<p>Are classes at UCB harder than UCLA? UCB Media Studies vs. UCLA Sociology. Thanks for your feedback!!</p>
<p>I believe UCB’s Media Studies “major” is more like a compilation of a different majors… so not sure which would be “harded”…</p>
<p>I don’t think that anyone can really fully answer this question with any kind of hard evidence. I think it depends on the individual person and the type of student they are. I can only tell you what I have gathered from people that I have personally talked to that attend/attended these schools. I am a Media Studies major as well and I spoke to a few MS majors the last time I visited Berkeley. </p>
<p>I was told that the GSI can either make or break you there. You have to understand what they want from you in order to get a good grade. You have to ask them what they are looking for and write FOR them. This may be difficult for people that have a super strong opinion about something. There may be times where you have to throw everything you know (and feel) out the window and just write the paper how they want you to write it. </p>
<p>I was told by one recent MS grad that the major really isn’t very difficult at all. She said that most MS classes consist of a few short (5-ish page) papers and a final. She said that the reading can get a little heavy, but she said that she was able to “skim it” most of the time. I am not sure how much natural ability she has though, so something that is skim worthy to her may take someone else weeks to comprehend, KWIM? Keep in mind that MS is an interdisciplinary major, so you will be taking classes from other disciplines such as Soc, Psych, Business, etc. Those classes may be structured differently. </p>
<p>As far as UCLA is concerned, the general consensus is that the course load at UCLA is significantly greater than CC. Many people here have posted their first quarter experiences and almost all of them said that they did not expect that much course work, but they seemed to adjust. I also used to work with a recent UCLA Sociology grad and she loved it. She had nothing but great things to say about the school and major. </p>
<p>Overall, no matter which UC you go to, expect to step it up. University expectations are always higher than CC. I would pick your school based on more important things than course load b/c no matter what, you are going to have to work hard and buckle down.</p>
<p>^ That’s some sound advice.</p>
<p>Wow, awesome advice!! Thanks kc_sunshine101. I really appreciate that you took the time to write all of that…I love this board!!</p>
<p>You should consider the fact that UCB runs on a semester system and UCLA on a quarter system. This may make UCLA appear much harder to some students due to the faster pace.</p>
<p>On the other hand, being on a quarter system would allow students to cram study more easily than they would on a semester system.</p>
<p>hard in what sense</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://gradeinflation.com/Ucberkeley.html]UC-Berkeley[/url”>UC-Berkeley]UC-Berkeley[/url</a>]</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://gradeinflation.com/Ucla.html]UCLA[/url”>UCLA]UCLA[/url</a>]</p>
<p>but if you mean course work and course content and students then it varies by major</p>
<p>therealist,
you must have hella ton of time on your hands to be posting on EVERY post at 3AM! lol </p>
<p>From what it seems though, UCLA has more of a community approach to academics. Everyone there studies in groups and work together. Sure there is competition but it’s not as fierce as Berkeley where there is more of an individual approach. This is clearly exhibited by the students as UCLA students have more school pride and tend to be wayyy more happy about going to LA. Berkeley on the other hand… there are people who are proud of going there and love it and all… but the competition can get crazy. But hey, if you want to be the best, you got to beat the best.</p>