Hey all,
I am supposed to be out of town during my orientation days. I know I will be missing a lot of information, but Im not too worried about it. Im just worried about placement tests and picking classes.
So I guess what my question is "Is UCD orientation necessary? Should I rearrange my schedule so I can attend?
Thanks!
I would try my best to attend since selecting classes will be the most important part of your orientation and if you do not attend, you get last priority.
Unable to Attend?
Students unable to attend First-Year Orientation need to log on to MyAdmissions, click on the Orientation “Sign-Up” link and complete the “Questionnaire” page. Under the question “Will you be attending Orientation?” select “No,” marking a reason why, and click the “Save and Continue” button at the bottom of the page. Students will be emailed detailed information on how to complete the activities covered during First-Year Orientation independently, such as taking placement exams, picking a class schedule, registering for classes, learning about campus resources, etc. This information, as well as any other important campus updates, will be sent to the student’s UC Davis email account, so the account should be checked often.
First-Year students who do not attend Orientation will have pass appointment (course registration) times in mid to late August.
There are several different orientation dates to choose from. Are you sure you will be out of town for all of them?
I don’t think it’s true you’ll necessarily get last priority. Every orientation saves a select number of seats so those with later orientations don’t get an unfair selection. They also save a number of seats for those who can’t make orientation (i.e. a LOT of out of state and international students). The only thing is you have to do more work. You have to make sure you set an appointment with an advisor, learn your pass times, how to register, and there is a mandatory sexual harrassment workshop during orientation that you will have to make up.
It’s better to go to orientation.
They can only save so much space before the Frosh classes get full at the desired times.
During the pass times, they will have time to work with you on your schedule, looking at your AP classes to see what prerequisites you’ve met. As the calendar gets closer to the first day of classes, you may be limited in what you can take when.
There are several pass days. You should try to make those pass times.
When I was at orientation (the last day they offered it) they constantly assured us that selection was around the same as those earlier than us. Sure enough, every class I needed was open. In reality, they only save 1-3 (3 really is pushing it) seats per section for every orientation. It wouldn’t make sense for international and out of state students if it makes that big of a difference in availability.
Although a few years ago and things could have changed, but my son was in a July orientation and several students were upset they could not get into the Intro Chem or Biology classes. He had no problems plus he had an early pass time.
Unfortunately, yes. I am gone for all of the days assigned to my college (which all happen to be in the same week) and the possible make up week…
@megswa contact the school and find out how to enroll in classes. Most likely larger popular classes like chem, bio, calculus will be full. You might start first quarter with more GE classes which isn’t the end of the world. As was said earlier, even some students who attend orientation don’t get into those classes.