Academics

These are college classes, there are absolutely going to be different than what you're used to, but these classes aren't difficult, there doable, the syllabus is there for a reason, and yes you should attend your lectures

The academics are very challenging, but not so challenging that you have the high possibility for suicides such as other much more competitive universities. You definitely have to try hard and study a lot, but you aren't going to kill yourself studying. The academic rigor is such that you must apply yourself heavily but you are still going to have a chance to explore your other interests and keep yourself balanced in other aspects of your life.

The classes are difficult, depending on what you take. I've taken a range of classes including Psychology, Writing, Chemistry, Political Philosophy, and Film Analysis. The basic level classes are exactly what you'd expect, in my experience: introductory courses that are run as much by TAs as they are by professors. Once you get to the upper-division classes the school starts to get rigorous, and it wont be easy. If you want to take Chem 1A, make sure you're not taking more than one other hard class: the chem and bio series is brutal. The upside is that the harder the classes are, the more you learn. Its an excellent curve.

As a history major, I have found that my teachers are overly helpful. Professors and TAs are open to student questions and work closely with them on assignments to better facilitate the learning process. I have had formidable professors, and have been enlightened by their intellects.