The Official Fall 2014 UCLA Transfer Decisions Thread

Transfer Students UC Transfers
3102

<p>“You don’t need a degree” is an oversimplification imo. I think that was more true several years ago. I also think people are confusing CS with just coding. Not the same thing. Also, someone a few pages ago seems to think web development and software development are the same thing. Which is why I suggest a lot of research on the different kinds of tech jobs, markets, and their requirements. Then there will be no questions what you need to focus on and if a degree is needed.</p>

<p>But yeah, almost anyone can learn to churn out workable code or debug. The problem is they often can’t do much else. Computer science is more than just learning to code. It’s also sad to think some CS degree programs produce poor programmers. If you have the time, talent, and discipline to build up a competitive portfolio then yeah, maybe there’s no point in a degree. A lot of people prefer to learn without the pressures of exams and rigid class structure. But, a lot of people have a portfolio full of mediocre “personal projects” and everyone and their grandma is now trying to get a piece of a lucrative market. Try to find something you really enjoy that also showcases your talents and knowledge. </p>

<p>If a CS degree was worthless because you could easily get the same exact jobs without it the degree program would be worthless, which looking at the rising demand it obviously is not. Just depends on what you want to do. </p>

3103

<p>Just wondering of those of you who are living on campus, if any one is in Hedrick Summit? or did I make a bad choice? I know its going to be mostly freshman in the dorms but hopefully Im not the only transfer student.</p>

3104

<p>@KasAnn‌ </p>

<p>@lindyk8’s daughter will be in Hedrick Summit if I recall correctly. You won’t be alone. :)</p>

3105

<p>No, my daughter is in Hitch across the street. </p>

<p>@credulitykills‌ could you explain in a nutshell what the CS major entails. I did think it was just coding because I really have no idea. Is it also about the actual hardware? </p>

3106

<p>Ok, nvm, I see it is not hardware, but algorithms and stuff I don’t understand…</p>

3107

<p>@lindyk8‌ </p>

<p>My mistake.</p>

<p>@KasAnn‌ </p>

<p>You’ll probably find other transfers where you’ll be dorming.</p>

3108

<p>@kasAnn there was someone else up here talking about Hedrick. I’m sure they have a healthy dose of transfers there. Also with all the new buidings and renovations, they may be changing things around a bit.</p>

3109

<p>You and I are so similar @CollegeDropout1‌. I have pretty much been in the same situation as you these past months: CS at UCSD, or cognitive science at UCLA. Surprisingly, after explaining my dilemma, all of my friends and family insisted that I attend UCSD. After visiting both campuses, I eventually chose UCSD over UCLA because I knew I would receive a rigorous foundation of CS concepts (AI, advanced data structures/algorithms, etc.) that I could carry with me throughout my career, and I would be challenging myself more at UCSD. CS is not about programming, it’s a way of thinking. Yes, I might have been able to teach myself core CS material at UCLA on the side, but would I really be learning as much as an engineering student who has been working in teams and building complex projects? Even if I did manage to teach myself CompSci, what would have been the point of pursuing a CogSci degree in the first place? Yes, cognitive science intrigues me, but I could always minor in the subject at UCSD.</p>

<p>It’s true that experience matters, probably a lot more than education, but how do you get that experience when you’re competing for good internships/jobs with CS majors from top schools, let alone having the capability to pass a series of difficult technical interviews? CS interns in the Bay Area are earning well over $30/hr+ for a reason. My current internship makes me realize how pitiably little I actually know about software development, and I am learning that a lot of advanced techniques are grounded in academic knowledge. In the end, I chose UCSD to get a rigorous engineering education for my career, while also having the opportunity to pursue other intellectual interests, such as cognitive science. I admit though, I will probably ponder the moment I turned down UCLA for quite a while… but I think I made the right choice.</p>

3110

<p>Also, I read on one of the UCLA groups that you can switch out two of the upper division math classes for two upper division CS classes that count for the major. So essentially you could get 5 upper division CS classes, the lower division CS series, plus some relevant CS/math courses (ex. Algorithms, Cryptology, Linear Algebra etc).</p>

<p>My main issue with UCSD (I was also admitted into CS at UCSD, but didn’t have any of their CS courses done except the first of the series, even if I did, I needed so many classes) is that it will take forever to graduate. The program is totally maxed out, I remember someone posted a schedule as a transfer on Reddit in the UCSD section, and they mapped out a 3 year plan. Everyone said flat out that the schedule would not be possible. If you are fine spending at LEAST 3 years there, probably more, then go for it. </p>

<p>But as far as the way of thinking, the mathematics will provide nearly the same, if not better background, and versatility. I’m only bringing this up because earlier in this thread it was stated that the upper division math would be too hard to handle, but do you think the upper division CS classes are going to be any easier? If you can tackle Real Analysis, it opens a whole new way of thinking that applies to CS, and any other mathematically involved fields. Say you went with an Econ degree, and took some CS courses, and had relevant experience in CS, you have already differentiated yourself out of the norm. </p>

<p>There will be competition in any field, regardless of degree, but CS is a different beast. You have to consider that the way a lot of CS programs are now, they just churn out people with degrees, and the ones who have the outside experience/knowledge are the ones who are going to hired. I could get a CS degree from Cal State no name and not know how to do ****, or it could work out great, and this will show in your work/interviews. You are going to be doing the same projects as everyone else, everyone lists them on their resumes, and the employers will look right over that and want to know what outside projects you’ve done, regardless of degree. </p>

<p>tl;dr Don’t go into CS or a CS program because you think it is going to prepare you better/guarantee you a job or skills. Do what you are interested in, take CS classes that are relevant, and build yourself as a whole package. CS is one of the rare fields that the typical academic hierarchy is ignored. </p>

3111

<p>Wow, now that I have to wake up at 6 am, I can’t believe that I used to make post here at 3am. I don’t know how you guys do it. Well, I’m just scared about my future. I don’t want to pick the wrong university. I feel like no matter which one I pick, I will always be thinking or wondering how it would have been if I had picked the other UC. </p>

<p>I have actually done a lot of research, and when I visit job posting websites, like monster and craigslist, employers list a CS degree as a requirement. This scares me, and there were a lot of employers who listed it as a requirement. </p>

3112

<p>@CSB111 Yeah, I’ve had that mindset for quite a while for the past year and a half or so, while I was trying to justify my pursuit of a cogsci education at UCLA. Believe me, I really wanted to go to UCLA. I’m that guy who bought a UCLA T-shirt and left it wrapped next to my desk for 2 years. But my career should come first. A year before I even got accepted, I was pouring through the UCLA catalogs, searching cogsci alumni via Linkedin, following news articles about the tech job market, and building personal projects for my portfolio. After trying to get my own hopes up for a year, yes, I’ve learned that it’s possible to get a job with any major, but you have to have natural aptitude and a strong passion for the field to push through the HR bureaucracy. After months of theorizing, conjecturing, and applying and getting rejected by countless internships, telling myself that I would make it into the CS field with cogsci, I realized that I would be putting an enormous amount of energy and unnecessary anxiety into preparing myself for a career throughout college… and perhaps my life.</p>

<p>Yes, colleges are churning out CS degrees, and there are definitely people with CS degrees who couldn’t code themselves out of a paper bag. I didn’t choose CS to get that line on my resume. I’m pursuing CS for the education and knowledge itself, which I was unsure I would be able to get at UCLA because of the strict class restrictions.</p>

<p>As for 3 years at UCSD, I don’t really see a problem with that, unless I end up absolutely loathing the school with my very being. Isn’t college supposed to be a fun experience? As I mentioned (and with my personal experience), CS interns are paid quite well, so financing an extra year should not be an issue, especially since taking an extra year allows another summer for another internship opportunity.</p>

<p>That said, there is nothing wrong with picking UCLA. I would have attended in a heartbeat if I could get into the CS program at UCLA. In fact, I would have majored in CogSci and gone down the more adventurous path at UCLA if i had received my current internship offer before the June 1st SIR deadline. Being a cognitive science major at UCLA would have been a unique experience… Ah well, what’s done is done, I suppose. I just wanted to share my experience of deciding between two colleges.</p>

3113

<p>@DescartesQ Why didn’t you try the Linguistics and Computer Science degree at UCLA?</p>

3114

<p>@collegedropout1</p>

<p>Just about everyone is scared about their future. People with degrees, without degrees, advanced degrees- everyone is unsure. We all make the best choices for ourselves at whatever point in time, and we just have to have faith in ourselves (and whatever God you believe in- if you believe) that we will be ok. </p>

<p>If I were you, I would really focus on what career you would like to have after graduation. Not the job that pays the most, but what do you actually want to do with your professional life? Regardless of major and regardless of school, get involved with projects, activities, internships, that help move you to that goal. </p>

<p>Don’t focus so much on the school. Most people end up in jobs that have little to do with their major. That’s the honest truth. </p>

3115

<p>@CollegeDropout1‌ </p>

<p>The problem for me was that I was missing the language prereqs… which accounts for about 30 units. Foreign languages was never my strong suit. When I tried to create a degree plan for Ling/CS, I realized that I would need to take 3 years as well, with full schedules. Also, the majority of my classes would have been in linguistics, which I’m not particularly fond of. After deliberating for a while, I decided it was not worth slaving though linguistics and language classes for 3 years just to get the “and Computer Science” bullet on my resume. </p>

3116

<p>It was a really hard choice, but I have made my decision! I will probably look back one day at this moment and curse me for the decision I made.</p>

3117

<p>@CollegeDropout1 you’ve decided to become a Bruin?</p>

3118

<p>@ocnative Why did you think I decided to go to UCLA? </p>

3119

<p>Anybody get news on UCLA Honors? I think we find out today whether we’re in the program.</p>

3120

<p>@CollegeDropout1‌ </p>

<p>Umm…because it’s UCLA? lol you seemed a bit more excited in your posts about being a Bruin than being a Triton. </p>

3121

<p>Even though I can’t code myself out of a paper bag on a UC level, I am still going to try to major in computer science! Oh well, you live and you learn. You can’t win them all!</p>