I am a current transfer admit looking for a little last minute help!
I got into Cal’s College of L&S as an intended Media Studies major but I do know that it is a capped major. Does anybody know if I am admitted as a Junior transfer and only have 2 prereqs to go in my fall semester at Cal (MS 10 and Hist) what are my chances of being able to declare the major? I know you can only apply to the major once, and then must appeal if you don’t get in but I’m caught between taking my chances and working to apply to the major at Cal, and just going to UCSD as an admitted Comm major. Is it worth the risk? Also how many applicants do they accept into Media Studies? I keep hearing a lot about having back-up majors in case I don’t get in but I would rather go directly into Comm at UCSD if my chances of getting into Media Studies are low. thoughts??? advice??? stats???
I plan to go into PR/HR with my Comm/Media Studies degree and both schools offer the curriculum that I am looking for. (basically, I need help choosing the better of two great choices)
Bottom line question: Is it better to go to Cal as an intended Media Studies major over going to UCSD and go straight into the Comm major?
My stats:
I came from a CC, will have my IGETC complete by next month, currently have a 3.59, and applied and was admitted to UCSD (Comm), UCSB (Pre-Comm), UCD (Comm), and UCB (Media Studies).
(I really did not think I was going to get into Berkeley which is why I am missing one extra prereq but also if you are a transfer student whos thinking of applying to cal but think you’re not smart enough: I graduated hs with a 2.3 and went to community college for 3 years to get my life back together and look at me now! If I, someone who SUCKS at academics and suffers from severe ADHD, depression, and anxiety, could do it, then at least let yourself take that same risk! I never in a million years expected to get into Cal!)
Okay I didn’t read it all but if you were admitted that’s what you’re earmarked for. I was MS. Very few students have Media Studies 10, which you take at Berkeley (as did I). You just need to take the history course there too. Don’t worry. You’re in. Take them both first semester.
@Ohm888 is there also a minimum GPA for transfers in order to declare? I know for non-transfers there is a 3.20(?) minimum GPA required for the lower division coursework, but not sure if that applies to transfers.
They need a B in Media Studies 10 (unless that changed, so don’t quote me). I’m not sure about the History because usually that’s completed. I guess if an applicant did horribly first term there might be some issue, but I don’t know. The GPA range for MS is not that high, despite it being impacted. OP should ask the designated advisor.
I doubt there’s a 3.2 cum GPA once at Cal for MS. Since almost everyone needs to take MS 10 to declare, that could easily thin the herd super-fast.
UPDATE: you were looking at the native freshmen requirements at Cal for first two years in order to apply.
Thank you both! In the major requirements to declare it does say that I need above a 3.2 gpa but I hadn’t heard about the minimum grade required in the class… I just assumed so long as you pass and keep your gpa above a 3.2 then you were fine. My main concern was the difficulty of actually getting into the impacted major.
Ohm888, You mentioned that as a transfer and intended major, I was earmarked, but since I will be taking MS 10 AND Hist in the fall, I believe I am not allowed to apply in my fall sem, but rather my spring. Does that make any difference in difficulty?
The 3.2 is for major coursework. You had a 3.5+ and got in so obviously passed that hurdle. This is why things get messed up here. People keep bringing in freshman/sophomore rules and get people confused. The only classes that may need a B+ are MS 10 and maybe Hist as they are major reqs. I believe mine was a B requirement, but it might have been a B+ (can’t recall).
They will have saved spots for incoming transfers to MS 10. Re history ask the academic advisor how to do that. But again, any pre-reqs required for major have placeholders for incoming transfers to MS. Once completed you formally declare in January.
Please don’t get bogged down with all this. You’re earmarked for MS. Just do those courses first semester, as noted. Get a B+ if that’s the rule. As I said a couple times, reach out to your designated advisor or the department. Asking here is not really the correct place.
http://guide.berkeley.edu/undergraduate/degree-programs/media-studies/media-studies.pdf