If I am unable to go to freshman orientation, does this mean I am at a disadvantage to register for classes for the Fall Quarter? I received the last Pass 1 time. Is Pass 1 “seat-released”, which means that they open up more and more seats each orientation so that no one is at a disadvantage? Is it very hard to get all the classes I need first quarter at UC Davis?
You are at a bit of a disadvantage with the latest pass 1 time, yes. Some classes have seat release, but not all. I’m not sure which ones actually do.
As a freshman, you most likely won’t get your dream/ideal schedule regardless of your pass time. Keep in mind that continuing students have already registered by now, and that incoming transfer students have their pass times before any incoming freshmen do. I remember having the earliest orientation a few years ago and most of the classes I really wanted to take my first quarter (out of interest) either weren’t open, or had very few seats initially that were taken by the time my actual registration came up.
The nice thing is that pretty much ANY class you take will count for something towards graduation at this point. You have major requirements, GE requirements, and university requirements to fulfill at this point and very few of those will have been fulfilled even if you come in with AP or CC credit. You’ll have 12 quarters at UCD assuming you graduate in 4 years, so not getting all your classes first quarter really isn’t that big a deal except for the most unit-heavy majors (e.g. engineering). Even then you can make it up in later quarters, nine times out of ten.
In addition, if you absolutely need a particular class or are generally dead set on it, you can waitlist it during pass 2 and hope to get in as people drop.