<p>I'm taking Rhetoric 20 and 103b and this is absolutely NOT what I expected. I thought we would be learning more application of rhetoric which would be useful for a career in PR. We are not doing this at all. So, I'm wondering if it's possible to change to a media studies major? My AA was in speech communications so I have all the prereqs to declare. Chances?</p>
<p>lolz to anyone who thinks that university courses are applicable to real lifez</p>
<p>True that, but rhetoric at least in theory is supposed to be the art of persuasion. We are studying nothing of the sort in the class, which I consider to be a waste of time. I might as well go back to communications because at least then I can take some journalism classes, which are applicable somewhat.</p>
<p>Hi, peter. I applied to transfer this year as a rhetoric major, and I’m very interested in what you would have to say about the rhetoric program.</p>
<p>Could you please describe (in detail, if you’d like) your experience so far with the major courses? What were you expecting to get out of the major, and what did you actually end up getting out of it? </p>
<p>I’m still not sure on what to expect from rhetoric. I was hoping for something practical too.</p>
<p>Hey jp91,</p>
<p>Well until today my opinion was pretty jaded in rhetoric. Luckily one of my classmates told me the truth about the major. So here is my view on it. As a CCC student, you have the luxury of not having to deal with the weeder courses in lower division for majors at the university. However, this is not the case for rhetoric as there are with the exception of 1 or 2 CCCs any places to take the lower division pre reqs. Therefore, at Cal you must take at least 1 pre req to declare. I decided that since I would study abroad I would take as many of the required courses as possible since 2 of them are only taught in the spring. So far, I can’t stand either class because I don’t understand most of what the professors are talking about and in one case my professor just reads his lecture with a power point filled to the max on the board.</p>
<p>No one else in my classes understand the professors either and none that I have asked (about 20) have started the paper yet due this Tuesday assigned on the 10th. My biggest complaint is that the courses are more philosophy driven and less focused on persuasion in and of itself. From what the professors have told me, if you take the pre reqs first (which apparently isn’t required), it’ll make an easier time with the upper division courses. So far, my experience has been bad as not even the GSIs know what’s going on and I get very little out of our section. Although to one GSI’s credit, he admits he’s just as lost as we are at times, which should make for lenient grading.</p>
<p>Now for the good news. I spoke with a classmate today who hasn’t started their paper yet and has to go back and read again. They are a rhetoric major and said that this class was the most boring of all the rhetoric classes that they ever took. Furthermore, they feel that all of the required classes suck, but the rest of the department is kick ass. Therefore, my advice would be to AVOID all questionable professors for the required classes. Only take one per semester. I have a senior in my class who is taking this class to fulfill their requirement and graduate this semester. If possible, I would take these courses during the summer when at least it would be quick and painless.</p>
<p>Another thing to note is that I was told that at some schools what we study in rhetoric is what they study in communications. So consider this a somewhat more substance having communications degree. It looks and sounds cooler than “communications.”</p>
<p>Wow, thanks so much for all the info! I’m pretty excited about rhetoric now (minus having to take the pre-reqs). So I guess this means you won’t be changing your major to Media Studies? :D</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, Peter, how did you construct your UC Application essays when you applied for rhetoric at Berkeley? In the Fall, I applied to UCLA and UCSD under “communication”, and Berkeley under “rhetoric”, so for my common essay where it asked me what my major was, I wrote that my major is “communication” because I didn’t want to alienate UCSD and UCLA. Did you flat out write in your essay that your major was rhetoric, despite the fact that you had to send the same essay to other “non-rhetoric” schools (assuming you applied to more than one) as well?</p>
<p>I’m wondering if Berkeley tests prospective rhetoric applicants by seeing who would be willing to jeopardize their chances at getting into other UCs by stating they want to study rhetoric in their essay(s).</p>
<p>@petergunz, </p>
<p>Do you mind listing, or if you feel more comfortable, PMing me the classes? Should I get into and matriculate to Cal, I’m debating about double majoring in Rhetoric, Sociology, or Linguistics. So I’m soliciting your opinion as a way to decide. </p>
<p>TIA</p>
<p>jp91,</p>
<p>I may not change my major to media studies, but for more reasons than just because the department is cool.</p>
<p>Actually, I didn’t apply to Berkeley when I sent in my application. No one told me about the rhetoric major and the media studies major sounded like the last thing I wanted to study in upper division. However, 1 month after the deadline I read up on the rhetoric major and asked Berkeley if I could apply late. I explained that I did not know of the rhetoric major and it was not advertised by anyone from the school during the campus fair. I basically appealed and got my application accepted. So my application was about communications. The good news is that rhetoric is in the communications department with media studies so communications would work for an essay, although if I did it again I’m not sure how I would write the essay.</p>
<p>Another thing is that I got rejected by CAL initially because they never got my updates on the classes that I would take in the Summer and they thought I wouldn’t have IGETC fulfilled. Then 2 months later I got a call saying they made a mistake and that my spot for fall was given away so I would have to go in spring if I wanted it.</p>
<p>You can’t declare rhetoric until you take 1 of 2 classes at UCB or at 1 of the rare CCCs that offers the same courses. So, there is no testing. Remember, I got in with several Ws and an F on my record. It probably helped that I had some pretty rough life circumstances that I wrote about and that I was on the phone constantly with my admissions officer since I had to apply late and inform her of updates plus emails.</p>
<p>@eyethink,</p>
<p>What classes do you want me to list? BTW, why would you double major in any combo of liberal arts? It makes no sense to me. If I did that I wouldn’t be able to take some of the cooler and in some cases EASIER upper division courses that will help me in my career (public speaking courses). IMO too many students double major and it’s not worth it. Take it from a 27 year old that worked in corporate america for 3 years. No one cares that you double majored unless you have no job experience and even then you may have no job because you are over qualified.</p>
<p>Thank again, Peter. You rock. 'Hope to be in your position this Fall.</p>
<p>Jp, I hope you are in a better position than me this Fall, otherwise you’ll be waiting until Spring to get in;)</p>
<p>LOL!!! I am in BOTH R20 and R103B. Hahaha…</p>
<p>I agree with all of your assessments. I can’t stand the Professor for 103B either! On a brighter note, both classes seem fairly easy and the coursework is extremely light (I mean, 3 essays and we are done with the class?!)</p>
<p>I will probably start my essay today and try to get something crafted by tomorrow to bring to my GSI’s office hours. In fact, I am typing this to you in Dwinelle’s computer lab :)</p>
<p>However, I do have to say you have the worst of luck. I have taken several other Rhetoric courses and they are certainly not as dry as the aforementioned classes. For example, R166 with Ari Bryen is great (I am currently taking it) and I had Professor G. for R10 (easiest A ever).</p>
<p>Considering you are a spring admit, when will you be graduating? its extremely difficult to get into media studies as it is very impacted. rhetoric, on the other hand, is arguably one of the easiest majors offered in berkeley albeit you won’t learn anything out of this fluff major. If you are looking into law school however, this is prob the most prudent of routes as maintaining a stellar gpa through taking rhetoric classes will be among the easiest things you will encounter in life. </p>
<p>hope it helps. see you in class!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Cuz I think it’d be interesting.</p>
<p>Bimmer,</p>
<p>Then you know what the hell I am talking about! Neither of those professors are clear and I swear that the guy who asks questions after every slide in 103B is the only reason to go to class. Entertaining as hell! You know who I’m talking about, right? WHERE IS THIS PROFESSOR FROM? His essay prompts are longer than the damn essays! I agree that the courseload is light as I was expecting worse, but still its so f’n convoluted. I met with the GSI today and he helped me out. He said ignore the quote on the prompt, answer the questions, summarize and argue. He even extended his office hours for this assignment to tomorrow as well as apparently everyone in both of his sections are completely lost. Why is it I learn more about the 103B class in 20??? ***??? Do we have the same GSI?</p>
<p>Are you going to do question 1? Everyone I asked is doing that one. No one wants to touch Saussure, LOL! I heard both professors you mentioned are awesome. I’m taking Prof. G in the summer for 160.</p>
<p>Graduation date depends on my unit assessment. If they give me 70 units, I’m gonna go for the gold and graduate in 3 semesters, which would be spring 2012. If only 60, then possibly summer or fall 2012. THANK GOD YOU TOLD ME THAT!!! After talking to the person in 103B, I figured that was the case. My upper division psych course is good too (no essays, easy as hell final and only 40 question mid term, YES!!!). So I think once I knock out these pre reqs, I’ll be fine with rhetoric. I have no intention of law school, but I was thinking of going for the MBA with the rhetoric background. Figured it would set me apart.</p>
<p>See you in class!</p>
<p>TIA,</p>
<p>Which classes do you want me to list?</p>
<p>Yep, I know which GSI you are talking about. I have him too! He seems like a great guy. </p>
<p>I am perhaps doing prompt 2. LOL, I won’t touch Saussure either, thats for sure. Its between either 1 or 2 but I can’t seem to find enough to right about for prompt 1, especially since the requirement is 7 honest pages on an assignment this dry…</p>
<p>Prof. G is so easy. He is a very intelligent and funny guy but he is even more difficult to understand than the 103B guy. Seriously, its an achievement just to comprehend his lecture. the lexicon he uses during even colloquial speech is frightening and borderlines shakespearean, i kid you not.</p>
<p>Do they have different regulations for spring admits? it seems to me that every transfer is allowed to transfer over 70 units…but ya getting a berkeley degree in 3 semesters is going to be awesome though, totally wish i could have done that. MBA application mgiht be a little less less gpa oriented but still a great gpa would never hurt and graduating with honors in any major from berkeley will truly set you apart (berkeley is known for grade deflation).</p>
<p>best of luck on your essay. i know i better get started or i might never finish on time…lol</p>
<p>I don’t know if this guy is going into teaching or not, but he should think about it. He cares WAAAY too much about his students not to. My other GSIs are still having problems with remembering people’s names, lol. Speaking of which, I wonder if we are in the same section, LOL!</p>
<p>I thought about doing prompt 2. It seems that prompt 1 is just slightly easier to answer only because by the very question a summary is in order followed by an argument. Not to mention, prompt 2 actually mentions Saussure by name making it hard to answer the question without bringing him up. In prompt 1 you can kind of skirt around that by mentioning Saussure when you mention Barthes. Plus, the whole myth thing for me was easy to grasp and connect between the two. I just wish they wouldn’t have said a damn thing about mass culture as that still has me clueless.</p>
<p>As long as Prof. G doesn’t have an English accent, I think I’ll be fine. My problem with this guy is that I barely know what language he’s speaking. And I’ve lived with people from New Zealand and Australia before, so I’m familiar with the queen’s English (rubbish bin, lift, lollies, etc). Rate My Professor did mention that about Prof. G, but as long as he’s easy, I-DON’T-CARE! ;)</p>
<p>The regulations are the same from spring admits as they are for every other transfer student. It’s that because of when we get here, we’re on a different schedule for knowing how many units we are bringing, etc. In my case, I was originally going to transfer to a CSU, so some of my units aren’t UC transferable which is why I’m wondering about units…I have 3 plans. 1. Finish in 3 semesters apply and get accepted for that fall’s MBA program in school fill in the blank and get the MBA.
2. Finish in 3 semesters, apply for JET and live in Japan teaching English for a year.
3. Finish in 4 semesters and use my last semester to study abroad in Japan for 6 months in a language program.</p>
<p>I already speak fluent Japanese so I personally don’t want to do 3. It’s just a cheap way of getting back to Japan. If for some reason my unit count is low, I’ll do it though. Otherwise, I’m doing one of the first two plans. Even though I worked, I didn’t quite pick up any letters of recommendation and am wondering if I can grab one teaching english even though it’s business school. We’ll see. All questions to be answered by the grad schools, lol.</p>
<p>I’m not going to go for the honors thesis in rhetoric. So unless they give you honors for gpa alone, I wont be doing that. Not that I’m lazy, I just don’t think I need it.</p>
<p>LOL, yeah it’s 4 am right now and I woke up with an answer to how I’m going to structure my essay. *** are you doing to me CAL??? Best of luck to you too my friend.</p>