<p>I'm currrently going to a community college in N. California and I'll be applying to universities next month as a Philosophy major. I (like a lot of people) have my heart set on Berkeley but I would also love to go to UCLA, or UCSB. If know of any other colleges I should apply for I'd love to hear them. As of now, this is what I look like:</p>
<p>GPA-3.2</p>
<p>Groups-In the process of starting a debate group at my CC</p>
<p>References-One from alumni for each school, two from great proffesors at my CC, and great letters from my boss, and her boss.</p>
<p>Honors in my Intro to Psych. Class</p>
<p>I work 30 hours a week and have been promoted in less then a year </p>
<p>Volunteering- 200 hours at a no kill shelter, in the process of becoming a rape/abuse hotline counsler, and is in a commited program to volunteer for a few weeks in either Africa or an orphanage in Russia</p>
<p>I'm Arabic, Japanese, and American (white)</p>
<p>Lived with my single mother and younger sister and have been equally helping with our finacial issues since I was 16.</p>
<p>I've gotten a lot of conflicting ideas about where I stand and I'm a little confused. I had to take my high school equivalent and go to a CC because my dad bailed and I needed to help with rent. I've worked long hours since I was 16 and while I know that makes for a decent essay theres no real excuse for what little groups I've been in and my less then average GPA. I would just love to know where I stand so I can work on getting admitted into a school I'm fit for. </p>
<p>References don’t matter at any UCs. If you’re applying to privates, its a different story.
I don’t know about your gpa but your ECs seem pretty good. Make sure you explain your situation in your essay. Maybe TAG where you can? Good luck!</p>
<p>I’m sorry, but… how exactly was that exchange useful? Maknee, did you really need somebody to tell you that “having a smattering of EC’s is a good thing?” Come on.</p>
<p>Use your heads, guys. You’re about to dive into college. If you can’t even dig up acceptance stats / requirements and then compare them to your own academic portfolio and make your <em>own</em> educated assessment about where you sit in terms of being a competitive applicant… then frankly, you probably shouldn’t be looking at a 4-year university, let alone a top tier university.</p>
<p>Juuuust my 2 cents (actual cash value: 1/100th of one cent).</p>
<p>Have you gone to the colleges website and checked out their philosophy programs yet? Have you taken your lower division classes yet to see if you even like philosophy? Why do you have your heart set only these three schools for philosophy of all things? </p>
<p>Are you buying into the schools name? Is it the location? Do you even care about philosophy? Are you planning to go to law school? Trying to become a master debater?</p>
<p>Sorry but you sound more than just a little confused from your post unless I’m missing something.</p>
<p>Yes I have a passion for Philosophy; I plan to go into law. I have all of the AA/transfer requirements finished. I’m interested in UC Berkeley because I have both visited their campus and sat in on a philosophy class. I’ve also spoken to several current students, it seems a good match. The instate tuition and wonderful level of education was also appealing. The location is also a few hours from my family, which is nice.</p>
<p>UCLA was about the same but slightly less so.</p>
<p>UCSB is unfortunately the only campus I haven’t been able to visit but I intend to before attending (if I get in) my neighbor is, however alumni and we’ve spent many nights discussing the campus, education, overall experience, I know that’s not the same as seeing it myself but it’s what I have right now.</p>
<p>I’m sorry if I seem confused but I’d say it’s more my inexperience with forums and sites like these, don’t think I haven’t done my research about schools.</p>
<p>@ Maknee33: I’m a philosophy major starting at Cal next semester! (spring admit ftl) lol. Although I can’t give you first-hand info about what it’s like to be a phil major at Cal just yet, I can tell you that it’s really difficult. Objectively speaking, the average GPA at Cal for a phil major is ~3.1.</p>
<p>The average admitted GPA at Cal for philosophy from CCC’s is a 3.7. For UCLA it’s around a 3.5. Your best bet is UCSB with your GPA, but it’s also important to note that the UC’s evaluate you holistically. Thus, your EC’s, hardships, jobs, etc will factor into your application and improve your chances.</p>
<p>If you can write compelling personal statements, raise your GPA this semester (try to get a 4.0 - grade trends are huge…especially for Cal), and have the prereqs done, you’ll be good to go. OH also, the prereqs are rarely ever offered for philosophy at CCC’s lol. Seriously like 7 out of 60 CCC’ offer them :p. That being said, it’s not necessary to complete them if they’re not offered at your CCC. None were offered at mine and I was admitted to Berkeley.</p>
<p>As for post-graduation plans, peterr86 got it right. I’m either going to law school, med school, or going for my MBA…or possibly PhD in philosophy. Plan for a long road of education if you’re going for a BA in philosophy. </p>
<p>Anyway, I wish ya the best! Feel free to ask me anything :).</p>
<p>Thank you Maknee for clarification and wish the best of luck to you. Don’t let people deter you from Berkeley if that ends up being your choice school. Their philosophy department is extremely good and the people who get in have a passion for philosophy. They aren’t going to sit there and put you down because got a 3.1 instead of a 3.4 or 3.4 instead of 3.7. That is what the idiots spend their time doing on this forum as Cal cares more about if you are prepared or not.
I have no idea where this other person attended a CC but their information is incorrect for how the California system works. Now not all the classes may be available at every CCC but most certainly are. Philosophy requirements are very cut and dry and often have only one to three differences in their names. For example…intro to philosophy may be called knowledge and reality etc.</p>
<p>A typical course requirement list for lower division philosophy transfers consists consistently and primarily of:</p>
<p>Knowledge and Reality
Logic
Ethics
Ancient Philosophy
Modern Philosophy
Epistemology/Metaphysics
Philosophical Methodology</p>
<p>@ kmazza: No, you’re not correct. Berkeley requires 3 lower division philosophy courses according to assist.org. These include: Intro to Logic, Modern Phil, and Ancient Phil.</p>
<p>Most CCC’s have courses that sound alike. However, the actual equivalents as deemed by assist are rarely ever offered. For example, I went to CSM (College of San Mateo).</p>
<p>No philosophy equivalents for the prerequisites were offered at my CCC, nearby Skyline, Canada, Foothill, etc. The only one that offered them was CCSF, and I couldn’t feasibly get there along with my other CCC’s since I don’t drive.</p>
<p>One of the above 12 courses may be taken P/NP.
One elective may be a course offered in another department, provided the course is approved by the Undergraduate Advisor. H195, 198, and 199 do not count as electives. </p>
<p>They also expect Philosophy 100 or Intro/Knowledge and Reality</p>
<p>I have never heard of a CCC Philosophy department that didn’t offer Ethics, methods, or Epis/Meta. Those classes are offered at most bay area CCC’s including Foothill-DeAnza. Those are CAN articulated classes no matter what they call them.</p>
<p>Skyline:
PHIL 100 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY (3)
(Credit/No Credit or letter grade.) Three lecture hours per week. Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL 100 or 105.
A survey of philosophical vies on fundamental questions concerning consciousness, reality, God, knowledge, free will, moral values, and political ideals. Incorporates an introduction to the methods of logic and critical thinking. Transfer credit: UC; CSU (C2). (CAN PHIL 2.)</p>
<p>PHIL 240 INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS (3)
(Credit/No Credit or letter grade.) Three lecture hours per week. Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL 100 or 105.
A critical examination of philosophical views about ethics including accounts of human nature and human potential; theories of value, rightness and justice; ideals of character, personal aims, action, ways of living, and other topics. Contemporary moral issues will be explored in depth. Transfer credit: UC; CSU (C2). (CAN PHIL 4.)</p>
<p>Canada College:
Philosophy 100 – Introduction to Philosophy</p>
<p>This is an introductory course in the examination of some of the classical philosophical problems in the areas of ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, and social and political philosophy. Selected worldwide philosophers of the respective areas will be examined, analyzed, compared, and contrasted.</p>
<p>Philosophy 240 – Introduction to Ethics</p>
<p>This course will examine the selected major ethical principles and theories in the Eastern and Western traditions. How these principles apply to one’s ethical decision making and moral responsibility will be examined. Selected contemporary moral issues will also be studied.</p>
<p>Foothill:
PHIL 4 Introduction to Philosophy (4 units)
PHIL 8 Ethics (5 units)</p>
<p>sometimes a critical thinking class can qualify for method. Oftentimes philosophy of eastern or western religion will qualify as a history transfer. If the college does not offer epis/meta more typically than not Knowledge and Reality fulfills that requirement.</p>
<p>I don’t think you’re understanding here. I took Intro to Phil (100) and Contemp. Moral and Social Issues, but neither one counts as a UCB equivalent.</p>
<p>GO TO ASSIST. lol. Try to input Skyline, Foothill, CSM, (wherever) to UCB for philosophy. No prereqs for the major are offered at them.</p>
<p>You’re thinking transfer credit in general. I’m talking about UCB’s prerequisite fulfillment.</p>
<p>Philosophy 1 is a humanities fulfillment and foundational course and is just expected so yes it does still transfer as well as counts towards a philosophy major. I already put the list straight from UCB Philosophy Department which trumps Assist.org. Contemp issues is an elective and does not transfer as its not a core class. This is also mentioned on UCB’s website if you are unclear on these issues.
Due to IGETC requirements most UC’s do not expect a person to complete all prereq’s at a CC but at some time. UCB like the majority of UC departments only require a course subject block of 3 classes minimum. If you take the other 3 at a CCC then even if they don’t transfer as units still fulfill course completion requirements.</p>
<p>The list of required philosophy classes from the UCB Philosophy Department website is the list of classes you need to take in order to complete the philosophy major. emilsinclair9 knows what he is talking about. In order to see if ones cc philosophy classes will articulate with Berkeley, you have to check with assist. Almost no community colleges offer philosophy classes that will fulfill the berkeley philosophy prerequisites. I can think of one off the top of my head. </p>
<p>However, the department knows that very few community colleges offer courses which articulate, so they don’t mark people down for not taking the prerequisites before they transfer. </p>
<p>For example, I transferred from two different community colleges to berkeley. I took 5 philosophy classes before I transferred and I got absolutely no credit for them here at berkeley. </p>
<p>Then your CCC philosophy department must be weak if don’t offer these courses </p>
<p>12A – Intro to Logic
25A – Ancient Philosophy
25B – Modern Philosophy</p>
<p>What are the requirements for declaring the philosophy major?
There are no hard and fast rules about this. You should certainly have completed several philosophy classes so that you have some basis for deciding that philosophy is right for you. A good rule of thumb is that you should have fulfilled at least two of the lower-division required courses (12A, 25A, 25B). Transfer students should have taken at least two philosophy classes at their other institutions.</p>
<p>Which major requirements can be satisfied by courses taken at a community college?
Community college courses cannot satisfy upper-division requirements, but appropriate community college courses may satisfy the 12A, 25A, and 25B requirements.</p>
<p>Goal 1: 25A and 25B (both required)</p>
<p>Goal 2: Courses in the 160–187 sequence (two of these required)</p>
<p>Goal 3: 122, 125, 131, 132, and 135 (two of these required)</p>
<p>Goal 4: 104, 105, 107, 115 (one of these required)</p>
<p>The course nomenclature at the CC doesn’t *<strong><em>ing matter. If it doesn’t *articulate</em> – if that CC doesn’t specifically have a reciprocity agreement with the 4-year university for that class – then it doesn’t fulfill the requirement. Yes, the credits themselves may still transfer, but it won’t fulfill the prerequisite requirement for that class. It’s not **</strong>ing rocket science. Quit digging up all this **** and copying/pasting in an effort to sound knowledgeable when you don’t have the foggiest idea what the hell you’re talking about. Leave it to those who do.</p>
<p>assist.org does give a list of the courses that will qualify for the lower division prerequisite requirements for the UCs. I am also a philosophy major. For some odd reason, 3 out of the 4 courses that i took at my CC transferred to UCLA with assist, but 0/4 transferred with berkeley. I’m not sure why that is. </p>
<p>At the end of the day, even if assist says there’s no formal agreement, you can still try to petition to have your classes seen as an equivalent. We had the option to do this on my orientation at UCLA. i’m sure many have done this at berkeley as well.</p>