<p>Hey guys, </p>
<p>I'm transferring from Santa Barbara City College. I've applied and been accepted to UCSB UCLA and Cal Berkeley. My plan in attending SBCC was to perform the Guaranteed Transfer program for UCSB. But I am so unbelievably excited to have been accepted to Cal which has always been a dream of mine. My major is Art History and I'd like to minor in Writing. I am very torn between picking up and moving to Berkeley, which, although exciting, will take a lot more than staying in SB where I'm established with decent rent. The catch for Berkeley is that I was offered "deferred enrollment" (because of the rigor and number of transfer students) and I won't be able to attend until Spring of '13 where as I can go to UCSB this fall. </p>
<p>OK Pro's list for each.... </p>
<p>UCSB:
-already established wont have to move
-descent rent comfortable amenities
-friends
-may be easier to transition for study abroad
-have a job
-dont have to wait another semester and will be making progress sooner
-I know that I can minor in professional writing and can handle the workload</p>
<p>Cal:
-a deal more prestigious
-kind of the dream
-closer to home
-located where I want to end up
-although scary I could prove to myself that I don't always settle for what's easy</p>
<p>What I'd appreciate is some honest opinions on the two schools. Both are prestigious obviously and maybe I could do grad studies at Berkeley. I'm a little burnt out on the college process and want to be moving forward. It would stress me out to wait until next spring to keep making progress unless I knew that I was definitely making the right decision. What is most important to me is studying abroad and I'd like to do it sooner than later. </p>
<p>So my lovely helpful peers... should I uproot it all for Berkeley or subtly and swiftly transition to the slightly less prestigious UCSB? </p>
<p>Thank you in advance for your honest replies....</p>
<p>Is the job somewhere you’d like to work Fter graduation? If yes, it would be worth staying in SB. Otherwise Cal and LA are much stronger choices. Not sure I’d call SB prestigious.</p>
<p>Definitely no on the job it’s part time front desk I couldn’t care less about it.<br>
UCSB is definitely not as prestigious right?</p>
<p>Is there a big difference in cost and financial aid between the different schools? Note that if you are a spring admit at Berkeley, consider whether it would take you three or four semesters to complete your degree.</p>
<p>[General</a> Catalog - History of Art](<a href=“http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=HISTART]General”>http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=HISTART)</p>
<p>Berkeley’s history of art major requires four lower division courses and eight upper division courses. Typical course load is four courses per semester (or twelve courses in three semesters or sixteen courses in four semesters – most courses are 4 units each). The ASSIST pages say to contact to department for whether any courses you took at SBCC can be counted on the lower division requirements. </p>
<p>[Office</a> of Undergraduate Advising: Summary of Degree Requirements](<a href=“http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/requirement/summary.html]Office”>http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/requirement/summary.html)</p>
<p>There are some other L&S requirements, such as minimum of 36 units (about nine courses) of upper division courses, of which at least 6 units must be outside your major department. There is also an American Cultures course requirement (a few art history courses do fulfill it).</p>
<p>[General</a> Catalog - College Writing Program Courses](<a href=“http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_list_crse_req?p_dept_name=College+Writing+Program&p_dept_cd=COLWRIT]General”>http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_list_crse_req?p_dept_name=College+Writing+Program&p_dept_cd=COLWRIT)</p>
<p>There are upper division college writing courses that may be of interest to you, though there is no official major or minor.</p>
<p>It is true I will have to check with advisors to guarantee that certain lower division Art History courses and Art courses (which I have taken many of) will transfer over to UCB and not be wasted. Another benefit of Santa Barbara is the ease of transfer. Hopefully the advisors at Cal will tell me that they will accept more of my undergrad coursework… I’ve done too much to waste!</p>
<p>There is a creative writing minor at Cal which interests me. </p>
<p>It will likely take me 4 semesters to complete which I believe is the allotted amount of time even though I’m a spring transfer. </p>
<p>As far as financial aid, I likely won’t qualify for grants at UCSB or UCB because of my father’s annual income. I was expecting to rely on loans either way. </p>
<p>Thank you so much ucbalumnus!</p>
<p>all IGETC courses are transferable. You could always take a couple more at SBCC in the fall, if you are concerned about being behind. But the courses/units still may not work out for you.</p>
<p>Cal is highly ranked in both Art History, and in English.</p>
<p>Go Bears!</p>