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United States20661 Posts
Yeah, so after a long spell of thought/visiting/discussing and all sorts of sundry... whatever the fuck people do in order to make decisions, I've chosen to attend UC Berkeley for the next period of my academic career.
I'll be enrolled in the College of Letters and Science; hopefully I'll be admitted to Haas for the Business Administration major. Otherwise I'll be doing Economics.
For housing I applied to:
1) Bowles Hall
2) Unit 1 minisuite
3) Unit 2 minisuite
4) Unit 3 triple
5) anything else
I'm wondering as to who else is/will be attending Cal. Any and all advice/comments/questions/whatever you want to talk about is welcomed.
I know Evanthebouncy is currently a freshman there, but I'm not too sure on any other people.
+ Show Spoiler [Why Cal instead of LA] +
Initially I was dead set against Cal. At the time of my application it was my last choice. Then I got rejected from 8/10 schools I applied to, and was left with LA and Cal.
With the applications and admissions proper being largely fait accompli, and unwilling to appeal any decisions, I was fairly sure I'd be attending UCLA. However, my parents' insistence on Cal [since Berkeley is one of the ~5 schools Asian parents are aware of] persuaded me to visit and research both before choosing.
I find the Cal campus to be unpleasant to the eye with its hodgepodge of discontinuous architecture. Furthermore, the city of Berkeley itself is seedy at best: apart from the BART station and perhaps the Telegraph/Durant area, there is little to no reason to venture out past the University confines.
UCLA on the other hand is beautiful and relatively clean. It also has a closer-knit community feel due to the proximity of the residence halls, apartments, and Greek houses to one another. Westwood is both safer and more interesting than Berkeley, and I prefer Los Angeles over San Francisco as a city.
Yet after all was said and done, despite my moderate/conservative beliefs and strong adherence to aesthetic values, I chose Cal. As for why:
1) Academic prestige. Sure, people say that amongst the top 25, education doesn't differ much, and I believe it. A UCLA education won't be far inferior to even a Harvard education in terms of raw learning. The contacts/professors/name value of Berkeley is still greater, though, and beneficial in the long term.
2) Better [actually existent] business programme. Haas' undergraduate Business major is third in the nation; Anderson does not have one. Considering I am planning a career in Investment Banking [mergers/acquisitions, probably? not too sure on that part] it was a great incentive to choose Berkeley.
3) Branching out more. This argument may sound somewhat sophomoric, with all the nonsensical talk about 'diversity' and 'learning to accept others', but I do think a change of locale would benefit me. UCLA, despite being in Los Angeles, is still isolated from the dreary aspects of urban life. Though I once lived in comparative poverty, it was so long ago that I've forgotten all about hardship. It may make me a better person and open my eyes to common adversity.
4) The fact that I don't like the campus/area will help me concentrate on studying. UCLA would be too much fun and games, and I'm afraid I'd get sidetracked. With the Cal campus being more spread out, I can choose to go party or to visit SF when I want, but it's quieter when necessary.
5) Family pressures. Being raised with traditional Chinese values in mind, filial piety and loyalty to my elders is quite important. Since they're all supporting Cal, this was a large factor in my decision.
6) Convenient location. I can get home in an hour. Yes, it's a bit close, but not too close. The benefits of this are considerable, considering increasing gasoline/airfare prices. I also prefer Norcal weather over Socal weather.
I'm sure I'd have more fun at UCLA, and it may result in a slightly more enjoyable college experience. However, after I become accustomed to it, Cal should not be far inferior in either of those regards, and the other benefits entailed above outweighed my initial desire to become a Bruin.
 
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I will be going there next year.
I hope you like asian girls.
edit:
I noticed you were born '85. Are you a grad student?
edit2:
nevermind, dumb question. What made you put school off for so long? Are you a transfer student? From where?
Good luck getting in Haas! It's very very competitive.
edit3:
(lol)
Just so I don't jinx it, let it be known that I THINK I'll be going to Berkeley next year, but that I don't find out until the 30th.
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United States20661 Posts
On April 30 2008 08:55 ahrara_ wrote:
I will be going there next year.
I hope you like asian girls.
edit:
I noticed you were born '85. Are you a grad student?
edit2:
nevermind, dumb question. What made you put school off for so long? Are you a transfer student? From where?
Good luck getting in Haas! It's very very competitive.
edit3:
(lol)
Just so I don't jinx it, let it be known that I THINK I'll be going to Berkeley next year, but that I don't find out until the 30th.
Oh my bday is 1990 I just didn't put it in my profile when I first registered for TL; I didn't think it was important.
Graduating from high school this year and whatever.
Edit: why do you find out so late?
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I'm a transfer student from Ohlone. We find out later.
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dammnn I didn't even apply to Berkeley cause I knew I wasn't going to get in lol
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United States20661 Posts
:o
what high school did you attend? Mission?
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American High.
Whoa, you from Fremont?
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United States20661 Posts
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thedeadhaji
39489 Posts
Los Altos Representttttttttttttttt
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Ah. Ya.
Just read your edit.
Berkeley is indeed very ghetto.
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Good luck man. Berkeley is a great school. I use their online lectures to learn.
edit - so is Cal = UC Berkely? I always thought Cal = UCLA.
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United States20661 Posts
Cal = University of California = UC Berkeley = The University of California, Berkeley
UCLA = University of California, Los Angeles = UC Los Angeles.
I don't know why Cal has so many names 
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CA10828 Posts
UCB was the first UC so they get to be called Cal
*edit* they also have the best shades of blue and yellow
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United States20661 Posts
Losing isn't that just 'cause you're a USC man? 
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United States37500 Posts
kudos LR
haha haji giving props to Los Altos. :X
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infinity21
Canada6683 Posts
business admin is boring as hell D:
I think I managed to stay awake for maybe 3 lectures throughout the whole year at Laurier.
Econ's nice though. You don't have to go to class and you can still get good marks.
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Ooh, gratz on getting admitted, and deciding on Cal. We do have a starcraft community here, although its kind of isolated to people's own groups. (I do lan with Yosh and a couple others every thursday, but hes graduating this year). There are probably a lot of TL lurkers here at Berkeley as well.
We're talking about trying to start a decal (student taught course) on Starcraft for next semester, so that'll be interesitng. There has also been a sponsored SC tourney for the past two semesters, and it’ll most likely happen again next semester (even if SC2 comes out before).
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United States20661 Posts
On April 30 2008 10:01 phase wrote:
Ooh, gratz on getting admitted, and deciding on Cal. We do have a starcraft community here, although its kind of isolated to people's own groups. (I do lan with Yosh and a couple others every thursday, but hes graduating this year). There are probably a lot of TL lurkers here at Berkeley as well.
We're talking about trying to start a decal (student taught course) on Starcraft for next semester, so that'll be interesitng. There has also been a sponsored SC tourney for the past two semesters, and it’ll most likely happen again next semester (even if SC2 comes out before).
Do it! I'll totally take it.
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infinity21
Canada6683 Posts
why do oyu need to take sc lessens? :s
you're the best sc2 2v2er in the world o.o
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOT BOWLES
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United States20661 Posts
On April 30 2008 10:08 paper wrote:
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOT BOWLES
what's wrong with bowles?
And infi I need to get better at actual Star since I am so bad
I am what is known as a 250apm newb
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infinity21
Canada6683 Posts
If you're a 250 apm newb, what does that make me?
I have 250 apm but I'm worse than you
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basically, i put down
1. unit1 double
2. unit2 double
3. unit1 trip
4. unit2 trip
5. unit3
they fucked me over and gave me BOWLESSSSSSSSSSS
reasons why bowles is gay:
1. far from all the restaurants/food
2. no bus stop nearby, thus far from BART
3. dining commons is a small walk away as opposed to right there as with units 1/2/3
4. UPHILL CLIMB + 233819381923 STAIRS GOING BACK HOME = KILLER when it rains/hot as fuck
5. all boys = gayz
6. not many laundry machines
7. "omg you live in harry potter castle!1" over and over
8. far from sproul
9. no one knows where bowles is
10. shitty social life because everyone stays in their rooms
11. no cute girls because they're all engineering majors in foothill :{
shitty pros:
1. decent gym inside
2. close to Evans (you'll have lots of classes here), Haas (tho you probably won't be taking any classes there first year), and other science buildings
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that pretttyyyy accurately describes bowles.
actually, i think some hardcore koreans starcraft there weekly ( the 2nd place from the SC tourney 2 semesters ago), but Unit1 and 2 are so much better in terms of proximity to food and most cool events.
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United States20661 Posts
fuck!
bad
well doesn't bowles have traditions and shit ?
at this point I'm hoping I get u1 or u2. Though I don't really like Crossroads ~~
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On April 30 2008 09:31 thedeadhaji wrote:
Los Altos Representttttttttttttttt
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also, no way in hell i'm going to cal, ever
i'll see you in hell, louis
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i was thinking of transferring to berkeley after next year if i have the grades.
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On April 30 2008 11:29 Meta wrote:
i was thinking of transferring to berkeley after next year if i have the grades.
What school are you at now?
Also, this is actually not at all difficult to do. I know people who have transferred over with 3.5 GPA and below.
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On April 30 2008 11:30 ahrara_ wrote:Show nested quote +On April 30 2008 11:29 Meta wrote:
i was thinking of transferring to berkeley after next year if i have the grades. What school are you at now? Also, this is actually not at all difficult to do. I know people who have transferred over with 3.5 GPA and below.
I'm at the University of Colorado at Boulder studying Mechanical Engineering. I have a 3.577 but have a feeling that might go down a bit after this semester... So I'll wait to see if I maintain over a 3.5 before I decide to apply.
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On April 30 2008 10:00 infinity21 wrote:
business admin is boring as hell D:
I think I managed to stay awake for maybe 3 lectures throughout the whole year at Laurier.
Econ's nice though. You don't have to go to class and you can still get good marks.
yeah but you never went to class infinity.
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I'll be in the same boat next year; Currently, I'd rather go to somewhere like UC Irvine rather than Berkley. Berkley's too close, I've lived here all my life and I'd never go against the Stanford Cardinal.
But we'll see next year; have fun at Berkley.
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Ouch. If you put down Bowles as your first choice, you're pretty much guaranteed to get it. I heard it's not as bad as most people think, aside from the no girls part. Unit 3 is the best =D. There's a cafe literally right downstairs and you're close to restaurants. I'm living there again next year.
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Congrats on your choice, I thought Asian parents knew about ucla as well?
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United States20661 Posts
On April 30 2008 12:03 B1nary wrote:
Ouch. If you put down Bowles as your first choice, you're pretty much guaranteed to get it. I heard it's not as bad as most people think, aside from the no girls part. Unit 3 is the best =D. There's a cafe literally right downstairs and you're close to restaurants. I'm living there again next year.
Yeah, I was thinking freshman year I might as well get the Bowles experience, and then transfer to U3 for something more social the next year. I don't know ;p
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United States20661 Posts
On April 30 2008 12:15 il0seonpurpose wrote:
Congrats on your choice, I thought Asian parents knew about ucla as well?
eh yeah they do but they have a better opinion of Cal.
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They do? Interesting, my family members are all bigger on UCLA rather than Cal for some reason, I guess being ignorant New Yorkers doesn't help
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As a resident of bowles last year, i have to agree with basically everything paper said. You might not have liked crossroads, but trust me the food there is better than in foothill.
The traditions are just corny, especially because the dorm is all freshman.
Well you might not find it so bad, or get lucky with a different place.
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If there's another big LAN at Berkeley, someone post infos more than 1 week in advance so I can amtrak it up over there ~_~!
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CA10828 Posts
berkeley definitely has the best reputation in terms of UCs amongst asian parents.
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i take back what i said
i got rejected like a whore
[dont post when you're upset and haven't slept in 24 hours]
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[dont post when you're upset and haven't slept in 24 hours]
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LR: Go to the housing admin office asap on move-in day (near Crossroads dining common), preferably a bit before it opens so that you can request to change dorms before everyone else.
The only way for you to get into the units is for someone to be willing to swap with you into Bowles. I did this as the FIRST GUY IN LINE and they called me literally one month before spring semester was over. I guess no one wanted to swap into Bowles. You might have better luck, although if anyone is willing to swap into Bowles, their roommate (and your future roommate) is probably a fucking psycho and they want to get out lulz.
The sad thing is that spring admits who didn't even get into fucking Berkeley for the fall semester like you and me get fucking suites in the units. Also, the admin office e-mailed all my friends who were in the units with normal doubles asking if they wanted to transfer into double suites. I tried to be sneaky and e-mail them too with the e-mail information my friends gave me but they basically gave me a big 'fuck you' and I was stuck in Bowles.
Basically, the 'rich' get 'richer' and the 'poor' get 'poorer.'
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United States20661 Posts
I AM A FUCKING NINJA
I changed my housing app
now it's all unit 1/2/3/ doubles [suites arranged earlier in order]
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facebook photo link
... one in the middle is going to berkeley. Best looking girl at my school (pics don't do her justice). I'd post her number but I don't think it's a good idea to do that on a forum with a ton of horny nerds.
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On May 01 2008 13:15 Sunyveil wrote:facebook photo link... one in the middle is going to berkeley. Best looking girl at my school (pics don't do her justice). I'd post her number but I don't think it's a good idea to do that on a forum with a ton of horny nerds.
... wat
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On May 01 2008 13:15 Sunyveil wrote:facebook photo link... one in the middle is going to berkeley. Best looking girl at my school (pics don't do her justice). I'd post her number but I don't think it's a good idea to do that on a forum with a ton of horny nerds.
Oh good, Berkeley girls need all the help they can get...
lol, actually its not thaaaaaaatttt bad. you just really gotta search around to find that eye candy.
and the link doesn't work.
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CA10828 Posts
try uploading the picture to imageshack or something
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United States20661 Posts
when I hear about hot girls I ask myself
WWRD?
and act accordingly.
On October 31 2007 12:08 HonestTea wrote:
*dances a sad, sad but oddly self-reflective dance*
*thrusts his arms in a manly yet contemplative manner*
*expresses a desire to maelstrom with his knees*
*unleashes the holy damage of psi storm with his neck*
*crouches into fetal position*
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LR just graduated high school T_T!? Every time I find out someone is young, it makes me want to offer myself up as a sacrifice to the War God, because of how little SC skill I have achieved in my long years. I really did think you were going to grad school...
But that makes me wonder, why are you in the states? Did you go to HS here? Did you come here right after high school to go to college? I assumed you were just studying here. Or did your family just move here when you were younger?
Beware though, all you youngsters, I will catch up and surpass you all!
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On May 01 2008 15:11 Ancestral wrote:
LR just graduated high school T_T!? Every time I find out someone is young, it makes me want to offer myself up as a sacrifice to the War God, because of how little SC skill I have achieved in my long years. I really did think you were going to grad school...
But that makes me wonder, why are you in the states? Did you go to HS here? Did you come here right after high school to go to college? I assumed you were just studying here. Or did your family just move here when you were younger?
Beware though, all you youngsters, I will catch up and surpass you all!
born in USA, raised in USA
his taiwan country's just some pseudo-nationalistic bullshit, isn't it, punk
:3
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United States20661 Posts
Born Evanston, IL, lived there till Dad got doctorate.
Moved to Keelung, Taiwan. Lived there couple years while travelling w/ dad who was giving speeches an' shit.
Then moved to North Carolina where my parents worked for awhile till
his work brought us to NorCal. Which is where I am now.
Dual citizen; I'd pick USA citizenship over Taiwan if I had to choose. I identify nationally with Taiwan, though, since family is all from there.
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On April 30 2008 19:16 Ecael wrote:They do? Interesting, my family members are all bigger on UCLA rather than Cal for some reason, I guess being ignorant New Yorkers doesn't help
Hahahaha...Asian parents really only care about three schools - Behkuhlee, Hahfud, and Stanfud. When I picked UCLA over Cal, my mom had a look of despair on her face. She eventually changed her mind though.
Congrats on making a decision, LR. Even though I'm disappointed I won't see you next year at LA, I wish you the best of luck at Cal. They're both great schools, and you really couldn't go wrong with either one - it's like choosing between steak and lobster.
EDIT: My ex-girlfriend was a big pro-Taiwanese independence girl. Dating her was kind of strange, since neither of my parents approve of the independence movement. I myself don't really care.
EDIT 2: Where'd you live in North Carolina? I was born in Guangzhou, China, then moved to Charlottesville, Virginia while my dad finished up his Ph.D. and then moved to Durham, North Carolina before finally ending up in San Francisco. Seems like we have similar histories .
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United States20661 Posts
I'm not really pro independence tbh; I favor eventual reunification under a slightly less scary government. If you ask me about reunification now, I say it's out of the question. That puts me ... in the middle -_-; though I'd vote blue if forced.
Yeah, Asian parents are surprising in that they all went to some school or other, and then, once graduating, forgot all about what schools they applied to / went to and selectively remember ~5 names. It's amusing.
A lot of my friends going to UCLA are kind of disappointed, and I'm kind of sad - I like SoCal types more, I think. More sociable, less ... whatever. But I'll deal with it.
Cary, NC. 100 Swordgate Dr.
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sometimes, i wish i went to LA :{
sooo many friends there T_T
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...funny
i might see u more than u think.
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United States20661 Posts
On May 01 2008 16:36 Zalfor wrote:
...funny
i might see u more than u think.
see who ? me ? paper ?
You're from Berkeley, 's'all I know.
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CA10828 Posts
still waiting for the pic -_-;
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Hong Kong20321 Posts
eveyrones doing investment banking these days lolz
and congrats into getting into such good unis!
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On May 01 2008 17:15 LosingID8 wrote:
still waiting for the pic -_-;
I think she's really pretty... ppl don't tend to agree though
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maybe just an unflattering shot
are you in love with her
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On May 01 2008 18:51 ahrara_ wrote:
maybe just an unflattering shot
are you in love with her
lol no she just implements stareable
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CA10828 Posts
umm
let's just say not quite what i was expecting
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United States20661 Posts
What Losing said.
Thanks alffla^^ [and yeah, it's a bit popular. Haas is a good enough programme so it shouldn't be toooo bad. But I have to do well there.]
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50% acceptance rate ... :D
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United States20661 Posts
Well yeah, but then you need to be tops in that group too
OK, I've accepted the fact that girls @ Cal are, on average, below average. But are there pretty ones ? Do they exist in quantities exceeding, say, 10?
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its not thaaaaat bad.
Strictly in terms of classes, for me (im in eecs) its pretty bad cos guys:girls are like 6-7:1, and that 1, 50% of the time is like some fat indian girl or something. It should be better for you, since you're economics/intended business, so the classes you take will most likely be a lot better. I'm currently also taking Chinese (yea, cos im taiwanese as well, but very abc), and theres like 1:2 guy:girl, and most of them are pretty decent looking.
In any case, though, you prolly would want to look outside of class, like student groups. If you're fobby enough look into TASA, cos (at least their last event I went) a lot of the girls there were nooooooott bad. lol.
Edit: I dont know if Sunnyveil's pic is just a bad pic or something, but there are MANY girls here that are better than that imo.
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United States20661 Posts
Reassuring ;p I'll prolly take Chinese; dunno what level to take. Inter or Adva? I did lots of Chinese school [actually finished 12 years -_-] but I never use written Chinese anymore ~~
How many activities do most people do ? [I guess it depends on which ones are more intensive, but... well, I guess, which activities are hardcore and which aren't ?]
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On May 01 2008 16:28 Last Romantic wrote:I'm not really pro independence tbh; I favor eventual reunification under a slightly less scary government. If you ask me about reunification now, I say it's out of the question. That puts me ... in the middle -_-; though I'd vote blue if forced. Yeah, Asian parents are surprising in that they all went to some school or other, and then, once graduating, forgot all about what schools they applied to / went to and selectively remember ~5 names. It's amusing. A lot of my friends going to UCLA are kind of disappointed, and I'm kind of sad - I like SoCal types more, I think. More sociable, less ... whatever. But I'll deal with it. Cary, NC. 100 Swordgate Dr.
Oh snap...you lived in Cary? That's really close to Durham (275 Louis Circle). I was actually in Cary this past winter, visiting old family friends who we've stayed in contact with since I moved to San Francisco.
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United States20661 Posts
Oh, awesome. Cary's nice; it's quiet but not too far from everything.
And big houses cost 1/10th of what they do here -_-;
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Yes! Good choice. My brother is currently a junior there, Zalfor is a junior there, paper goes there, Yosh is a senior there, evanthebouncy goes there, Sunyveil lives nearby, I live nearby (I went to Berkeley LAN a few weeks ago), Nitrogen lives nearby, they have a starcraft night every Thursday (from what I've been told) and I think there's a lot more people there too.
And for house pricing, I live in Danville about 20 minutes away from Berkeley and the average house price is $1,200,000. Then there's Blackhawk... and even richer places around here... Berkeley is considered median imo.
Btw does anyone know where I can download a Chinese characters writing (where you input the pinyin and then it makes the character?) I have one on my old computer but I don't know where to get it, I have XP btw.
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United States20661 Posts
You can install it just by goin to control panel => region/languages, I think it comes with it and you just have to say you want 'East Asian language package' or whatever.
Oh, cool. Yeah, I have a couple friends who live in Danville. 1.2m isn't that bad ;p I'm in Los Altos and I don't even want to know what the average house price is.
yay StarCraft nights! I have to start not sucking at Star though.
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Hehe, thanks it works! Btw UnitarySpace, I'm 90% sure Zalfor is a junior because I've talked to him so many times...
+ Show Spoiler +我是刘科能。这个东西很有用阿！谢谢你 Last Romantic!我很高新因为你要来到 UC Berkeley。这是因为我们可以见面 >  好，再见！
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United States20661 Posts
haha ;p
simp
some amusing errors, but hey~ decent for first try with the ungodly difficult-to-use pinyin input.
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EPT![[image loading]](http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/3168/editthisvl7.jpg)
