<p>So I've been looking at classes, kind've planning my schedule for freshmen year, and I was wondering how useful it is to take these freshmen seminars, or any seminar for that matter. Most of the classes I've been picking have been big, lecture classes with some discussion, but I was wondering if it would be good to sprinkle in a few of these freshmen seminar classes, especially since it's only like 1 hour a week. Does anyone have any experiences with these? Should I try them out? Especially since a lot of them are limited to freshmen. </p>
<p>Thanks in advance for any input!</p>
<p>They provide a bit of the small liberal arts college experience, are generally quite interesting, and help you reach a meaningful unit load yet keep some balance. Most students I know that attended them found them worthwhile, some sign up for soph seminars too. Lets see if there are any counter experiences.</p>
<p>as a sophomore, can i phase 1 freshman seminars?</p>
<p>Yes, if that is a wise use of your phase I units. However, some of the seminars are restricted to only freshmen thus you won’t be able to register for them, others allow sophomores as well. Typically the 24 series are FR only, the 39 series often allow sophomores.</p>
<p>I thought my one unit seminar was a waste of time…you should try for the ones with more units if you’re looking to learn something. Then again, I’ve only taken one and we had very little discussion and almost no homework. It doesn’t hurt to phase one a class and then drop it later when you sense it’s not going to go anywhere.</p>
<p>It depends on the seminar. I think they’re really hit or miss.
In the fall, I took Mat Sci 24–The Berkeley Experience with Professor Sastry, which was very worthwhile. We got to go on field trips around Berkeley and the bay area, even to the professor’s house. The only real assignment was at the end of the semester where you do a presentation about your own goals and experiences for Berkeley. It was really nice getting to interact with a professor on a more personal level.</p>
<p>However in the spring, I signed up for an Anthro seminar about the history and uses of chocolate and it was wayyyyy too much work for a 1 unit seminar (writing and reading assignments every week) and I ended up dropping it. The class was a lot more boring than I expected.</p>
<p>D:</p>
<p>the chocolate seminar was the one I wanted to take…bleh</p>