First Year Students

Information for First Years

The first year, and especially the first month, at Berkeley can be pretty overwhelming with all the tasks that you have to do. Settling into a new place, taking your prelim and fulfilling all the bureaucratic hurdles can be quite a whirlwind. The information below explains many of the situations you will probably face in your first year, and hopefully will make them all seem manageable. It's in your best interest to read through all this information at least once before arriving; they can provide a handy reference for navigating through your first year.

Residency

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you must become a California resident after your first year. If you do not, you are responsible for the out-of-state tuition starting in your second year. The official 2008 residency checklist is here. You can find the most current version here.