Hi guys
Someone in the UCLA thread suggested making a thread exclusive to psych majors, so I went ahead and made one. It would be cool to have a place where we can chat amongst ourselves about decisions/questions/concerns specific to our major while we’re waiting to hear back from the last few schools.
So… let’s get it goin
I’ve been admitted to UCSB, UCD, UCSC, and UCR. I was rejected by Berkeley but it’s ok I guess. I don’t have much interest in Riverside or Santa Cruz. I was wondering if anyone knows which school between Davis and SB has a superior psych program.
I’m not counting on getting into Irvine, since I still haven’t heard from them. UCLA is a major reach for me (low GPA), and SD is probably not happening either.
If someone could send a ranking of psych programs (I’ve read conflicting information), or speak off personal experience, that would be great.
I do like how both schools offer both a BS and BA program, but I am unsure of which to go for. It is nice to have both options though.
Hello yes
I got admitted to Irvine for Psychology but after reading a bit about PSB (Psychology and Social Behaviors) major, I think I might switch if I do end up going to the school. However, what I’ve read online so far has been few and far between regarding the differences between the two majors. Anyone here knowledgeable about it?
My top choice is UCLA though and the wait is so stressful! Besides prestige/campus/food, I’d really like to just go to LA because I will have completed all of their pre-reqs by the time I transfer, while I did not really focus on completing any of UCI’s. ANd UCI requires Calculus for some reason.
But because grad school is the goal, UCI’s biggest perk is that I’d probably have an easier time maintaining a high GPA, which is what it really comes down to.
@queen_ofthenorth Personally I did not apply to SB because they only offer a BS. I’ve heard that it’s definitely more intense and focuses a lot on the bio/neuro side of psych. I’m more into the humanities aspect of the major. But I’ve heard that the social sciences department at SB is pretty great!
Unfortunately, I do not know anything about Davis.
@jedenic A lot of the schools require Calculus which I was initially surprised by. I’m currently taking Calc1a but might drop if I go to a school that doesn’t require it. UCLA doesn’t have nearly as many reqs as some other schools like SD, so I assume a lot of us will have that box checked off for LA. Do you mind sharing your stats?
Also, side note, I’m pretty sure that our GPA’s will reset when we transfer (which for me, is a pro).
As for BS vs BA, I’d like to talk to counselors to find out specifics about upper division classes before choosing one over the other. I wouldn’t be stoked on having to take more Calculus or Chem at a UC because my GPA would most likely take a major hit.
@queen_ofthenorth Yah ugh I had a terrible experience with AP Calc in HS so I avoid it when possible. I completed the UCLA math requirement with my AP Stats credit.
Stats-
1-year transfer from CCC
GPA: 4.0
TAP/TAG: neither
Pre-reqs: Done by Spring (LA)
IGETC: Done by Spring
AA-T: yes
ECs: HS-- Journalism Editor-in Chief, Mock Trial, Key Club President (200+ volunteer hours), ASB
College-- Forensics (Speech & Debate)
Awards: Speech tournaments finalist/bronze/winner, other stuff from HS
Work exp: previously a private tutor in HS, canvasser for Congressional candidate last summer
Essays: pretty solid
Applied to: LA, Irvine
Accepted: Irvine
Waiting: LA
EDIT: LOL @ all of us having edited our posts. I added more details for stats.
Hey, fellow psych major here. I got admitted to Irvine and Davis and am waiting for UCLA
My GPA is 3.75
Hey, I’m posting my stats here for reference
Major: Psychology
Community College Transfer (from LA)
International student
Ethnicity: Indian
Gender: Female
Current GPA: 3.91
Major Prep: Completed by Fall 2018
General ed: completed by Spring 2019
TAP: no
IGETC: Completed February 2019. Will be done before transfer.
Basically, all the requirements will be met
Extracurriculars: Dancer (not professionally but as a hobby), Vice President, (Now the President but I can’t report that now) and Historian of Psychology Club and Psi Beta Honors society, Prefect for 2 years in India (9-10 grade), Choreographed a dance piece for a dance concert.
Job/Work Experience: n/a
Volunteer/Community service: Fundraising for nonprofit, English Tutor for underprivileged kids, Currently volunteering in a hospital in their Rehabilitation department and patient escort.
Personal Statement: I think they are good enough.
Degree: None
Weaknesses: 1 Pass no Pass Course in Spring 2019
Applying to what schools?
UCLA, UCB, USC, UCSD, UCSB(TAG), UCI.
Accepted: UCSB(TAG), UCI
Rejected: UCD and UCB
@queenofthenorth I would suggest going to the website of their psych departments and look at the major requirements as to if they require calculus or not. I think for SB they do require calc 1 as per assist but I’m not sure if they require calc2.
Hey guys, another psych major here lol.
@jedenic - I also applied to UCI, it’s my very first choice if I don’t get into UCLA. And yeah there’s 2 different majors for psych. I know Pysch and social behavior, which is now Psychological science (what I chose) is more focused on the social side of psych. I feel like the other one is more focused on the cognitive side of psych, and yeah it does require Calc, but not the other one. If you do choose to attend UCI I think you should switch over to psychological science.
In-state from cc
Major prep: Done for UCI and UCLA in spring, not done for UCB (probably why I didn’t get in) or UCSD lol
IGETC: done
GPA: 3.85 (1 C and 1 B, rest were A’s)
TAP: Nah
Accepted: UCI (w/ TAG)
Rejected: UCB
Waiting: UCLA, UCSD, USC
ECs: Not much, Link Crew Leader in high school, part time job as AVID Tutor, taking care of younger sibling
Essays: I think they’re pretty solid but Berkeley didn’t think so lol. I guess 7/10 ish
Hi Psych majors! I applied to UCI and was accepted and am so anxious to hear about UCLA.
Hey guys I got rejected from Berkeley yesterday so things aren’t looking too good for me for UCLA.
1-year transfer from CCC, on quarter system
GPA: 3.96 (All A’s and 1 A-)
TAP: no, school doesn’t offer
Pre-reqs: Finished in winter quarter (chem) but they didn’t ask for the grade so def a sign I’m not in
IGETC: Done by spring quarter
Accepted: UCSB, UCI, UCD (idk how, I was missing a whole class for them)
Waiting: UCLA, UCSD (sociology major)
Other stuff:
-I work two part time jobs so rlly no college ec’s
-Hs ec’s: competitive dance team/danced for my whole life
-some volunteer hours and awards for dance
-I looked back on my essays and I don’t think they’re that great lmao other than the required transfer essay
Anyways pretty defeated about Cal and I can’t help but think I’m prob not gonna make it for UCLA now esp bc I wasn’t asked for winter grades but we’ll see what happens on Wed.
@Chez59 Thank you! Just checked out the PSB major on Assist and it looks like I have 4/6 of the major pre-reqs done. I re-checked for the general Psych major and am surprised to see I actually have 5/8 done, two of which need to be taken at UCI. I’d have to talk to more people there to determine which major is more fit for me.
Ugh same for me. I got rejected from Berkeley, and now I am worried about UCLA. I just hope I can make it to UCSD since it is my first choice.
Just compared PSB and Psych upper-div courses. DEFINITELY more interested in PSB. Psych is more about perception, hearing, brain, etc. while PSB has courses about relationships, stress, law, etc.
Hi all, thought would post my stats.
CCC transfer - Cabrillo College
GPA: 3.85 with completion of CCC honors program
IGETC: Complete
Prereqs: Done by Spring 2019
Applied: UCLA (TAP) and 8 other private schools
Accepted: UCB
ECs: Currently interning as a domestic violence legal advocate (16hrs/week), exec board for Psychology Club and Psi Beta (the CC honors psychology association), presenter at the Northern CA honors research symposium, working part time, in high school I was in student government all 4 years, tutor at boys and girls club, worked with 4-6 year olds at the UCSC farm and garden
Essays: wrote about being a domestic violence advocate, researching and presenting at the CA honors symposium, and choosing to stay home as a caregiver for my mom and go to community college
I’m having a hard time deciding between the psych programs at UCB and UCLA. I am interested in going to law school (and probably needing to get a masters too yikes). I work in the courthouse and think the interaction between psych and law is really interesting. Does anyone have any insight? I’m so worried about making the wrong choice.
Also, I’ve heard mixed reviews about the psych program at UCSC. I’ve grown up in Santa Cruz and have friends in the psych program that are currently super frustrated with the class selection (or lack of). Many professors have been leaving and I know a lot of people are disappointed in the upper division classes offered.
@apriotjammin In terms of prestige and academic rigor, they are about the same. When it comes down to it, you’ll likely be able to decide after visiting both campuses to get a feel of each school’s culture and vibe. You just need to get a feel of where you “fit” more.
Also consider that LA runs on a quarter system and Cal is by semester.
Good luck! Regardless of where you end up, if you don’t like it, it’s never too late to transfer elsewhere. I just saw someone from Cal’s thread who committed to UCLA as a transfer last year but decided to transfer to Cal and got in!
Hi fellow psych majors! Glad to see a thread made just for us ^^ Stats:
Pre-reqs: Done
IGETC: Done
TAP: Yes. Alt major: Linguistics and Psychology
GPA: 3.75
UCs applied to: UCLA, Davis, Irvine, San Diego, and Riverside
Accepted: UCR
Denied (so far): UCD
Pending: UCLA, Irvine, San Diego
ECS:
President of the AGS Honors Society at my college. Secretary for Girl Up! club (a program where we focus on educational awareness for girls in the middle east). Past senator for student government.
300+ Volunteering hours in AmeriCorps student ambassador program (UC application wouldn’t let me put 3 digits so I had to put the 52 maximum hours. haha). 2 year unpaid intern at a children’s global exchange program where they travel to another country. Currently paid intern for the American Federation of Teachers. Working part time as an English tutor at my school. Presented at UCLA for a research conference
Awards: 3 scholarships last year, and I added an achievement for winning this year’s NaNoWriMo (it’s not really an academic award, but I feel being able to write a complete novel with 50,000 words under one month might mean something to them hopefully, ).
Other things that might help: I took a Chicano studies class at UCLA over the summer since I’m part of the CCCP program and did SITE PLUS. I got a B from that class, so I have an established UC GPA of 3.0.
Personal statements:
Wrote about how I was mostly prepared for my psych major because of the UCLA research program I was in that allowed me to do research in my own field, which prepares me for the rigorous demands at the UC.
Wrote about my creativity in art and how I could apply ton my major with it by drawing workshops for students to cope with mental health.
Wrote how my experience in my 2 year internship has allowed me to become a leader
Last one was sort of difficult for me. I wrote about how my talent in writing allows me to be diligent, which sets me apart from other candidates, It was hard trying not to sound cliche ^^
@HarleyTheQuinn Hey I remember seeing you from the 2018 UCLA thread! So inspiring and cool to see that you are reapplying and have raised your GPA since.