<p>Applying to: UCLA, UCB, UCSD
Intended majors, respectively: Cognitive Science (Pre), Cognitive Science, Cognitive Science
(Linguistics minor or joint major if possible)</p>
<p>Current college: Suffolk County Community College (SUNY), @ the crap campus (“Eastern”)
Program of study/major: Liberal Arts (None)</p>
<p>Details: No high school. 2 years CC (not CA).
1st year: would-be senior years of HS, missed out on too much, would have had to stay back; **** that, not fair, opted for Ability To Benefit program (HS diploma/GED equivalent issued by the state after fulfilling ATB course distribution requirements in college).
1st semester: advanced curriculum, straight A’s.
2nd semester: would have been in Honors program, but was convinced by my boyfriend to give it up and take ****ty online courses instead (at SCCC) that still fulfilled the ATB requirements. GPA lowered to 3.4.
This semester (Fall 2010): more general courses because I was thrown into the college thing without proper planning or direction. Taking whatever courses I could fit in a schedule that would continue to fulfill Associates requirements (w/ Honors courses this time).
Mid-semester: began looking into and applying to other schools. Realized my perfect programs of study, and my top choice schools for them (i.e., CogSci & Ling). A little late, & unprepared, of course. Again, not my fault. Can’t explain in so many words but it’s not.</p>
<p>However, I am a machine (so-called). Problems faced:</p>
<p>1) My college does not offer a lot of the courses I need to take in preparation for my major. (In fact, it hardly offers anything at all – just a couple of very basic courses in each area.) UCLA Undergrad Admissions suggested I see about taking courses at other colleges (possibly other SUNY schools, or CUNY) to supplement my prerequisites. I am going to try tomorrow to see if SCCC will permit me to do this, online, over the winter and spring, to more than max out and best prepare.</p>
<p>2) Berkeley’s foreign language requirement. I have not yet taken a foreign language course in college. All through grade school though, I took Spanish every year, since kindergarten. I’ve taken (or been in) Spanish I, II and III in high school, but never was around long enough to complete “3 years” which would fulfill UCB’s FL req. It says on the website that a 2nd semester foreign language course in college, with or without having taken the 1st semester, will fulfill this requirement. If SCCC doesn’t allow me to waive the 1st semester prerequisite, do I have any other options, or should I just withdraw my UCB selection on the app?</p>
<p>3) Calculus… I like math, and I took Precalc my very first semester (last year), but I guess (or would like to think) due to the fact that I was lacking in practice/application/background/preparation (still weak), I somehow just kept failing my tests, even when I thought I had some grasp on it. I withdrew on the very last day, right before class & the final exam. I have no idea how or why I couldn’t get it. Maybe ADD. Either way, prerequisites across the board of undergrad CogSci programs at the UC schools I’m applying to include calculus. Going to discuss my options regarding this setback at the school tomorrow as well… They won’t waive the Precalc requirement (it’s probably personal, probably because I withdrew). What can I do? Maybe I’ll be able to take it online over the winter somewhere else if all that works out… and then I can take calculus in the spring…</p>
<p>I am so overwhelmed and confused and tired. This whole time, throughout this whole process, everyone has been leading me in circles. No one knows **** about ****. It’s freaking me out.</p>
<p>I have no EC’s; jumping into “Honors Club” this semester. Good GPA. So-so courses. About to load up on prerequisites. Decent essays (however they’re measured, who knows). Don’t know how to explain my circumstances. Can’t.</p>
<p>So if I sound a-okay in my personal statements, openly back myself up out of desperation in the additional comments, have a good GPA (hopefully much closer to 4.0 by the end of the year; should have been steadily, 2nd semester ****ed me up), and take on a ridiculous course load between now and the completion of the spring semester – based on those factors, how would you rate my eligibility?</p>