Transfer Advice

Transfer Students
1

<p>First, thanks in advance to anyone who reads this and can lend me some advice. I posted this in the graduate thread, but no one seemed to be able to help me, so I thout I'd try here. My question might be a little complicated (and perhaps some ado over nothing), but I'll try to be as concise as possible. I think this is the correct forum for such a question, but if not please let me know.</p>

<p>So I graduated from UCLA awhile back in 2008, with a degree in English. Obviously I made a terrible terrible mistake. It took approximately two years for me to realize fully how screwed I really was, even moreso due to the decrepit status of the labor market at that time. Luckily, I possess, I believe, a well-rounded intelligence and decided to change course to a career with better job prospects than the unmentionable $10.50 an hour job my first degree prepared me for. </p>

<p>So I went back to CC and started taking as much of undergraduate curriculum in computer science as possible (Calc 1&2, Programming, Data Structures, Physics + I had taken a couple CS courses at UCLA through honor's programs), with the ultimate goal of being accepted into USC to obtain a Master's degree. Most specifically in CS w/ Game programming concentration, due not only to the obvious inherent interest in the field, but because from what I gather, it's a robust job market and the pay is generally higher (more so for someone with a concentration, as I intend to obtain in AI programming). USC because, not only is it local, but it's also consistently ranked among the top schools for that field.</p>

<p>So fast forward to now, I applied to several second bachelor's programs, both because those school will allow me to take prep courses I can't at my CC, but also because even graduating with a BS, no master's opens up doors not open to me now. I've been accepted to both CSULB and UCI, and I have to decide which one, though obviously my real goal is USC, which I haven't applied to yet, and will in the fall. I'm leaning toward CSULB because its flexible program allows me to graduate in only a year (compared to 2 at UCI) and in addition, it's cheaper. I accumulated zero debt my first round through college, but am prepared to make full use of student loans this time around, given that by playing my cars right a $90k job right out of college is possible. But UCI is the school with the better reputation, and I can't pick the lesser school unless I know for a fact I'm making the right choice.</p>

<p>I talked to an advisor at USC who informed me, they've accepted applicants from both colleges, and I should apply this fall regardless. So, to summarize should I pick the 'lesser' school (CSULB) over the better school (UCI), knowing I already have a UCLA degree in my pocket because it offers the quicker, cheaper degree? Am I creating stress over nothing?</p>

<p>If it helps my GPA is 3.7+ now (higher in only science, programming, math classes) and should improve with each passing semester. I haven't taken the GRE yet (will over the summer) but am confident I'll do well, at least on the math/reasoning section. And of course will attempt to obtain any honors or extra circulars possible at either college. Thanks again to anybody who got through this and can offer advice about my decision or anything else.</p>

2

<p>You aren’t really transferring, so I would suggest you post on the more general forums that get much more traffic than either this or the Grad forum. I would try the College Search & Selection and Parents forums.</p>

<p>p.s. for any potential English majors reading this, have a back-up plan. D1 majored in English and took premed coursework and it actually seems to be a pretty good combination given her recent job search results 1 year after graduating.</p>

3

<p>Zombie,</p>

<p>Reading your post has left me somewhat preoccupied. I’m actually an English major. How bad is it, really? Were you trying to teach? $10.50? More details please. I’m at the crossroads…</p>

4

<p>^orange,</p>

<p>To teach, most people have a teaching credential, a grad degree, are with a special program (eg. Teach for America), or do so in another country (eg. Japan).</p>

5

<p>-entomom
Thank you much for the advice. I will do just that. Though if anybody here also has additional help, I would also appreciate it.</p>

<p>-orangeapple76
I’d be glad to try to help a little bit. There are things I could have done differently (besides change majors). First, I graduated in 2008, which is from my understanding was one of the worst years in employment history, so you’ll have an advantage over I did. Your first year or two out of college can be your most important, because the farther you get from graduating the less they want to hire you if the only job in-between is cashier. And before anyone gets any ideas, I am an excellent interview (intelligent, well-spoken, and good looking), I don’t say this to brag (far from it), but no ‘real jobs’ even gave me a call back. And I submitted resumes (even doctored ones, to exaggerate my experience) daily. In the end I ended up with a cashier job working with other B.A. degree holders in the same position.</p>

<p>One thing I might have done differently is get involved with internships sooner, I only did so once out of college (and they were horrible), starting while still in my junior year or something might have opened up doors for me to get a better job. But a catch might be, chances are it would be the kind of low paying office job I might not have liked.</p>

<p>I considered teaching, but (in California at least) the budget issues are so bad that securing a college teaching job (if I went and got a grad degree) would have been very difficult. I read the year after I graduated UCLA, the school released the majority of their teaching track employees. And a high school job wouldn’t have been much easier to find, though I assume if I was willing to relocate into a less urban area it might have been more possible.</p>

<p>The other option was going to law school, but from what I’ve been told, due to lawyer over saturation, law is not nearly as safe a career as it used to be, and many end up with debt instead of jobs. The more I thought about it, the more decided if I was going to go back to school, I’d rather get a B.S. and be an engineer then study law (something I have 0 interest in) or a teaching credential (again, little interest, especially considering the pay/market/ect). So far, it’s been the best decision I ever made, many of the classes have been very interesting, and I feel my opportunities have opened considerably.</p>

<p>All that said, I loved English (most of it anyway), and I’m not sure I would change the appreciation I gained for Beckett and Pynchon for anything, but professionally it didn’t offer me much. I’d say, if you are confident in your math and science skills, to double major while still in school. The extra two or whatever years could open doors that would change your whole life. If not, or it’s too late, beginning preparation for whatever career you want as soon as possible would be my advice. Find internships, make connections, Teach for America, get a dissertation published, move to strong job market, anything to get a step ahead of everyone else, because they’ll be a lot of competition.</p>

<p>Sorry if this was a downer (or just too long), but this was my experience. I hope things work out for you. Good luck.</p>