I don’t see anyone here who is also a history major.
where do you hope to get in/where did you apply and what area do you want to specialize in?
Anyone else feeling a little scared about employment prospects?
I applied to UCB, UCD, UCI, UCSC and UCM
Overall GPA- 3.3 or 3.4, can’t remember. It would be higher if it wasnt for the Cs I got when I was a teenager
Major GPA- 4.0
IGETC done this Spring
no tag because I’m taking stats this semester
Essays were looked over by a UCSD admissions officer and she said they were good + I have an upwards trend and unusual circumstances. Hopefully that helps in some way
Kind of want to specialize in latin america, maybe race relations or something contemporary as opposed to ancient studies and what not
I’ve been having second thoughts about my educational path lately. I started a tutor job at my CC and I’m not sure I want to work in education after I finish my degree(s). Although I enjoy helping young people learn, the bureaucracy is ugh. I kind of wish I would’ve worked towards a scientific field. I’m considering just finish my History BA and going back for CS maybe, who knows. I don’t have any friends who are history majors though so its discouraging not knowing what options look like.
I’m already mentally preparing myself to spend an extra year at CC. I’m not feeling too confident.
Hi I’m a history major too!! I feel like there are so little of us!
I applied to UCLA, UCD, UCSB, CPP, CSUF, and CSUN and so far I’ve only gotten a decision from CPP.
Overall GPA: 3.5
Major GPA: 4.0
IGETC: done as of fall!
I tagged to UCSB and I have most, if not all, of my pre-reqs done for each school I applied to.
I was told my personal statements were really good by a few English professors at my college so there’s that.
Weirdly enough, I was also thinking about specializing in Latin America or maybe Asia/Middle East,
And I’m also a tutor at my CC! I’ve always wanted to go into education and I still want to, but I’ve been exploring other options as well. One of my professors was talking to me about museum work, and I know it’s probably gonna be difficult to find a museum job I thought it sounded really interesting!
I was originally going to be a history major, but philosophy swayed me to its side. Despite this, I can say with full confidence that I enjoyed my history classes far more than any other classes, including philosophy.
Employment prospects were always a concern (one could argue I’ve put myself in a worse position with philosophy). The two paths I always postulated were teaching and law. I think you can see which path I chose given my current major.
I had all the history pre-reqs done for every UC. Perhaps I will minor in history. I really do thoroughly enjoy it.
@bolognese Do you have second thoughts solely because of employment prospects, or do you really think you’d enjoy and do well in CS? Just remember that just because you get a degree in one field, it doesn’t mean you must get a job in the field as well. History would prepare your mind for a variety of jobs. Many jobs just require a BA. That’s just something to evaluate, although it’s completely understandable if that is not a path that is desirable to you.
I changed paths many times. I started out as a political science major, thought I wanted to do CS, switched to history, thought I wanted to do accounting, switched back to history, and then finally switched to philosophy. I believe as students of the liberal arts, it is incredibly common for us to doubt our path based on employment opportunities.
In the end, I decided that I wanted university to be an experience in which I was taught how to think. Other things can be learned at anytime, but I think that the constant push-back against your own ideas and beliefs in addition to being exposed to conflicting beliefs is something that is rarely replicated elsewhere.
All I can say is find and do what you enjoy. You will derive countless benefits from such a path. For one example, your GPA will most certainly be higher than if you choose a path that is perhaps more employable, but not enjoyable to you. GPA will prove essential should you wish to pursue grad school, as I’m sure you know. Set yourself up as best you can now for later.
What about those who plan to add a history major after transferring?
Formally, I will be a political science major at most of the UCs I applied to, but I plan to add history if I attend a selective few of them. My political science focus is international relations with Africa and Southeast Asia as my targeted areas. As a result, I am only considering history at universities which don’t require a western emphasis to the studies and allow students the freedom to pick their own focus areas.
History does not have to lead to law or teaching. It is really about the graduate degree that you pursue. You can work in government by going for a masters in political science, administration, policy, etc. You can work for the private sector. You can go from history to sociology or anthropology if you enjoy research or would consider working for non-profit organizations.
STEM degrees only off more stability for those who are not naturally proactive and resourceful.
@kakarikos I’m not a history major, but I’m taking a contemporary Middle Eastern history class, and it’s incredibly interesting. That would be a fantastic focus of study.
tbh I’m honestly just really good at writing and analytical work which is why I went into history. But I used to think that I was an idiot and couldn’t handle any kind of math, I’m taking statistics right now and kicking ass so I had some kind of realization that I’m not a huge idiot and that humanities probably isn’t my only option. I do plan on going to grad school because I’m not sure what to do with a history BA but I really want to just finish and stop with school but welp… I think I’m too far down the road to switch majors though, I’m transferring with mostly humanities classes and a mediocre GPA lol >.>
I dunno if its just employment stuff or if I want to explore other areas like science. I guess I can probably take a class or something when I transfer.
Although I do love history, I’m getting very burnt out with the GE/survey classes at CC right now. Enlightenment this, Renaissance that, American Revolution blablablabla Maybe once I transfer I’ll be able to settle into my major a little better I’m keeping my hopes up! I love history and I am excited to take advantage of abroad programs in Mexico that UCs offer
History Major here as well. I’m a bit on the older side (26 atm) I have been working full time for the past 5 years and taking classes when I could. Applied to UCSC, UCD, and UCB. I haven’t heard back from anywhere yet. I hoping to go to law school after I get my degree.
History major here. Since is returning to school in my early thirties, I felt like I needed to pick a major that I really enjoyed to finally succeed. I have no end game though and I really have no clue where I could go with this major, but I enjoy the study so the panic hasn’t kicked in yet. I suppose I could take the LSAT and try that road? I hear that’s a common path. Museum work would be ideal, but I imagine the competitiveness makes it unrealistic.
My overall GPA is around 3.77, but my first go around is bringing that down. My GPA since my return is like 3.95 or something, that one B in a stupid summer Physical Geography class…
I should have all my pre reqs and igetc done, unless I’ve been misinformed by my counselor.
I applied to UCLA, CSULA, CSUF, CSUDH, and CSULB. Obviously still waiting to hear back from UCLA, but I was accepted to all the Cal States.
Also it would be cool if people shared the colleges that they have been accepted to so far!! lol just so i know if i’m going to be rejected
Accepted: UCSD, UCSB, UCR
Pending: UCB,UCLA, UCSC, UCI, UCD
I’m keeping my hopes up! I love history and I am excited to take advantage of abroad programs in Mexico that UCs offer