Final thoughts about my semester at UC Berkeley

Hello Everyone!

A few days ago, my semester abroad at UC Berkeley and the  Berkeley Haas Global Access Program came to an end and I still cannot quite believe it. Everything went by so fast. 

Here are some photos of the graduation ceremony: 

Instead of writing a long text about an experience that cannot really be described anyways, here are my “key findings”.: 

The number one thing I learned at Berkeley: 

Even though there are hundreds of things that I could mention now, one thing that I really didn’t expect to “learn” was to develop a different mindset towards the world and my life. In one of my classes called “Opportunity Recognition” we talked a lot about the big problems in the world including climate change or inequalities. Even though many of us talk about this on a regular basis, it was definitely a different thing to discuss it in class. My professor then said – and I will never forget this – “If you worry about small problems, you are a small person. If you want to change the world you need to think about the big problems.” 

Small problems for him are little things we all worry about like a fight with a neighbor. Big problems, instead, are things that affect many people or e.g. animals.

This discussion or the overall mindset of this professor really changed the way I think about my life and what I want to do in the future. It became even more important to me to work for a company, or found an own company that also has a social mission and contributes to a better future for all of us.

My favorite thing about Berkeley:

Again, there are many things that I really like about Berkeley, but the number one thing is definitely the quality, motivation and engagement of the professors and students. 

I always tell my friends in Germany “It’s cool to be a nerd here.” and I’m sure many would agree with that. 

There is never an empty library at any time during the day (and night) and everybody is willing to help. You can get answers to your questions within minutes, even directly from your professors on a Sunday afternoon. This would never be possible at my home university in Munich. 

What’s more, the students are extremely motivated and clever. They don’t just study for the exam and then forget everything like it is in many universities in Europe. They really want to learn and apply their knowledge. This different mindset is just really motivating and inspiring. 

What I would have done differently: 

That’s a hard one! I think overall I wouldn’t have done much differently, except from my housing situation. I lived with other German students in a flat about 25 minutes walking distance from campus. Even though it was a nice area and much much cheaper than what anyone else payed, it was not only quite far from campus but the fact that I lived with Germans didn’t make my experience as “American” as it could have been. 

Instead, I would have loved to live in “International House” which is right next to campus, includes breakfast, lunch and dinner and you can live with people from all over the world. Still, you wouldn’t really live with many Americans, but it’s definitely a very cool experience. 

For my part, I couldn’t apply for the “International House” anymore since I decided to go to Berkeley only a few weeks before the program started. I quickly got a flat with people that I knew and this was just the easiest and cheapest way to do it. Still not a bad decision thoughJ

What I would recommend others: 

1.     Don’t think “It’s too late” or “It’s too expensive” …. 

     

     There are ALWAYS ways to go to Berkeley(or the USA in general). The BHGAP program has an application deadline on July first (The program starts in August the same year) so you can apply pretty late and still get a spotJ 

     And, they also have a scholarship available (5k). Plus, there are many scholarships within Germany or other countries that many of my classmates received. This way, the whole experience is much more affordable. In any case, I believe it’s worth the money spent and nobody can take away this experience! 

2.     Look for housing early!

Housing is really hard to find so try to look for it as early as possible. Everything below 1000 dollar a month including utilities it quite cheap. 

As I said, I would recommend living in the International House. Others lived in a fraternity (boys only) if you really want to experience the American college life and are into drinking. I would not recommend living alone or with people who speak the same language as you. 

3.     Go for some adventures and challenge yourself! 

Once you are in Berkeley, I would recommend joining some clubs that interest you or that do something that you are not good at (yet). I for example joined ballroom dancing and will do figure skating next semester, both things that I always wanted to do but that I never tried. 

I also bought a van and built a bed inside and traveled around with it while surfing. This is definitely recommended even though you can also rent a van like this for about $80 a day which might be cheaper and easier. They are called Escape Campervans. Definitely highly recommended! ;) Another company that offers something similar is called “Jucy”. Their cars are usually a bit smaller and cheaper. 

Jalama Beach near Highway 1 along the coast. 

Me and my van on a road trip along the coast :) 

4.     Just Do It! 

      I cannot emphasize this enough. 

I spoke to so many people and everybody tells me: “I want to do the same, it’s so cool! …..” But then when I asked why they don’t do it, I usually get answers like “I already have a flat here… or a boyfriend… or my family…” and so on…. 

I also have my friends, family, a flat, a car, skiing and so on in Germany, but I still go abroad, because I know I can come back in just about 4 months. It’s nothing. Time flies and it is really no problem to leave home for a few months and go out of your comfort zone. You can always come back, you can even skype with your friends every day. But I’m sure, you don’t even need that because you easily make new friends within a few days and will have a lot of fun. Time passes by so fast that you wished you could stay longer. :) 

What’s next? 

During my time at UC Berkeley, I was searching for an internship in the Bay Area, preferably at a tech startup. I had a couple of interviews and visited many companies and I finally decided for “Urban Miles” – a startup in the mobility industry. There, I will be working as a Product Management Intern in San Francisco until the end of April 2019.

Aside from that, I am going to try to take one more Data Science course in Berkeley. 

After April, I am going to return to Germany and continue my studies at the LMU and CDTM in Munich. Nevertheless, I am sure I will return to the US very soon again. 

My new team at Urban Miles :) 

After all, I guess it was still quite a long text. 
Anyways, feel free to contact me at any time on LinkedIn or Facebook if you have any further questions. And remember: 

You can only grow if you challenge yourself! 

Julia

Climate Change is REAL!

Climate change is a big thing here in California and almost everyday one professor gives us a quick lecture about actions we should take or what the Californian government has done. 

Last week we had a very informative class about climate change by Prof. Isaacs in the course "Opportunity Recognition". 

We learned about the causes and effects of climate change and could ask every question we had. 

I for example didn't know that the sea level is not mainly rising because glaciers are melting, but it is because a higher temperature implies that the molecules are expanding - and therefore sea levels are rising. (but of course melting glaciers play a role too)

We also got to look at some graphs like this one: 

Looking back thousands of years, we can see that the earth indeed had some periods where the carbon dioxide level was relatively high, which eventually resulted in higher temperatures. But never in our history have we seen such an increase in carbon dioxide. As temperatures are rising after the carbon dioxide level has risen, we today don't know how extreme the temperature changes will be in the nearer future. The only thing we know is that it is going to be much warmer and we have to act to prevent further damage to our planet. 

There are many things we can do e.g. eat less meat, take public transport, or reduce the use of energy in different ways. We don't all have to change our whole lives to contribute to a better world, changing small habits can have a great impact as well. 

If you want to read more, Nasa usually provides very interesting insights and reports: 

https://lnkd.in/ecagyzi

Are courses at Berkeley different from the ones in Germany?

Many of my friends always ask me "How is it like studying at Berkeley?", "Is it really that hard?", "Do you get what you payed for?".
As many of my professors would answer that question: - It depends.

First of all, yes the classes here at Berkeley and also at the other University I attended in the US (Castleton University) are in most parts quite different from classes in Germany, or at least from classes at the LMU or TU in Munich.
One of the things I like the most about the classes here is that they are much (!) more interactive and therefore the learning value is much higher as well. Interactive means that it's not just that many people raise their hands and contribute or ask questions. Usually, there is some kind of team practice within each class so you get to discuss solutions with a friend. I always go out of a class and can say I learned something new and I am not going to forget that within the next few days (this is usually what happens in Germany).
Additionally, classes here in the US are generally smaller, with some exceptions of course. While at the LMU business classes consists of a few hundred people, here most of the ones that I attend have only about 15 to maximum 30 people in one room. This allows a much more personal atmosphere.

When it comes to classes being "hard", I wouldn't necessarily say that classes at Berkeley are harder in general. But what I can say is that it is much more work. We have a lot of homework every week e.g. reading books, doing projects or discussing case studies. Most of the work is graded so there is a constant pressure. On the one hand, I really think this is good, because it forces you to review the content of the lecture and you actually learn something for a long term (while in Germany you study 3 weeks before the exam and that might be it). Nevertheless that can be quite demanding and I, like many other students, spend a lot of weekends studying.
I am also taking a Computer Science class (apart from my business studies) which I really like. The teaching stuff is awesome and really cares about their students' success so that you get help literally at any time a day (including weekends!). Nevertheless, this is the most demanding class I have taken so far. But this might also lie in the nature of Computer Science.

To answer the last question: "Do you get what you pay for?" - I would say yes!
Of course it's extremely expensive going to Berkeley compared to what you pay -or not pay- in Germany. Nevertheless, the classes are much better and the learning value is higher. You get a great network here with highly motivated students, an enormous offer of different sports and academic clubs and support with everything you need.
At least for me, I couldn't be happier right now that I made the decision to come to Berkeley and I can recommend everyone doing the same. And by the way - there are many scholarships out there so you can make your stay affordable! :)

Overall I wouldn't say that the education in Germany is bad. In fact there are some things that Germany is definitely better at than top universities in the US (e.g. a more theoretically focused study). Nevertheless, the overall university experience in the US or at least at UC Berkeley is more enjoyable with a higher learning value.

Below you can find three pictures of a design thinking course I am taking. It's a very interactive and fun class!

Trip to Yosemite National Park

Last weekend we went on a trip to Yosemite National Park - on of the most famous and most beautiful national parks in the US.
As a group of 15 people consisting of people from Denmark, Germany, US, and Mexico we rented a Airbnb close to the park.
On the first day we did a 6 hour hiking trip and tried to explore some waterfalls. On the second day we went swimming in a lake and discovered some more places by car.
I already knew the park, but it was definitely worth going there again.

For everyone who is interested: we hiked the trail up to the Nevada Falls and then down on the John Muir trail.

Some impressions of the two days :)

The "Tunnel View" 

Second Day:) 

On our way back we stopped at a ranch and ate dinner at a typical American restaurant/bar. 

The first days at Berkeley

Hi there,

I haven´t postet something for quite a long time, but I decided to start with some blogging again.

As some of you might know, I am currently at the University of California Berkeley where I am part of the Berkeley Haas Global Access Program.

So far, it has been absolutely amazing and I learn a lot here every day.
I will soon post more about my academic and personal experience here soon, but for now here are some pictures from our short trip to San Francisco, which is only around 30 minutes away from Berkeley.

The weather wasn't so nice, but this is quite normal here. Nevertheless, I really enjoy the climate here, because its just perfect for any kind of outdoor activities.

I will keep you posted soon!:)

Welcome to Castleton University- My first days in America

Hi Everyone:)

Die ersten beiden Tage hier in Castleton sind nun für mich vorbei und ich habe mich mittlerweile auch schon ein wenig eingelebt, aber ganz von vorn:

Am nächsten Morgen nach der Ankunft hieß es für mich zunächst einmal: auspacken. Das Zimmer wirkte relativ klein aber letztendlich hat alles super reingepasst:)

Hier mein Zimmer während des Auspackens. Ich werde es das kommende Jahr mit einer Zimmerkameradin aus Vermont teilen.

Und hier seht ihr das Haus in dem ich wohne.

Mittags wurde ich dann auf eine private Campustour eingeladen und ich war von der Größe und der Schönheit der Gebäude sowie der Natur wirklich begeistert.
Hier seht ihr ein paar erste Eindrücke vom Campus und den umliegenden Häusern in Castleton:

                                                           Das Hauptgebäude der Uni

Ein Teil der Sportanlagen im Außenbereich:

Und auch ein paar kleine "Berge" hab ich schon entdeckt;) An den umliegenden Skihängen werde ich dann, sobald Schnee liegt, mit meinem Skiteam trainieren. Vorher gibt es natürlich auch noch Athletiktraining, das hat aber momentan noch nicht begonnen. Trotzdem gibt es hier ein Fitnessstudio das nahezu rund um die Uhr offen hat und auch sehr gut ausgestattet ist. Ich werde es morgen gleich mal "austesten";)

Und noch ein paar Eindrücke:

...Abends bin ich dann zum ersten Mal in der "Dining Hall" essen gegangen. Ein paar amerikanische Mädels und Jungs, die ebenfalls in meinem Haus wohnen, begleiteten mich. Wir haben uns von Anfang an gut verstanden und ich muss sagen, dass hier im allgemeinen alle Leute sehr sehr freundlich sind und auch immer bereit dazu sind, dir zu helfen oder dich irgendwo hin zufahren.

Das Essen war überraschenderweise sehr gut und auch durchaus gesund. Es gab ein großes Salatbüfett und unter anderem Reis oder Nudeln, Hühnchen,Erbsen oder Mais. Und auch die Getränkeauswahl lies nichts zu wünschen übrig.
Insgesamt machte es also einen guten Eindruck (y)

Danach war der Tag für mich auch schon wieder vorbei, denn ich war immer noch ein wenig vom Jetlag geplagt, sodass es schon gegen 19 Uhr ins Bett ging....

Am nächsten Morgen machte ich mich zunächst auf dem Weg zum Bäcker, der ein paar Gehminuten entfernt liegt. Ein wenig überfordert von der etwas anderen Auswahl, bestellte ich letztendlich das, was alle anderen vor mir auch bestellten: Bagels, Cockies und Kaffee. Obwohl das alles sehr lecker war, macht es sich hier durchaus bemerkbar, dass Amerikaner nicht unbedingt eine gesunden Lebensweise haben, denn Dinge wie ein Brot oder ein einfaches Brötchen suchte ich vergeblich. Stattdessen gab es Unmengen an Bagels, Croissants, und Cookies in allen Geschmacksrichtungen.

Zurück vom Bäcker kam dann auch schon meine Zimmerkameradin an. Ich kannte sie schon ein wenig von Facebook und sie scheint sehr nett zu sein- Bilder kommen später.

...Gegen Abend lernte ich dann noch eine Schwedin- Linn- kennen, die ebenfalls in meinem Skiteam sein wird und mit der ich mich sehr gute verstehe.

Insgesamt kann ich also sagen, dass hier wirklich alle Leute sehr freundlich und offen sind und ich mich hier sehr wohl fühle. Ich bin schon gespannt auf die nächsten Tage. An denen werde ich zum ersten Mal alle anderen Studenten treffen und auch meinen Stundenplan und die Professoren kennenlernen.

Bis Bald

Eure Julia :)


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