<p>well this thread is just for ERCness [no offense to other colleges]
i got accepted into ERC as pharm. chem. and well to be honest, im scared. I just looked through the gen ed. and the MMW freaks me out [im not a history person, I HATE HISTORY!!]</p>
<p>im not disappointed, i love UCSD, but for everyone who got accepted to ERC, please post here! [so i know im not alone!]</p>
<p>and those from ERC can you tell us your experiences. right now i want to switch out of ERC to Muir or Warren but I'd like some more infor on what people think of the Gen Eds and ERC in general.</p>
<p>I do not attend ERC, but I have a few friends who do. From what I’ve heard, initially you hate MMW (then again, very few people LOVE their college’s writing program), but as the quarters progress it becomes easier. </p>
<p>Also, it’s very difficult to switch between colleges, so I don’t want to give you false hope about that.</p>
<p>As a science major, you will complete the “Quantitative and Formal Skills” and “Natural Science” GEs as part of your major, if you haven’t already with AP credits. As far as the rest of the requirements go, I think the ones people have the most trouble with are MMW, foreign language proficiency, and the regional specialization. The MMW program just got reduced from 6 to 5 quarters. The sequence itself isn’t very difficult if you have a strong writing foundation. If you took AP European History and AP American History most of the topics covered should be review. The first class in the sequence has no writing. The second class is writing intensive, so you are required to turn in 3 6-8 page papers on specific topics from lecture. In MMW 3 you are taught to write a long research paper on the topic of your choosing which you turn in at the end of the quarter. In MMW 4 and 5 you have to write a similar long research paper. In my experience, MMW has been an easy GPA boost. If you go to lecture and discussion section, communicate with your TA there is no reason why should not get a decent grade. The language requirement can be waived if you are already proficient in a language. If not you must either take 4 quarters of a language or take a placement test and take the remaining classes up to the 4th quarter of the language. If you passed the AP European History test then 1 class out of the 3 for you regional spec. requirement is covered. You can satisfy the rest of the requirement by taking upper division classes in practically any humanities department. Since you don’t like history, you could take philosophy, music, film, poli sci etc. for regional spec. You should really check to see how all of your AP credits articulate. You may not have all that many requirements left to do.
As a science major, I find that ERC gives a very well rounded education by forcing you to take all those humanities courses. The dorms here are fairly new and nice, their major downside being thier super thin walls. Our dining hall, Cafe V, isn’t the greatest but its not like all the others are terribly fabulous either. ERC is located on the far side of campus, away from the university center and the rest of the colleges so if you don’t like walking that could be a bit of a deterrent. I like ERC. I would encourage you to come take a closer look at everything during Admit Day and talk to some current students. Also feel free to send me a PM if you have any more questions.
If you decide you don’t like it after all, you can petition to switch out after completing MMW 2 and 3 (the intensive writing courses). If you can put together a education plan that shows that you can graduate 2 quarters earlier in a different college then you are usually granted a transfer.
Congrats on the acceptance:)</p>
<p>Got into ERC as well as a philosophy major ! Although I am a transfer student as well. Lucky for transfer students is that… you only have to take 2 mmw courses… before you had to take 3. And freshmen have to take even more than 3. Lets enjoy our time at ERC !</p>
<p>My sister was in ERC. You have to take 6 MMW Classes. If you are not a writer than it will be hard. I have heard its not that easy to switch between colleges. My sister was saying it has super hard GE’s out of all six colleges. Muir has the easiest GE’s but also harder to get into.</p>
<p>because they opened up a new market near Cafe V, it’s sucked lately. but it shouldn’t be as terrible for incoming freshmen.</p>
<p>Yeah, MMW is bad. let me say that as a first-year in ERC. it’s a GPA ruiner, but so are all college writing courses. MMW doesn’t curve and it’s really hard to get your grade changed. I feel like a person’s grade in that class can be more or less gauged by the first paper. Generally, people’s grades don’t vary much paper to paper and so that places special emphasis on your TA because it’s your TA who grades your papers and exams. If you get a good TA, you’re golden. If you get a bad one or one who dislikes your writing, then your grade is pretty much screwed. it sucks but all that being said, I don’t think MMW is too hard to get an A in. The midterms/final at least, are usually very reasonable. It’s the papers that require a lot of effort and editing, and if you’re not meticulous, your grade can suffer greatly because TAs grade so harshly on MLA formatting and minor details.</p>
<p>I think the worst thing about MMW (You only need 5 quarters of it - new policy in effect for entering class) is that it takes up 5 slots of your schedule, which can be both a burden and a hinderance to graduation/getting the best grades possible in all your other classes, since MMW sucks up so much of your time. A person could be taking 4 classes relevant to his/her major, but because of MMW, that person has to find time elsewhere down the line to take that fourth major-related class, and possibly even take only 3 classes because MMW will be so much work. imo, that is how MMW is most burdensome and harmful.</p>
<p>I am a CSE major in ERC. I always feel awkward when we have to introduce ourself in discussion because I was the only CSE guy in ERC lol I hate MMW with a passion when I first got accepted here. However, the course turned out to be super interesting and badass. You get to learn all interesting cultures, battles and military strategists throughout human history. Beside the stupid writing requirement, MMW is the best no doubt! Also, the final is very very very time consuming. You are expected to memorize like 200 key terms and all major key events. I spent 3 days to study for MMW while my major class only took 1 day max.</p>
<p>Plus side: all of the professors in MMW department are funny and make the lecture very enjoyable!</p>
<p>For MMW 1 we read an ethnography called “The Forest People”, the Iliad and this really dry text called “History Through the Ages”, I think. In addition to that, we have to buy a course reader from the university which will vary depending on the professor you take. MMW is nothing to freak out about. There is ONE professor in MMW 1 whose class is so notoriously hard that it requires a curve. His name is Jordan. When it’s your time to register, sign up for a different professor and you will be fine.</p>
<p>so for MMW 1… there is NO writing?.. just tests and quizzes and all? like no essay questions? or does that mean no “research papers?”.</p>
<p>the more i think about the MMW the more i dislike it, but the more i realize i will have to change my study plans lol. [like the amount of time i study for a test. lol!]</p>
<p>DS was accepted to UCSD and into ERC. He’s happy with all the colleges he’s gotten in so far. It’s going to be a hard choice when all is done, and will most likely have to do with $.</p>
<p>Funny thing- he listed ERC as his third choice, and we’re still baffled by why he was placed there. But we are happy It seems to be an amazing program.</p>
<p>My d is in erc. She will graduate in 3.3 years, done in dec. with a Int. stdmajor and 2 minors. She did summer study in Athens and Istanbul for mmw, easier abroad. She is finishing out in Sweden this fall. Guys, writing is a coveted, lost art in the job market.</p>
<p>I have the same problem. I got in as a human bio major at Roosevelt… AND history is my wooooorrrrsssst subject!!!----no matter how much I study or force myself to like it, I get the worst grade in this class, and the info just refuses to stick in my brain. I’m known for being history dumb in my class. T_T I would love to switch to Muir…as of now. But to look at this situation positively, I like to think of this arrangement as an opportunity to fill up my history holes.</p>
It seems to be an amazing program.</p>