What are the classes I should take for UC Berkeley and UCLA?

<p>I am an English major and by the end of this semester, I would've already finished IGETC as well as all the English pre-req's except for one (The professor does not accept petitioners, so I will take that class in the spring). My first choice is Cal and my second choice is UCLA. I currently have a 4.0. </p>

<p>However, some things are concerning me. Do I have to take foreign language? I took 4 years of high school spanish, the last two classes being sp 3 IB honors and sp 4 ap higher level 2. However, I failed the AP Exam with a 1. The first transfer counselor I met said I didn't have to take any college foreign language. The second counselor said that I had to take language because high school doesn't count. However, my boyfriend transferred to Cal as an engineering physics major, with no college language besides his 2 years at high school. Another friend is in business, and is also not taking language. They are incredulous that I <em>have</em> to take language. My friend said that although I didn't pass the AP exam, high school classes should transfer over. They are different majors from me. I just went on assist.org and lo and behold, there it says "the end of the spring term preceding fall enrollment at Berkeley, you must complete either: </p>

<p>1) The L&S Requirements in Reading & Composition, Quantitative Reasoning, and Foreign Language; OR
2) IGETC"</p>

<p>Well, assuming my other peers, regardless of major, followed IGETC, and did not take any foreign language, then I shouldn't have a problem. Maybe.</p>

<p>But UCLA is being a real pain the butt. Assist.org says they require "4th semester of one foreign language OR 2nd semester of one foreign language and two additional courses in foreign language or foreign literature, including foreign literature in translation." I struggled through Spanish SO MUCH in high school. I don't trust in myself that I will ace Spanish 4, especially because I am 1 year out of practice. I enrolled in Spanish 3(with the full intention of either taking the alternative english component the next semester), but I was floored by how fast the professor was speaking. Predicting I would drop it, I missed a class meeting. Now, I have a meeting with the transfer counselors on Monday, which will decide whether I will drop it or not. I am really upset right now that I could've possibly been misled by the staff.</p>

<p>Also, other questions...</p>

<p>The minimum math required for IGETC is College Algebra. So although I was taking Calculus A, I dropped it and instead took algebra for an easy A over the summer. However, I am wondering now if my counselors could have erred in this matter as well. Cal is so prestigious, I would expect that they would want even their english majors to be well rounded and good at math. Even I am ashamed at having not done Calc. A. I got a B on my first exam, and dropped it, panicking that Calc. would unnecessarily ruin my GPA. If I do end up taking it, I want to make sure it is my sole focus; in effect, the plan would be to take Calc. and 2 or 3 easy classes. I also intend to go to law school in the future. Would college algebra look that pathetic on my transcript? Would not having foreign language also look bad? </p>

<p>Also, I would like to start on a minor if possible. Although I only have two semesters left, I want to see if I can cram in any classes before I transfer, so that I can save money. I was thinking Political Science, History, or Philosophy. I've already taken one or two polisci and history classes, but not yet have not yet taken phil. To work on your minor, is it just pretty much the pre-req's for a major before transferring? How many units is a minor in one of those areas typically?</p>

<p>Can you still take community college classes during the summer even after you're accepted and transferred? That's what I might do if I really go through with the minor.</p>

<p>I am so incredibly frustrated. I thought I was totally set, but then all these issues crop up.</p>

<p>Regarding Cal…
As long as you did well in your HS Spanish class (which it seems like you did), you do not have to take any additional languages. Google IGETC Foreign Language requirement. Cal does not require additional Foreign Language for English majors beyond the IGETC requirements. As a sidenote, only the Shakespeare course and English 45A are prevalent among CCs so most students are not transferring in with 45B completed. You would take 45B your 1st semester at Cal and would only be eligible to declare English when you complete this class.</p>

<p>Regarding UCLA…
Though you have completed the IGETC Foreign Language for UCLA, your particular major requires additional language classes. If you do not want to take a 4th semester of Spanish, you may take 5 Foreign Language in Literacy courses. Your CC probably offers some of these (mine offers 3). These will be listed on the UCLA English assist.org articulation with your CC at the very bottom.</p>

<p>As an English major, they will not care what math class you took, provided that it was UC-transferable. Being bilingual (even to some extent) is a very valuable trait for Law School. Consider another language as an elective to gain experience. You could even take these P/NP since you don’t need additional Language courses for Cal and since you can take other courses to fulfill language requirements instead at UCLA. I completely suck at languages but I took 4 yrs of HS French, 2 semesters of Spanish, a semester of Latin -HARD, and a semester of Italian. I barely remember anything, but I liked Italian the best.</p>

<p>I know that at Cal, all minors are at least 5-6 additional Upper Division classes in the discipline since it is on the semester system. Sometimes, you may be allowed 1 class to overlap with your major requirements. I’m not sure about UCLA since it is on the quarter system but you can look it up. Keep in mind, you must take all these classes for a letter grade. From what I’ve heard, a minor is a lot of work for little payoff, but it’s up to you. At this point, you would need to go to each of the UC Websites and look up each minor and the classes required for it. From this information, you can look at the pre-reqs and use assist.org to see what at your CC you can take in preparation for the minor Upper Division courses.</p>

<p>As an English major, you are allowed to take Summer classes as long as they weren’t ones you had needed to have completed by Spring '11 for IGETC (meaning someone wouldn’t be able to put off taking a Life Science Area class of IGETC until Summer). For other majors that have REQUIRED pre-reqs before transfer (Ie. Engineering), they would have to have completed the required ones by Spring '11 but they would be able to take non-required (but recommended) pre-reqs during the Summer if they chose to.</p>