Ask a Current UCSB Student Anything!

<p>Santa Cruz</p>

<p>What would you rate the difficulty of getting a 3.7+ in poli sci or philosophy?</p>

<p>Is it easier up to the second year compared to by the end?</p>

<p>Also, I’ll have 48 credits walking in, will that impact what classes I will take? I -may- transfer out after sophomore year, would SB and other colleges see it as a 2nd or 3rd year transfer since I am basically in sophomore standing once I start.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>UCSB was not my first choice but it’s the school that I decided to go to so I don’t really know too much about it. (So the questions are a bit general)</p>

<ol>
<li>How’s the city itself? </li>
<li>How’s the music scene? What kind of music would you say people listened to? (I like a lot of post-rock, psychedelic, folk, and indie)</li>
<li>What are the people like? </li>
<li>How’s the food? (Not dorm food, actual city food) What kind of restaurants are there?</li>
<li>Besides parties, what else is there to do?</li>
</ol>

<p>Do you know how we get invited to the honors program?</p>

<p>I just got in thru appeal and I’m wondering if the communication major is difficult at UCSB and how good it is. Also is there a way to schedule a tour on the weekend :(.</p>

<p>Where can I find the Fall 2010 course catalog online?</p>

<p>^it’s not online yet, you have to pick it up at UCSB</p>

<p>Are there gonnna be people at orientation to help us set up our schedules?</p>

<p>what is orientation like?</p>

<p>No one knows?</p>

<p>

I’ve never taken any political science classes, but I have taken both upper- and lower-division philosophy classes. I think that philosophy is a more “labor-intensive” subject than others - it just takes time. I got better grades in my upper-division philosophy courses, but it’s probably due to the professors I took, as opposed to any of the courses themselves having easier content. Oh, and don’t get turned off by the philosophy majors who like to bring up Kant on the first day of a class about ethics (when they know damn well that no one else knows what they’re talking about yet).</p>

<p>As for your credit situation, you’ll get a “New Student Profile” on GOLD that will tell you how all of that applies to your GE requirements. There are general unit requirements too (180-184 units for a degree in the college of Letters and Science), so it’s a little difficult as a freshman to take “unnecessary” courses. </p>

<p>If you do transfer out, I don’t think you’d be considered an upper-division transfer or anything, because it’ll depend on how your AP credits are accepted at the university you’re transferring to. I’m thinking of something along the lines of how you’re still considered a freshman admit at UCSB, even with sophomore-level credits. Just a bit of advice - I think it’s smart to put those units to good use, either using it to double major/minor/whatever more easily, or graduate early. It’s good to have a plan.</p>

<p>

I don’t know if you can log into GOLD yet, but you can see course offerings for the Fall 2010 quarter under the “course search” feature. Students already here have been signing up for the past week and a half or so.</p>

<p>

You’ll be put into a group with an orientation staff (“o-staff”) adviser who will guide you through the entirety of orientation (the tours, presentations, group outing) and give you advice on signing up for classes as well.</p>

<p>[Program</a> Overview for Freshman Students](<a href=“http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/orientation/FreshmanOrientation/ProgramOverviewforFreshmanStudents.aspx]Program”>http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/orientation/FreshmanOrientation/ProgramOverviewforFreshmanStudents.aspx)</p>

<p>The schedule is pretty straightforward, but I can’t remember what each program was about. There was a sample lecture we attended, information about financial aid, student government organizations/involvement things, and a group “social” sort of thing with my orientation group. Honestly, I think it was one big waste of money, especially considering how expensive it was just for two days of things that you could probably learn about by reading a bunch of pamphlets.</p>

<p>does UCSB super score?</p>

<p>when do people usually move into dorms? will they assign you a date</p>

<p>blackberry1993 : no UCSB does NOT superscore
tjonow: people move in on sept 19th, you will get all the information about who your roommates will be, where will you live, etc at the end of August.</p>

<p>what do the dorms come with? like whats in there before i put all my stuff in there</p>

<p>what are the nearby shopping centres/grocery stores? i know there’s a costco nearby at the market, but what about like actual malls/retail stores/department stores? and how do people get there without a car?</p>

<p>The main mall in Santa Barbara is Paseo Nuevo:</p>

<p>[Paseo</a> Nuevo | Interactive Map -](<a href=“http://www.paseonuevoshopping.com/map.asp]Paseo”>http://www.paseonuevoshopping.com/map.asp)</p>

<p>In addition to the stores listed at Paseo Nuevo, there are many more scattered around State Street within a few blocks (such as Urban Outfitters, Old Navy, etc). You can take the 24X bus, an express bus that makes stops in Isla Vista and on campus and then goes straight downtown and drops you off a few blocks from the mall. Total trip takes 19 minutes from campus. It runs about every half hour.</p>

<p>can you get a meal plan even if you live in IV?</p>

<p>yeah you can get an off campus meal plan, minimum 5 and max is 19</p>

<p>Did you take the online math placement exam? How difficult is it? Is there a deadline to take it?</p>

<p>How’s the wifi, specifically with Mac’s?</p>

<p>Also, how often do bikes get stolen? I’m getting a little anxious by the thought of leaving my bike out for extended time periods…</p>