English & Environmental Studies: USC, UW Honors, or UC Berkeley?

College Search & Lists
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<p>Hey guys, I have a sort of complicated situation (but then again, don’t we all?) haha.</p>

<p>So to start off, I’m thinking of studying English (creative writing) and Environmental Studies. However, I’mcollege definitely looking to explore all my interests and I think it’s very possible that I change my major(s). I’m not a very math/science oriented type of guy, so I’ll give that area another shot, but I HIGHLY doubt I’ll be heading into that kind of career. I’m more of a humanities, philosophy, psychology guy. And in terms of English, I’m more interested in creative writing than classic literature and the like.</p>

<p>I’m a fairly adaptable guy. But that being said, I’m not much of a partier and I’m definitely not a frat bro. Academics are my priority in college, and I’m going to college to learn as much as I can first, and to have fun second. However, it’s also important for me that I’m not drowning in work and I have time to meet people, go out, play some sports, join clubs, and pursue my musical and artistic interests. I play the clarinet, the piano, and the guitar, and I sing a little, and it’d be awesome to keep that up in college. Lol, it might sound like I’m some kind of hipster, but I’m not. Again, in terms of social atmosphere and vibe, while I know there are definitely places I would fit in better, I also know that I can make do with whatever environment I’m in. However, judging from my description, if there’s a certain school you feel I would feel more comfortable in, by all means, please let me know.</p>

<p>Okay, so here’s another complicating factor. I would really like to take a gap year. I already applied to the Americorps, to this program called City Year. It’s something I’m very interested in, but they accept 1 out of every 6 applicants, so there’s a good chance I won’t get it. Also, conveniently, they notify me of whether or not I get in on the first week of May, which is also when I need to decide on a college. I already emailed USC, and being a private school, they were super understanding, and they said as long as I submitted all my forms on time, they’d let me take a gap year and save my spot for the next year. And after I submit my forms, if it turns out I don’t get into Americorps, they’ll still take me in. Also, I got a half scholarship at USC, and they said regardless of what happens, they’ll make sure I keep my scholarship.</p>

<p>UC Berkeley very rarely accepts gap year approvals, and University of Washington may not even allow them. To be honest, I was originally not considering UW, but I recently got into the Honors Program. I do not know exactly what the benefits of this program is, but if someone can shed some light on that, that’d be great. I know UW has a good Environmental program, but I do not know how good it is compared to Berkeley’s or USC’s. </p>

<p>UC Berkeley apparently has very, very excellent English and Enviro departments. I’m instate, so tuition is lower for me, but still it is about the same price as USC (with the half scholarship). And it’s a public school. And I’m worried about the California budget cuts. I’m worried that the tuition might go up. And I’ve heard lots of nasty stories of people not getting into the classes they need and even taking 6 years to graduate. So I don’t know if Berkeley’s edge over USC in academics makes up for USC’s advantages as a private school.</p>

<p>I know that was a really long post, but I’d really appreciate it if you guys can look over my situation and give me your advice. I’m visiting Berkeley this weekend to see how I like it. If I think Berkeley is amazing, I guess I’ll scrap my gap year plans and go with Berkeley. But at the moment, I am hoping I hate Berkeley because that will make things awfully convenient. In that case, I’m pretty sure I would choose USC. And if all goes well, I would take my gap year, and have my spot and scholarship in USC waiting for me when I come back.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot!</p>

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<p>Cal= no brainer. It’s English is top 3 (along with Harvard and Yale), and it has plenty of enviros to hang with.</p>

<p>Take a foreign language and study abroad for a full (gap) year. Go study in Costa Rica or a rain forest, or outback…</p>

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<p>Hopefully you’ll love Berkeley and make the right decision. GO BEARS!</p>

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<p>Hahaha, go Bears indeed!</p>

<p>UCBChem, is it hard to get the classes you need at UCB? And would you say I could easily balance UCB’s workload and my music stuff? And is it any harder to switch majors and explore academic interests at UCB than at a private school? I’m pretty sure Enviro and English are what I’m interested in, but I can be kinda indecisive, and I’d like to take a gander through disciplines like Psychology and Philosophy and whatnot. But at the same time, I don’t really wanna take 5 years to graduate.</p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

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<p>Are you entering undeclared in the College of Letters and Science? (All freshmen in the College of Letters and Science enter undeclared.)</p>

<p>Most humanities and social studies majors do not have huge amounts of freshman / sophomore prerequisites or long chains of prerequisites, so exploring in the humanities and social studies in your freshman year will not delay your being able to declare a major and graduate on time. Most such majors have 12 to 15 courses (out of a total of about 32, though variations in credit units for each course can mean taking slightly more or fewer courses).</p>

<p>A few majors in Letters and Science are capped and you must apply to declare them. The list of majors is [here[/url</a>].</p>

<p>Which environmental major would you be interested in?</p>

<p>[url=<a href=“http://ugis.ls.berkeley.edu/environ/major/lower%20division.php]Environmental”>http://ugis.ls.berkeley.edu/environ/major/lower%20division.php]Environmental</a> Science](<a href=“http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/major/majorlist.html]here[/url”>http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/major/majorlist.html) has a fairly large list of freshman and sophomore prerequisite courses.</p>

<p>[Environmental</a> Economics and Policy](<a href=“http://nature.berkeley.edu/site/majors/eep.php]Environmental”>Environmental Economics and Policy | UC Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources) is similar to an economics major in freshman and sophomore prerequisite courses.</p>

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<p>I’m more interested in Environmental Economics and Policy. And in terms of English, I’m more interested in creative writing, and less so in classic literature and stuff like that. I’m assuming since Berk has such an amazing English department, it’d probably have some killer creative writing classes too.</p>

<p>Are USC’s Enviro and English departments comparable to Berk’s at all?</p>

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<p>^Are we trying to quantify an English department now? :confused:</p>

<p>USC may not be as strong as Berkeley but I don’t see how you’d be greatly affected regardless of how “good” or “bad” their English department actually is. It’s important not be too caught up in rankings in areas where they don’t matter at all and to concentrate on other factors that may be important to you, such as Americorps.</p>

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<p>Tiki, I graduated years ago, so in all honesty I can’t say what your experience will be. </p>

<p>I know Berkeley is generous with AP credits so if you have some of those you could waive some prerequisites.</p>

<p>Berkeley has also added funding to have more prerequisite classes added to the schedule.</p>

<p>I think it’s more common for people to take 5 years to graduate if they change majors and don’t have AP credits vs. lack of class schedule.</p>

<p>Decide after you visit. I would also ask some current Berkeley students their experiences on the Berkeley subforum.</p>

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<p>Sentiment, faculty caliber is the the driver of major-specific rankings and Berkeley’s faculty > USC’s faculty. Also, Berkeley’s placement into Americorp and Teach for America is one of the highest among universities.</p>

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<p>Udub has one of the top creative writing depts in the US, bar none. I would strongly consider it as it may be more stable right now than the UC. It also has a great enviro ethic and dept. Nice town and campus. I’d look at a little closer.</p>

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Which brings it back to my point that the departmental rankings should not be used as a solid indicator for the quality of an English program; because, at the end of the day, what do you think a Nobel Laureate in literature can objectively teach you that an ordinary PhD professor can’t?</p>

<p>This may be further exemplified by how Liberal Arts colleges are most of the most successful colleges in the nation yet use some of the least renowned professors.</p>

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<p>I’d rather associate with known stars than buy a pig in a poke.</p>

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<p>U-Dub is a great school in a fantastic city. But I would not pay OOS fees for a public, when you have other great options at similar or less cost.</p>