<p>ucchris:
I will look more into the rankings tomorrow, but I think they are mostly not that relevant for undergrad school...
Your linked article (thank you so much for giving us a source) was about international relations; this poster is interested in environmental law, human development, and activism NOT IR. I agree 100% that UCD is not the place for IR. UCD IS known for internships, which would be invaluable to someone with this poster's paticular interests. If you want to learn how to affect changes in the law there is no better place to be than Sacramento. The state capitol of California is 15 minutes away from UCD, and I know this for a fact as I have made the drive hundreds of times.</p>
<p>ucchris:
This is truly an overstated generalization:
"furthermore, an aggie school, which many people consider out of civilization, is not generally considered a good place for political science"
UCD is absolutely not out of civilization, and I am sure the many residents of Davis would take great umbrage at such a comment. Davis is a highly educated community. (look at the API scores for the schools there) For being a small town it is quite hip and has a rather urban and sophisticated feel. Davis is minutes away from large cities both up and down the 80 corridor. The animals located on the ourskirts of the campus are there because UCD is the #1 rated vet/animal science school in the nation. Of course there will be animals there. There are large greenhouses of plants as well because Davis is also #1 for plant biology.</p>
<p>grace5930:
I just looked over the UCD academic major listings and found this major,
Environmental Science and Policy. Are you currently listed as Environmental Studies at UCD? If you are, I think you will love how this major blends all of your interests. Perhaps you could combine it with a minor in human development.
Here is a link to the major:
<a href="http://www.des.ucdavis.edu/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=3&tabid=19&subtabindex3&subtabid=19%5B/url%5D">http://www.des.ucdavis.edu/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=3&tabid=19&subtabindex3&subtabid=19</a></p>
<p>collegemom16 is single-handedly pwning everyone..</p>
<p>:p</p>
<p>megathunder, what a surprise, you attend uc davis. i would have never guessed.</p>
<p>Haha, I knew it would seem like that. In all honesty, I've defended Davis in many threads but I had no intention of doing that here. It was just funny how collegemom was having the debate with all of you guys. Good times..</p>
<p>grace5930 (if you're still even there..?) -</p>
<p>I apologize in advance for cramming so much talking into this box...I just hope it's helpful =)</p>
<p>I am having trouble with a similar situation. For a while I was deciding between UC San Diego (Environmental Systems with an Environmental Chemistry emphasis, with Regents and the additional Regents Alumni scholarship), UC Davis (Physical Science undeclared...but I would switch into EPAP, Regents), and UC Berkeley (Environmental Science in L&S, nothing!!).</p>
<p>There are so many variables to consider (price, distance from home, school spirit, academic rigor, internship availability, type of students attending...) it's maddening. To try to keep it simple, I'll just summarize what I've learned about their environmental programs.</p>
<p>SAN DIEGO -
I've pretty much ruled this school out because their environmental program just doesn't seem to be nearly as well developed as Davis or Berkeley. However, a guy affiliated with the UCSD Alumni told me they had just recruited a Nobel Laureate to teach there who specializes in environmental chemistry. He also said they have the Scripps Institute for Oceanography nearby, so you could probably get an internship there doing environmental stuff.</p>
<p>DAVIS -
"UC Davis is the University of California's flagship campus for environmental studies." (<a href="http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=7541%5B/url%5D">http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=7541</a>) Davis also just received a $1 million grant from the CA Clean Energy Fund. Being green seems to be mainstream at Davis (there are recycling bins all over the place for starters). </p>
<p>You would be in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences --> Division of Environmental Sciences --> Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning (EPAP)</p>
<p>I talked to an EPAP 2nd year there who is very involved in student government, and she is busy writing school policy (ex: she got double-sided printers in all the campus offices) and she says lots of people go to "Sac" to lobby at the capital. (=fun...and a "good resume builder")</p>
<p>I heard from a few people that the academic program advisor, Kim Mahoney, is really nice and helpful (<a href="mailto:kcmahoney@ucdavis.edu">kcmahoney@ucdavis.edu</a>). I feel like I would receive a lot of individual support/advice at Davis, which is partly because the program isn't packed with people. (one of the EPAP majors said most of her classes had 30-40 people)</p>
<p>BERKELEY
If you're a name brand kind of person, there's no contest...I've been reminded that they must do SOMETHING right to earn #1 public school in the nation...but personally, I don't think the decision should be solely based on rank.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure they have an Environmental Policy major in their College of Natural Resources (have also heard it referred to as the "Granola College" and the "Back-door into Berkeley"). Seems to be more individual support compared to Cal's other colleges because of the smaller number of students enrolled. They made it sound like there were plenty of research opportunities and field trips. The CNR is the most beautiful part of campus, hands down. (creek, trees, benches, grass, shade, etc). Was not impressed with their panel speakers I heard on CalDay, but that's just my personal opinion. A Cal career center lady (Christina something) told me that the EPA and numerous private agencies recruit environmental consultants from Berkeley.</p>
<p>I hope that helps!</p>
<p>Oh, and I don't know if you already know, but it sounds like after getting their undergrad degree, the vast majority of Environmental Policy majors either go to law school or get a job as an environmental consultant/policy maker</p>
<p>thanks all of you for the info.</p>
<p>these are the things i like about each school (i ruled out ucsb and ucsd)</p>
<p>davis
-i think i would feel more safe there and i loved the open space of the campus. calm, quiet, etc.
-i liked the fact that it has a good environmental science program too,the involved student government, and the lobbying
-it's close to the capital which would be great for internships, etc.</p>
<p>berkeley
-although it has a higher crime rate and more population, i think it would be a good idea to live somewhere different, other than a small town. a new experience.
-its close to san francisco, and i love music, so i concerts would be plentiful (i just heard that my fave. band in the world is playing at the greek theater)
-its prestige, and im thinking it would be easier to get a job out of school with a degree from here, although that depends my work.
-NR is small, smaller higher division classes.
-i like the rain, not big fan of extreme heat</p>
<p>the main thing that bugs me about ucb is the competition, and difficulty to get a good gpa.</p>
<p>im gearing towards ucb. mainly because i'm interested more in the policy side of environmental studies, and i think a good political science program would help here. i haven't submitted my sir, so i still have time, but not much. </p>
<p>
[quote]
Oh, and I don't know if you already know, but it sounds like after getting their undergrad degree, the vast majority of Environmental Policy majors either go to law school or get a job as an environmental consultant/policy maker
[/quote]
</p>
<p>yeah, i'm hoping to be doing one of these two afterwards.</p>
<p>Either would be fine for you. At Berkeley, competition tends to be far more prevalent in certain classes and majors, such as the pre-med courses and certain engineering courses. I think the intense cutthroat impossible to get an A environment is far overblown and most certainly not campus-wide.</p>