<p>Same question as the thread. Is it true that the rc'ers are losers? Are the requirements overwhelming?</p>
<p>lol! Yes, we're complete losers...avoid EQ at all costs. The RC's reputation really does tickle me sometimes.... </p>
<p>RC students are by and large pretty cool, but its certainly a differant environment than Markley or South Quad. People tend to be (in my opinion) more diverse and interesting, not to mention a bit more cultured than your average UM student.</p>
<p>Are the req's overwhelming....that all depends. I'll say this: if you aren't interested in language study, don't do the RC. If you take intensive, it is exactly that: intensive. It's not a joke, but you really LEARN the language you are studying. If you don't have a strong interest in learning a second language (in other words, if all you want to do is fufill the language requriement) you should probably not do the RC.</p>
<p>Is the RC worth it...absolutely. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have liked my 1st year academic experience without the RC, and I'd say its probably the best academic decision I've made here. You just need to go to the website and be sure it's something you want to do.</p>
<p>How many years of a language do I have to take to fufill the requirements?</p>
<p>Its not a question of time but proficiency; LSA requires 4th year proficiency which, assuming no backround in a langauge, is done in 4 semesters. In the RC, you hit RC proficiency after 2 semesters (RC proficiency and LSA proficiency are differant things; the RC has higher standards). So technically, LSA requires 16 credits of language, while the RC requires the same or marginally more (Japanese has 10 credits per language class, so thier proficiency is at 20 credits). In the RC, you have a readings class as well that is an additional 4 credits, but if you take it, it allows you to immediatley concentrate in most languages.</p>
<p>Can I test out if I'm fluent?</p>
<p>Yes, you can test out of the LSA language requirement...and I believe you can also test out of the RC requirement as well...in fact, I'm pretty sure you can.</p>
<p>That being said, language study is a big part of the RC (most of my RC friends are fellow spanish speakers). It might make it a bit more difficult to fit in to the environment just because everybody will be taking intensive language except for you and a handful of others. Not saying that the RC doesn't have other things to offer, but language study is a big part.</p>
<p>KB</p>
<p>I'm from Puerto Rico and I'm obviously completely fluent in spanish. I was wondering, is it a requirement for me to take a foreign language in the LSA? If it is, can the language be spanish? I would also consider the RC because one of the things I want to experience the most during college is the diversity I'm going to encounter. Would you recommend the RC for me although I'm completely fluent in Spanish, or would it be kinda useless to get into this program? Thanks.</p>
<p>1st off...let me express my complete jealousy at your fluency...</p>
<p>When you do orientation, you can take the spanish placement test which will probably be pretty easy for you. You can test out of the language req. that way. Same deal with the RC, except in addition to the LSA proficiency test, you'd have to take RC proficiency (exactly the same thing as the test the kids take after 2 semesters of intensive). You are an hablante nativo, so you should be fine.</p>
<p>I would personally love to have you in the RC, just because the more opportunities there are to speak spanish (or w/e language) it adds to the RC atmosphere. Also, the RC has language readings courses which are interesting, taught in foreign languages, and not available to LSA kids. Also, you could tutor other spanish students for comm. service if you wanted ( you can also do this in the LSA spanish department, but I'd save yourself the torture of hearing the spanish language bludgeoned to death by LSA kids).</p>
<p>Besides the language stuff, the RC does have other things to offer, but a lot of it is focused on the later studies.</p>
<p>The RC sounds great! but if I take the test and pass, what classes will I have to take? I'm worried the classes I'll take might add much more work to my schedule. I know first year will be hard for me because although I'm fluent in english I dont tend to take classes and have to do assignments in english and stuff and I'll be away from home for the first time and all that. What about the other living learning communities? Do you know anything about them and if so, what do you think about those?</p>
<p>Oh my. What's this about the RCs being losers? I haven't heard anything about this before. Additionally I don't know what to think of kb's answer: "lol! Yes, we're complete losers...avoid EQ at all costs. The RC's reputation really does tickle me sometimes.... "</p>
<p>anpeju...outside of the language req., the RC requirments for the most part substitue LSA requirements. For example, for your 1st year writing requirement, you have to take an RC writing seminar instead of English 125 or something like that. You'll have plenty flexibility to take classes outside of the RC, especially if you aren't taking intensive language.</p>
<p>Faleene...I wouldn't worry about the RC reputation. Its along the lines of "jocks are stupid", and "honors kids are nerd". By reputation, I'm talking about some of the more crazy things I've heard in my time on campus. For example, I've had one person ask me if it was true that we had orgies in the East Quad basement. Another person asked me if it was true that we regularly smoke pot with our professors. Of course none of these things are true...but that's what I was referring too. Being in the RC isn't like wearing a scarlet letter...most people are more fascinated by it.</p>
<p>Going back to the original question...there are about as many "losers" (whatever that means) in the RC as there are in any other community on campus, so don't let that deter you.</p>
<p>KB</p>
<p>****. EQ sounds exciting. Damn! AGH! Makes me want to choose UM over Syracuse again. God I just cant make up my mind.</p>
<p>by the way... you don't happen to knwo anything about how internal audits work do you? :D</p>