<p>could u elaborate on the system a little bit more. i am still confused. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>i see that there are core requirements... so does that mean i have to take them during my first 2 years? </p></li>
<li><p>how many units do i have to take per trimester (im guessing since there are three sets in the sample) </p></li>
</ol>
<p>3.what are specializations? </p>
<ol>
<li>i take IB and how do those courses count into my program? i read on the UCI website that only higher level IB courses count, but also if i get above 30 (/42) i would get 30 units? how does that work with the requirements and which classes do i then not have to take? </li>
</ol>
<p>Sorry if Im a bit confusing. Just ask me questions to keep me on track.</p>
<p>1)Heres a quick breakdown of the process of classes for an engineer. The first year is dedicated to fulfilling pre-requisites, such as physics, math, and chemistry, before taking lower-division introductory engineering courses. Many freshman also use the first year to start fulfilling the breadth requirements. The second year follows up with lower-division engineering courses along with a continuation of pre-requisites. Lower-division engineering courses are basically introductory engineering courses needed to prepare a student for upper-division. </p>
<p>2)The number of units take per quarter is your choice. Each class is roughly 4 units. Ive taken 4 classes since the beginning while others have taken only three classes. I suggest taking only three courses first quarter to ease the transition. If youre not already used to the college life, then you will find yourself in a big change. You will tend to be distracted a lot especially without your parents around so remind yourself to stay on track.</p>
<p>3)Specializations are emphases within your field of engineering. For electrical engineering, there are Electro-optics and Solid-State Devices; Power Systems; and Systems and Signal Processing. Because Im a freshman Im not too sure about what exactly each holds. Youll deal with specializations during your senior year here, so dont worry about it just yet.</p>
<p>4) I have no knowledge about IB stuff. Ive never touched it in my life, haha. But heres a link and passage that you will find useful</p>
<p>International Baccalaureate (IB). Students completing the IB diploma with a score of 30 or above will receive 30 quarter units (20 semester units) total toward their UC undergraduate degree. The University grants 8 quarter units (51/3 semester units) credit for certified IB Higher Level examinations on which a student scores 5, 6, or 7. The University does not grant credit for Standard Level examinations. Some higher-level examinations may be used to fulfill course requirements in lower-division major or general education/breadth requirements. For detailed information see the UCI Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools' Web site at <a href="http://www.admissions.uci.edu/ib_chart.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.admissions.uci.edu/ib_chart.html</a>.
The units granted for IB examinations are not counted toward the maximum number of credits required for formal declaration of an undergraduate major or the maximum number of units a student may accumulate prior to graduation from the University. Students who enter the University with IB credit do not have to declare a major earlier than other students nor are they required to graduate earlier.</p>
<p>Hi jas0n, thanks for taking the time to answer this.</p>
<p>I was just wondering if I needed to take the Math placement exam if I'm going into an English major (I'm Undeclared right now, but I'm going to change). Do I even need to take a math class if I'm going into an English major?</p>
<p>Also, can you describe the process of changing a major and when's the earliest I can do it?</p>
<p>If you don't know the answer, who's the correct person I should call at UCI to answer my question? The testing center or the Office of the Registar?</p>
<p>Yeah, I've looked at that chart about a billion times, but I'm still not sure if I have to take a math class or not if I go into English and I know math is not a prerequisite for English. But aren't there general education requirements I have to fulfill or something?</p>
<p>If you do not need calculus for English, then you do not need to take the placement test. The test is to place into calculus (that is if you mean that one). If you have not finished pre-calc you may have to finish it to fulfill university requirements (not GE). You can take other math classes to fulfill the math GEs. You'll see in the future. You won't have any math classes to take at first anyway.</p>
<p>just because you are taking calculus and getting a good grade, will not mean as much if you can take the AP test and get the college credit for the class. what will end up happening is that you will have to take a placement test for calc, and see if you are able to test out of calc 1A.
When you ask about if it is good enough, what do ask in regards to?</p>
<p>If you're in calculus in high school, then you'll be fine. Don't worry about anything math related until you get on campus. Information is easier here than at home.</p>
<p>If you want to change major you need to be proactive asap. You can change your major right now or during orientation granted you are attending SPOP of any form. Here are the things you should do. Do in the following. If the first one doesn't work, go to the next.
-call UCI admissions office and ask for a major change
-during SPOP, do not go to the undecided/undeclared group when they ask to break you up by majors. Go to your intended school and ask for a petition after the presentation.
-if you are not going to SPOP, attend both of the orientations for undecided/undeclared and the school of your intended major. After both, try to get a petition to change major.
-during your freshman year, finish the pre-requisites listed on the following site for your intended major and petition to change majors w/ the help of your counselor.</p>
<p>im not sure if this was mention before.. but umm when do we pick our classes? i heard we pick it at orientation so if we go to the later orientations we get all the left overs.. i was planning on going to the last one august 17 but im scared ill get all the crappy classes so should i sign up for a ealier one in aug?</p>
<p>Umm... I received the UCI summer bridge invitation, and I sent my application already....But the application checklist said that "All Summer Bridge students must take "Math Analysis" placement test" but my Major is Criminology and I read one of your earlier responses that math testing is not required for that major...but it is for Summer Bridge? Oh and I took that test today just in case it was necessary, but was it necessary?....
Also, can you retake a placement exam?</p>
<p>I've always gotten the 100 meal plan and I never got through all of them each quarter. It might be because my dorm is so far away from all the dining halls and I often resorted to throwing something together in my kitchen, haha. I'd suggest starting off with a larger meal plan and working your way down if you feel you need to. You can change it each quarter anyway.</p>
<p>you can change your meal plan each quarter but there is a fee. like twenty bucks or something. you also have to fill out something and turn it in. ahaha thats what stopped my roommate from changing hers.</p>
<p>as jess said there is a fee, and most people change their meal plan from 120 down to 100. i go home every other weekend because im local. There is an additional week to the fall quarter for freshman, called welcome week, which you will need your meal plan so it is a good idea to start with the 120 meal plan, and then during the winter quarter downgrade to the 100 meal plan. My roommate on the other hand lives up in norcal so he stayed with the 120 meal plan and says it is enough, since he eats only lunch and dinner, because you rarely get up or want to go eat at breakfast and use a meal pass, because it is much simpler to just have milk and cereal in the morning.</p>