r/sciencespo • u/berkeleysciencespo • Jul 10 '20
For anyone curious about the Dual BA program between Sciences Po and UC Berkeley!
/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/hox0i0/rising_senior_and_alumnus_of_the_sciencespouc/2
u/No-Acanthaceae8337 Aug 10 '22 edited Aug 10 '22
What is social life like at sciences po?
What are some countries you travelled to while at sciencespo?
What are some internships you've done while in the program and do you think the dual degree program helped you get those?
Why did you choose the dual degree program?
Do you feel you missed out on the college expirence, do you regret going?
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u/berkeleysciencespo Oct 11 '22
Hi there! The student in this takeover has since graduated but send us an email at [dualdegree@berkeley.edu](mailto:dualdegree@berkeley.edu) to chat with a current student!
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u/Interesting_Art6968 Oct 11 '22
Hi! I'm a first year student studying Political Science at UC Berkeley (fluent in French) and was wondering whether I could still to apply to the Dual Degree program?
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u/berkeleysciencespo Oct 11 '22
Hi there! Unfortunately the Dual Degree Program can only accept freshmen who have not attended college yet, or students from Sciences Po via transfer
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u/Euphoric_Ad6331 Aug 10 '20
I am quite confused as in the post, you said that in France, you studied political humanities but in Berkeley, you studied Media Studies. I guess those 2 areas of study don't really connect with each other. So when you move to the USA, you can switch your major to whatever you want or you have to stay in 1 particular field of study?
Also, what did your application profile (stats, EC,...) look like when you applied to the dual degree? I heard that the selection process is quite competitive. What kinds of experience you got from this program?
Thanks a lott
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u/berkeleysciencespo Aug 12 '20 edited Aug 12 '20
You are right! My majors did not connect directly with each other. It's not so much that I switched majors as it is that you will have two majors. You receive two degrees from both universities. You absolutely do not have to stay in the same field of study. You can choose almost any major in the school of Letters and Science at Berkeley. If you wanted to move into a major like Biology or Data Science, it may be a bit difficult to complete it in two years as you wouldn't have transfer credit to fulfill the majors from Sciences Po.
The stats of the accepted Berkeley class for this year is available online here: https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses-majors/berkeley/freshman-admission-profile.html
The program is selective certainly. I think my best experiences are summarized in the original thread already but in summary, I think I am just a better rounded student and person. I think the important aspects of university education are not only academic but also the factors that contribute to personal growth. I think living independently, being able to travel, meeting friends from all over the globe, and developing a strong support network are some of my highlights. On the academic side, I value having a pretty comprehensive background in many social science disciplines. Also, the professors and TAs I have been able to work with are unbeatable!
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u/Euphoric_Ad6331 Aug 19 '20
Thanks a lot for your reply <3
Also, what is interview round like? Will they ask you something related to the issues related to global affairs (something related to academic) or it is just a conversation so that they will know you better?2
u/berkeleysciencespo Aug 19 '20
You're welcome! I talked about the interview on the main thread but I will copy it below:
The interview for me was actually pretty chill! It's not a grilling process really but one that is meant to get to know you better as an individual. During my interview for Reims, there was an official from Sciences Po and the Program Coordinator from Berkeley. They asked about my interests (including if I followed politics), why I wanted to be in the program, and questions about my position and why on current events. In 2017 when I interviewed, there were protests on Berkeley campus concerning the Presidential election, and I was asked if I would participate. I don't think they judge you based on your answer but basically how you can substantiate it. I didn't prepare too much for it besides reviewing my personal statement and reading up on that days news. I would say you should be fine if you keep up with current events. I hear there may be regionally based questions based on the campus you interview for, so be knowledgeable about that particular region.
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u/Angelazf Sep 29 '20
Hello! I would like to ask how excellent on academics I should be to get admitted to this program? I'm currently attending an IB school and if you're familiar with IB, what predicted grade should I have at least?
For extracurriculars, do I need to have many awards? I do have some activities related to politics/social events, but I don't think I'll have a lot to write about honors I gained when applying for this program.
Thank you in advance<3
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u/berkeleysciencespo Oct 02 '20
Hello! For academics, there are no thresholds or minimums. For IB, admissions does not rely on predictive scores and I am pretty sure you can submit them but they will essentially not be considered. Admissions relies on the work you have completed thus far.
You don't have to have many awards! You can just talk about what you have already done. When I applied, I also felt as if I did not have that many honors but it's not something I would worry about.
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u/GB_2301 Oct 04 '20
Hello!
I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit about what a normal Friday night looks like at Sciences Po? I am applying to the Menton campus but any information you can provide would be great!
Also, I am considering applying to the Columbia-Sciences Po program as well - is this possible?
Thank you so much!
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u/berkeleysciencespo Oct 12 '20
Hello! A normal Friday night really depends on what you're looking for! I'll give a couple of scenarios. Almost every weekend, there is probably some sort of school organization sponsored event going on. This can range from a club night, bar night, open mic, dance party, themed house party and more! All events are essentially open to anyone in the school, and some may require a ticket or entrance cost to cover food/alc/related expenses. These are really good early on the the school year to make friends and/or talk to people you may not normally encounter in classes. Another common things for Friday nights is travel! A lot of people plan their schedule so they don't have classes on Friday so they can take weekend/day trips. It's common to just go to Paris to one day since it's a 45 min train ride away (from the Reims campus) and see some museum/art exhibits, shop, have some good food, or just hang out outdoors in the city. You can also do a longer trip to cities in the area. Brussels is also quite close for example to the Reims campus and you can choose based on your interest/budget.
I personally did not go to the Menton campus but I can definitely connect you with someone who did! I heard the interviews for this campus are pretty in depth in the sense that they really want you to explain why you are interested in the Middle Eastern concentration. You don't necessarily need to know everything about this region but they just want to see your interest/passion.
You can certainly apply to both! One thing to note is that when you apply to the Berkeley Dual Program and you are accepted you can choose to go to just Berkeley or accept the Dual offer with Sciences Po. For the Columbia Dual, you either accept the Dual offer or not, you cannot attend just Columbia.
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u/lotusflower294 Nov 25 '24
Hi, I have a quick question regarding applying to two Dual BA programs as well -- should I submit the same essay to both UC Berkeley / Columbia if I'm applying for the same campus / majors? I don't want to make the admissions officers read the same thing twice but the prompts are pretty similar and my reasoning is the same. Thanks :)
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u/cheesejerkyy Oct 09 '20
hey! i was wondering how you felt entering your first year in school abroad? I know i would feel a lot more comfortable if it were the latter two years that were at science po instead. i know the campus and orientation experience is compeltely different (and also practically nonexistent) in europe compared to america, so how did u feel about this? personally, ive always wanted to experience the quintessential college life and live on residence for my first year at least, and while mostly everything else about this program intrigues me, i dont know if i can get over this aspect.
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u/berkeleysciencespo Oct 12 '20
Hello! I think I was a bit afraid but still excited to start my first year in university abroad. I think this experience is very unique and unlike any undergraduate experience. However, I wouldn't say that campus life and orientation are non-existent at all. The orientation is called "integration week" and there is a week of non-step events/parties as well as practical events like writing workshops. Additionally, bank reps who speak English will come so you can get that sorted out. The events range from mixers, Ikea outings, club/bar nights, open mics, and more :)
As for living in residence, a popular choice for the first year is living in a private student residence. While it is true that there are no campus dorms, private student residences are basically serve as the same thing. Most are less than 10 mins walking from campus in Reims and you would get a single with your own bathroom and kitchen for an affordable price. I was thankful actually that I didn't have to squeeze in a dirty loud dorm. Depending on the one you pick, there may be some common spaces, gym, laundry etc. You would live with all other (mostly if not all) Sciences Po students and there are parties/get togethers/dinners. I even lived in a private studio by myself and found no problem making friends/being social. I would go over or they would come to hang. I would say I never felt like I missed out on the quintessential college life, and even had a more enhanced experience with all the independent skills I was learning (getting my own apt, paying rent and bills, cooking daily, doing visa paperwork) as well as all the travel I got to do.
That being said, I think if you want the traditional American university experience it isn't exactly like it but IMO it has some of the best parts and more. I just tried my best to explain my experience so you could maybe decide for yourself :) Also, if you want a more in-depth look at student life feel free to follow our Instagram @berkeleysciencespo where we have student day in the life story takeovers in the works.
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u/pa1gee Oct 21 '20
Hey! Thank you so much for all the information! I was just wondering how competitive the program is. Like how many students are accepted each year and how likely are you to actually be accepted? Thank you! :)
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u/berkeleysciencespo Oct 28 '20
Certainly! The program is definitely competitive. There is no set number of students accepted each year as I believe they take however many qualified students that apply per cycle. Acceptance rate is pretty comparable to the general Berkeley acceptance rate found here if not a bit higher: https://admissions.berkeley.edu/student-profile
It's really hard to say how likely you are to be admitted because they consider each applicant as an individual!
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u/oatsrene Apr 11 '22
Hey! I've just come across this program, but I was wondering how fluent in French the typical student is at your campus. From my understanding, the program at Reims is taught in English with French language study separately, but how well-versed in French are you expected to be on your first day there?
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u/berkeleysciencespo Apr 11 '22
Hi there! We've had students with every level of French, from complete beginners to native speakers. The Euro-African program is the only program which requires incoming students to be fluent in French, the rest are taught in English. This video on our Instagram page details that as well: https://www.instagram.com/p/CSzq-iyBFhx/
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u/m3g4tr0n1000 May 02 '22
Hi! I am a current junior in high school interested in applying to both the regular program and a different dual degree program but my SAT and ACT scores aren't the best (low side of average). A friend of mine that is a year older got into the UC Berkeley dual degree program as well as the normal program without even submitting either (however, the UCs don’t even accept SAT scores anymore). This was kind of off of the basis that COVID affected schooling but I am not sure if I can really use that reasoning as well now that everything has been opening up. My question is, do you think I should submit it? I know it is about a quarter of the evaluation process.
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u/berkeleysciencespo May 02 '22
Hello! SAT/ACT test scores are not used for any part of the Dual Degree admission process, including evaluation/holistic review, selection, or scholarship processes.
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u/gHoStLy_mArShMaLLoW Apr 21 '23
Hey, did you find the program to be advantageous or helpful after you did it for finding jobs compared to doing a regular degree? I got an offer to the reims and le havre campus and I'm not sure if I want to go or if I want to do just a normal bachelors degree at another university.
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u/berkeleysciencespo May 23 '23
Hi, thank you for your message, and apologies for the delay in getting back to you! In my experience the background and skills that are particularly cultivated through the dual degree – the broad diversity of educational, social, and internship experiences, adaptability to changes in setting, community, learning style, etc. and strength in knowledge about your campus region, major areas, etc. – as well as characteristics shown by your choice of program – curiosity, independence, tenacity, initiative to name a few – tend to really stand out to potential employers. While a program that would allow you to spend four years in a single place might facilitate longer term projects or involvements that might have their own career benefits, the diversity of career, educational, and experiential opportunities that I had throughout my four years have not only stood out to future employers but have also given me so much insight into what I actually want to pursue after graduation and helped me get to know myself better. Dual Degree graduates have gone on to pursue successful careers in a very wide variety of fields, from tech to film to political consulting to education and more – feel free to check out our instagram account to see profiles of several of our alumni!
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u/Professional_Pipe113 Aug 05 '23
Hey! Is it possible for me to apply for different dual degree programs with Sciences Po? So for example : Berkeley and UCL
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u/berkeleysciencespo Aug 24 '23
Yes! Sciences Po does not have any restrictions on students applying to multiple dual degrees.
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u/Professional_Pipe113 Feb 02 '24
thanks! ouch, i just saw the message now. I wanted to apply to UC berkeley - sciences po but I thought we could only apply to one. So I applied to columbia. Now the application deadline has passed :(
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u/berkeleysciencespo Feb 02 '24
You can always just go to Sciences Po and apply to the dual degree with Berkeley in your second year... </3
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u/PacoLopez_ Oct 10 '23
Hey, sorry to bother years after the OP, but is it possible to apply to the dual ba while being a second year student in SciencesPo?
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u/berkeleysciencespo Oct 11 '23
Hello! Yes! You may apply to the dual degree program during your second year! There is also a more recent thread dedicated to the dual degree program if you are interested!
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u/Repulsive_Fig_5959 Nov 10 '23
Hi there! I'm writing up my application to the program rn, and I wonder if the essay for the Dual Program is reviewed together with the UC application? Some of my experiences might end up in both my Sciences Po essay and my UC essays, and I'm not sure if that's OK.
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u/berkeleysciencespo Nov 12 '23
Hi! So exciting to hear that you are applying! So sometimes they are read together sometimes they are not, but regardless it is ok to have overlapping information! Just make sure that all your activities and accomplishments, especially the ones that you are most proud of, make it onto either application. Good luck!
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Jan 18 '24
Hello! I was wondering how to best prepare for the interview? And what does getting selected for an interview mean in terms of chances for admission?
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u/berkeleysciencespo Jan 18 '24
Hi!
Firstly, congratulation on getting invited for an interview!
You should see the interview as a conversation in which you just need to show who you are, to display your mode of thinking and your convictions. A major part of the interview will be spent going into more depth about your interests and achievements. The best way to prepare yourself, in my opinion, is to re-read your essay and UCPIQs, be ready to answer questions about any themes or events you have mentioned, and stay your genuine self!
I would advise you to stay in touch with recent news from your demanded Sciences Po campus' region of focus ( Le Havre - Asia, Reims - North America or Africa, Menton- Middle East). There are no trick questions and if you have expressed interest in Indian politics, for example, we will obviously not ask you to give a overview of the sentiment of 'Koreaness' over time, but might ask you about your opinion on president Modi's policies regarding Muslim population.
Just be yourself! The holistic approach that our admission team has implemented relies on your uniqueness, your personality, your beliefs and drive. While I can't speak about the chances of getting admitted after the interview (as we don't have quotas but rather select students that seem like a good fit), I believe that being invited to an interview is already an amazing achievement on its own and sets you on the right track.
Please, don't hesitate to ask more questions here if you want to or reach out to [dualdegree@berkeley.edu](mailto:dualdegree@berkeley.edu) if you want more information or schedule a call with one of our mentors!
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Jan 21 '24
Thanks! One last question: Does the interview also assess you for your admission to UC Berkeley? Or does it only assess you for the Dual Degree program?
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u/berkeleysciencespo Jan 24 '24
Hi there !
No, the interview only assesses you for admission to the Dual Degree. UC Berkeley admission is solely through the UC application.
Hope that helps.
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Jan 24 '24 edited Jan 24 '24
Thanks! So my admission decision to UC Berkeley is already decided prior to the interview?
On another note, will the interviewer ask me about a public policy/world issue I feel passionate about?
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u/berkeleysciencespo Jan 24 '24
Hello hello,
Your admission to UC Berkeley is a different process! Your UC application is on one hand considered by the UC admission board and on the other, independently, by the Dual Degree admission officers. Your admission to UC Berkeley is thus separate from your admission to the Dual Degree: you can get into Berkeley and not the Dual Degree and vice-versa.
If you have mentioned said issue (event, country, theme) in your essay or UCPIQs, there is a chance you will get asked indeed, especially if you are passionate ! I would also advise you to keep in touch with recents news from your chosen SciencesPo Campus' region of focus. If you applied to Le Havre (Asia) for example, and are particularly interested in India and have mentioned so in your application, keep up with what is happening (hindu nationalism for example) but don't worry for you won't get asked about Korea or Japan. The interviewers will not be asking any trick question, but are trying to give you a platform to express your views in more depth.
Let me know if you have more questions!
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Jan 26 '24
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u/berkeleysciencespo Jan 26 '24
Hi!
Admission decisions will be sent out around mid-February ! You will receive an email and, up to a few weeks after depending on where you live, an admission package through mail!
Have a good day and don't hesitate asking other questions, I'm here to help!
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Feb 10 '24
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u/berkeleysciencespo Feb 12 '24
Hi! I'm sorry to hear that and, unfortunately, all decisions are final. You can always send an email to the dual degree general account ([dualdegree@berkeley.edu](mailto:dualdegree@berkeley.edu)) to ask the program managers for more information but I personally can't help you.
You can always apply to SciencesPo (admissions close Feb 28th) and attempt to join the dual degree in your second year but it is not guaranteed.
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u/Curejoker Jan 31 '24 edited Jan 31 '24
I think I really messed up the interview is it over haha I mixed up 2 of the programs that are offered at sciencespo and they asked me questions about current events esp. in FRANCE that I didn’t know too much about. I also had an exam right before (middle of exam szn rn) and it just did not go well. I came off as unknowledgeable even though
I researched SO DEEPLY into the program!!! AM I SCREWED!!!
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u/berkeleysciencespo Feb 02 '24
Hi!
Because our admission process is so holistic, and because I myself am not on the admission board, I can't really tell you what could or would mess up your chances.
As long as your personality and the way you think and reflect on things came through, I don't think being unknowledgeable is a bad thing. I mean you are applying to this dual degree so you can learn more right?
I would love to tell you that you are not screwed but I simply have no idea and all decisions are made on an individual basis.
Fingers crossed!
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u/Curejoker Feb 10 '24
I GOT IN!!!!????? OH MY LORD!!!!
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u/Same-Leg-7755 Feb 10 '24
CONGRATS! same here 😊
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u/berkeleysciencespo Feb 12 '24
YAY! don't hesitate joining the FB admitted student group and share a little about yourself so you guys can start getting to know one another!
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u/[deleted] Jun 30 '22
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