The instructors of the classes do not know what is being taught in the pre-recorded lectures. Exams do not reflect what was taught in the class or tested on quizzes. The front desk staff are extremely rude and unfamiliar with policies and classes offered. There is no tie to UC Berkeley other than the name and price you pay professors to grade homework.
I work at UC Berkeley Extension. After 12 years there, I do absolutely nothing that I was doing when I started. Taking classes (Adobe Creative Suite and photography, mostly) here has given me the opportunity to gain new skills to keep up with changing market needs. It's a great place to go to keep your skills current.
None of the front desk staff has been truly helpful so far in my experience. Quite unfortunate that the good Berkeley name is tarnished. They pretty much just sit there and chat most of their work hours away. They still do not know the answers to 99% of all basic questions related to the computer lab and school, including which day the lab is open or not (this is pretty unacceptable for them to NOT KNOW!) The computer lab notice says keep noise level at a minimum, but these staff members are the ones who just chit chat all day and sometimes even laugh and play as if they are home or out at a bar or something. Lousy environment for serious scholars.
Very good place to enhance your skills. I had a great learning experience and they have excellent faculty members.
The professor I had was good, but that was the only positive thing about my experience. Their customer service is just rude right out of the gate. And they price gouge in every possible way. You already know how expensive the classes are, but it doesn't stop there. For example, they want $20 for each transcript you request! The most any other institution has charged is $5. And for that price, you'd think they would at least provide an efficient method for ordering. But they don't. It's easily the most time consuming method I've endured. Berkeley Extension gives zero "f's" about your time or experience. They just want your money. If you have any other options, I suggest going somewhere else.
I don't want to start from beginning as other students already described that process pretty well.
I took Full Stack Web Development course for 6 months. I was paying 1600$ a month and 2500$ upfront payment.
Classes were three times a week. First 2 months went pretty well. They explained js, html and css. After we started jumping from one module to another yet nobody could understand them. There are group projects which supposed to help you to get along with people and learn working in a team.
But how are you going to work when only 10-15% class were catching up with instructor. After 4 months our instructor started drinking on fridays and missing saturday classes. He missed 4 classes and TA 's were not that professional to be able to explain the topics.
I personally was doing uber and paying 1600 a month. Working 68 hours a week and going to classes. You couldn't imagine my face everytime I would make it class on Saturday morning after long uber driving night and see how Instructor isn't in class again. When it happened 4th time - I lost all motivation and quit going to classes. I thought I will be remote at least to save time for myself. But remote classes were very low quality and most of the times translation was going off as it was unpaid subscription.
School also supposed to have a Student Success Manager and within 2 months 3 different people came to class and represented themself as SSM and left. Honestly I never seen any of them again. So we didn't have SSM for the time we studied there.
Also they promised to help with job search ---- Zero Help!
After the course I talked to one of the directors in school and explained him everything. I explained him how much I worked to pay for school and what we were getting in the class. I didn't pay for 1 months of school and they still haven't give me my Certification because of that. Even if I gained all necessary points to finish school.
A year passed and nobody found job from my class. Lol
Great programs! Experienced instructors! Amazing Brand!!
I took a course in the Trauma Informed Interventions Certificate Program and was very pleased with UC Berkeley Extension overall (I enrolled online and received all information in a timely manner). Also, having taken courses at UCLA Extension, obviously I was in a position to compare sister schools. The instruction that I received from the Professor was truly exceptional. The Professor was a well seasoned professional who conveyed knowledge and information in a very thorough, caring and empathically organized manner!!!! He embodied all of the ethical characteristics for true professional in the field of social work and as an LCSW, JD.!!! So sorry others were not able to enjoy the same professional learning experience that I encountered at UC Berkeley Extension.
As an employee, I generally feel well supported through UC Berkeley Extension. It is an honor and a pleasure teaching international students and preparing them to successfully navigate the GRE. I would recommend this department to anyone and everyone!
Worst school in the Bay Area! The online classes doesn t provide the final test services, so you have to find a qualified person and place to conduct your own final test, have you heard that one before? If the school doesn t trust their own teachers, I bet there is no trust for this school either!
If you want to get a higher education with more perks of living and more reasonable expenses in courses, UC Berkeley extension is not the place that you want to go! They have tons of hidden fee that is waiting for you when you get in! Unless you have too much money and try to get rid of it, please come to UC Berkeley extension! Go to UCLA extension, the school is more considerate and offers a variety of discount of everything within the school! That s why there are so many domestic and international students are enrolled there!
extension.berkeley.edu