<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>I am planning on applying in the fall of 2006 to a few of the UC campuses. I am particularly interested in Berkeley and UCLA. No surprise there, eh? Oh, and I am currently enrolled at a CCC (since Spring 2005).</p>
<p>Anyway, I'm not sure whether I should apply as an English major or an Anthropology major. I have been leaning towards Anthropology since the major prereqs require a few courses in a foreign language, and my chosen foreign language is American Sign Language. I don't think that would count towards the foreign language requirement for an English major. Please correct me if I'm wrong. However, I haven't taken any foreign language courses yet. I could drop my ASL class this summer and, instead, pick up Spanish next fall if advised to do so.</p>
<p>Tonight, I was looking at the admission rates for each major category at Berkeley and I read that Social Sciences have an admission rate of only 18% (<a href="http://students.berkeley.edu/files/Admissions/Transfer04.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://students.berkeley.edu/files/Admissions/Transfer04.pdf</a>). Ahhhh! Compare this to the 40% admission rate of Arts & Humanities. So now I'm thinking applying as an English major would be the way to go.</p>
<p>By the way, I am equally interested and torn between Anthropology and English. Perhaps a double-major? Any advice with that?</p>
<p>Maybe I'm thinking too far ahead, but I want to be fully prepared when the "filling out application" time comes. I spoke to a counselor last week, but she didn't seem knowledgeable. :\ I have an appointment with a different counselor this week. But it would be nice to hear from people who have actually gone through the transferring process themselves.</p>
<p>Should I drop ASL and go for Spanish? Does ASL count as a foreign language for the English major prereqs? English or Anthropology? Or both?! I'd appreciate ANY advice, seriously. ;p</p>
<p>Okay, shutting up now,
Brooke</p>
<p>Brooke, you've raised a lot of questions and I hope that I can help in anyway. I am an English major, howevever, I will also double major in history as well. Although Berkeley doesn't allow you to state an alternate major on the application, UCLA does, so that might be a consideration. For instance, if you wanted to go to UCLA and you find that English is a more accessible, less impacted (which isn't the case anymore, unfortunately) you might want to declare English and do a double major in Anthro later. It's definitely doable.</p>
<p>I'm short on time, but I can definitely find you some info on which languages are appropriate for fulfilling the requirements for English at UCLA and Berkeley. (I just thought of something....which will save me some time here.)</p>
<p>ASL isn't considered a "foreign language" at least not in the materials I looked at probably because 1) it's not foreign, 2) it isn't offered at either school. I looked in the UCLA catalog under "extra-departmental requirement in Foreign Language Literature or Foreign Language" on 277 and it doesn't detail which languages would be considered in this requirement, so I assume that it's courses which evidently have an optional literature component. I never knew that ASL was UC-transferrable, but CSU-transferrable actually.</p>
<p>Also, my only concern with both schools is completing ALL of the lower-division prep in time. Did you say you are wanting to transfer next year? That leave you in a bit of a pickle because both schools are so darn strict with the requirements. I personally am one course shy of the English Lit. sequence and I had to justify in my essay why I couldn't take it. (wasn't offered at my school, etc.)</p>
<p>Oh, and yes, I also got into UCLA and Berkeley...good luck to you!</p>
<p>Normally, I wouldn't say drop ASL for Spanish because I think that ASL looks fun and is very interesting, however, it's usually around a 4 or 5 units course and Spanish is immediately useful, especially with the language requirement. I took two years of Spanish and I loved it.</p>
<p>Hi Michelle,</p>
<p>Thanks for the helpful response. According to assist.org, ASL is transferable and qualifies as a foreign language for both UCs through IGETC. The counselor I spoke to also confirmed this. Although I'm still not sure if it qualifies for the English major foreign language prep work. I'll ask the new counselor tomorrow. </p>
<p>I just realized after looking at Berkeley's English major prep agreement that they don't require a foreign language, but UCLA does. Maybe I'll apply as an Anthro major to UCLA, pick up English later, and vice versa for Berkeley. Slightly confusing, but I'll have it figured out by then. </p>
<p>Hmm, I'm seriously considering going with Spanish now. I really need to pick up another language sometime. I have about 3 years from school, but I definitely need a brush-up. I'll wait to hear what the counselor tells me tomorrow. But I'm also very interested in the Deaf Culture and sign language, especially since my little sister is deaf. I'd like to improve my signing skills. Maybe I'll take ASL, too.</p>
<p>I wanted to apply to transfer near the end of next year. I'd actually transfer in 2007, though. You wouldn't recommend that? I did the math, and I think I'd have plenty of time to complete the lower-division courses. Am I wrong? :(</p>
<p>Oh, and congrats on getting accepted into both Berkeley and UCLA! That's a great accomplishment.</p>
<p>Thanks,
Brooke</p>
<p>Wow, Brooke, you are definitely thinking far in advance to be posting questions on this board right now, hah. </p>
<p>Anyway, I believe it depends on the department but I have heard from a variety of sources that doing a double major at Berkeley is not hard to put together. I even talked to the political science department and they said it was "very possible" to get accepted to Berkeley under ANY major and then double-major with poli sci. Therefore it's advantageous to apply for humanities although you obviously need to have some interest there.</p>
<p>Thanks very much....however, you can be the first to know, that I have actually decided not to attend UCLA for various reasons. While I consider it to be a fine school, I just don't think it's the right school for me. I have read far too any reviews of it, talking to friends, alumni, etc.....and have read many Daily Bruin articles and I just think that it's run like a business (as most large universities are) and I am going to re-consider Columbia and UPenn's programs which are more specialized.</p>
<p>Being on CC, was a bittersweet thing as I was constantly bombarded with misinformation and major academic snobbery among the applicants who think their "big stuff" just because they've gotten into Berkeley, Cornell and others, yet they haven't proven anything to anyone, except how ignorant/arrogant they can be. I'm planning on taking a year off, traveling, and attending one of the other LAC's that I got into later. </p>
<p>I'll say it again, undergrad is not a big deal. It really isn't. To some is it America's most overrated product. We'd like to think that teachers care, but they don't. We'd like to think we're making an impact on our campus, but it's really neglible. Especially with transfers.....you are just a blip on their screen, seen one day and out the other.</p>
<p>If you don't believe me, go to epinions and look up UCLA and Cal and you'll here honest assessment from students who are where you will be shortly. This whole system is just frustrating when it matters so little. We all know the statistics, only 40% actually graduate, according to US News and World Report.</p>
<p>Professors range from mediocre to good at both institutions, look at studentreviews and they will also back me up on that one. Or, talk to your friend and get their honest opinions. All I'm saying is....go in with both eyes open.</p>
<p>What the... are you serious BruinMichelle? I've seen you on this board posting quite a bit, and I figured you were going to UCLA for sure (I mean, your handle <em>IS</em> referring to UCLA...)</p>
<p>It is a sad that a lot of CC posters seem to think getting into a good school is all there is to life, and that an admittance to a prestigious school is a worthy substitute for a real accomplishment.</p>
<p>I've read some of the same regarding the big universities being run more like businesses; TAs taking over many classes, professors making themselves scarce, etc. I'm sure that system works well with many students, and others not-so-much.</p>
<p>I would also love to go to a small LAC such as Pomona College. I'm just not sure how likely that is because they don't have agreements with CCCs like the UCs do. I've heard nothing but good things about the teaching, professors, and the overall more personal atmosphere there, as well as many other LACs.</p>
<p>I wish you luck! Have fun with traveling. Do you know where you're planning on going yet? I'm sure you will do well no matter which school you choose.</p>
<p>It's almost stupid to not go to a UC after community college. We are extremely lucky to be in the CA public system, easily the best in the country. The amount of money you save is astronomical. </p>
<p>Bruinmichelle-that's an odd change of heart.</p>