Creative Writing - Berkeley Creative Writing Minor or UCSB College of the Creative Studies Major???

College Search & Selection
1

I just found out that I got into Berkeley and I’ve been accepted into the UCSB CCS program. I only have until Monday, May 9th to make my decision, but I don’t know what to do.

My family votes UCSB, my sister is already there, and the people seem amazing, plus the buildings are a lot nicer and newer at UCSB. The CCS program seems pretty awesome as I get priority registration, can pick the amount of units I want my classes to be, many of my classes are pass or fail, and I pretty much don’t have to do GE stuff.

Berkeley was my dream school because I liked the feel of the campus, but I had been waitlisted so I’m worried the school might be too pressuring, they put you in a stupid category thing because you were waitlisted (and probably couldn’t handle the classes) and have to do a weird thing for your first semester, not actually on the campus, and everything is old. Plus I’m pretty salty right now because my friend who didn’t get into UCLA or UCSB got into Berkeley too and the only reason why we can come up with is because she said she’s a vegetarian and if that’s why she got in, I’m not sure I want to be at a school like that…

I’ve also heard that Berkeley students are really hostile towards freshmen and that people count down the days until they graduate while at UCSB you can just see it on the students that they love every second of it. But Berkeley was still my dream school and I spent a month of my summer at California College of the Arts in Oakland, which is right there by Berkeley and it was fun. I don’t know what to do! Also, kind of salty at Berkeley for not thinking I was originally good enough.

valedictorian #taken 2 college classes outside what I need for school #spent a summer at school

But hey, nobody at my school got in and only 3 people got into UCLA so yeah my school sucks

2

I can understand the allure of Berkeley. I myself fell in love with the campus and the area when I was 15, said THIS is where I want to go to school, and that’s what I did. I lived in Berkeley for another 5 years after graduation and cried when I moved away.

So I get it.

Yet, I still urge you to REALLY consider CCS. Frankly, it’s an extraordinary program, unlike anything out there. It will allow you to create your own undergrad experience, let you really explore, in great depth, all of your interests. At CCS, you’ll be part of a privileged, elite community. At Cal you’d be… just another freshman. At CCS, everything will be easier: getting classes, access to top faculty, opportunities. At Cal, you’d have to push for everything, especially now, during the era or cutbacks.

My advice: CCS all the way. Don’t even look back. Berkeley will be there when you graduate. As a CCS student, you’ll likely be a hot prospect for Cal grad school.

3

Wow, that was a great thing to put. I honestly hadn’t heard of CCS until November and there is basically nothing on the Writing and Lit program right now because I’ll be going in with the first year, so it was really hard to determine if I should go for it or not, but I did and what you said makes it seem that much better. It’s true too that CCS will likely make me look good for Berkeley. I hadn’t thought of that…

My sister hates the beach and all that and she chose UCSB because ‘all the kids are happy there.’ Then during orientation, my mom asked the guide why he chose UCSB and he said the same thing. I visited UCSB about this time last year and I thought it was mine, but then visited Berkeley during the summer when nobody was really there and thought Berkeley was it. Fingers crossed that UCSB is the right choice for me!