mcrk

anyone knows the difference between ucla/berkeley's polisci departments? which one's stronger?. well im actually planning to major in political economy of indus. studies if i were to go to berkeley.. but smiliar to polisci i suppose.

UCLAri

UCLA doesn't have international business.

Yes, I did (and as a grad student, I definitely will continue to do so.) Public policy will be a lot of reading, I suspect. The pace will be faster, and the demands a little more difficult. However, it's not THAT different.

UCLAri

style_,

Sounds like you have a good package at UCLA! However, if you don't like UCLA, I wouldn't go. $10-15K in debt is well worth having a better experience.

That one form really shouldn't matter much. Just turn it in ASAP.

mcrk,
The difference isn't really that large. Right now, however, UCLA is stronger in some things than Cal, but weaker in others. IR is pretty weak (for a top 10 dept., I mean) compared to Cal. However, I don't think it really matters for an undergrad. There's so little difference between the two in terms of what you learn at the undergrad level that I wouldn't worry much. However, if you're really interested in that one major, consider Cal! Nonetheless, don't worry about ranking/prestige at the undergrad level. It won't matter much.

style_

thanks UCLAri. I think I've decided to go with UCLA over UCB. Now that I'm going to UCLA can you tell me about the dorms there? The good, the bad, the rumor of having triples your freshmen year?

taniuxka20

UCLAri, sorry i guess i tried to say business economics. So, going back to my question, can i swtich to that major before school starts on fall? what's the procedure and will Summer Orientation be of any help? Thanks a lot,

UCLAri

style_,

I'll try to do good and bad by general groupings to simplify things.

DeNeve/Sunset
+ Newer
+ A/C
+ Quiet and generally comfortable
- Less social
- More "hotel" feel than "dorm"

Saxon/Hitch
+ Sliiiightly more social than DeNeve and Sunset
+ Living room (this was fun)
+ Bathroom between your 4 or 6 roommates
- One bathroom can get hectic with even 4 people
- Still not that social
- No A/C

Sproul/Rieber/Hedrick
+ Dorm feel
+ Newer ones have A/C
+ Still quiet enough to study
- Hedrick is at the top of a steep hill
- Small

Dykstra
+ The original dorm
+ VERY social
+ At the bottom of the hill
- Old, kind of "ghetto"
- No A/C

UCLAri

taniuxka20,

Biz-econ will require that you get admitted to the major, as it's impacted. That means a high GPA and good planning. It's not always easy, nor should it be.

Summer orientation was helpful for me, but opinions vary.

sarah_brooke

How would you compare the Poli Sci department (specifically IR) to those of Boston University, University of Miami, or George Washington?

UCLAri

UCLA's poli sci is much stronger than those three.

samantha444

i'm debating between UCSD and UCLA for poli sci/IR for undergrad. I was wondering if you could tell me what are the strengths and weaknesses for each? and your overall impression of the programs and opportunities....thanks! (sorry if this was addressed already)

UCLAri

samantha444,

UCSD undoubtedly has the stronger faculty and poli sci department right now. But I question whether that's enough of a reason to choose it as an undergrad. For the most part, undergrads don't really get to tap into the IR faculty at UCSD the way that us grads do. I know tons of UCLA students here who, after spending time at UCSD, have agreed that UCLA almost certainly offered a better experience than UCSD. UCLA's just more of a traditional "university experience" than UCSD, and I think that matters.

mcrk

what are some of the most popular paths taht ucla polisci majors take after graduation?

HermioneTapper

UCLAri, I'm an incoming freshman who has declared a major in International Development Studies. Is this a good choice to get me on my path towards working at the State department/becoming an ambassador?

UCLAri

mcrk,

http://career.ucla.edu/WhatCanIDoWit...calScience.asp

HermioneTapper,

Yes, it's a good option. However, be advised that ambassadorship is actually a political position. Most career diplomats, however, are civil servants.

evelyn_rose

What's the difference between the two?