<p>Hello, </p>
<p>I'd really appreciate any advice you can give me about my personal statement. I'm applying to UCSD and UCSC for the Winter Quarter (which means my application is due July 31--I know! I know! procrastination is my strong suit :) )</p>
<p>Anyway, I'd love to do the Literature major at UCSD, but it's waaay too involved for me. The list of prerequisites is almost comical, let alone the rigorous secondary lit requirement. The Anthropology major (sociocultural) is much more manageable to my mind, and I find the field fascinating. So while I plan to apply to UCSC as a Lit major, I plan to apply to UCSD as an Anthropology major. </p>
<p>I didn't think this would be an issue until I read the Personal Statement prompt:</p>
<p>"What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had in the field such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities and what you have gained from your involvement."</p>
<p>I saw a transfer counselor the other day, but she basically shrugged and said, "Good luck. Find some way to weave the two together." I've been stuck ever since, because they really are pretty disparate. </p>
<p>What do you think I should do? Can I write two mini essays? One on Literature and one on Anthropology? </p>
<p>Thanks in advance for your help!</p>
<p>I would say that you want to double major in Anthro and Lit and THEN discuss how you developed an interest in both.</p>
<p>Just apply to the same major for both and then switch once you’re there if you need to. Lit and Anthro are not impacted majors…there should be no problem switching the day you start.</p>
<p>I’m in the same dillemma as you, minus the lit. I am applying to bio anthro instead of bio. Anyway, are you doing TAG? and have you completed anthro prereqs?</p>
<p>Also I didn’t know UCSC was open for winter, but I know UCR is, what is the consensus between the two regarding better school? I think UCR is higher ranked than UCSC?</p>
<p>UCR is a tenth of a point above UCSC currently, for the first time since UCSC ranked above UCR. That is not a big difference. </p>
<p>The general consensus is that UCSC > UCR…better campus, lower acceptance rate, higher Freshman GPA, higher Sat score, etc etc. USNEWS is not the bible, and they can be wrong.</p>
<p>Hi samsizzle, I am doing TAG for UCSD. I haven’t completed the anthro prereqs, but reading the fine print, there’s only one class they suggest (and don’t require) for cultural anth majors. I hope to take it this Fall anyway. </p>
<p>And yeah! UCSC is open for Winter–it was up in the air for a while, but they are accepting transfers, although there’s no TAG available. </p>
<p>I have to agree with Cali Trumpet, UCSC seems to offer better quality of life (no offense Riverside!), even if UCR is the higher ranked school. People I know who went there say it’s gorgeous and the students/faculty tend to be pretty progressive and open minded. Stereotypes, I know, but they appear to be true. Then again, maybe UCR just gets a bum rap!</p>
<p>Since I’m doing TAG for UCSD and not for UCSC, I was thinking of writing my essay on Literature alone to have a better shot at UCSC. Then again, I was recently told the “guarantee” in the TAG isn’t really a guarantee anymore lol! So maybe that would be a bad move. <em>facepalm</em></p>
<p>Haha I was in the same situation as you. I applied to SD and LA with one major and to Cal with another. I think that your best bet is to either write about both in your essay or just apply to one major because a counselor at LA said that it does hurt if you write about a diff. major other than the one you put down on your app because to them, you’re not as serious about the major. They would rather take someone that has a lower GPA but is actually completely commited/compassionate about the major than someone who just put it down to get into the school.</p>
<p>I’m (kind of) in the same situation. Except my majors aren’t entirely different - the majors I’m applying for are similar in the content (all the pre-reqs are pretty much the same) but kind of different at each school… I’m not making sense, haha. Anyway:</p>
<p>UCSD: International Studies - Sociology
UCLA: Global Studies
UCB: Development Studies</p>
<p>How do I write an essay that pertains to all majors? There’s no way I can ‘apply as the same major’ because there is no same major (title, at least) at all these schools. ):</p>
<p>The only advice I ever get is to “combine everything together” but that’s harder than it sounds.</p>
<p>Also, your counselor sucks. Hahaha.</p>
<p>Thanks for responding everyone. It really helped me.</p>
<p>Good luck samsizzle & edelynly!</p>
<p>@VastlyOverrated & stargalaxy: I’m taking your advice and applying to anthro for both schools. I think that’s the best solution–thank you! btw I had an appointment with my transfer counselor yesterday and mentioned your idea, and she said “oh yeah! that could work.” :[</p>
<p>I thought UCSC/UCSD didn’t even look at the personal statement? I’ve heard that only UCB and UCLA look at it.</p>
<p>At any rate, don’t worry about it too much. I applied to UCB Rhetoric, UCSD Urban Studies & Planning, UCSB Philosophy, and UCD Philosophy, and was admitted to all the programs with an essay having to do with the real-life applications of Philosophy. Just be creative, and don’t stress too much about catering to a specific school. That’ll stifle your writing big-time.</p>
<p>I wrote my statement in like 30 minutes while filling out my application online, it really doesn’t matter. Just don’t make yourself look bad. As long as you come off as coherent and sensible it won’t matter.</p>