<p>I'm a Political Science major with a 3.75 GPA and a couple extra circulars (AGS club, volunteering) and 2 long political internships, and a summer job I am doing now. I started at PCC (Pasadena city college) in Fall 08 and I now have 40 units. I plan on taking 18 more this fall and about 13 in the spring of '10, plus 3 more in winter (if there is one). I can probably raise my GPA into the 3.8-3.85 range by the end of my time at PCC.</p>
<p>I'll have completed 6 political science courses, IGETC,and the Scholars Program (TAP). </p>
<p>What do my chances look like for UCLA, Berkeley, and SD? Which one should I set as a priority? </p>
<p>Also, for any poli sci majors (especially those from PCC), which major prereqs did you guys take, especially the course that satisfies the "statistics" portion of UCLAs requirements? </p>
<p>Should I finish the scholars program in the fall when I apply, or can I finish it in the spring?</p>
<p>Do I need to take statistics at PCC, or can I do that at UCLA?
Also, which math class did you guys take to satisfy IGETC? </p>
<p>Can any CC students or UCLA admits chime in with some help?</p>
<p>I'll be applying this fall (for fall '10) and any advice is appreciated.
Thanks so much in advance!</p>
<p>If you dont blow it with a crappy essay you should get into UCLA, probably not Berkeley though because the Poly major is competative. TAP almost guarantees you a spot at UCLA, especially with that GPA. If you write a kick ass entrance essay you might get into Berkeley too! As far as math, is STATS a pre req? You dont need it if you already too math 100 for IGETC. But, STATS or actually SOC 120 (which is intro to probablity and statistics) is really cool. I took it and it fullfilled my IGETC. As far as pre req, I dont know because usually Poly sci majors dont have trouble doing all pre req’s and getting IGETC certified (its usually bio, engineering, econ…etc that have to do pre req and ignore IGETC) My advice to you is to take only upper division pre req’s if you have not completed them all because IGETC has no influence on you getting accepted at all. Ofcourse, if you really want to go to Berkeley, IGETC will put you in a position to get accepted because you MUST get IGETC certified or they will recind your acceptance (unless you apply for partial certification or appeal) As for UCLA, every major is different. For example, English majors are HIGHLY HIGHLY urged to complete UGETC the spring before transfer because it saves alot of head aches and time for UCLA. However, it is not officially required to get accepted to UCLA.</p>
<p>So in closing, you CAN take a stats class at UCLA but I would take it at a CC because it saves money and time. Secondly, a grade in any math class that has a pre req of MATH 60 will cover IGETC. As it so happens, STATS classes (thankfully) cover your math requirement for IGETC, even though they are technically Social science oriented. This is because SOC 120 is equivalent to MATH 120. So yes it will cover you math requirement and it is ALOT easier than algebra and all that jazz. Also, you dont have to finish TAP in the fall. You can finish it in the spring of 2010 if you want but its really up to you. Just being in the TAP program will help you tremendously. They send out acceptance letters in May-April, so getting TAP certified this fall would probably help you more but you have to send it out as soon as you get it.</p>
<p>Try your hardest to get both IGETC and all pre reqs done in spring 2010, and try your hardest to get TAP certified by fall. If you have to volunteer less, so be it. Use UCSD as a back up but also throw in UCI as a backup. If incase, by some miracle you dont get into either UCLA or Berkeley.</p>
<p>also, have you thought about ivy’s? If I had a shot at an ivy like you do (which I dont) i would take it in a heart beat despite all costs. Harvard, Yale, Princenton, Columbia…these are the creme of the crop. These are the schools that breed the best and brightest…or in some cases, the richest and not so brightest.</p>
<p>I have, but mostly for law/business school. I thought most of them don’t take transfers. I mean I will definitely shoot for those as grad schools, but for undergrad they are sort of pricey and hard to get in. I will apply tho, just out of curiosity.</p>
<p>IGETC satisfies your general education requirements. You can satisfy them in other ways. </p>
<p>The STAT class for poli sci if offered at your CC you can/should take there. Having all of your preqs done is an important part of transferring. However if the course is not offered, which i dont think many CCs offer the stat course the poli sci departments want, then taking it at UC is fine.</p>
<p>You should sign a TAG for UCSD so you have a back up.</p>
<p>With TAP (which you can complete by the SPRING prior to transfer along with your preqs) you have a pretty solid chance at UCLA. I would say 85% + given solid essay. I would say with an alternate major in mind you probably can raise that to 90% for one of the majors you apply for.</p>
<p>CAL- i dont really know, i dont do cal chances or pay attention to their admission statistics.</p>
<p>“If you dont blow it with a crappy essay you should get into UCLA, probably not Berkeley though because the Poly major is competative.”
I got into Berkeley Poli Sci with the same GPA </p>
<p>“TAP almost guarantees you a spot at UCLA, especially with that GPA.”
no it doesnt. People with 3.9’s have gotten rejected from UCLA with TAP. Just make sure you finish all of your prereqs with A’s in them. </p>
<p>“If you write a kick ass entrance essay you might get into Berkeley too!”
It’s also a matter of your EC’s. They want to see who’s well-rounded or not. Are your ec’s relevant to your major? They don’t have to be but it’s a plus. </p>
<p>“As far as math, is STATS a pre req? You dont need it if you already too math 100 for IGETC. But, STATS or actually SOC 120 (which is intro to probablity and statistics) is really cool. I took it and it fullfilled my IGETC.”
For Berkeley, you have to take the “stats” class there. For UCLA, only a few colleges have a transferable stats class. Make sure to check assist.org. </p>
<p>“As far as pre req, I dont know because usually Poly sci majors dont have trouble doing all pre req’s and getting IGETC certified (its usually bio, engineering, econ…etc that have to do pre req and ignore IGETC)”
True. Many of the poli sci classes fall under a subsection of Igetc. </p>
<p>"My advice to you is to take only upper division pre req’s if you have not completed them all because IGETC has no influence on you getting accepted at all. "
It doesnt…but it’ll give you priority among people who havent gotten IGETC done. </p>
<p>“Ofcourse, if you really want to go to Berkeley IGETC will put you in a position to get accepted because you MUST get IGETC certified or they will recind your acceptance (unless you apply for partial certification or appeal)”
Not true. There are tons of people who are not igetc-certified that have gotten into Berkeley. Getting IGETC done just means you are done with every breadth requirement at Cal (with the exception of the American Cultures requirement). They won’t rescind your acceptance for that reason… you’ll just be required to finish it at Cal.</p>
<p>Loopi, what do you consider good EC’s? I have done habitat for humanity, and I have a chance to do either school on wheels or another program for orphans…does this look good? I also joined Alpha Gamma Sigma scholars club, the UCLA CCCP scholars program, and my schools student government with the judcial commitee. Plus im trying to join cross country but the stupid coach wont email me back. Anyway is this enough EC’s for an english major? The only problem is that I dont have any specific leadership roles, but I did get my poetry published with a canadian poetry journal. My GPA is 3.35 at time of application (could raise it to 3.5 by end of fall) but my grade trend has been significantly rising since the very first semester at CC. Not a single semester GPA has been lower than a previous semeseter. Is this enough to get into Berkeley or UCLA? Just wondering because Im going to apply anyway.</p>
<p>I can’t say what your “chances” are exactly since it’s really random. But I do know this for sure - they don’t look at your grades until after the Fall Semester when you update your application in January. So I think if you can raise it to a 3.5 by the end of fall, you should be fine for UCLA. </p>
<p>As for Cal, you aren’t admitted by major but by school… so it really depends how everyone else does. I can tell you that 3.5 is lower than the average (which might increase for you guys). This year, it was a 3.65+ or something like that. But for what it’s worth, I met tons of people at CalSO who had lower GPAs but sick EC’s similar to yours. So keep your head up.</p>
<p>Thanks. My personal statement is all about the origins of my poetry. Its very much playing the “pity card” Do you think that is a mistake to focus on adversity in my statment when there are so many other things I can mention that I havent so far? Like for exampe, I dont mention my 2 years work experience in the IT industry or my interest in computers, I dont mention my 10 years in Judo, I dont mention anything about being a songwriter, I dont mention anything about performing at the Rose parade or the RCA dome, I dont mention teaching high school drumline…etc. I just focus on poetry and adversity. Is this a huge mistake? Or do hate it when you try to throw in too much stuff? I figure, why should I mention a bunch of stuff that has nothing to do with my major (english)?</p>
<p>You have a very good chance. Make sure to complete IGETC! Getting into UC Berkeley is easier than these people say, just keep up what your doing and write a great essay. Be natural and original. I have a 3.78 and am a poli sci major, I’m heading to Cal for Fall 2009. I have seen people on these forums get in with much less than that. Good Luck! Maybe I will see you next year?</p>
<p>Also, about your essay. Write about a experience you had, but do not be so broad. The more detailed you are, the better. (This is only my opinion.)</p>