<p>Normally this would be a slam dunk decision, especially since UCLA gave me a bit more financial aid (even a scholarship). But I did not get into economics at UCLA, while I did at UCSC. </p>
<p>In every other way, UCLA would be perfect for me. I love the campus, the academics, the people, the administration, and the education minor. I would get to be close to family and friends, and also it would be easier to stay in touch with my professional network. But I would have to pick a major that I won't enjoy studying as much as economics. The major would also have to be a non-impacted major (basically most of the majors that end up with the highest paying jobs after graduation--engineering, sciences, economics). </p>
<p>I want to work in higher education, and everyone I've talked to in the field says that it doesn't matter what you major in for your undergrad. People get jobs based on their graduate degrees (most of which do not require any particular undergrad major) and experience. I work at my community college right now, and everyone there, including a dean, recommended I go to UCLA.</p>
<p>I am okay with UCSC. I'm pretty confident that I can thrive there too. I think if I go there I will major in economics or math economics with an education minor. I will still try to get into education, but with those degrees I'm thinking I'll at least have a backup plan. </p>
<p>Anyone else have to decide between a college they love without their major and a college that they're okay with with their major?</p>
<p>And is graduating with an economics major from UCSC that much better in terms of job prospects than graduating from UCLA with a non-engineering, non-science, non-economics degree? I do have a Business Administration AA, even though that really doesn't mean anything anymore.</p>
<p>Any real experiences would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Honestly, this is really tough… A useless degree (for the sake of argument) at a prestigious University or an employable degree at low ranked University ( again for the sake of argument).</p>
<p>What will you be majoring in at UCLA? Do you like the major or is it something you don’t want to study. Have you visited both school?</p>
<p>The STARS program at UC Santa Cruz for transfer and reentry students can give you specific information on the path to graduation with your major and minor choices. I don’t know any transfer students who opted for a second choice major. One student whose first choice was UCLA stayed at CC for another year because they told him they could have admitted him with more prerequisites completed. Have you talked to UCLA to find out why you weren’t admitted to your major?</p>
<p>Just because you don’t major in economics at UCLA doesn’t mean you won’t be employable. What really counts is what kind of experiences you get…and UCLA offers a lot. I can’t say anything against UCSC cause I have no idea what goes on there…but at UCLA there are a lot of opportunites for you to get involved…especially since you want to work in higher education. UCLA is one of the best public universities in the country (as is UCSC I suppose) so you should be able to get a lot out of the experience.</p>
<p>What major were you admitted to at UCLA? Realistically, it’s not possible to switch to ANY unimpacted major since you will have a lot of prerequisites missing. I wouldn’t go to UCLA (or any school) if I couldn’t choose a major I would be happy with.</p>
<p>@mermaker: Yeah, it is a tough decision. My major is a social science I have no interest in studying ><. I was a TAP student, so I was able to choose two majors on my application. But I think I’m allow to change to a non-impacted major. I’ve visited both schools. UCSC was okay–don’t like or dislike it. UCLA is awesome though.</p>
<p>@SNM: I’ve heard the STARS program is really helpful. I don’t know anyone who went for their second choice major either. But staying at community college another year would be a financial strain.</p>
<p>@oceanpartier: That is similar to what I’ve been hearing from people at UCLA and my community college. Especially with higher education, people tend to have widely varying undergraduate degrees. And there really are a lot of opportunities at UCLA. I’m sure I’ll be happy there if I can find a major I’ll enjoy studying.</p>
<p>@andrewexd: I was admitted into a social science I have no interest in studying ><. I wouldn’t go to a school to study a major I wasn’t happy with studying either. </p>
<p>I think I’m going to try to find a major that is not impacted, since I do have prereqs done, almost done for a few other majors. Thanks again everyone. I would appreciate any more advice.</p>
<p>Actually it’s pretty easy to switch into un impacted majors as long as you’ll graduate within the unit cap. Just start doing the pre-requesites in the summer/fall.</p>
<p>I’m in the same position as you ucwhere, I got accepted to UCLA as a Philosophy major and to UCSB/UCSC as an Econ/Accounting major. I guess our situations are a bit different since I’m going for a career path (accounting) whereas Econ alone is mostly theory based and not practically applicable to the business world. I also would love to study philosophy but I don’t want to graduate with just a phil degree so I’m going to UCSB instead to double major.</p>
<p>Nice to know there is someone else out there. Actually our paths aren’t that different at all. I’m considering accounting too. I got into UCI, and I haven’t really considered it since they offered me a lot less financial aid that UCLA and UCSC. If I can add the accounting minor there, I might actually end up going.</p>
<p>If I can’t get into education (getting the high paying administrator/counseling jobs in education is extremely difficult), accounting or actuarial science would be something I would probably go for.</p>
<p>Tough, tough decision . . . Have you considered majoring in something else at UCLA and picking up an accounting minor?</p>
<p>Yeah I’ve considered it, especially since I would much rather take accounting courses without econ. But apparently the accounting minor is tough to get into, I’ve scoured that major list on assist.org many times but I can’t find anything that interests me and that I could complete the prerequisites for in a reasonable time frame. At the same time, i’m perfectly happy to go to UCSB and was my first choice since I started CC. In fact, I was all set to attend UCSB and only recently have thought about UCLA since I got admitted, but I submitted my SIR to UCSB last week and don’t really have any regret.</p>
<p>I was actually debating UCSC vs. UCSB more, since UCSC seems to be the perfect environment for me. Ultimately the distance from home is what kept me away from UCSC. That, and UCSB has an excellent econ/accounting program which is heavily recruited by the big 4.</p>
<p>How awesome. I’m glad it worked out well for you.</p>
<p>Wish it was that simple for me. UCSC is far away from home. I’m sure I would do well there, but I’d rather not spend that much time away from family and friends.</p>
<p>Do you have any other options closer to home? I wouldn’t consider distance too much, it’s only for two years, and once you start working after school you won’t have the option to move away and experience new places. I found the UCSC campus to be beautiful, really amazing for a college campus imo. The only thing that kept me back is that im in a long term relationship and being 2 hours away from home is much more manageable than 6 hours!</p>
<p>It really sounds like you made a good decision. The long-term relationship and being close to family, plus UCSB having what you want–everything is lined up. If I had a great girlfriend and family up there, I would totally stay in Nor Cal too.</p>
<p>UCSC’s campus was cool. The people there are super nice! But I have a hard time seeing myself leaving socal, even for a couple of years. I have an awesome family and great friends; plus my professional network down here is really fantastic. UCLA also has a lot of opportunities I’m looking for.</p>
<p>I actually found another L&S major I’m interested in that will give me more than enough room to take classes towards a CPA. I haven’t fully decided yet, but I’m leaning towards it.</p>