<p>I am going to be doing Engineering courses (the basic chem, math, and physics). Do you think I will have trouble getting the classes that I want to get? Should this deter me from choosing the school?</p>
<p>I think as long as you are pretty flexible and are willing to take any section of a particular course (i.e. be willing to take the 8:00 am section of Math 31A if you had to), then you should be able to get courses that will allow you to graduate in the amount of time that you want (i.e. 4 years).</p>
<p>Will you get every single class that you want in the exact quarter you want it? Maybe not. But you also need to realize that there are several different ways you can put a schedule together. For example, a lot of students don’t realize that you can take Math 33B before you take 33A (33A is not a requisite for 33B). So if you’re trying to sign up for 33A and it’s full, then you need to realize that you can take 33B and take 33A later.</p>
<p>You’ll also need to use your first pass wisely and not waste it. I have heard stories of students complaining about not being able to get physics, only to later admit that they used their first pass on a GE course, or in other cases waited several days after their first pass started before even logging in to the system.</p>
<p>This isn’t high school…you’re not gonna get the perfect schedule every time. But as long as you stay on top of things and communicate with your counselors, there should be a way for you to get your courses to keep you on track to graduate.</p>
<p>Sorry for digressing for a bit, but alicantekid, can you explain what a first pass is?</p>
<p>Basically you get to enroll in 10 units of courses in a “first pass” about a week before you can enroll in the rest of your courses (the so-called “second pass”). Everyone’s first pass occurs before anyone’s second pass, ensuring there are still some needed classes available for you during your first pass.</p>
<p>As a new incoming Freshman, a counselor at summer Orientation will help you get your Fall quarter classes (as a freshman, the 1st quarter you will be limited to 3 classes) - in the first pass. After everyone has been through the first pass, there is a 2nd pass where everyone can register for more classes or change. </p>
<p>Last year, incoming freshman who didn’t like the classes they had gotten at 1st pass signup (because not all seats in a class were made available) were able to make changes to their schedules during 2nd pass - to get the classes they really wanted. They only open a few seats for each registration period. But by 2nd pass, more is available.</p>
<p>Just be prepared as a freshman for some very large classes - 200+ students in a lecture hall.</p>
<p>You can enroll in more than 3 classes your first quarter. Though the earlier your orientation, the better your class choices.</p>
<p>Echoing Ian
The Orientation Counselor will probably encourage you to take NO MORE than 3 classes, but of course you’re welcome to add more later when your counselor isn’t watching.</p>