<p>I realize this comes a bit late, as there are only 3 sessions (1 CBS, 2 ENG) sessions left. However, this info can also be used for others in the future. I work for orientation and here are a lot of issues that have come up over the summer and a few I saw on these forums.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>There is no “parent” orientation. It is the FAMILY orientation. Reasons are obvious, not all students come with parents, not all students have parents. Please use the appropriate language to be sympathetic to everyone’s situation. Orientation staff tries to make this very intentional.</p></li>
<li><p>You will register for classes on your orientation leader’s laptop in the pre-assigned random order. There will be an electronics ban enforced during registration on the 3rd day and if you attempt to register out of turn, there will be a note placed on your academic record for the university and your college deans.</p></li>
<li><p>Just because you don’t leave with the classes you want for your major, doesn’t mean you won’t graduate in 4 years. **Everyone has to complete General Education. ** You can still be on track if you don’t leave with calculus/chemistry. You can still waitlist during pass 2 as well, but you don’t need to worry. As a first year, you need EVERYTHING. Please don’t cry or rage during registration if you don’t get math/chem It’s not the end of the world, its not even bad.</p></li>
<li><p>Be flexible with class times and classes. Classes fill up, seat release won’t open up all times, and section times fill up. If your orientation leader says pick a time, it’s incredibly awesome if you don’t spend 5 minutes saying I don’t want any of those. In that case, you’ll be kicked to the back of the line.</p></li>
<li><p>Bringing your laptop is still helpful so you can use it to find classes/CRN numbers BEFORE registration. You should register your laptop at home prior so that you can get online, but they will also register it at orientation check-in. Find the 5-digit CRNs using the Class Search Tool at classes.ucdavis.edu This url is mentioned in all of the sessions. </p></li>
<li><p>FIND THE 25 CLASSES This means 25 different classes, not 25 CRN numbers for a single class. This 25 list does not include freshmen seminars or PE classes. If you aren’t prepared for registration on the third day, to be fair to everyone your Orientation Leader will send you to the back of the line.</p></li>
<li><p>The chemistry/math placement exams are just that. They are not pass/fail, and if you place into workload chemistry or math it’s ok. You will still be able to graduate in 4 years. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>7a. HOWEVER there is also limited workload chemistry space. If you place into workload chemistry and are unable to get into the class during orientation, keep in mind that this class is only offered fall quarter. Try to waitlist during pass 2, and they may open up more sections but if you do not get off the waitlist, you need to self study during fall quarter, retake the placement exam at the beginning of winter quarter, and try to sign up for chemistry 2A for winter. These instructions are very specific, and this is what has been said.</p>
<p>If you have any other questions for orientation or follow up questions, I am happy to answer.</p>
<p>The 25 classes are backups and it is necessary to have them, the majority part of that list is made up electives/GE classes. On page 76 of the Aggie as a First Year Handbook which you’ll receive when you check in at orientation.</p>
<p>It’ not that there are few mat and chem classes, those are both on seat release. However classes/times do fill up.</p>
<p>I’m a bit confused as to what you mean by “find 25 classes.” Where can we find the classes, and how do we know which classes to find? Sorry if these questions are stupid.</p>
<p>The list of 25 classes will be explained at orientation, you don’t need to start working on it until then. Like I said the majority of it is comprised of elective/GE classes. This means it is mostly going to be fun classes that interests you. You find the classes that look most appealing and are offered for fall quarter.</p>
<p>Don’t find ones offered in winter or spring. Roman numeral “I” at the end of the course description in the general catalog designates this, but it isn’t always accurate so check on the class search tool while at orientation.</p>
<p>I couldn’t understand your point # 5 … What does “register your laptop at home” exactly means? How can I find 5-digit CRNs for classes? Say I want to register for Math 21A …where can I find its CRN etc? Help!</p>
<p>@ Teeta: If you go to the [Class</a> Search Tool](<a href=“https://registrar4.ucdavis.edu/courses/search/index.cfm]Class”>https://registrar4.ucdavis.edu/courses/search/index.cfm), type in MAT 21A into where it says “course or CRN”, then click “search”. On the search results that come up, the CRN numbers for all section numbers are listed on the left side, right above the time/days for the class. I’m not sure if they still do this, but at my orientation last year, they gave us a paper fall course catalog complete with all the CRNs for all the classes, which was helpful for students who didn’t bring their laptops to search for CRNs before registration. </p>
<p>To cut down on paper use, OL’s are only given ~2 paper copies of fall courses for ALL of their groups to share, that you cannot keep. Hence why it is recommended to bring your own laptop.</p>
<p>“Take something that interests you” is a nice thought, but when my daughter attended orientation (without her family - was that PC enough?), her “OL” couldn’t seem to navigate the system efficiently. Because my D had a most unfortunate registration time, and because classes were filling up before my D could get any class, My D ended up being placed in a lab class without the corresponding lecture. This was a science class that my D had no remote interest in or had any relevance to her intended major. My D is actually someone who knows what she intends on majoring in. The OL just stuck her into anything so she would have sufficient units. The OL had no regard for my D’s interests. The OL told her not to worry about it, just drop the class when you get to pass 2 and go on the wait list for something that interests you. Also, My D was stuck in a class that she needs with a TBD time slot. Won’t that be interesting when the time slot directly corresponds to another class the OL stuck her in. Then she will have to play the whole drop another class and hope she is able to crash some remotely relevant course. The OL also put my daughter into an “Anthropology of Ancient Crops” class by mistake because the OL couldn’t punch in the right CRN. I can’t help but think my daughter should have done a little more “raging” and perhaps her OL would have got it right.</p>
<p>Let me add one more thing. I can’t but help think that my daughter could have done as well as a job as the “OL” in going online and registering during her designated time slot. My other daughter, from another UC, was able to do it herself, without the help of some skilled “OL”. At least my daughter would have her own best interests in mind.</p>
<p>@TRIPSDAD: I knew more as an incoming student than my Orientation Leader did last year. She had even graduated! It’s pretty pathetic considering they’re paid thousands of dollars to be babysitters during the summer. They even go through an entire quarter of training for this!</p>
<p>I was rejected to be an orientation leader this year. Their criteria is basically “Are you bubbly enough to ‘wow’ the parents so they don’t realize this is a complete scam?”</p>
<p>PM me your daughter’s major and I can try to help her create a useful schedule. I literally switched every single one of my classes and I ended up with a much better schedule than I had built at orientation.</p>
<p>O.K well a bit offtopic but it says that we should bring our “Picture ID” issued by governent…So for that…can I bring my school ID card? It was issued by a ‘Government School’ afterall?</p>