<p>My mom heard from her friend that lives in San Fransisco that all of the UCs are greatly suffering due to the fact that California is broke.</p>
<p>Apparently, they aren't receiving nearly as much money as they need, so they are forced to lay off professors. Thus, kids cannot get into classes, and are now starting to graduate in 5, NOT 4, years.</p>
<p>Can anyone either confirm or deny this?! I got into UCSD and it was definitely my favorite but after hearing this...I don't know:(</p>
<p>You might want to look at the specific schools’ threads on this site. My son is graduating from a Calif. state university this year, and it has been very tough and stressful to get classes :(</p>
<p>He is graduating in 4 years, but he has done concurrent classes at junior college to get his elective credits done in order to graduate on time…</p>
<p>What state are you from, jjfair 10? I would strongly suggest you “go to ground” and check things out very carefully. Things have not gotten better in the “tarnished” Golden State in the last year, and Gov. Brown just called off budget negotiations with the Legislature today. This means we will not be able to vote on a mere continuation of some existing taxes to stave off another $13 billion worth of cuts. Yes, I said ANOTHER.</p>
<p>I’m not trying to be a nay sayer or frighten you. I just suggest you use your time well between now and May 1 before you make a decision and draw upon every adult you know to help you research this issue.</p>
<p>Last year, we were “blessed” in that my H is a professor at USC, so he had colleagues at many of the UCs who were willing to give him the straight scoop. So, while our S did decide to apply to UCB, UCLA, UCSD and UCSB (accepted to all, Berkeley as a Regents Scholar) he decided to take the offer to Northwestern U. Pricey yes, but they have a very special Integrated Science Program there which he was admitted to.</p>
<p>A mere two years ago, I would have told you to have fun at the beaches at La Jolla. Now I say, your homework isn’t done. More research is required. I really, really wish I had something else to say.</p>
<p>ETA: Faculty let go TO DATE are typically not going to be your tenured faculty, unless an entire department is going away. It’s usually junior faculty, adjunct (part-time) faculty. However, this does result in larger classes, fewer classes. I understand students sometimes have to be very assertive to get the classes they need, when they need them. As in asking professors for overrides (this can’t work in science labs due to safety rules) or hounding a department administrator. No every student is up for this or, initially, well skilled in running this gauntlet. Probably no one wants too much of that as their college experience, even if at the end of the day, you get the classes you need (may not always be the ones you want … )</p>
<p>I’m from New Jersey, and I have literally dreamed of going to California forever. I have family in San Diego, so I figured that that would be a good place, and I’ve always loved it there.</p>
<p>But now…I knew California’s budget problems were bad, but not this bad. This school was definitely the front runner, but now with all of this, I might just be siding with NYU. I got into the Comm program there, too.</p>
<p>I’m just really upset that my choice may have to be based upon budget issues rather than where I decide to go.</p>
<p>As for running the gauntlet, I am a very opinionated, strong person. So, to be honest, I probably would be able to get what needs to get done, done. Aside from that, do I want fighting to get classes to be my college experience? No.</p>
<p>Yes, California is in a bad way, and ALL of the public colleges, universities, and community colleges are taking hits. That said, I don’t think that you are going to see drastic cuts, just more smaller cuts that have been happening for the past few years.</p>
<p>Yes, the UCs are suffering from the budget cuts. The tuition keeps going up every year, for CSUs and UCs. More classes and majors are being cut, and the class size, which is already around 300 something people, is going to get even bigger.</p>
<p>That what one of the calstate counselor said to my friend when she talked to him that it is very likely for everyone to graduate in 5 to 6 years</p>
<p>I’m having the same concerns as you. Somebody from the UCLA admissions office gave me a call today just to chat (a current student, sophomore) and I asked about the class increases and budget cuts. He said that he has NOT seen class sizes increase or teaches being laid off in his major. He also said that if it wasn’t happening in his major, the most popular major, it probably wasn’t happening elsewhere. Of course, he could be biased and things could change with the new year, we shall see.</p>
<p>I do know that getting classes at UCI is extremely hard, even core classes fill up the first week of registration, leaving countless students on the waiting list for classes they need for their major. I’m sure the case is similar at other UCs.</p>
<p>Unless you are coming west for a specialized program (which at SD would be bioengineering), the beach and weather are not worth $55k per year at a UC, IMO. You could get the same weather and a much better Comm program at 'SC for the same – or cheaper – price.</p>
<p>There is a reason someone called you amosk. They’d been reading up on Barnum & Bailey. :)</p>
<p>I’m currently attending a community college, and one of my college professors was telling my class about what you posted. Yes, indeed it is true that CA public schools are going to experience even more drastic cuts, and yes students are having a more difficult time getting into classes. (Registration was such a battle when I was registering for classes.) =[ My proffesor said that a total of “$4 million” would be cut from the CC that I’m currently attending–even more from UCs and CSUs. With that said, yes CA public schools are taking a pretty big hit. </p>
<p>Here’s an article from January about the cuts on education: [Gov</a>. Brown budget plan to force community colleges, universities to make deeper cuts](<a href=“www.swrnn.com”>www.swrnn.com)</p>
<p>What was it that Mark Twain allegedly said?</p>
<p>“The Rumors of my Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated.”</p>
<p>The UCs are on the verge of self destruction? Well look at the number of applications to UCLA and UC Berkeley this year, and the acceptance rate, and the profiles of the accepted students. The demand for exceptional education grows.</p>
<p>So will you make your decision based on rumors, predictions of doom? Have faith, the UCs are not self destructing. If anything they will emerge from the current weak economic climate with more autonomy, less reliance on public funding, and even stronger academics.</p>
<p>Yes, sad to say but it is true I discouraged my D from applying to UCs for those same reasons (we’re from Los Angeles and just applied to 2 UCs). She’s been accepted to private schools and fortunate enough to recieve merit scholarships. The tuition/fees we would be paying for private schools are less than full tuition/fees at UCs!!!</p>
<p>It IS possible to graduate from a UC in 4 years. But you have to be smart about your schedule, informed about your choices/options, at times assertive, willing to do some summer school, and perhaps at times carry a heavier load. </p>
<p>It IS more work and trickier than at most privates and many state schools. But it still is a fine education (and for in-staters still a good value) for those willing to make the most of the many opportunities offered at UCs.</p>
<p>Yes, the UCs have financial issues as a result of the state’s having financial issues. Plain fact is UCs have had financial issues as long as anyone can remember; they are just somewhat more severe now. Budget cuts can lead to some fewer class options and possible some teachers leaving but it does not mean they are going in the tank. The statement that many students will graduate in 5 rather 4 years is meaningless. It has been true for decades that large numbers, probably the majority of students, take more than four years to graduate. That is why colleges report 6 year graduation rates rather than 4. There are many reasons for that, one of which has always been the possibility of not being able to schedule some classes. Other reasons include that many do coops (work a semester or two for an employer) and thus take longer to complete degree, students change majors and as a result may have to do more time, some face majors like engineering where total hours needed makes it difficult to even complete in four years, some take a semester off, some just take 13 rather than 15 hours a semester, and numerous other reasons.</p>
I discouraged my D from applying to UCs for those same reasons (we’re from Los Angeles and just applied to 2 UCs). She’s been accepted to private schools and fortunate enough to recieve merit scholarships. The tuition/fees we would be paying for private schools are less than full tuition/fees at UCs!!!</p>