<p>I never looked into what particular summer programs UCLA offers for freshman. Recently, I found out about FSP and obviously it's too late to sign up. It seems like a really good program to build your study skills/academics before our official quarter. I was wondering what we lose out on if we don't go to FSP?</p>
<p>for those who have gone before...is it advantageous?</p>
<p>I’m an incoming freshman so obviously I haven’t done the program yet but I honestly think there are really no significant advantage of going to the freshman summer program. The program is obviously available for mainly one reason and that reason is to make money. Sure you might be a little of ahead of your classmates in terms of classes taken but I think the summer before college would be better spent doing other things such as volunteering, spending time with your family, or even just relaxing so that you are prepared to work hard when fall comes. In regards to building study skills, I think that just not true. Taking one class a day will not build any study skills or organizational skills because once the first quarter comes you will probably taking 3-4 classes so the summer session in theory is not going to help you. Moreover, if you made it to UCLA I’m pretty sure most of you have good study habits. So my advice is just to save your money and do something else during the summer. Summer is not meant to be spent taking classes but rather it is a time to relax and do things you otherwise would not be able to do during the academic year.</p>
<p>“if you made it to UCLA, I’m pretty sure most of you have good study habits.” </p>
<p>ahh, but college does wonderful things to you. why else would we still have bell curves if people still kept that up? </p>
<p>i don’t think it’s necessary to do FSP, but you do get to build up a group of people whom you’ll know when you get to UCLA. workshops are what you make of it. it’s not like people who go instantly have an advantage. most times, hard work and not procrastinating will get you the same results. regular orientation preps you pretty well, anyways.</p>
<p>I completely agree. The one advantage that may come from doing this summer program is meeting other freshmen and perhaps even establish friendships but even that isn’t necessary. If anything, one should do the program to learn, not to socialize. Your bound to make friends when you enter UCLA so don’t worry about this. </p>
<p>Original poster, I’m pretty sure there no one or very few on this forum who are doing this summer academic program and that is saying a lot because most these student on this forum are very studious. So pretty much your not missing out on much.</p>
<p>thanks for the responses guys…when i read about it on this site
([AAP</a> Summer Programs](<a href=“http://www.aap.ucla.edu/summer/index.html]AAP”>http://www.aap.ucla.edu/summer/index.html)) it seemed like a good way to broaden one’s intellectual horizons…</p>
<p>anyone else have any opinions?</p>
<p>No offense to previous poster but I believe the advantages of FSP should be discussed by someone who actually has attended FSP, or UCLA for that matter. </p>
<p>FSP is a great way to become acclimated to UCLA’s campus, people and programs before you are immersed in a full collegiate academic schedule. It is a transitional program from high school to college as all of your classes will be early in the morning and attendance is monitored. However, as you are living away from your parents, on-campus, it is up to you to get up and off to class everyday. FSP really slowly dips you into the college experience before being completely submerged in it. </p>
<p>FSP is also a great way to meet new people and have a steady base a friends and networks before your rigorous academic schedule of at least 12 units is required. Having a group of close friends from FSP means that you have people who can provide help in classes or that you can give tips that you may have learned from Day 1. If you weren’t in FSP, you would have to find that group of friends before you can have that symbiotic relationship of information.</p>
<p>UCLA is a HUGE campus in terms of people and the campus size. Getting to class and learning the topography of the campus with thousands of other students, and visitors walking around can be intimidating and difficult. During FSP there may be 500-600 people walking around at one time. This makes it much easier to navigate the campus.</p>
<p>FSP is a great way to slowly gain more knowledge of the college experience and if used properly, it can really set you ahead of your peers. Not with just the 10 extra units, but also the workshops, the information about clubs and academic programs, meeting people who can help you during your first year, learning the campus map, the various talent shows and other events that help showcase the fun side of the UCLA campus. Obviously without financial aid, it can be expensive, but the money has proven to be worth it for me, and most of the people I was in FSP with would agree with me.</p>
<p>I’m sure there are advantages to participating in the FSP program but are you really miss out on a lot by not doing it? I really don’t think so. It’s like basically starting college early and cutting summer vacation short.</p>
<p>I’ll be in the program this summer. I think if financial aid pays for it, why not do it? It’s not gonna hurt you (well, unless you don’t wanna do it, then you’d might dread it).</p>
<p>But I think that it must be beneficial and should be a great experience but it’s certainly not the end of the world if you don’t participate, you know what I mean?</p>
<p>If you REALLY want to do it and it’s not gonna break the bank, then try calling? =) It may be full but you can always call and ask if there is any way you can participate if someone drops or something. Just be persistent.</p>
<p>But if you can’t, no worries. 'Cause dude, you’re going to UCLA, enough said. Haha! =)</p>