<p>I'm currently enrolled in University Studies 16A, which is that new How Race Is Made sequence. The topic doesn't really interest me but by the time I decided that I seriously didn't want to take HumCore, all the Writing 39B classes were filled! I'm waitlist position #2 for this one Writing 39B class whose topic really interests me.</p>
<p>In your opinion, if I'm still on the waitlist for Writing 39B once classes start, should I bother going to the class and trying to enroll (in case somebody doesn't show up and is dropped) or just forget about it? If I take up Writing 39B this Fall I'm going to have to drop FIP since I'll end up having 18 units and I really don't want to take that many my first quarter.</p>
<p>I like FIP because it knocks off a few GE things that I need, but if I just take classes that satisfy more than one GE category then I'd essentially be taking the same amount of courses whether I'm in FIP or not. The downside though is that I have to enroll in Writing 39B for Winter quarter and I don't know if I'll end up liking the theme that I'm assigned - I like the one that I'm waitlisted for right now. ):</p>
<p>The only problem with dropping FIP and relying on taking classes that satisfy more than one category is... what if that course isn't even offered when I "need" it to be? (I can't take it certain quarters because I have prereq courses that are only offered that particular quarter and that ends up being a lot of units... so I'm "restricted" to certain quarters as to when I can take some GE classes.)</p>
<p>Haha this is long. Does it even make any sense? ;; Please help if I manage to not confuse you too much...</p>
<p>Before you drop anything, try to go to 39B the first day and see if you can get in. But you could get more information about chances for 39B by sending a note to the Composition Program, and just asking whether it’s possible to get in. Or calling, of course. </p>
<p>In terms of the other concerns, I think what you’re facing is the following: FIP and Core allow you to meet a lot of requirements. And if you pass up on that chance, you will be facing a lot of decisions – which courses, when, are they available??</p>
<p>Have you thought seriously about Core? It’s a great course that will help you become a well-educated person. You will read philosophy, great literature, etc. Core is one of the great offerings at UCI with some top faculty involved. And the topic will be very broad and raise a lot of the questions that are important for considering the world and your place in it.</p>
<p>I suppose I could go the first day of 39B to see if I can get in. It would suck if I don’t get in though since it’s a 3 hour lecture (it’s only 1 day of the week) haha.</p>
<p>Yes~ That’s exactly what I’m concerned about. ): I mean… I already decided on a number of classes that satisfy more than 1 GE that interest me by looking at the catalogue - now my only concern is if they’re available when I need them to be. D;</p>
<p>HumCore really did sound amazing at first but in all honesty, I don’t think I can handle all the reading involved with that course along with all the Chemistry and BioSci classes that I’ll be taking. I want to do the best I can in Chemistry and BioSci so that I have a good chance of transferring into the Nursing Science program. I don’t want to take a risk with HumCore and end up jeopardizing my chances of getting in since I hear it’s really competitive as it is.</p>
<p>“The downside though is that I have to enroll in Writing 39B for Winter quarter and I don’t know if I’ll end up liking the theme that I’m assigned - I like the one that I’m waitlisted for right now. ):”</p>
<p>I’m not following this. When I took FIP the BENEFITED us by saving us spots for Writing 39B in the winter. However if you take it in the fall you obviously won’t have to take it in the winter since you already took Writing. The whole point of them reserving you a spot for winter is so that you get Writing 39B done (since it is highly impacted you have a high chance of not getting in if you weren’t reserved a spot). They want you to get Writing 39B done by the end of winter quarter because in spring quarter you’ll be writing a 10 page research paper and your writing skills are assumed to be up there by then.</p>
<p>Um… I meant that I really like the theme of the Writing 39B class that I’m waitlisted for right now. If I don’t take Writing 39B Fall quarter because I’m going to stay in FIP, I have to take it in the Winter quarter and I have no clue what the themes will be for Winter quarter. What if I get one that does not interest me in the least? Sure, I could try to switch into a different theme once the list is released, but like you said, it’s highly impacted so the chances of that may be slim.</p>
<p>Oh, so you’re saying you’re automatically assuming you won’t get into the writing class? I would say you don’t know for sure until you try! My friend was extremely persistent in going to one writing class and finally the professor added her. But I understand now, you have too many units. I mean 18 is definitely do-able but you really will be working hard for your first quarter of college while other people are relaxing and making friends, so I understand.</p>
<p>I see your point, you have a low chance of getting in. In that case, I highly recommend that you really look over your options. You really care about the theme that much that you would forfeit an entire year of FIP? FIP will get rid of GEs, you won’t need to take Writing 39C, and it will guarantee you a writing spot (whether you like the theme or not, you will have a hard time getting into writing. what will you do then, wait for an entire year for a theme you like?). A fun theme will definitely make writing more pleasant, but honestly it’s the professor that will make your class good or not. It’s just one class, you have to consider whether a good theme is really that important to you.</p>
<p>Mm I see. I’m really hoping I can get into the Writing 39B class this Fall, though my main concern about doing that and dropping FIP is that to fulfill other GEs I’d have to seriously hope and pray that the classes that fulfill more than 1 GE category are available during the other quarters. That makes FIP seem more attractive in that case, but the entire FIP theme doesn’t interest me all that much and the fact that I don’t know if the Writing 39B theme during Winter quarter will be any good bothers me. (And I don’t really mind taking Writing 39C all too much, though I personally want to try to get into Writing 31.)</p>
<p>So for me it’s basically either worry about the courses I need to fulfill certain GE categories being offered (though I’m sure there will be some courses that’ll be offered that satisfy two GE categories at the same time… I’m just worried if they’ll manage to hold my attention |D) or take an FIP sequence whose topic I’m iffy on in terms of interest and my Writing 39B class in the Winter also having the potential of being dreadful (or amazing, of course.)</p>
<p>Am I just being to paranoid? D: Still, I guess my other big gripe is that if I go the route of sitting in the Writing 39B class in the hopes that the professor will eventually add me… The class only meets once a week an for 3 hours! It’s not really a “oh hey, you’re a dedicated student for coming to class each time, I’ll add you!” thing. Because in the meantime, I’d have to attend FIP as well in case I don’t get in. Sorry if I’m not making sense again. .-.</p>