<p>Are they worth taking for the GE credit?</p>
<p>if one interests you, then sure. if you think you would be completely miserable and hate it the whole time, then no its not really worth it for the perks.</p>
<p>also, dont pick one related to your major.</p>
<p>my friends dropped their clusters 2nd quarter b/c they were taking too much time and were too boring (sex and interracial dynamics).</p>
<p>although my roommate is finishing his up this quarter (global environment).</p>
<p>They have different cluster topics every year (i think)... but from what I've heard from my friends, I'm glad I didn't do a cluster.</p>
<p>My D absolutely loves her Performing Arts cluster. She is a math major.</p>
<p>I was (am) in America in the 1960s, I loved it. The perfect cluster for me because it took care of non major GEs, but also was interesting. Don't take a cluster in something you dislike, like I wouldn't recommend a science phobe to take a science cluster for the whole year. Also it takes care of the difficult to fulfill writing 2 requirement, and the seminar in the spring is usually pretty chill.</p>
<p>i regret taking my cluster (ird). dropped it winter quarter</p>
<p>also, not recommended for engineering majors</p>
<p>It is not rec. for engineering students because there is limited benefits. On the other hand, if you are leaning towards the Pre-Med path, there are many benefits.</p>
<p>Clusters are challenging, but interesting as well.</p>
<p>Mr Spam, do you go to TCHS?</p>
<p>I recommend them. At least I recommend the Global Env. one if you aren't a science major. I've heard some really bad things about the Performing Arts and Aging cluster. However, the Glob. Env. one is awesome. It gets rid of half your science GE's without much work, plus the Lab/Demo requirements in them (and all the labs are just computer stuff). The professors are reaaaally organized and invest a lot of time in the G. E. cluster. We had some awesome field trips (I got to go to Disneyland for one of them...granted we only went on one ride but it was still pretty neat). Not to mention you get rid of your seminar requirement, writing II requirement, and it makes it a lot easier.</p>
<p>Oh, and our four profs and four TA's rapped for us at the end of the 2nd quarter. :)</p>
<p>If it really interests you, then go for it. I got the cluster about Sex: From Biology to Gendered Society, and it was a great disposition about intersex conditions, the creation of concrete definitions of male and female, and how gender differences could have developed in females, homosexuals, etc. The seminar for the Spring Quarter is great too; you can further diversify your interests into different subjects. I'm doing one about how stress affects different sexes. </p>
<p>The multi-discipline coursework that GE clusters present to you (I had a sociologist, evolutionary psychologist, biological researcher, and MD) is useful in expanding viewpoints.</p>
<p>id recommend against a cluster. there are easier ways to fulfill GE's. the only perk is priority enrollment.</p>
<p>i agree with bruinboy...the TA'S that were in my cluster felt the need to grade extremely hard and they only handed out a couple of A's out of 20. </p>
<p>Ill never understand humanities Ta's</p>
<p>honestly, it's up to you.
if there's a cluster you think you'll like, you'll be more likely to do well in it, and it will be a worthwhile experience.
if you decide to take one purely for the GE credit, or the priority enrollment, and the subject doesn't really do anything for you, you're gonna hate it because a cluster is a lot of work.
clusters are a great way to fulfill a lot of GEs in a topic that can be very interesting to you... but clusters don't interest everyone and they're not right for everyone for a variety of reasons.
read the brochure on the clusters offered next year, and if they're repeats of clusters offered this year, scope them out. but you can't say yes/no in general to taking a cluster.</p>
<p>so why are clustered considered so much more work? do they give extra tests, etc? or is just such a massive amount of information that it can get overwhelming?</p>
<p>i didnt like the idea of having homework/projects over winter break</p>
<p><em>shudders</em></p>
<p>:rolleyes:</p>
<p>yes to the amount of work
my cluster, history of modern thought, is notorious for the load of reading we do.
clusters are just... work-intensive. that's why they give 5 units!!!</p>
<p>we didn't have any hw over winter break...
we changed professors however. did other clusters assign hw?
cuz yah that would suck...</p>
<p>Ummm what cluster gave projects over winter break????!!!!</p>
<p>Just because it's a year long course doesn't mean it's a connected year. Our class acted in units. The first quarter and second quarters were divided into 4 seperate units, and each unit was done by the midterm/final. We had no work whatsoever over break. Plus the seminars now are totally disconnected (well I mean, in a sense) from everything we did the first two quarters. Mine isn't even taught by any of our professors or TA's.</p>
<p>my cluster wasn't that bad. there was one major test each quarter, two papers (4-6 pages), and active discussions. a LOT of reading though.</p>