<p>So I already SIR'd to Cal awhile back but I recently got some new information about course transferability that makes me want to reconsider things a bit. It's a long story but basically at UCLA I only have to take 24 quarter units of upper div Poli Sci (6 classes) to graduate. At Cal I would need 32 semester units of upper div Poli Sci (8 classes), a 4 unit Political science stats (1 class), a 4 unit History (1 class), and a 4 unit American cultures class (1 class).</p>
<p>I could cross list the American cultures class with a history or poli sci class at Cal, which would leave me with 10 classes to take. But basically UCLA is asking for 6 quarter classes which could easily be done in a year while Cal is asking for 10/11 classes.</p>
<p>I'm kind of at a loss because if I go to Cal I'd be wasting a lot of the classes/units I've already accumulated. My end goal is to get into a good law school and I've heard plenty about the whole "undergraduate prestige doesn't matter" thing and how LSAT and GPA are the most important.</p>
<p>Do you guys think it's worth it for me to go to Cal, get that prestige plus 2 years of undergraduate experience, and risk potentially my GPA? Or should I just play it safer and go to UCLA and graduate in a year?</p>
<p>Me personally, I’m all about getting finished faster. That’s just me. If you don’t think UCLA will make you happy for 2 years then go to CAl. BUT if you were on the fence in the first place because you could see yourself in either place, then I say join the Bruin family. We’re the more fun bears anyway </p>
<p>Do you have upper div credits from a 4 yr? Because if not you can only transfer in 70 semester units from a CC so even if you finish the major reqs, you’ll be short the units to graduate. </p>
<p>@2016Candles yeah, I was on the fence for awhile and then I picked Cal. At LA I’d probably only be able to justify doing 1 year because I only need 6 classes but I worry that I make enough meaningful connections to get letters of recommendation.</p>
<p>@bomerr I’m coming from another UC so all of my units will transfer and UCLA is taking my upper division classes as well.</p>
<p>@CalBruin - I’m in a similar situation in that I can probably finish UCLA in 1 year, but I do worry, I won’t get a good grad school rec in that time frame. Finishing in 1 year means apps are due this fall. </p>
<p>We’ll spend our entire academic life in the application process LOL! </p>
<p>I think my plan is to take the GRE this summer, apply to grad schools, and see how it shakes out. If I don’t get into my first choices, then I may pick up a minor at UCLA, and apply the next year with a stronger app. I don’t know if law schools frown on applying twice, but it’s something to consider.</p>
<p>Yeah, I briefly thought about doing that but I don’t want to take the LSAT until I’m 100% sure that I’m ready for it because I’d rather not take it twice. We really will spend our entire lives in the application process haha</p>
<p>Is law school your goal 100%? If it is, then yeah only your GPA and LSAT matter. </p>
<p>Taking six classes at UCLA is not that much of a difference as taking eight classes at UC Berkeley. Just go where you would enjoy your undergrad…(cough) Berkeley (cough). </p>
<p>Just a quick side note, most law schools no longer average LSAT scores, they just pick the highest one you receive. So, you can max out your 3 shots at LSAT if you absolutely have to and it won’t affect your admissions. Just wanted to throw that out there. Of course, the goal is to take it just once and kill it.</p>
<p>@ocnative Law school is my goal so I’m not sure ugrad prestige would help me much. haha I feel like I’d really have fun at Cal, there’s some cool DeCal classes that I want to take and going up North sounds like an adventure. I’ve never taken semester system classes before; can you tell me a little bit about it? I’m coming from the quarter system and I feel like the semester system is just super long and packed full of exams and papers.</p>
<p>@fullload indeed! I’d love to just do it once and be done with it. Thanks!</p>
<p>Yeah, prestige means squat re: law school. I was just mentioning in another thread that a friend of mine got into a T14 after completing his UG at an online school you see in TV ads. GPA/LSAT, that’s all that matters. Good luck man, as an English/Poli Sci major myself on his way to law school, I’m rooting for you. Hope to see you at UCLA next Fall.</p>
<p>@fullload thanks! I’ll let you know how things turn out haha I’m sure you’re gonna do great.</p>
<p>@CSB111 I would be right at the 180 minimum for UCLA and I’d have to go to 140 semester units at Cal just to finish my major requirements (so 20 units over the minimum units).</p>
<p>@Cayton haha UCLA really should consider getting you on their outreach team; you’d be a great spokesperson for UCLA</p>
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