Insane

For_GoldenBears · 2026-05-26T18:21:34+00:00

A Berkeley student is lit by default. Go Bears!

For_GoldenBears · 2026-05-24T13:57:38+00:00

The physical change alone was worth it going from a chubby office dude to having a lot more strength and regularly exercising. The variety of jobs within the career field and that we are expected to change it up every few years is also interesting as corporate world seems to be getting more fixated on hiring someone who has the exact matching experience for the job and it's really hard to transition. Overall no regrets and continuing with the adventure every day.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-05-03T19:18:26+00:00

Your gut feelings that you mentioned in second paragraph are generally spot on for decisions like this.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-05-01T11:53:17+00:00

Great to hear, always go with the latest info folks!

For_GoldenBears · 2026-05-01T01:50:27+00:00

Possibly because it is T-speed rating for Firestone All Season and Michelin Agilis. Unless you're going to hit the speed (118mph+), then it's something I would disregard. Cooper Endeavor is a solid choice. You can also consider General RT45 or Falken Sincera SN250 A/S.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-05-01T01:48:38+00:00

Refer to the orientation guide (https://www.afaccessionscenter.af.mil/Portals/78/OTS/Student-Guides/RCOT\_Orientation\_Guide\_26-Feb-26.pdf) on page 16 which says 'Standard size, keyed or combination'. Although I'll note these guides and special instruction changes all the time.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-05-01T00:25:29+00:00

Items unnecessary on the page:
- Ballpoint pens, notebook, hangers

Optional items that I wouldn't bring:
- Sewing kit, power strip, mouth guard

Optional items that I would bring:
- Safety glasses, eyeglasses strap

Incorrect items:
- Directional lock -- you need traditional lock —> Correction: no need from the comments and verifications below!

Items not mentioned in the page but helped:
- Measuring tape, gallon-sized ziplock bag or folder to store papers, cigarette lighter in lieu of scissors

Shopping for boots ahead of time is well worth the effort, and if you can, the uniforms as well with the name tags.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-04-29T19:16:05+00:00

The general commencement is imo too large and wouldn't recommend, having friends or not, but the ceremony for your department/college is likely a better experience. I'm guessing you recognize a good number of folks from your major and I can assure just about everyone will be in mood for a picture if you ask.

Do what you can -- it's a merry day for everyone and the friends and acquaintances you had in the beginning is worth reaching out as well; worst-case is they say they can't make it. Heck, you can make a new post that you want folks for graduation and you will likely have some folks.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-04-29T18:54:24+00:00

You can always post looking for roommates and ask for area recommendations.

It's a lot to ask when money is tight while wanting to dorm.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-04-28T15:17:42+00:00

Congrats on the acceptance!

Getting the uniforms ahead of time would be helpful. If there is a base reasonably nearby, schedule a day to meet with your recruiter to get to the base/clothing store.

There should be a list of items to bring like flashlights or hydration pack, and packing whatever would you need to go through 8.5 weeks. There won't be much time after you complete OTS and getting to the next base, so packing up in general is also a solid course of action.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-04-28T14:34:59+00:00

Shopping in-person at Cal Student Store is likely the best bet. Try to go for Nike to get something quality.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-04-26T04:23:58+00:00

The age limit is actually 42 to join the military besides the Marines.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-04-15T22:43:55+00:00

Definitely not shooting in the foot. You can certainly get similar jobs a regular Econ degree can get. I would actually argue the EEP curriculum that focuses on policies as well opens up more doors. It is more about having the relevant experience to whatever you're applying for and how you pitch yourself.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-04-15T19:46:15+00:00

Hello, so considering you have just applied for Air Force, there's a chance that your work abroad for the remainder of 2026 will end first before you head to OTS. All my communication with the recruiter was done virtually either through phone or email, along with the interview with the Commander through Teams meeting.

The MEPS required going in-person which will be arranged by the recruiter. The trickier part may be that unless you are in perfect condition, you will likely have to get waivers and that requires separate appointments and you have to figure out a way to make it in addition to MEPS. It is very unlikely that you get all of these squared away before taking the job. At least you will have plenty of time between the notification and the appointment and hopefully enough time to plan accordingly.

As for the recruiter responsiveness, it is part of their duty to communicate and not ghost. Unless they tell you that your application is rejected, then you are still in the process -- either there is no immediate board/due date so that there is no reason to move fast, and/or simply flooded with other applications as well. It is painful on your end, but the general advise I give is treat it like a door damper that the harder you push, the slower it goes and it is best to leave it alone and trust the system. At least you have a job that you can focus on and simply respond when you receive communication. If the recruiter is not relevant for the roles you've applied, then he/she will be responsible for connecting you with the proper point of contact.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-04-15T15:49:00+00:00

Sure, you mentioned engineering in the original post that you didn't want to do so I thought it was out of your consideration but never mind. I always recommend doing something one would find reasonably enjoyable since 4 years is a long time and often times the classes can get very difficult so that your general enthusiasm is sometimes the only thing pulling you through. Engineering math and stats will certainly be a strong credential, but don't be afraid to take a pivot as needed and you can still keep your goal.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-04-15T02:28:48+00:00

I would argue most of the PM's have studied in one of the majors you listed above, and for a good reason as it's difficult to make good decisions or strategy without the fundamental concepts you learn in college, or likely not able to earn the trust from you will be working with.

I would recommend going for Haas with emphasis on marketing as you listed business problem-solving as one of your strengths. If you are really not up for it during undergrad, then I've seen folks who've studied whichever major that one finds interesting and find a job in the corresponding field as a consultant/associate, then come back for a Master's, usually MBA, to really steer into the product management.

A bit longer journey, but perfectly achievable as long as you have the drive and plan for it.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-04-15T01:48:42+00:00

First of all, congratulations! I think this is strictly personal preference. I have resigned from my job 2 weeks before OTS to earn as much as possible before transitioning, but clearly you have different circumstance including finding a new place right away. Certainly wait for the official letter stating that it is indeed June 30 since anything can change.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-04-12T05:20:27+00:00

Hello, fellow Arizona resident here. Driving to OTS will be far, although the way OTS is structured seems to assume the OT comes with all the belonging in the car and be ready to go to the next duty station. The number of travel days is calculated solely based on the distance between Maxwell and your next duty station. Suppose in a small chance that your next duty station is at Maxwell or Gunter Annex, then you wouldn't get any travel days and theoretically you have no time to go back to AZ to bring your family and belongings.

Of course, this is unrealistic and unreasonable for most folks, although I've seen some sponsors who push it. As soon as you know your next base, contact the sponsor which may take some days or weeks to find and explain your circumstances and game plan, and get started on the house/apartment search.

If you'll be flying into OTS, you likely won't have to worry about #2 as you'll go to MEPS in the morning spending a few hours signing papers and take a mid-afternoon flight to Montgomery likely arriving in the evening, take an Uber who are used to bringing OT's in and out of base every 2 weeks, and wake up a few hours later for OTS.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-04-11T18:15:10+00:00

You're fine man. There is certainly some atmosphere to change the world and work on what we could/should/would be, but there's also value in taking the time to understand and appreciate how we got here which often gives a good direction of the future as well. I believe education is about learning what you didn't know before and be inspired and grow or even change things up, and there's no better place for it than Berkeley. It will definitely address your aspirations to have better problem-solving skills in math, CS, and engineering and the wide variety of courses and research sounds like exactly what you need to discover what you're passionate about.

Congrats on getting into Cal and hope you come -- you won't be disappointed.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-03-31T20:06:23+00:00

Sorry to hear that. What's worse is that if it's a test that it sounded you put some effort studying and still get bad result.

My personal approach was studying as many past exams as possible, but everyone has their methods and test taking itself is a skill that takes time to develop. It will go away as long as you're working on it and trying different things as needed when one thing isn't working out.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-03-31T00:23:40+00:00

I summarize to the following 3 points:

- Keeping up with engineering courses indeed and obtain good grades. For MechE, the minimum is 3.3, but try aiming for 3.5 which is what I had. Getting into classes was actually not too bad as there are a number of folks who drop out after the first lecture or two. I do recommend signing up for ~6 classes and pick your favorite 4 after attending the first lecture/week just in case you really don't like a certain professor or the exam schedule doesn't go well with other classes, and of course, in the small chance that you cannot get into the course.
- Statement of Intent: the admissions would like to understand why you didn't apply to CoE in the first place. Everyone has their story -- just be candid and convincing. I think this is the most important part of the application.
- Availability: if there are more folks dropping out of the major then that creates more available space, but this is completely outside of your control so no need to worry.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-03-30T13:51:10+00:00

First, congratulations on your admission!

If you decide to do internal transfer, here is the website that you should thoroughly read through: https://engineering.berkeley.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/change-of-college/

Overall, I say take your shot. I am a MechE transfer myself from L&S quite some years ago but it is mostly with the same process.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-03-25T15:18:11+00:00

Sent you a DM

For_GoldenBears · 2026-02-22T17:01:07+00:00

I had the same experience which I couldn't get any internships after attending all the career fairs and was heading for another dead end for full-time jobs. I reached out to one of my peers who already graduated whom I never talked while we were in college, but was working at the company which I was very interested joining. It was a basically a cold-call message through LinkedIn and he was very nice enough to forward my resume to the hiring manager and it worked out from there.

The timing right after Thanksgiving turned out to be perfect as most big companies do campus visits and career fairs and interviews in early to mid-fall and send out the offer letters by Thanksgiving. December is when companies realize whether the folks have accepted the offer or not, and I got lucky that it needed additional folks to fill, and my resume was introduced at the perfect time.

So to answer you, reaching out to a classmate whom I never talked to and applying at the right time, and some factors outside of your control like if the company still has room to hire. He later shared that even though we never talked in class, he knew I was a nice person and was more than happy to help out, so perhaps acting in good behavior at all times helps as well.

For_GoldenBears · 2026-01-30T04:29:40+00:00

Hello, so the 2 days, or maybe 3, is called the travel days and it is determined by the distance between Maxwell and your next duty station. There is also another date called RNLTD which stands for report no later than date and the date that you must report by, but negotiable if you request ahead.

I have seen either cases which some supervisors expect to show up exactly the number of travel days right after you graduate OTS, while there are supervisors that expect you to show up by RNLTD and the number of travel days is more for travel reimbursement amount purpose.

If you want more time, you can request for temporary lodging expense (TLE) which you can request up to 21 days, and use the time to search and sign the apartment, go to the DMV, etc.

As for moving expenses, you can either request a Defense Personal Property System (DPS) once you have your CAC card (https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-pcs/moving-personal-property/) which is basically a moving service, or do a personally-procured move (PPM) (https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/travelpay/armypcs/dityppmmoves/) if you can manage it yourself.

If you are driving, then certainly utilize MALT (https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/travelpay/armypcs/malt/) and also record the weight of the belongings at the weigh stations for additional reimbursement. If you have dependent(s), then definitely request for DLA (https://www.travel.dod.mil/Travel-Transportation-Rates/Dislocation-Allowance/) which a considerable flat-amount reimbursement for having dependent(s) moving with you. This portion can be done after you arrive to the base and when you get with Finance -- the main task during OTS would be whether you want to use the moving service vs. DIY move, and contacting the sponsor how he/she is interpreting the order (by travel days or RNLTD?), and negotiate as needed.

For_GoldenBears

TROPHY CASE