<p>I need some advice...I was accepted at UCLA as a English major and UC Berkeley as a Mass Communications major for the fall. I must be going through a personal crisis because I am positive that I dont want to do English as a major...I cant imagine analyzing literature for 2 more years!</p>
<p>My dilemma is that I am in love with Westwood and UCLA, and I hope to make it into the media world as an editor, producer, etc. My gut instincts tell me to go to UCLA and major in something else (Im thinking History, with a minor in Film) because my chances of landing an internship at a magazine or TV station are higher there. But, its UC Berkeley...do people really pass up Berkeley regardless of the major? In addition, I cant stand the town of Berkeley. </p>
<p>I’m kind of in a similar situation actually, though with additional conflicting factors and I’ve pretty much decided to go to cal. the reasons for that are pretty much that my mom lives in berkeley and is pressuring me, I got more money, and it’s a “better” school (I’d be an English major at both). however, I’d really like to go to ucla for the reasons you described, mainly, internship opportunities in the entertainment industry. at nyu, I had a year-long paid internship at a literary agency, which I loved, and I’d kind of like to have a development internship at a studio in la (anything entertainment or publishing related is lacking from berkeley/sf). I want to go into publishing, but I’ve also, like you, considered producing. I think you should go to ucla because the factors leading me to berkeley (cost, mom, convenience) aren’t issues for you. and I think living in la will open up a lot of doors, though you’ll have to go in knowing the film/dramatic writing majors are going to get preference for a lot of the internships you’ll be applying for.</p>
<p>also, english is a really great major, and will be helpful no matter what career you’ll pursue. I personally think it’s a GREAT major for a potential producer–being well-read and well-versed in literature is an extremely valuable quality. but do whatever you most enjoy.</p>
<p>duuddddddde… i am having the same exact dilemma as you!</p>
<p>Instead of majoring in English at UCLA, i was accepted with my alternative major in cultural anthropology, hopefully minor in film as well. COMM reject here =(
If you’re willing to change majors to the communication program at UCLA, i have some insight info on that from the comm rep. It is POSSIBLE to do, but sort of difficult.
Anyways, I’ve been talking to some people about this, and overall, majors don’t matter unless if you’re a Business, Econ, or an Engineer major.
But yeah… LA, overall, is the hot spot for entertainment. You can find plenty of notable entertainment internships/careers in LA than Berkeley- regardless of your major. Believe it of not, some jobs within the entertainment business look for English majors. You can search through Sony Pictures’, NBC Universal’s, or FOX’s career website and see their requirements; some listings do prefer English majors. So, majoring in English wouldn’t be as bad… History isn’t bad as well… Many notable people in the entertainment business were History majors. Look at Jeff Zucker, the CEO of NBC Universal, he only got his BA in History and now making millions. Look at Conan O’Brien he majored in History and now leads the Tonight Show. I’m not saying that we’re going to be like them, but if we have the same ambitions as these guys then anything is possible. it’s just how you make best out of this city by networking and presenting your self-- not because of a degree. Having any degree is just a small stepping stone, but don’t let the title of a college degree be a huge concern to your future. It’s all about experience!!! It took me a long time to get this through my head and I’m gonna go for it regardless of my major. Good luck! </p>
<p>Thanks for the advice!
CKG: Go where you want to…everyone has college debt…it can be paid off! I too got more money from Cal, but I left my heart in Westwood when I was visiting there…and I actually wouldnt be a English Major…I cant stand it any longer - it became far to intellectual garb than anything of substance. </p>
<p>Hikunx99: UCLA! Woohoo Go Bruins! What major are you?</p>
<p>Wafflesmasher! Thank God im not the only in this dilemma!</p>
<p>Ive been racking my brain like crazy trying to piece this all together! My heart truly is in LA…I love it there, but I detest English Literature! I realized that I had taken about 10 History classes and LOVED THEM ALL! Hello…what am I doing analyzing Pride and Prejuidice! But, Im worried that I wont be able to change majors once at UCLA, being stuck in the English major would be suicidal!</p>
<p>Hijynx99: Law sounds interesting, but I really would love to work in the entertainment world (editor, producer, etc). I wanted to ask you, were you a transfer student? I was actually accepted as an English major, but I want to change to History - is this going to be severly problamatic? Let me know, and yes the world needs more History majors.
“Those that fail to study history are doomed to repeat it”</p>
<p>Changing majors to History is possible, but difficult since it’s such an impacted major. You should contact the undergraduate adviser and his/her opinion on this; or you can wait till orientation and ask. If you seriously want to get out of the English department, you should look into other majors that are “non-impacted.” Mostly likely, you’ll be able to change into those non impacted majors with no sweat. Then again UCLA, in my own opinion, some of the dumbest majors or very few social science majors. LA seems to be a school for science, business, and language. As for their film program is just impossible to get into.</p>
<p>I fear the difficulty of changing majors…isnt that sooo backwards. Im paying to go to a school and I cant even change my major! BOO! </p>
<p>Good news is, I was in contact with the History dept. at UCLA, the undergrad counselor (Paul Padilla - Hijynx you may know him) and he seemed to give me some hope…oy vey!</p>
<p>I am a transfer student from the world renowned Pierce College. I am starting in the fall though so don’t know any teachers except Dr. Mellor who is Co-Chair I think. I took a history program with him in Rome the other summer. I DO know that Teo Ruiz who is the head of the history department is SUPER cool. Might want to chat with him.</p>