<p>these freshamn seminars.. do you have to apply to get in? How do you take part in it? And is it even that great?</p>
<p>No, you don't have to apply. You just sign up for them just like normal classes.</p>
<p>There's plenty of benefits associated with the program.</p>
<p>Some of the most important ones:
- College Honors credit
- rapid completion of GEs and other college requirements
- priority enrollment
- interdisciplinary topics
- a few great professors that care
- community</p>
<p>Now that's Freshmen Cluster.</p>
<p>In your post, you mentioned Freshmen Seminars, which is a different thing. That's also known as Fiat Liux. It's a really simple, easy, minimal class that's 1 unit. It doesn't really do much to satisfy requirements. They're just some discussion about a topic; it's a great fun class to know more about what you're interested, if it happens to coincide with the seminars offered. This program was initially created to discuss the events of September 11.</p>
<p>How does one join the Fiat Lux program?</p>
<p>Sign up for it just like a normal class.</p>
<p>thank you so much ucapplicant05</p>
<p>so how popular are freshmen clusters? do most freshmen actually take these classes? what are the pros and cons of taking them instead of normal classes?</p>
<p>They are quite popular. A significant portion of people do take it.</p>
<p>Most of the pros are listed above.</p>
<p>Some of the bad things:
- commitment to the class for the entire year
(well you can quit early, but the bulk of the benefits are lost)
- scheduling conflicts; you have to work your other classes around this one
- it's harder than normal classes, but then you are getting honors credit (lots of reading and writing)</p>
<p>can you explain what you mean when you say the clusters fulfill college honor credits? what do you mean by college honor credits, are they only for people in honors program? people in freshmen clusters get priority enrollment for their classes?</p>
<p>Well if you are in the honors program, you would need to complete about 40 units of courses designated as honors. Taking a cluster for an entire year and getting a B or better will get you 15 units (5unit/quarter x 3 quarters). That's almost half right there.</p>
<p>And no, anyone can take it. If you're not in the honors program yet, and eventually do get in, it will count towards it.</p>
<p>In general, anyone can take any classes. People not in honors can take all honors courses, if available, if they wanted to.</p>
<p>Yes, people in cluster get priority enrollment. You <em>NEED</em> priority enrollment. Why? Because it seems like everyone has priority from one way or another: College Honors, AAP, Regents, athletes, etc. Without "priority" enrollment, you'll be essentially the last group of 1st years to enroll in the priority/first pass, especially if you aren't sophomore standing. That's a quite common thing as well.</p>
<p>Now that is really helpful to know. Mucho grac</p>
<p>so by priority enrollment, do you mean that people who sign up for clusters, get to sign up for classes before everyone else?</p>
<p>also what clusters have you guys taken and how are they? are they really hard to get good grades and if i want to just get good grades, should i take clusters?</p>
<p>collegegirlgirl, not * everyone * else, but you do get priority enrollment. Enrollment consists of 3 phases: priority, first, and second. People who have priority enroll in up to 10 units (12 for regent) during this period while everyone that doesn't have priority waits. Then comes first pass, that's when everyone else gets to sign up for classes (up to 10 units). People that have priority can't sign up for more classes at this time, but can make changes so long that you don't go over 10 units. Then comes second pass. Here, everyone gets to enroll in all the other classes desired.</p>
<p>Now, everyone does have a specific begin and end enrollment time during each phase so that it's staggered. Within the the 1st and 2nd passes, seniority comes into play.</p>
<p>As far as I know, priority doesn't "stack up." I've seen a case where a person that isn't in honors, but in clusters gets to enroll sooner than other people that is in honors and clusters.</p>
<p>What is a "good grade?" Clusters are harder in the fact that they require more committment. After all, you don't get honors credit for nothing. What's so hard about it is lots of writing assignments and reading. Just massive reading. If you can write decently and have solid analytical abilities and put in the effort to do the polishing and keep on top of all the reading, you'll probably end up with a B+/A-.</p>
<p>Can you explain sophomore standing and whether sophomore standing gives priority enrollment? My understanding is that a full IB diploma from high school gives sophomore standing. True?</p>
<p>Class standing all depends on how many units you have (UC, AP/IB, CC). If you have have 45-89 units, then you'll be in sophomore standing.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/soc/enrolcht.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/soc/enrolcht.htm</a> is the schedule of enrollment appointments. It isn't exactly priority, but you do get enrollment a day or two before people who are just freshmen standing.</p>
<p>ok, so for CC units, do those GPA get calculated into the UCLA gpa?
You can pick what to transfer over and what not transfer over.</p>
<p>don't take a cluster!!</p>
<p>why not??????</p>
<p>you can ask anybody.. they're horrible!!</p>
<p>can you explain ? what do you mean its horrible and why?</p>
<p>yeah.. i've talked to a few people but no one has said it's bad. it sounds like a cool class(?)</p>