<p>“There is a sucker born every minute…” P.T. Barnum</p>
<p>(IMO, OOS’ers can be ‘suckers’ to pay $55k for most UC programs; only specialized programs maybe worth that kinda money.)</p>
<p>Concur with the others, however, about the 5-year grad rate. UC’s are extremely generous with AP/IB credit and many do graduate in less than four years. The longer grad rate at UCs (and Cal States for that matter) is due to the historically poor financial aid. Many, many students work part time to pay the bills and thus, take a minimum academic load. Unless they pick up a class or two in the summer, they will be on the ‘5-year Plan.’</p>
<p>*The longer grad rate at UCs (and Cal States for that matter) is due to the historically poor financial aid. Many, many students work part time to pay the bills and thus, take a minimum academic load. Unless they pick up a class or two in the summer, they will be on the ‘5-year Plan.’ *</p>
<p>I agree with this…</p>
<p>That said, I am starting to wonder if these cuts will also be a cause if…</p>
<p>1) students can get the classes they need in the right sequence.</p>
<p>2) class sizes become so large that students who “get behind” will feel to intimidated to ask for further clarification…leading to more course withdrawals and need to retake courses.</p>
<p>3) to create a complete schedule the student will end up with some crazy all day situations with inconvenient gaps that don’t allow for a part-time job.</p>
<p>To be honest, all of the colleges I have applied to have ended up being about $50,000 per year…so in terms of money, they’re all equal.</p>
<p>All I know is that I don’t want to take a risk and take 2 extra years to graduate. I also don’t want my college experience to be running the gauntlet to get classes that are full, or planning 3 years in advance.</p>
<p>And I don’t know if it’s just rumors. California IS really tanking where the budget is concerned. So speculation, maybe. But too far out there to be considered? No way.</p>
<p>^^yes, but for $55k at a private college, you will receive smaller classes, better facilities, better advising, less bureaucracy, etc. In other words, a LOT more bang for your buck.</p>
<p>You should check the specific campus and the particular major/program. The UC system is huge and decentralized, and the budget cuts coming down from the top are handled differently depending on which UC and which programs. You should talk to as many students as possible in your major and school (maybe post your questions at the campus board). It’s true, however, that bad cuts are expected statewide for all of higher education.</p>
<p>Does anyone know how good/bad the situation currently is at Berkeley? At the moment I will most likely be attending UCB and got curious when I saw the title of this thread…</p>
<p>"Do you think they’ll actually admit that certain majors at certain schools are tanking though? "</p>
<p>The admissions people are unlikely to tell you that a certain major is having problems (they may no even know). Students will have the best pulse on whether it’s difficult to get classes. The best way is to talk to students who have been down a particular path.</p>
<p>Apparently, this year they only accepted kids with a 97th percentile on their SATs and straight A’s (I have that, but only 93rd percentile on SATs)</p>
<p>So, if I got in it was definitely going to be there. Too bad</p>
<p>I went to UCLA Med School, so we were on a straight track, and therefore didn’t have to register for classes. My cousin went to UCLA undergrad, and didn’t graduate in 4 yrs, because classes were full, and she had to take electives and couldn’t advance to higher level classes until the prerequisites were fulfilled. It took her 5 and half years to get her degree. She was premed, and couldn’t get letter of recommendations because the classes were so large, and her professors didn’t know her. </p>
<p>I have since moved to IL, and my son will be applying to college this fall. I advised him to apply anywhere but the UC system, since as out of state, we’ll be paying the same as the private schools. Therefore, he will be better off graduating in 4 years at a private school. The large number of applicants are mainly from instate CA students, which don’t pay the same rate. I feel bad to advise my son to not apply to my alma mater, but CA governor is contemplating more cuts and sales tax increase to make ends meet. </p>
<p>The college rankings are like mutual fund performances… “Past performance does not guarantee future results”. The rankings are based on previous years’ state budget, not the current.</p>