<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>ANY ADVICE?</p>
<p>I don’t know if UCLA lets transfers change their majors, but I do expect UCLA to be better at media studies/mass comm</p>
<p>How have you not SIRd already?</p>
<p>Because she’s a transfer student.</p>
<p>Sounds like you should go to UCLA. You may want to look into how hard it is to change majors as a transfer student, though:</p>
<p>[New</a> Bruins - Changing Majors - UCLA Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/NewBruins/MajorChange.htm]New”>Admitted Students | UCLA Undergraduate Admission)</p>
<p>simple…Semester System > Quarter System. </p>
<p>“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 know a few people who decided to attend a lower tier UC, usually because they didn’t like the Berkeley area.</p>
<p>Dreakol, could you elaborate on your statement that “semester system > quarter system” ?</p>
<p>^sure</p>
<p>Personal preference.</p>
<p>But I believe the fast paced, intensive quarter systems can put a student at a disadvantage, especially if they are not used to it. The disadvantage to a quarter system for students, especially when they first are exposed to this calendar, is that time flies by fast and if you get behind, you’re screwed. It’s a fairly unforgiving calendar: even the traditional “drops and adds” period is very short and midterms sneak up on you very quickly. If a student gets sick, it would be harder to recover in a 10-11 week course then it would be if it were a 15-16 week course.</p>
<p>Again, personal preference but also something I believe should be considered during the decision process.</p>
<p>It already sounds that you like UCLA more, so go for it. But to answer some of your questions:
You can switch major at UCLA, but it is kinda hard, especially for a transfer student. You might want to talk to your counselor for it. But that goes the same for Berkeley. Switching majors for transfers are usually hard at every college.
A lot of people choose UCLA over Berkeley, and also vice versa. It really depends on your personal preference. Sure Berkeley has a better reputation, but if its environment makes you unhappy, then I would highly suggest that you don’t go there. I have seen so many people who regretted their decisions. So basically choose a college that meets both your academic needs and your overall happiness. The happier you are, the better you will do in your academic fields.</p>
<p>For the quarter system and semester system, they both have their pros and cons. For the quarter system, you can take a variety of classes to further explore your interests and passions. But the downside to that it goes by really fast. For the semester system, you can take your time. But in exchange for that, you lose the opportunity to attend more classes.
So it really depends on your personal preference. I personally like the quarter system more because I’m one of those people who doesn’t like to be stuck in one place too long. I want to explore all of my interests and passions, and thus take all the classes that I really love. In addition, all other UCs except Berkeley use the quarter system, so you can hang out with your friends from the other UCs over the break.</p>
<p>The thing is with semester too is that at the end of the semester, you have a final that is generally cumulative, which means more information to review and study for in comparison to the shorter quarter span.</p>
<p>Wow…</p>
<p>Thank you all for your advice. A few thoughts…</p>
<p>Semester vs. quarter debate: Ive actually done both, for 2 years I was on the semester system and I loved the school I was at, and the extra lag time during the year made it seem as though there wasnt much work. Ive also done quarter and like the fast pace, get it over with feeling. Actually, as I finish up this year Im at 2 JC’s - one is quarter, one is semester…its a nightmare. If I could pick, I think I like semester better, but I dont think that should weigh to heavily in my decision making. </p>
<p>I spent a weekend in Berkeley…and I loved the campus, hated the city. I would hate to be limited to just being on campus. Westwood, on the other hand is amazing…but the changing majors thing scares me!</p>