<p>What's the honors program?</p>
<p>I am currently in a cluster.</p>
<p>Warning: Many people will present clusters to you as a great way to knock out a bunch of GE requirements and as a cool way to get to know a bunch of people since you stay in the same class for an entire year...BUT...</p>
<p>While the topics are pretty interesting and the professors are very knowledgeable, please know that clusters are A LOT of work. For the cluster I am in, there are roughly 50 - 150 pages to be read each week, 3 to 4 semi-big papers in each quarter (7-10 pages) plus midterms and finals. </p>
<p>I would definitely not recommend a cluster to anyone who does not enjoy reading. But if you feel really interested in a subject and like a little bit of pain, a cluster just might be for you.</p>
<p>Honors program (posted in another thread):</p>
<p>For the record, if you end up getting into the honors program ACCEPT IT. I was really confused as to what this was when I got accepted to UCLA. I'll try and break it down:</p>
<p>Honors doesn't really have any additional prestige, or the weight that the name "honors" has in high school (departmental honors is a different story, however). Really, the only DIRECT correlation is that you get priority enrollment for classes, for at least three quarters. Priority enrollment means that you get to enroll for your first set of classes before anyone else, which is extremely helpful, especially as a freshman. I haven't done any honors classes, and don't plan to, which means I'll be dropped after spring quarter. But, I got three FREE quarters of priority enrollment.</p>
<p>If you get something more out of it, great. But understand that there is NO DOWNSIDE whatsoever to enrolling. You don't have to take the classes if you don't want to, and you can just milk it for the priority enrollment until your class standing is higher and you can enroll sooner.</p>
<p>In conclusion, I have absolutely no idea what it is, but know that I'm only benefiting from it.</p>
<p>Clusters:</p>
<p>I'm not in a cluster. A lot of my friends are. Some like it, some don't, and they have varying levels of difficultly. The one thing you should understand is that you get five classes for the price of three -- three GE's, your Writing II, and your Seminar requirement. I almost wish I did it just for that.</p>
<p>also for clusters if you are engineering major you don't want to do it... we have a little bit more stricter GE requirements and you don't really take many GEs until 3rd or 4th year... most of the first year is major related field like CS, Math, Chem, Physics</p>
<p>but what I really have to say it don't worry about it too much, they'll tell you everything you really need to know at orientation(YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO SKIP ORIENTATION) but until then just relax and show off to your friends your acceptance letters :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
please know that clusters are A LOT of work. For the cluster I am in, there are roughly 50 - 150 pages to be read each week, 3 to 4 semi-big papers in each quarter (7-10 pages) plus midterms and finals.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Agreed. I'm in one of the science clusters and every week we have a reading assignment (usually 2-3 chapters from this book), lab homework, and then lecture material. There is also a research paper each quarter.</p>
<p>alansda,</p>
<p>i won't go in-depth but here's some trivia on the psych major.</p>
<p>-psych is the most popular major at UCLA
-psych itself is barely science-oriented (think science lite)
-psychobio has a LOT of science, if that's more your style
-i don't study a whole lot, but, it depends on the class entirely. there's no set average of studying (unlike engineering, where you know you're in for it!)
-all the professors i've had so far have been wonderful, and i've greatly enjoyed the upperdivs i've taken so far (not that many since the first year is mostly spent on pre-reqs)
-disadvantages to psych: very popular, so you don't sound too unique, but for people like me who actually want to get a career out of it, it's good. i don't like all the pre-reqs as they seem far-flung, and you don't get into psych upperdivs at all your first year because most of them have prereqs (although you can take 127, abnormal psych, with only psych 10)
-positives: i LOVE psych, and since it's so huge here there are so many avenues you can pursue within it. i want a career in marriage/family therapy, so i'm working in a lab this quarter dealing with couples and their relationships. also there are just a ton of unique opportunities here, but you have to stumble upon them or be really proactive in finding them
-being a pre-psych major sort of sucks. you have a hard time getting upper-divs until you're declared psych, and then even when you are psych, the core classes fill up FAST because everyone needs them so it's a bit of a feeding frenzy...
-but if psych is really your thing, i would overall highly recommend the program! (don't forget about psychobio or cognitive science being other options within the psych department, and explore the minors: ADP applied developmental psych if you like kids, and other projects that are pretty unique)</p>
<p>
[quote]
2. I've heard that it's harder to switch majors @ Berkeley. My admissions decision e-mail said that we can change majors at orientation. Is it really that easy to change a major?
[/quote]
In College of Letters & Science - yes, it's easy. From ___ engineering to ____ engineering in HSSEAS? Depends. From CL&S to HSSEAS? More difficult than from HSSEAS to CL&S. From CL&S or HSSEAS to School of Arts & Arch or TFT? Difficult.
[quote]
On rateyourprofessors.com, it seems like the information is there so students can make informed decisions...
[/quote]
Agreed w/ Boelter. Heavy bias - positive or negative. BruinWalk is better but sucks a lot of the time as well.
[quote]
but then if you could simply choose your professor, then some professors would fill up too quickly...Are some classes taught by multiple professors?
[/quote]
Yes.
[quote]
When I sign up for classes for the Fall Quarter 2008, when should I do so to guarantee that they won't fill up?
[/quote]
Depends on the date of your orientation...
[quote]
Knowledge isn't about how much you study - it's about knowing all you need to know. The variables are speed and retention.
[/quote]
Agreed... not studying hard but smart... as well...</p>
<p>do you have more information on these overnights for accepted students?</p>
<p>I was accepted for Pre Business Economics. What does exactly does that mean? Do I just have to take classes and then my major will change to just Business Economics? And how good is UCLA's Business Economics program?</p>
<p>delayed side note b/c my internet has been working:</p>
<p>mme-line,
next quarter i'm talking
astro 3
history 119d
history 127c</p>
<p>Do you know how to check to see if we recvd Regents? Thanks</p>
<p>rusoboy23,
i may be wrong but generally you need to complete a certain amount of classes before you can actually become the major. for example, i'm currently enrolled as pre-history and i have to take like 5 or 6 prerequisites before i can apply to the department to become an actual history major. however, being pre-history allows me to sign up for classes that are restricted to only history and pre-history majors. so basically not just anyone can sign up for upper div history classes. this process may vary slightly by department. during the first week of school i attended an open house type thing for my major with a counselor in my department who answered all of these questions. im sure they'll do something similiar for you. </p>
<p>also, just a heads up to all you new bruins. dont freak out about classes. the requirements for g.e.'s and your major can me incredibly confusing to understand. don't worry about it. orientation will help so much with ALL of your questions!!!!!!!</p>
<p>i remember being really freaked out about things but it will all make sense in the end! i swear =)</p>
<p>Is it better to apply for housing sooner, rather than later or are all the assignments done once everyone has submitted their request?</p>
<p>i believe its not first come first serve... so i don't think its better to apply housing sooner... but if you gonna come here why wait?</p>
<p>Bring up my thread [lest it get buried by .... 100's of others on UCB vs. UCLA , etc ] !</p>
<p>mme-lin</p>
<p>did you do an overnight at UCLA?
If so, how was the experience.?</p>
<p>What are your thoughts on caffeine?</p>
<p>No, I didn't do an overnight. Is there an actual overnight program or do you just hang out with your old friends from high school? </p>
<p>And Lax - I prefer caffeine in energy drinks than in coffee or lattes or what have you. I don't like coffee very much.</p>
<p>Yeah there is an overnight thing that they sent me. Its probably because im Mexican.</p>
<p>UCLA! Wow, I'm so excited! Two questions:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>How do you apply for the band w/out being a music major or taking music classes? Is this possible?</p></li>
<li><p>What exactly is the honors program? Does it mean anything besides indicating your position as one of the top students or does it actually impact your course load? Basically, I'm confused on whether the honors program actually affects the courses you take and amount of work you do or if it is simply an "honor" to be a part of. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks!</p>