I currently attend Cal and am a distance runner on the team. With all of the previous posts in consideration, I'll give you an accurate description of what it's like here for a student-athlete:
- lower-division classes are not difficult and are generally taught in large class sizes. They usually have a fair amount of reading - which the professor usually summarizes and provides his own input on during lecture. Most classes also have one or two discussion sections that meet a week that break down the material on a more person level.
- It's definitely true that this place is overrun by asians (hopefully you have yellow fever)
- If you are a student athlete, the school offers various ways to help you with your schooling. You receive priority enrollment, free tutoring, a team counselor, as well as other seminars, career connection opportunities, and various aid.
- If you try and use the resources available to you, there is no reason why you shouldn't get an A.
- The party/frat scene is what you would expect
- There's always something to do, or some organized event going on (as you could probably expect from any college).
- The professors WILL give you attention, if you take advantage of their office hours.