Yea and I’m thinking CSULA. It’s closest to my home
thanks 
The fact that the CSU is close to home makes sense. That would definitely save money. In that case, I would agree with attending CSULA if UCLA does not work out. UCD is an excellent research university, so I tend to lean in favor of having a degree from respected research universities as a backup plan for those considering law because of the state of the field today. However, as long as you are a solid student at CSULA, you will be able to carve out another path for yourself if law school doesn’t work out.
Good luck with UCLA though.
Thanks.
ATM I’m working at a private investigations firm and I’m meeting lawyers and PIs and making some connections, thats a big part of me wanting to stay. However I do value the degree from a UC far more than one from a CSU. But I figure the connections I’m making now are extremely important once I start practicing law. I think once results start rolling in and it gets real I’ll make my decision. UCs have always been a dream
@RG12345 Then you are already ahead of the pack. Definitely don’t sacrifice a great opportunity like that.
Thanks, I’ve been lucky enough to meet some good attorneys and get their advice. Surprisingly, the most successful ones did not go to any fancy law or undergrad schools. Guess it was simpler times back then.
Hey!
One year transfer.
APs (4s/3s; failed 3 of them): Chemistry, English Language, Physics 1, US History, US Government, Macroeconomics, Psychology, Environmental Science, Human Geography, Statistics, European History.
GPA: 4.0.
IGETC: yes!
Pre-Reqs: completed all but stats course for UCLA (like everyone else). For SB, tho, I’m missing Econ and Political Theory.
Extra Curriculars: solid 9/10. President of a huge club, pledging a social fraternity, creative writing specialist at summer camp, poetry anthology, improv team, improv club, speech and debate team.
Essay: 9/10. Sent it to a UCLA representative, she said it was “really, really strong”. Also pitched it to my school’s SD rep on a one-on-one basis: she said it was “very unique”.
Applied to: UCLA, UC Berkeley, UCSD, UCSB.
Admitted to: UCSB. Waiting on the rest.
Hi fellow ps majors! I’m still waiting to here back from most of the UC’s I applied to, but I already got into UCSD which is my dream school so I’m 99.9% sure thats where I’m going to SIR.
So I have a question that needs some input! I want to take on a minor or a double major wherever I end up transferring and as much as I really love philosophy and ethnic studies, I don’t see any realistic future in taking on one of those. I see those as more of classes that I can take on my leisure. In terms of double major/minor, I really want to take something that will give me an edge for grad school/prospective career paths and while I love philo/ethnic I feel like getting two BA’s would be useless. Do you guys think Cog Sci would be a good doable option for a minor/double major alongside Poli Sci?
Thanks in advanced!
Attended four year private, came back to California to go to CC.
Transferring as a junior.
GPA: 3.14 cumulative, but solid upward tread since freshman year. (Could be as high as 3.5 depending on which of my courses are transferable from the four year).
IGETC: Completed Fall 2015
Pre-Reqs: Completed all assist courses from all the UC’s I applied to.
EC’s: Legislative Aide for a lobbying firm, Founder of my own non-profit, showcasing a project designed to alleviate poverty at the Clinton Global Initiative, President of Business Club, Member of Polsci Club,
Essays: I took a “Call to action approach” in the first prompt and kept it very competent and professional. I had an admission rep review it and she said no one ever writes this well, she also helped me organize my second prompt which told an empowering story about how I became unshackled from social institutions that guided my beliefs.
Other: Starting Point Mentorship (UCB), TAP (UCB), TOP (UCD). Low income, minority.
Applied to: UCB, UCLA, UCSB, UCSD, UCI, UCD
Accepted to: UCSB (March 22)
Rejected: None yet 
My goal is UC Berkeley, I know my GPA is well below what they’re looking for, but oh well I can’t change what it is. I’m hoping my story and my EC’s put me in.
Both Ethnic Studies and Philosophy are far more marketable with Political Science than Cognitive Science. The only B.S. degree would be potentially marketable with political science are Public Health, Mathematics/Statistics/Econ, and Computer Science; however, anything beyond a minor in computer science fields would likely be unnecessary if your career focus is not in tech.
Some universities, such as UCB, don’t even offer B.S. degrees. A B.A./B.A. is no less marketable than a B.A./B.S. What matters is the content. If you are at all interested in law, policy, public service, academia, etc, then Ethnic Studies, Philosophy, or History would make three of the best combinations. If you are interested in campaign work, advocacy, etc, then Communications or Ethnic Studies would be the go-to double majors.
You have to think about where you see yourself in the future and make your choices based on which combinations will prepare you most for that future. Don’t get caught up on the titles and semantics.
@TheVisionary I found this cluster at Duke that puts in better words how I feel about the connection between cogs & ps:
“our cluster will study the intersection of law and neuroscience; how recent advances in understanding and studying the brain have affected issues fundamental to the legal system, such as criminal intent, insanity, and truthfulness. This cluster should appeal to anyone curious about how the brain is structured, how it works, how we study it, how it produces and comprehends language, and how our understanding of the brain influences our judgments on issues of legal responsibility for our actions.”
Its a description regarding their cluster of cognitive neuroscience and law, but thats a good outline of my thought process. My reach is law and although I don’t know if that will change, I was thinking that cogs could be used analytically toward practicing law.
@goodkidmaadcity There is absolutely a connection between cognitive and virtually everything. I love neuroscience. If I had not changed my future goals, then I would still be studying exactly that.
The point that I was making is that there is no better preparation for law school then a Philosophy B.A. Likewise, the Ethnic Studies program at UCSD is one of the best in the state. It would be a great second major for someone who is interested in representing average citizens rather than working in Big Law. Either of those would be excellent second majors alongside a PoliSci degree.
There is nothing specifically wrong with pairing a hard science with political science, but it should not be because you think that it would be more marketable because philosophy will no doubt strength your practical and argumentative skills far far more for the LSAT and law school. Ethnic studies will show employers that you are very knowledge working in diverse communities. Cognitive Science is interesting; however, there is not a job outside of academic research where you would realistically be using the bulk of that knowledge. Not to mention, the additional coursework and unit requirements which would come from trying to complete a Cognitive Science B.S. rather than another B.A.
I am a supporter of those who double major in seemingly unrelated fields. It is just that the two interests that you first mentioned are excellent studies for those interested in law and politics, I don’t want you to shy away from them out of employment fears because they are two of the most marketable degrees for our field.
Okay guys, I’ve been hunting through threads for about 4 hours now because I’m in the middle of an epic panic attack. Has anyone been able to find someone who was admitted to UCLA without that f-ing stats class? It’s driving me absolutely insane… I took stats, and it meets the stats requirement at UCI but not UCLA because the UC system is trying to kill us. I just want to know that one person with got in without that dang class…
“because the UC system is trying to kill us.” Hahaha. @Mont2LA This seems to be true.
I’m in the same boat so I’ve been trying to ask around but I only know a few transfers at UCLA and none of them are Poli Sci Majors ):
I saw your post on the UCLA thread about going through last year’s transfer thread and I’ve done the same (it’s actually the worst). A lot of people said they had all pre-reqs done but I realized some people will say “all pre-reqs completed” but they really mean that they have only completed the pre-reqs offered at their CC, so who knows :-?
I just found out a couple of days ago that one of my local CCs offers the UCLA approved statistics course and I wanted to s c r e a m.
If it’s not offered at your CC then they won’t hold it against you… plus it says that “Course must be completed at UCLA”.
They totally can hold it against me though, I was originally wait-listed in the class at a community college that is not my primary school and didn’t make the cut, even after offering students $300 to give me their spot. So my TAU shows that I had planned to take the class, and then didn’t.
@mont2la Damn. Did you email them explaining that?
I’ve been skeptical about the “if the class is not offered at _____, it won’t be held against you” claim for quite some time now. It is similar to the idea that the personal statement can only benefit applicants; it does not work against them. Or, for example, the concept of required or recommended coursework. Having not completed the recommend coursework for a program theoretically won’t be held against an applicant by nature of being referred to as recommended or encouraged rather than required; however, that does not mean that those who have completed the recommended coursework will not gain a noteworthy advantage.
I would see that claim as more realistic in cases such as TAG or other guaranteed admissions where students are not competing because I have a hard time believe that universities are truly viewing students who have not finished prereqs as equally competitive as those who have completed them with high marks simply because one college did not offer specific courses. It might not be fair, but the admissions process is rarely perfectly fair. There are always applicants who simply had more opportunities available to them than others.
With that being said, @Mont2LA, I would say that the fact that you have completed a statistics course works in your favor. You would still have to take another to satisfy the requirement at UCLA; however, having taken that course shows that you are competent in the subject so I believe that you have an edge over those who haven’t completed any comparable math courses. The PoliSci department has to know how unreasonably picky they are being about that requirement.
@Mont2LA I’m very sorry to hear you didn’t get the class, the best possible thing to do is email them about you not being able to get the class (without mentioning the bribery involved, of course lol) and mention the other stats class you took. It’s npt unheard of that students aren’t able to get into a community college class, and I’m sure it’s happened before, the most you can do is hope for the best and keep an open dialogue with UCLA about it.
I emailed and called early in the semester, and the woman told me to just note it in my additional comments, which I did. However, the admissions person wasn’t all that willing to help, and I totally understand because I absolutely would not have the patience for that job. Nothing is going to put me at ease until those decisions come out and I get a definitive yes or no.