Please give us a brief introduction of yourself, the school you currently go to, and your major (area of study) in college.
Hello! I’m Cindy Su, and I was a DIS student for almost 9 years. I’ve always been keen to try new things and therefore, have a very wide range of interests. I’m a first-year College of Chemistry student at UC Berkeley, and I’m looking forward to do chemical research or related fields with a biology emphasis.
How does college life compare with your initial expectations of it?
College life is very different in every way possible. I did have expectations when it comes to big classes and being an adult. But I found that there is actually a lot more than just what is on the surface. Three finals within 24-hours, housing crises, fighting through protests to get to class (it’s a Berkeley thing) and surviving off […] caffeine are things that I never thought I would face. At the same time, college life forces you to balance your life and gives you (although it sounds cliché) a time to learn more about yourself.
What is the best part/worst part of college life?
I think that the fact that you are depending on yourself is both the best and the worst part of college life. You have the freedom to do, literally, anything you want. At college, your parents are not around and your professors won’t even know you unless you make an effort. You are really the only one in charge of what kind of college life you want.
How has your high school education affect your life in college?
Honestly, I felt that I’ve been really accomplished in high school. However, all that was nothing when I got into college. It was hard to keep up, as everyone was very competitive. (One sad meme we passed around our friend groups was that “I never studied so hard for such a low GPA.”) Everyone is, if not more, equally talented and ambitious. However, these are the circumstances that really spark emotional and mental growth.
What advice or word of encouragement would you like to give our current Dominican students regarding their preparation for college?
Try to find out what you really want to do. Take AP courses and college preps. Learn how to be in charge of your own life.
What’s a random fact about your school (eg. the best restaurants, school activity, myth, etc)?
UC Berkeley has a lot of traditions regarding GPA. One of which is the 4.0 hill, which will give you a 4.0 GPA for the semester if you roll down it.
