UC Davis Vs. UC Berkeley - Communications/Media Studies

Hello!
I got into both UC Davis and Berekely as a Communications Major at Davis and Media studies. I’ve wanted to go to Davis for over a year and applied to Berkeley just because and was shocked when I got in.
I feel like Davis is the perfect fit for me, and I’d be so so happy there. But I don’t know how I can turn down a place like Cal. I’m stuck. Does anybody have any advice? Stats?

Media Studies is an impacted major at Berkeley, so the first thing you should do is to check whether you can even declare for Media Studies or not. I’m not sure how the rules work for transfers, but you do need to declare for something soon.

OP is in. They may have to take Media Studies 10 because it’s not offered at many CCCs. But that’s easy-peasy. I did not feel MS was that competitive and you can take a lot of Haas courses. But it’s a VERY different vibe from Davis. If you like the more laid-back slightly rural environment at Davis, you can’t go wrong. It’s a great campus.

Congrats BTW.

I thought as a transfer into L&S, the OP is undeclared? Maybe it’s different between how freshmen come in and how transfers come in.

I already declared as a major for Media studies. That’s what I got in for.

I’m just trying to figure out which would be a better school for a communications/media studies major. I don’t know what type of jobs media studies students and communications major get from Cal and UC Davis. So I’m just trying to get details. Thank you!

@professorplum168, as transfers it means they still have a lower division course or courses not offered (or taken) at a CCC to fulfill with a certain minimum grade. If they don’t get that grade, which is often a B-, they can’t get in. People rarely fail - well, maybe in STEM.

They’re admitted as “pre-Media Studies,” etc.

@Ohm888 got it. I thought that since it was impacted one might need 3.0 or something like that for a bunch of classes. I just looked and yeah probably at most the OP would need to take one more course to declare.

^^^ usually MS 10.

BTW, appreciate your helping out up here with new admittances. You have great insight!

@ohm888 thanks! Sort of an addiction now, but I like to give back to any cause that helped my kid.

Anyhow, don’t know much about Media Studies but Cal does have one of the highest rankings in the country for this major…does prestige matter that much for Media Studies? It seems pretty hard to turn down, but I would recommend taking a campus visit to both places before deciding.

@ProfessorPlum168 . I’ve got a tour set for this Friday! So I’m definitely gonna check it out. I’m just seeing if anybody knows any details about either school major wise and the type of people.

Thanks so much!

Ok, hopefully you got an admitted students your rather than the regular one. You get to ask a lot more questions. Do check out the BAMPFA as well after the tour.

Dd attended Davis and loved it. Her friends, who went to Berkeley, loved Davis and would visit her frequently at Davis. They often told her how lucky she was to attend a campus that was “friendly”. They told her that they were surprised at how happy the students appeared around the campus.
When you visit, look at the faces of students at both campuses.
When you visit, ask about tutoring. There is free tutoring all over Davis for every subject, nightly. (They have an excellent pre-med counseling/MCAT tutoring program.)
Yes, Berkeley, “looks” better, but you have to LIVE there for 4 years.

No, Davis is not a less stellar campus. You’ll have access to Sacramento at both, but Davis is closer and may provide nice internship opportunities.

@ncfitldac Transfer Day is May 4, if you can make it. They have activities planned plus reps from all the majors. My sister is going (also Media Studies). It starts at 9 and through most of the day, I believe. You have to sign up somewhere - probably the portal.

@Ohm888 I signed up for Transfer day already! So I’m definitely going to that.

Cal is also closer to my home. I’m from Marin. I’ve been to Davis multiple times as my brother went there and my best friend + four other friends go there.

@ncfitldac did you also call Media Studies as well? Maybe you can meet with an advisor and/or maybe they can arrange for you to sit in a class?

@ProfessorPlum168 I haven’t done that! That’s a good idea. I’ll do it tomorrow. I’m meeting up with this girl I sort of know after my tour to see a Robert Reichich lecture.

I’ll definitely be calling them in the morning, hopefully, I can go to some kind of class.

I think it depends on your educational/career goal. But, either way i think Berkeley is a better choice.