For Cal Parents

Timeline of Common Student Activities

Students vary a great deal as to how closely they follow this timeline. This is not a rigid template, but a guideline.

First Year

A first year student’s priority is to adjust to campus life, learning how to balance academic requirements with campus activities and a social life. Once he’s had a chance to get comfortable being a college student, he can focus on:

Exploring major options
Seeking interesting activities to get involved in on campus
Getting to know fellow students

He might also want to:

Start thinking about possible careers
Consider whether graduate or professional school might be in his future
Look for part-time work or a summer job to make money and gain experience
Continue developing the qualities that brought him to Berkeley such as leadership, analytical thinking, communication and interpersonal skills

Second Year

As a student enters her second year at Cal, if she has not already chosen a major, she will need to make this a priority (students must declare a major before the first semester of junior year). She may also start to think about career options. Most students change their career plans repeatedly while in college, so don't be concerned if your son or daughter seems to lack focus. Activities this year may include:

Assessing interests, skills, strengths and values
Gathering information about careers of interest
Thinking about possible advanced degrees to explore in greater depth
If medical school may be a future goal, gaining relevant experience and learning about the application timeline
Starting to develop relationships with faculty in order to get solid recommendation letters for graduate or professional school
Creating a resume or updating an existing one
Looking for volunteer opportunities, part-time jobs, summer jobs or internships
Pursuing leadership opportunities within student organizations

Third Year (also for Transfer Students)

This is an ideal time for a student to focus on a handful of options he might like to pursue seriously, and:

Develop greater clarity about his interests, skills, strengths and values
Thoroughly investigate his favorite career options so he can begin to crystallize his career and educational goals
Start developing a network and learning about potential employers in his fields of interest
Update his resume
Find a part-time job or summer internship to verify his interests and gain skills employers seek
Actively explore possible post-graduate education to make sure he understands admissions requirements, timelines and procedures
If he plans to begin medical school the Fall following graduation, to prepare for the MCAT, take it in April of this year and begin applying in June

Fourth Year

Some students have clear career or graduate school plans by their senior year; many others do not. Either way, a senior might focus on activities such as:

Making decisions about her best option after graduation, and coming up with one or two backup plans just in case
Getting experience to build transferable skills
Continuing to make connections and build her professional network
Seeking full-time employment; researching employers, and learning how to conduct an effective job search
Preparing to present herself to employers as someone who is ready to transition out of college
Brushing up on professional etiquette, honing her resume, and learning to interview successfully
If she has decided to pursue graduate school, making sure she is on time with her applications

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