<p>So yesterday I submitted my planned courses to my Advisor in the online Calso. Today she emailed me and told me that my schedule would be difficult for an incoming freshman and proceeded to tell me that I should take Native American Studies RIA (She said it had too much reading and writing) in the spring and replace it with a seminar or decal so I would only be taking 13 units in the fall. The problem is that all the seminars I like are full (Dinosaur Biology, Intro to MB, and Plants). To tell you the truth I thought my planned schedule was adequate, not to hard or easy and 13 units would set me back on credits. I know my advisors comments are only opinions; however I dont want to simple brush them off. So how is my schedule? </p>
<p>Chem. 1A 4
Public Health 14 4
Math 32 4 (I already took pre-calc last summer, so It should not be hard)
Native American Studies R1A 4 </p>
<p>Also, For Phase I, I will sign up for chem., however I dont know which other class I should sign up for in Phase I. :$</p>
<p>Sign up for R1A - spots for R&C courses fill up blindingly fast, and if you wait until phase II (like I did my freshman year), there's a good chance that most or all the classes will be full.</p>
<p>The counselors always recommend taking 13 units to ease your transition into college. However, if you feel that you can handle a tougher courseload, then by all means take 16 credits. Chem 1A has a lot of spots open right now and I think you could easily get into a lab. Math also tries to accommodate as many students as it can so that should still be open for phase 2 but you should check how many spots are still open. So sign up for the R1A since, as tastyb33f mentioned, they tend to fill up quickly because there are only 30ish spots per class and possibly Public Health 14, I don't have any experience with it so I don't know how large the classes are.</p>
<p>I think this is a very doable schedule. As for what to sign up for Phase I, I would definitely do your R&C class and if you really want Public Health, sign up for that too, unless there is a small chance of getting into the class, then I would sign up for Chem 1A to guarantee a lab section that will fit your schedule/preferences.</p>
<p>I signed up for the R&C and Chem. 1a because my schedule only fitted a lab that is from 1-5pm. I don't think I will take public health since It does not fit into my schedule.</p>
<p>I think it's absolutely insane for freshmen to take DeCal classes, and I think it's irresponsible to suggest it.</p>
<p>I would definitely take R1A your first semester. That is when you are supposed to take it. ;-)</p>
<p>kenf, why do you think it's bad for first years to take DeCals? I'd argue that, if anything, the lower class years are the perfect time to take it - the lower years, especially First Year, is the time to explore the breadth of material and knowledge that the university has to offer, and DeCal is a really unique program among American tertiary education, and I think anybody who has the time should take the opportunity to take advantage of it. The upper years are the years to really hunker down and get more serious about studies, what with upper div courses and all, and DeCals would detract from that.</p>
<p>Of course, I'm not suggesting that students put DeCals as priority over the more important classes; that's irresponsible, but to suggest that first years not take it at all seems too discouraging and intimidating.</p>
<p>^^I think incoming freshmen are completely naive and have not developed any sort of academic maturity. Freshman seminars are the perfect thing for them to be involved with. After a semester or two under their belts, they can judge whether a DeCal class is appropriate for them.</p>
<p>Well what makes a freshman seminar so different from a DeCal, other than the fact that one is taught by a prof and the other is taught by students? If anything, wouldn't DeCals be BETTER for teaching academic maturity because, on average, DeCals are easier than freshman seminars?</p>
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one is taught by a prof and the other is taught by students
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<p>To me, at least, that's a big difference.</p>
<p>Eh. I personally think that the students leading the decals are knowledgeable enough in the specific field of the course that it doesn't make that big a difference; the major downer is that students can't write rec letters and profs can.</p>
<p>keep 15-16 units. Don't listen to the advisor. If you are looking for a good seminar, I recommend IB 24 with White. It is on human evolution</p>