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Before your seminar . . .
- Read the entire FSS web site before choosing your class. At the very least, use the search function to find some hidden jewels. A seminar that interests you may be found in a department you never even thought of.
- Seminars often reach their capacity, so choose at least three courses to increase your chances of getting into a seminar.
- Visit the professors' web sites, if available, to learn more about them and their research interests.
- Check the FSS website regularly for updates:
- New classes
- Classes with open seats
- A change in the schedule
Useful Links:
During your seminar . . .
Congratulations for choosing to take a seminar! This is a wonderful opportunity for you to make the most of a unique educational experience during your freshman and sophomore years that will benefit you throughout your academic career and beyond.
- At least a week before your seminar, go to BearFacts and print out your class enrollment for the semester. Make sure you are enrolled in the seminar you want and for the grading option you prefer.
- On the first day of classes, go to the Online Schedule of Classes and recheck the information for your seminar just in case there have been any last minute scheduling changes.
- Visit CourseWeb to see if your instructor has created a website for your seminar.
- Don't be shy. Get to know your instructor. The Academic Centers, which offer academic support for residence hall students, provide helpful do's and don'ts for interacting with faculty. Speak to faculty in class and GO to their office hours whether you just want to say hello or have a specific question. If you are not sure what to say to your instructor, take the time to visit his/her faculty web page available on most department websites to learn more about his/her academic and personal interests. A list of UC Berkeley departments is available at http://www.berkeley.edu/academics/departments/a.html. Remember faculty members want to get to know you too, which is why they chose to teach a seminar, and they were once freshmen and sophomores like you.
- Get to know your peers and take time to make friends in your seminar and throughout your time at Cal. If you need some ideas to get started, visit the Office of Student Life web page, where you can find over four hundred student groups. There is sure to be one of interest to you.
- Develop your academic skills as you take your seminar and use your seminar as a lab for practicing what you have learned.
- Listening and talking are both vital to the success of a seminar and you can help to create a balance between the two. If you notice yourself talking a lot more than your peers, remember to take a break, listen and give others a chance to speak up. If you tend to be quiet in a classroom, remember adding your voice to the weekly discussions can enhance the seminar experience for all and give you practice for future classes.
- Check out the resources available to you through the Student Learning Center. The Center offers tutoring and workshops on researching, writing, note-taking, speaking in academic settings, and other valuable skills successful students need. Don't miss their Strategy Tips for Studying.
- If you are asked to write a paper or do a presentation, give it your best by taking advantage of the following resources created by the Office of Educational Development:
Presentations
General Considerations for Presentations
Delivery Dos and Don'ts
How to Make Your Speaking Easier and More Effective
Writing
Encouraging Student Writing, a PDF file available at http://teaching.berkeley.edu/teaching.html.
Note: The above presentation and writing resources were created for faculty, but the Office of Educational Development is delighted to share them with you.
- Take a little time to think about your future. Go to Step-by-Step and learn what you can do now as you are taking your seminar to prepare for graduate school. Take a glance at the Career Center webpage so you know what is there when you need it.
Take care of yourself, have fun, and enjoy your seminar experience!
After your seminar . . .
Did you enjoy the seminar? If so, check out other course offerings in the same department or by the same faculty member. Links to all the departmental websites can be found at http://www.berkeley.edu/academics/departments/a.html
Check under the name of the College where the department resides.
It's a good idea to stay in touch with the professor who taught your seminar. Drop by during office hours in the years to come. Professors can give helpful guidance about your education and the challenges you face, and when you need a letter of recommendation nothing beats a faculty member who has known you for several years.
If you took a Seminar for Freshmen this year and liked the small-group interaction, you might try one of the "84" series of Seminars for Sophomores.
Another good way to enjoy sustained contact with faculty members is to participate in their research projects, or to design and carry out your own research project under the mentorship of a faculty member. The Office of Undergraduate Research is an excellent place to find out about research-related opportunities.
If your seminar inspired you to consider majoring in the sponsoring department, you may be wondering what kinds of careers might open up to you with a degree in this field. The Career Center website includes a wonderful feature called "What can I do with a major in X?" which gives you access to survey results from recent graduates.
Be sure to make good use of the campus library, which is among the best in the world.
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