<p>Would this schedule be too heavy for the first quarter?</p>
<p>SLE 91
Beginning Arabic
Introduction to Earth Systems</p>
<p>I know SLE is the equivalent of two classes, but I’ve read elsewhere that it doesn’t have to be a lot of work if you have good time management and don’t do all of the reading. Arabic and EARTHSYS 10 don’t strike me as particularly time consuming classes, but it’s hard for me to judge.</p>
<p>@ applicannot- 18 units sounds a bit too heavy of a workload to me. Remember that you’ll want to leave room for socializing and meeting new people and joining student organizations. In the end, of course, you are the ultimate judge.</p>
<p>Also, don’t underestimate the workload of SLE. There is a reason why it is 9 units. 1) There is a crazy amount of reading. 2) You won’t have a good experience if you don’t read at least 80%. 3) You won’t do as well on the final if you haven’t read certain books. SLE is time-consuming (and you’ll find out that it usually interferes with 60-70% of introsem classes 
But there are very few instances of people not liking SLE. You really get to hang out with some of the brightest and coolest (and most well-read) people on campus.</p>
<p>Also, to confirm Senior0991’s post: SLE students live in Alondra, Cardenal, and Faisan (East Flo). Alondra is all frosh, with roughly half the people in SLE and half the people are IHUM/PWR kids. Cardenal and Faisan are four-class dorms, and all of the freshmen living there are in SLE.</p>
<p>I just re-read the syllabus for Earth Sys and it looks like a little too much work anyways. Good point. But if I just take SLE and Arabic my first semester, is that too light? It’s 14 credits, but it’s not like I couldn’t find great things to do with the extra time. It’s just that I want to double major and not having a GER filler that quarter puts a damper on things… but it shouldn’t really be a big deal in the long run. Having only two classes just seems lazy!</p>
<p>@ applicannot- I am taking only 2 classes this quarter (15 units). Believe me–it’s not “lazy.” Your immune system will thank you for minimizing the stress–autumn is also cold and in the middle of flu season (you’ll find in the dorm–flu spreads around like wildfire…)
Plus, it’s more like you’re taking 3 classes (SLE = 2 classes). You can also shop around for any fun 1-unit activity classes if you feel 14 units is “too light”</p>
<p>Skyraptor, that’s a good point. Factor in that I have a week immune system and that I’ll have to have a job and two classes isn’t that bad. While I’m really enjoying the idea of SLE, my one problem is course variety. Since I want to take Arabic every quarter, with SLE I’d only take 2-3 different courses each quarter… which limits my explorations in my freshman year. That’s not necessarily make or break, but it’s something I’ll continue to consider. Even taking one class on top of SLE and Arabic brings me to 19 or 20 credits, which seems like a lot.</p>
<p>Applicannot: admittedly, the single downside to SLE is that you may not be able to explore as many classes you would have liked. My main point is that at least for your first quarter, don’t take anywhere close to 20 units (especially if you’re also going to be doing a part-time job!). Take it easy this fall, and then when you feel comfortable with the pace, you can try to increase your units in the winter.</p>
<p>Besides, SLE itself is a “variety”- we get lecturers from history, philosophy, political science, religious studies, and English.</p>
<p>Skyraptor, what is your SLE schedule? The website says 3:15 to 5:00 but from what I’m reading that is clearly not the case. Can you clue me in?</p>
<p>I took 3 classes fall quarter and it was pretty chill. Definitely not easy but there was like one week of moderate stress. I’d recommend that. </p>
<p>Most freshman really can’t explore that much. With IHUM (all 3 quarters), PWR (1 quarter), and intro classes (especially math/CME, which is an all-year sequence basically), I’ve only had time to take one legit class “for fun” (although it’s actually in my prospective minor). That seems to be the norm. </p>
<p>Introsems are an exception, and some people take these. I don’t really see the point; I can probably find a class that’s similarly interesting, maybe a bit more work, but will fulfill a minor/major/GER requirement. My philosophy is pain now, gain later.</p>
<p>@ applicannot
SLE is on Tuesdays (3:30-5 pm, 6-7 pm), Wednesdays (3:15-5 pm, 6-7 pm), and Thursdays (3:15-5 pm, 6-8 pm). Occasionally, we have library workshops on Friday afternoons or some kind of artsy event.</p>
<p>I had chosen “exploratory” classes for my GERs, but with SLE and Arabic, I’ll only be able to take two other classes in the whole of my freshman year. Since I have no idea what I want to study and since I’m almost positive I won’t be a techie, I was really going to use those explorations to help me decide. But like I said, I am still deciding and have plenty of time to do so. I will be sure to visit SLE during Admit Weekend.</p>
<p>Where does SLE meet? I’d like to visit this Wednesday night (I’m arriving a day early for Admit Weekend). Or, do you think it would be less beneficial to visit (since I haven’t read any of the material or followed the class) and more beneficial to just talk to current SLE students? I’m torn. 3:15 to 5:00 is a big chunk of my time, having only a few days to explore campus.</p>
<p>@applicannot- SLE meets for lecture in the SLE lounge (so lecture is on Tuesday 3:30-5 pm, 6-7 pm, and Wednesday 6-7 pm); aka the FloMo main lounge (it’s on the first floor of Alondra). For discussion sections, they’re all over the place through East Flo (typically Cardenal, Faisan, Alondra lounges, SLE lounge (again), SLE office or conference room (depends on which section you want to go to). If you’re coming to see Wednesday night’s lecture (which is on Nietzsche), you can just slip into the lounge (there are a lot of people) and just listen (mind you, lecture is only one of the many components of the SLE experience, and I highly recommend talking to some of the SLE students during Admit Weekend.</p>
<p>SLE students love SLE. So we can be a little biased. Check out the class for yourself and make your own decision whether you think SLE would be a good fit for you.</p>
<p>PM me if you have any more questions regarding this.</p>