<p>I am applying for Fall 2015 as a transfer from a cc. I am majoring in English, and I would love to have some concentration in creative writing. I was hoping to get some opinions on either Berkeley or Irvine for English majors?</p>
<p>I took a course at UC Berkeley this past summer, and I really did like the area, and it was a good experience; however, it is insanely huge, and I feel it is hard to receive opportunities since there is so many (30,000) students you are competing with! Also, I read that you have to apply to take creative writing courses, so it is not even guaranteed I'll be able to take classes. (Is this true?) Yet, I do understand "Berkeley" is a well known name for grad schools; however, is it really worth it? </p>
<p>With Irvine, I would automatically be placed within the honors campus program there because my GPA is in a pretty high range. I also received a scholarship because of my GPA. Not to mention I have a much easier access to creative writing, especially since there is an English major with a concentration in creative writing. Yet, I am not fond too fond of the area since I am only an hour away versus Berkeley. </p>
<p>I forgot to mention there are many benefits with UCI honors campus program, such as early registration, guaranteed research and aboard opportunities, and personal relationships with counselors. </p>
<p>Anyone who is or was a part of the UCI honors program, may you please share more with me about it? </p>
<p>UCI is my safety if UCLA doesn’t work out, so I can only speak for them. It’s an excellent, well respected English department, one of the best in the UC system. With that said, if you can get into Cal as an English major, you should take it. I would, but I have a family and can’t move up north. It’s the best of the best as far as English departments go. I went through every resume of every English department professor at Cal, UCLA and UCI. That was really the best way for me to see who I’d be working with. Cal had a substantialy stronger staff, but UCLA was not far behind, UCI was in a respectable 3rd place for me. </p>
<p>I’m all about the professors. I don’t give a crap about the campus, social pressures or any of the trivial stuff many youngsters think is so important. I get it, I was a kid once, but being a non-trad older student has taught me none of it really matters. All that matters is the cohesiveness between you and the course you are taking, which is structured by an individual. So learning about those individuals and those courses was the best way for me to choose my UC. Not to mention, this is all about how you can parlay this degree into something substantial after you graduate. Berkley English has the edge over UCI in that category. Being an English grad from Cal or UCLA holds weight in the academic world. UCI does too, but nowhere near the same as Cal or UCLA. That’s just another reality being an English major.</p>
<p>Sorry if that’s not much help, just giving you an older, more mature perspective I guess.</p>
<p>BTW, why wouldn’t you apply to UCLA English too? It’s almost paralell with the prestige of Berkley’s English department, in some rankings, it’s even higher in academic standards.</p>
<p>Having been in the Berkeley English Dept a long time back, I can tell you opportunities are far and in-between due to size and competition. Getting into Creative Writing can be very hard. It sounds like Irvine has a lot of what you want and there is a guarantee, so I would go with Irvine. Pus, it’s a great school.</p>
<p>You know, I was kind of thinking in the back of my mind that Irvine has what is considered one of the best creative writing programs in the country, and a google search did show it’s rated at the top, sometimes right below University of Iowa (the big kahuna). </p>
<p>Wait how did you already recieve a scholarship for UCI?</p>
<p>As for what lindy suggests, sure UCI is a great choice, but it really comes down to your ability and confidence. Is your creative writing exceptional or average? You know the answer to this and that’s what determines how persistent you want to be with Berkley. I wouldn’t attempt Berkley unless I was completely confident in my ability as a writer. Personally, I’ve been published numerous times already and made a living with my writing for a while, so Berkley was not out of my grasp, and I have the ego to become the best there. That’s the sort of mentality you need though as an English major at Berkley, and I have no regrets for this standard of arrogance. </p>
<p>I say this because, as lindy pointed out, the cream at Berkley rises to the top and everyone else is pretty much margenalized. I know a few English grads from there that I worked with as editors, and though they loved the experience, the pressure to be the best was palpable and led them to modest but not elevated success, due to the more qualified writers in their respective programs.</p>
<p>But still, if you are confident and a great writer: CAL> UCLA > UCI. It’s not even debatable.</p>
<p>If you are an average but eager writer and even the least bit trepidatious about your choice, then consider UCI for sure.</p>
<p>I need to add a caveat. In my research, I focused more on English departments as a whole, because I wanted a more well-rounded education in literature and writing. So you need to know the difference here. UCI’s creative writing program is one of the best in the nation, while Berkely’s English department is the more superior as a whole. I hope that makes sense. I failed to make that distinction based on my own needs, but when lindy brought it up, it reminded me of all the great stuff I did find on UCI’s creative writing program. </p>
<p>Some very broad English major rankings, both undergrad and graduate programs:</p>
<p>You hit the nail on the head re: talent, @fullload. While one can certainly hone and improve his or her craft, just like any art form, you need to have the inherent ability to write creatively. Majoring in art would simply make my stick figures more pleasing to the eye. </p>
<p>I find this very true as well. As much as I attempt to stay modest, I am very confident in my writing abilities. I have one few literary contest and a few of my short stories have been published all while I still am attending community college. Not to mention I also write for a literary and arts online magazine, and I was recently promoted to the Art Director. Now with this being said, should I still attend Irvine or should I strive for Berkeley? I am just afraid of falling through the cracks because of the competition and size; however, I am very passionate and ambitious about my writing. </p>
<p>If you can write, that will be the end determinate. If you know you can get in creative writing at UCI, why risk berkeley? Regarding UCLA, UCI seems to have a higher CW program, and you will be able to do just as much with a UCI degree as with a UCLA degree. Again, the end determinate is talent. </p>
<p>Now, if you are not assured CW and are applying to UCI for generalized English, UCLA would have the edge. But I’m not sure it makes much difference, truth be told.</p>
<p>Additionally, as so much involves networking, even if you are not in CW at UCI, due the department’s high ranking, you may have a lot of CW networking opportunities at UCI – although I am only guessing here.</p>
<p>@lindyk8 I do not really have an interest in UCLA. I visited the campus a few times, and it is very beautiful, but it didn’t feel like me to be honest. I felt more connected to UC Berkeley than UCLA, but I still did apply to both. So I am deciding between UCI and UCB. </p>
<p>That’s what I thought, but UCLA was being brought up so I wasnt sure. I think this is what you should do: Wait till you hear if you got accepted and then deal with it. (How’s that for passing the buck, heheh.)</p>
<p>If you get into berkeley that is a top school, no two ways around it. The teachers are all really accessible and there are tons of speakers. But I can’t tell you what to do, especially if you have scholarships and various guarantees at UCI. </p>
<p>Maybe once you find out if you’re accepted, you go back to again to check it out. Or reach out to some English majors at Cal now. I think @music1990 is in English over there.</p>
<p>I’m really curious now, why are you so quick to margenalize UCLA in this decision? I don’t understand what, “it didn’t feel like me” realy means. Can you elaborate on that? It just sounds like a real shallow reason to eliminate what I consider to be the best English department out off three (my humbe opinion). Have you seen the list of professors in English and CW at UCLA? It’s a phenominal who’s who of award winning writers and professors. Just saying, if you’re contiplating Cal and UCI, UCLA should most definitly be in the mix.</p>
<p>I’m 100% biased of course, I know a few of the professors in the department there and love UCLA for a myriad of reasons. ;)</p>
<p>I guess I’m just irritated you’re not loving the school I love, lol :)</p>
<p>Whoa Nellie! Wishful thinking about UCLA topping Berkeley in English. Regardless, let him choose his own campus. UCLA didn’t feel right. Don’t call OP shallow because he doesn’t agree with you. It’s not about you. </p>
<p>I said it sounds like a shallow reason and with such major significance to someone’s future, it is. It’s not an insult, I was just asking why. As for UCLA dominating Berkely in every way, it’s just an opinion, which also happens to be fact ;)</p>
<p>Ah, well, I know. I get the UCLA love, but there actually are people that don’t want to go there. Not sure it will make that big of a difference on his future, whichever he (she?) chooses.</p>
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