Okay, I’m in quite a pickle. I want to take an art history course, specifically one which includes impressionism. The only two schools which offer the course I want in the time period I can take it (the course must end before august ends) are UC Berkeley, and the local community college.
The UC Berkeley site specifically says “our school does NOT factor taking the summer school classes here into future admissions.” but would it really NOT factor in at all? i mean, the admissions people MUST see it right?
anyway, the quandary for me is, i don’t want to move too far for the summer. i live in southern california, and a lot of my senior friends are moving on to college. but there would be opportunity i guess to see them on weekends. but anyway, what route would you take? take the community college course? or the UC course? this is taking into consideration, i want to get into the college of choice, probably berkeley. thanks.
<p>Dear u_h,
I think you have to take UC literally, in this fashion: What they mean is, it will not give you favored status for admission to U.C., to take a U.C. class. They do <em>not</em> mean: we are not impressed with college-level courses (be it U.C. or community college).</p>
<p>There must be a number of good art history courses at a number of private, public, & community colleges open to you in SoCal, no? I wouldn't know what all the policies are regarding all the summer courses at those various sites, but often colleges set aside specific classes for h.s. students during summer (as well as the regular summer session, as you mention). And there's, as you say, the comm. college route. With frankly better museums in SoCal (Getty, Simon, Huntington, etc.) than here in NoCal (mostly Legion of Honor, until the other main one re-opens), I would stick with your Southern Cal. choices, because any college-level course on any college campus will be equally weighted by U.C., is my guess.</p>
<p>i think you should view taking the summer class at berkeley and CC as the same. basically, both would show that you can handle some college material and that you have a passion to study the subject, but really, you won't get an extra boost for taking the class at berkeley. if this were the case, not only would it be unfair for those who can't afford to take summer sessions at UCs, but everyone would rush to sign up for summer sessions at their top choice UC, and simply put, that has not happened in reality.</p>