER GRADUATION?

Job prospects are very good for our graduates.  Many students who are chosen for internships or coops are hired by those same companies after they graduate.  Others find great prospects with the help of job fairs and the campus Career Center: https://career.berkeley.edu/.  To view specific job placement statistics please refer to the following web site:  https://career.berkeley.edu/CarDest/CarDest.stm

16.  WHAT IS THE PARKING SITUATION ON CAMPUS/RESIDENCE HALLS?

Parking is limited on campus in general and all faculty, staff, and students who commute must have a campus parking permit displayed in their vehicle at all times while parked in a parking structure or residence hall.  Students can purchase daily or annual parking permits from the Parking and Transportation office
Parking and Transportation office: http://pt.berkeley.edu/pay/permit/student.

17.  WHAT KIND OF ADVISING SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO ENGINEERING STUDENTS?

All College of Engineering students are assigned a faculty adviser, an Engineering Student Services (ESS) adviser, and a departmental adviser.  Faculty advisers are mentors and they help students select the appropriate courses to complete their major.  Students are expected to meet with their assigned faculty adviser at least twice a year to discuss course selection and to obtain an advisor code that is used to access the Tele-BEARS enrollment system.  ESS advisers help students navigate UCB and College of Engineering policies and procedures,  and they are a lifeline for other questions and concerns that students may have during their academic career at CAL.  Departmental advisers guide students toward opportunities within their field of study.  They provide referrals to student groups relative to the student’s major and handle all aspects of faculty advising and research opportunities.

OTHER HELPFUL FAQ’S 
   • CalParents FAQ: http://calparents.berkeley.edu/about/faq.shtml

   • UC Berkeley Health Center Info for parents: http://uhs.berkeley.edu/parents/index.shtml

   • Counseling and Psychological Services: http://uhs.berkeley.edu/students/counseling/faq.shtml

   • Health insurance: http://uhs.berkeley.edu/students/insurance/WaiverFAQs.shtml

   • UC Housing and Dining Services (Dorms): http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal/faq.html