IB Peer Advisors
Our Peer Advising Program provides and excellent service to IB students, complementing the advising of the faculty and staff. Our peer advisors:
- advise undeclared students,
- help with choosing a track in the major,
- share firsthand knowledge of course demands,
- make suggestions on course combinations,
- provide general information about applying to medical, pre-health professional and graduate schools, and
- are a great resource for information about many other student experiences.
Chris
Hi there! My name is Chris and I'm currently a 4th year majoring in Integrative Biology Track 2: Human Biology & Health Sciences. It took me a while to settle on a science major, but I'm glad I picked IB, and I'm glad you did too. You can ask me any questions you might have about what classes to take, how to balance school with extracurricular activities, how to find research opportunities, or anything else about the major. I would love to help you in any way I can. Besides taking classes, I enjoy learning and gaining research experience in the Epstein lab at the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute.
Currently, my post-graduation plans lean toward graduate school for biomedical research, but we'll see! When I'm not in class or in lab, I also love spending time with my friends in Klesis, a Christian fellowship that I am a part of. I love meeting new people so I hope to see you around in class (IB 117LF anyone?) or in VLSB.
Claudia
Hey there! My name is Claudia and this is my 3rd year as a Cal Golden Bear! I'm a pre-med student majoring in Integrative Biology, specifically on the Human Health track. As a 3rd year I've experienced extreme challenges of being a student at the #1 public institute in the world, especially as a science major, and so I know how stressful Berkeley can get.
What I have realized is that achieving such an honorable and respectable thing such as a Bachelors degree from UC Berkeley, of course, is not going to be easy! So I have learned that the only way through is to take each challenge here at Berkeley one at a time, with a lot of positivity and tenacity, with the courage to ask all the questions you need answered, and to take advantage of all the great resources offered here at Berkeley, such as your IB advisors and peer advisors.
If you ever have any questions about Integrative Biology, being a pre-med student, or just need some guidance, please don't be afraid to come in and ask for help, and I will help you as much as I possibly can. If you want to succeed here at UC Berkeley, don't be afraid to ask for help! And when it gets tough, please remember to breathe and laugh, it'll get you through a lot.
Derek
Hi there! My name is Derek and I am a third year Integrative Bio major currently in track 1, which is Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology. I am from Santa Monica, California and I have always enjoyed biology as subject, but more specifically I love exploring the natural world. Recently I have gotten into backpacking and camping, which are both two things I wish I discovered earlier in my life! To top it off, my hero when I was younger was Australia’s own Steve Irwin and I used to watch the Crocodile Hunter religiously so I think I have settled down into the correct field. As of now I am working in Marvalees Wake’s lab, studying amphibians and hopefully this semester I will really get to start doing some awesome research. I also got into the lab through URAP, so if you are curious about the process ask me about how to get into it! It’s actually really fun!
After I graduate, I plan to go to graduate school in biology, and although I still to this day am unclear as to what I plan to study, I am eager to answer any and all of your questions in order to bring more clarity to you own future plans!
Hansen
Hi I'm Hansen and I am a 3rd year. I'm from LA, heard of Arcadia High School? Like some of you, I was a spring admit. I know, seriously, a SPRING ADMIT? That was my reaction when I was accepted, and refreshing my browser couldn't change it to FALL. I'm glad it didn't, because through the FPF program I met great friends and got time to experience new things that completely opened up my personality. There's nothing wrong with taking things slow. College, especially at Berkeley, is not a race with time, because we can totally wind up doing that and end up ignoring the other crucial aspects of Berkeley.
Berkeley is about finding our balance on our own without parents to nag or lecture us. It gives me jitters every time I think about it. If you like, find me so we can chat, chill, or chow. An honest conversation is always a satisfying one. Oh I'm always down to hit up an art museum, it always brightens up my day.
Jen
Hey everyone! My name is Jen, and I'm a fourth year IB major in the Human Health track. I know Cal can sometimes feel like an enormous place, with so many things to choose from and the pressure to plan out the rest of your life right away. But once I started speaking with people in the advising department, I felt much more certain about taking my time to figure what I want (and I'm still not decided on a future plan).
This Fall, I'll be taking IB 131L, IB 144, Public Health 162A, and Public Health 162L. Right now, I'm a research assistant at the CA Department of Public Health and a TA for PH 116 (and of course, a peer advisor too!). So if you've got any questions about research off-campus, public health graduate or medical school, or actually any questions at all, just come on in. I'll be more than happy to help you talk things out.
Joanne
Hi there! My name is Joanne and I am a fourth year pre-med student majoring in Integrative Biology in the Human Health track. I transferred from UC Davis to UC Berkeley in Fall 2010. I remember how tough the transition process was for me as a transfer student, but the Integrative Biology department made it a better experience for me.
I hope to help you just as the advisers helped me last year. What really eased the transition process for me was staying active and busy. I got involved in research at the Berkeley Psychophysiology Lab and made some great friends there. I also joined the American Medical Student Association and participated in community service events. I am currently volunteering at Alta Bates too.
If you have any questions about what activities to do, please feel free to ask. My post-graduation plans include applying to medical school and seeing the Pyramids of Giza.
Lily
Hi! My name is Lily and I'm a third year majoring in Integrative Biology. I enjoy singing off-key, drawing birds, and practicing to become ambidextrous. I thought about a lot of different majors before I realized that Integrative Biology was the one for me. If you've somehow stumbled upon this, it means that you are now aware of a resource that I didn't know existed in my first year here at Cal, so take advantage of it.
It's certainly difficult being a science major here at Berkeley, and I know how overwhelming it can get at times (but that's what we're here for). We love spreading nerdy cheer here at the office so please feel free to drop by any time you have any questions concerning the major, or the classes you're taking, or how to get involved on campus.... or just to talk about life. Looking forward to meeting you.
Sarah
Hi there! My name is Sarah and I am a third year student majoring in Integrative Biology, human health track, and minoring in music. I plan on attending Physical Therapy school after I graduate and eventually, work with kids with special needs.
When I was accepted to Cal, I was admitted as a spring admit and participated in FPF (Fall Program for Freshman) my first semester. I definitely thought at the time that being a spring admit would put me behind academically and that I would not graduate on time. However, with the great assistance from the advisors in the IB department, I was able to plan a perfect schedule revolving around my wants and needs. Their help and support is what influenced me to become a peer advisor myself!
In addition to being a peer advisor, I have a Cal Athletics Sports Medicine Internship, I volunteer with SNAP, a special needs aquatic program, and I run 5 days a week. So, if you find yourself wondering how to plan (and balance) the perfect schedule, have questions about declaring the major, want to know how to get a fantastic internship, or great organizations to get involved with, do not hesitate to drop by and pay me a visit! I love to my help fellow students in any way I can!
IB Info
Thank you for your interest!
Integrative Biology
UC Berkeley
1005 Valley Life Sciences
Berkeley CA
General Inquires