Hi! Thank you for taking the time to read this.
I’m going to be a Microbiology major in UCD. From my understanding, I will be selecting my classes during orientation. I know that I will not get all of the classes that I want, but I would still like any advice about the classes I should be taking. Am I supposed to take all my GEs during my first year(s)? Or do I save some and try to balance hard/“easy” classes. Also for the AP Credit, I do have a list of the ones I took (am taking) and the equivalent classes in Davis. Does this mean I do not have to take the equivalent classes?
If anyone has information on how to make a mock schedule (with a bunch of fallback classes) please let me know!!
No, you do not have to take all your GEs during your first years. In fact, I have some friends at UCD who are now in their 4th and final year and are still taking GEs because they’ve spaced out their GEs that way. You should be balancing your classes. Since you’re going to be a Microbiology major, your science courses will fulfill the SciEng GE requirements through something called “double dipping”, meaning you knock out courses for your major while also knocking out some GE requirements. Which classes do you have AP units for? If you have a qualifying score, then I believe you do not have to take the equivalent classes. http://catalog.ucdavis.edu/PDF/CollegeBoardAdvancedPlacement.pdf For your first year, definitely take BIS 2ABC and CHE 2ABC, because they’re the prerequisites for practically all the upper division science courses. The two science classes can be taken together (lots of students have done so before), but balance them out with some “easy” GE classes.
Also, you can make a mock schedule on a site called ninjacourses.com. UCD also has a schedule builder, implemented sometime in the 2013-2014 school year, but I don’t know how to use it.
@Souske: Follow @sopranokitty’s advice and start taking your Bio and Chem pre-req’s the first year. Quarter system is very fast paced so most in-coming Freshman will take a lighter load in Fall. I suggest you take BIS 2A, CHE 2A (try to get Professor Enderle), a GE such as English Lit or Classics and possibly a Freshman seminar (1 unit class). This will give you 14 units and a good start on your major requirements. Both BIS 2A and Chem 2A have 3 hour labs which have exams and pre-lab and post lab homework on top of the lecture exams, so you will quite busy. During orientation, you will be given all the information you need to schedule your classes and meet with your peer advisor about any concerns or recommendations.
@sopranokitty My current AP scores are
Euro History: 3
US History: 5
Calc BC (w/ AB sub-score): 4
Eng Lang: 4
I’m taking the Psych, Stats, Bio, and Chinese test this year.
Also, thank you for recommending ninjacourses, this will help a lot!
@Gumbymom I have heard a lot of good things about Professor Enderle from previous threads. Thank you so much!
Is microbiology an impacted major? @Gumbymom
I don’t believe it is. You just talk to an adviser and fill out the paperwork to switch, after you’ve been at UCD for at least a quarter.
@Sousuke Those scores would get you a decent amount of AP units coming in (looks like 32 if I’m reading the chart correctly). Keep in mind that you can’t use AP credit towards GEs.