<p>"At UCSB, students are not assigned a personal advisor. Each academic department, however, has at least one undergraduate advisor to assist students."
-- email from Chancellor's office in response to complaint re: lack of advising help.</p>
<p>My son, a 5th year graduating sr @ UCSB, can't get into the classes he needs to graduate. He'll 'crash' classes, as he always has had to do, but what if he can't get in? </p>
<p>Can "at least one undergraduate" give you the kind of educational advice you need? When I compare this to the engaged, concerned advisors I've met at a couple private colleges, or even the busy but full-time expert my daughter has at Berkeley, I can only shake my head and regret the way I supported my son's decision to attend UCSB.</p>
<p>Let the professor know that he's graduating this year and needs that class. Teachers often give preference to upper-division students and some decide who gets the addition seats by units alone.</p>
<p>Son never changed majors, and believe me, by the time you've been at any UC for a quarter or semester, you know you have to work the professors to get into classes you want/need. </p>
<p>He's liked most of his classes and this major, but he's ready to be done with the unresponsive systems of UCSB.</p>
<p>I find it hard to believe she's having a hard time getting to any of the major classes offered every quarter. First of all, there's this PASS system for registration. Everyone has an opportunity to register for the classes he wants to get in on the 1st Pass with maximum of 12 quarter units (3classes). Even if you're a junior you shouldn't have a problem getting in to at least 2 major classes. On the 2nd pass it's when you can register for up to 20 units. There are so many courses the Econ Dept. offer to fulfill your degree requirements. I have not met anyone who had a hard time graduating within 4 years because he couldn't get in to any of the classes he needs. Maybe your daughter failed a few classes and need to repeat them? OR maybe she only enrolled an average of 12 units per quarter. </p>
<p>When crashing classes whoever has the highest units gets in. The process is not that complicated. During Spring quarter the students who are graduating get the priority. </p>
<p>I got my upper division done in 1.5 years and I'll be taking other classes on my last quarter just to fulfill the requirements for Certified Public Accountant Certification. My friends and I never had a problem getting to the same class and they're 2 quarters behind me. </p>
<p>Maybe check how she's progressing with her classes. You don't really need to talk to a counselor unless you've failed classes as everyone received a sheet of what classes to take every quarter for the major and you can switch them however you like.</p>
<p>OK, it's a son, and he hasn't failed any classes, thanks. Although graduating senior are supposed to get priority in class registration, there are priorities ahead of them at UCSB. Varsity athletes, for example, certain work studies students get to pre-register. So yay for you for getting your upper division classes finished so quickly, but my point is that there ought to be professional advisors for undergraduates, and there aren't.</p>
<p>There are many classes that the Economics department offers that fulfill the degree requirements. While they may not be the classes that one may want to take, they do meet all of the requirements. And looking at GOLD, one could probably fulfill all of their major requirements with the classes that are still available (of course, I don't have time to take into account time conflicts).</p>
<p>Of course, if your son did not want to take those classes even though they would have worked, then there is obviously nothing that one can do.</p>
<p>My intent in starting this thread was to give prospective students a heads-up re: availability of advising help at UCSB. My youngest is receiving college acceptances and is studying schools' advantages/disadvantages as he approaches a decision. My older son's current problem @ SB revealed an issue that youngest hadn't considered. </p>
<p>Older son's registration problems have to do w/ time conflicts and accommodating both Econ and a final class in his minor, Sports Mgt. But good for you for knowing how to operate GOLD.</p>
<p>There are some academic advisers at the Econ. Dept. My point is I don't think it's the University's fault. Nobody's going to babysit you in college. Tell your son that he can find the advisers on the same building (North Hall) he's been taking most of his upper division classes. And there's no wait as most people don't need academic advising. Here's a link also for list of courses to take ...it's very straightforward. If you notice some sections require only 2-4 classes but there are a lot more classes the Econ Dept. offer to fulfill the requirements. <a href="http://www.econ.ucsb.edu/undergrad/undergraduate_majors.htm#acct%5B/url%5D">http://www.econ.ucsb.edu/undergrad/undergraduate_majors.htm#acct</a></p>
<p>P.S. Comment about your previous post :</p>
<pre><code> " When I complained that son dropped a class, he said, "I can't believe you're mad about this -- other people in my (SBCC/UC) dorm have fdropped ALL their classes, and they're just partying." "
</code></pre>
<ul>
<li>UC students living in the dorm can't drop all their classes otherwise they'll get kicked out of the dorm. If you fall below 36 units for the school year you get a warning. But for students who aren't good at prioritizing their studies they end up sticking with the minimum. Everyone is warned during orientation that taking only the minimum number of units is not going to be enough to get you done in 4 years. You need 180 credit units to graduate (ave. of 15 quarter units per quarter). I bet your son's having too much of a great time at UCSB....I can't blame him. Some students prolong their studies because they can afford to and are having a blast.</li>
</ul>
<p>Also, while Sports Management indeed is a minor you only need to take 20 credit units from that Dept. You need to take 54 unit from the Econ Dept. Taking the 54 units alone is not enough to get you a degree as you need to have 180units to graduate. So students some students prefer taking Sports Management classes instead of taking different upper division classes offered by the University. </p>
<p>Time conflict....maybe time management is the problem? Final exam conflict....won't buy that one. Final exam dates are set even before you register for classes.</p>
<p>To add on to UCSBstud, even if atheletes get priority, come on, it's not like the whole school is on a team preventing your son from signing up from classes. Make use of the pass times, it's really hard to believe that a super senior is having problems getting classes, because i've never had a problem getting into classes even when i'm in an impacted major. </p>
<p>Even if I don't have a private adviser, I don't understand the need for one. I've met with several each quarter, and they've all been extremeley helpful -- I simply walked in and asked for help. It's not like having a private adviser is going to magically make your schedule work out also. Taking on a minor and having things work out with your major is something you need to take into account. And making your schedule work is something all students have to deal with. A little work planning it out isn't all that hard.</p>
<p>
[quote]
My intent in starting this thread was to give prospective students a heads-up re: availability of advising help at UCSB. My youngest is receiving college acceptances and is studying schools' advantages/disadvantages as he approaches a decision.
[/quote]
What you've discovered isn't unique to ucsb, but common at any large state school. </p>
<p>You just aren't going to get the personal attention and focus that comes without effort to those at a LAC or many private U's. There are resources out there that can help (profs, counselors, tutors, advisors, etc) but you're going to have to go to them. People care, really they do, but they don't go around stopping people at random and asking how they can help. You have to go to them. </p>
<p>Not everyone is prepared to do this. For some students a more personal environment where the help is built-in may be a better fit.</p>
<p>NCMom, I was concerned to read this thread because Santa Barbara is one of my son's top three choices as he waits for acceptances to go out. But looking at the UCSB Econ. dept. website, it looks a lot like the level of support my older son gets at SDSU - which is to say, the information is available, and you can make it work if you work at it, but no, it won't be handed to you on a platter. I guess that's just about all I expect from a state school. One of the big things you typically learn at Big State U is that it's sink or swim. If you learn to swim it's great.</p>
<p>I know people whose lives were changed by undergrad advice from a well-informed professional. My husband is one, and my son's best friend, an '05 grad @ Wesleyan, is another (his advisor continues to counsel him on PhD app's). My daughter @ Berkeley - another large public school - received useful, objective input from an advisor when she sought it, as kluge descrbed @ SDSU.</p>
<p>College can be full of surprises and discoveries. Would a particular kid in a particular major benefit from a year abroad, a minor, a directed research class, an advanced degree, advice on careers in his/her field? Some students don't need or want expert input; others do. For them - and if you're just starting the college process, you may not know if you'll be one or not -- I remain unconvinced that a fellow undergraduate is an adequate advising resource. </p>
<p>I'm impressed, though, by the imaginations of some posters and by their school loyalty. While I'm irked about my SB-senior son's situation (accurately described, confirmed by the chancellor's office, despite those w/ different anecdotal experiences), I'm not worried. He's assertive and lands on his feet. </p>
<p>Again, my purpose in starting this thread was to share a UCSB reality with high school students and their parents who are in the decision-making stage. Especially for first-timers, it's intended to show what large public school might mean to kids. </p>
<p>Mikemac is right: for some students, a more personal environment where the help is built-in may be a better fit.</p>
<p>"I remain unconvinced that a fellow undergraduate is an adequate advising resource. "</p>
<p>-I'm pretty sure the services that you are looking for are offered at Career Counselor's Office. They help you with your resume, graduate applications, graduate school counselling, etc....They even help students decide what major suit them best. The counselors there are not undergrad students..they're professional and some are probably older than you. At the Econ Dept. there are undergrad and professional counselors. But what they'll help you with is what classes you need to take to get your degree. You don't need to be a professional to do that kind of job. In fact it's more beneficial that undergrad students are out there counselling other students because they already took some of the required classes and they know which classes are interesting or boring. </p>
<p>"I'm impressed, though, by the imaginations of some posters and by their school loyalty."</p>
<p>-No, we're not responding to your posts out of loyalty for UCSB. We're responding to your posting to make yourself well informed rather than getting BS excuses from your son. From your post, it's obvious that your son lacks dedication.... I hope by now you realize that you've been putting up with non-sense excuses from your son of not graduating within 4 yrs. </p>
<p>If you want a personal adviser for your sons send them to private school. I'm sure every penny you'll spend to get that private couselling will be WORTH IT.</p>
<p>It's a slap on the face for people who work so hard to get students be well-informed about Education Abroad Program, Grad School Info days...etc. and some clueless mom just came up with a conclusion that her son wasn't " counselled". I bet your son never attended any of these meetings. Again, being spoon fed is not what college is all about.</p>
<p>No, we're not imagining how great UCSB is. It is real and we're all lucky to be here. Students who struggle are ill-prepared for college and it's not the university's fault.</p>
<p>look, people, lets not get too personal here. Recognize that what's true for one person may not be true for another. People differ in scholastic aptitude, no one seems to doubt that, but what about all the other dimensions that go into a person including sociability, assertiveness, ambition, willingness to go against the crowd, how they like to spend free time, etc? People differ on many dimensions and so the right choice for college comes down to a search for a good fit, not an absolute answer guaranteed to be right for everyone.</p>
<p>I'm a ucsb grad, BTW. Proud of it. But is it right for everyone? I doubt it. In fact, after I graduated and made friends who went to other colleges I began to wonder about my choice. Not that I didn't love ucsb, I have fond memories of not just parties but actually living in a wonderful area and taking stimulating classes. Even today a wiff of eucalyptus or the scent of tar in the air and I'm back walking between classes or strolling down DP, and anyone who's been a ucsb student knows what I'm talking about. It was the best choice of what I knew at the time, but I wasn't very well informed about the differences of what was out there. Would I trade my experiences for smaller classes, my own advisor, a tight alum network, and so on? Maybe not, but I don't dwell on it. I DO wish I had known enough about differences between colleges to at least consider it before deciding. So I'm on this board, hoping that I can help someone else out there make a better decision or consider options that may not have occured to them, regardless of whether they end up choosing ucsb or not. </p>
<p>Each person who spends time on this board has an opportunity to offer their experience and suggestions to others. Lets work to keep it a positive environment and try to make each post help someone.</p>
<p>Umm, NorCalMom, going back over this thread, I think you misread the statement:
[quote]
Each academic department, however, has at least one undergraduate advisor to assist students."
[/quote]
You seem to have read that to mean that each department has at least one advisor, who is an undergraduate... I think it actually means that each department has at least one advisor for undergraduates. Here's another reference to undergraduate advisors:
[quote]
Each department has a staff undergraduate advisor and/or faculty advisor who can answer questions regarding </p>
<p>Choice of major or minor
Requirements for the major or minor
Progress in the major or minor
Internships, scholarships, and other related opportunities
Preparation for graduate school within the discipline
Career opportunities
Departmental advisors are available by appointment or on a walk-in basis. Many departments also have peer advisors (juniors and seniors in the major) who can offer advice about course selection.
[/quote]
- that is, one advisor for undergraduates who is "staff... or faculty" as well as "peer advisors" who are undergraduates.</p>