<p>obviously they want your parents and you to get familiar with the campus which is why they have it.</p>
<p>but is it kind of like a high school orientation all over again?</p>
<p>meet the instructors, sit-down lectures, choose your classes, take campus tours, etc?</p>
<p>I hope it's gonna be fun. </p>
<p>can you pick your dorms and stuff?</p>
<p>what else can you do on parent-student orientation day</p>
<p>I'm sure you don't get to pick your dorms. Besides that, I have no idea what its about.</p>
<p>The website has a list of what you do during the day:</p>
<p>As for dorms, I got an email today to pick my dorm preferences which is due July 8th. I know you said you were on the waitlist, so perhaps after that, they'll know how many spots are remaining.</p>
<p>I just got back from orientation, and it's a little bit different from what I remember high school orientation being. It's a lot of walking tours around the campus, seminars about why UCSB is good and what's expected of you as a student, and then the acamedic advising sessions are where you get to pick your classes. Granted, it's quite a bit of a challenge to pick your classes, it's almost like a puzzle. What you can actually take as a freshman is kind of limited, and you have to pick classes that don't conflict with other classes, etc. Doesn't sound so bad, until you actually sign up, and realize everything you wanted is full again, so you get stuck with stuff you didn't want.</p>
<p>In the end, though, it was a lot of fun, and it's a great chance to make friends. It's awkward at first for everyone I'm sure, walking around with a group of people you don't know, but everyone is really friendly and remember we're all in the same situation, so don't feel bad.</p>
<p>Thanks for that info :)</p>
<p>"In the end, though, it was a lot of fun, and it's a great chance to make friends"</p>
<p>--> just curious, how could you make friends during orientation? i mean you only see people walking around and learning about the campus, what you mean people just come up to you during the presentation and say hey what's up ?</p>
<p>and for transfers, is it the same orientation.</p>
<p>about picking classes....</p>
<p>man it sucked! I wanted to cry, nothing was working out. But then I got home and was able to fix it, and now I have my first choice schedule!</p>
<p>My advice...in your academic advising session, figure out which class is going to be the toughest to get into (writing, math 3A, history 4A...) then try to get into that one first. Then work your schedule around it. But I promise there are some things that won't work out.</p>
<p>Sooooo, take advantage of the 70 hours you have on GOLD. When you get home, keep checking on the system to see if any spots in the classes you originally wanted have opened up. I kept checking and checking for one class, then finally 1 seat opened up. Then out of curiosity today (the last day I had) I checked other classes and lost of spots had opened. Once you get the classes you want, drop the ones you signed up for at orientation. Just make sure you know the requirements and how to navigate GOLD, because in my experience, it was a lot better when I was at the computer by myself than with a huge group all around.</p>
<p>what the heck is GOLD?</p>
<p>meggs, what is your major? i'm law and society, so do i have to register all for the law classes? because i want to take electives too.</p>
<p>I'm poli sci.</p>
<p>They actually recommend you don't register for too many pre-major courses your first quarter. They know a lot of students get overwhelmed by the whole college experience their first quarter and get a relatively low GPA. They don't want you messing up in pre-major courses that will affect your eligibility to get into that major later. I'm only taking one pre-major course this quarter. So take electives for sure, but make sure they fit general ed requirements. You'll learn all about those.</p>
<p>GOLD= Gaucho OnLine Data. Check it out now.... gnet.ucsb.edu I think (I usually just get there from the Current Students section og the site). You won't be able to register for classes, but you'll be familiar with it.</p>
<p>PS: Buy a general catalog and schedule of classes in the bookstore right when you get there. At least get the schedule of classes. It sucks to have to share the limited amount of copies they have in your academic advising.</p>
<p>Meggs, When did you go to orientation? Was there an advisor who was familiar with your major that you worked with or was it just general advisors? How come there is a limit on the time for using GOLD and is that time for each semester? Do the advisors explain how to use it or did you just have to learn how it works on your own? If people check it out now does that count against the time limits you have?</p>
<p>Sorry to bombard you with so many questions. If you have answers for any of them it would be great!!! Thanks!</p>
<p>haha, no prob about all the questions...I'll do my best to answer them.</p>
<p>I went to the first session (June 24-25). I think it was a slight disadvantage, just because at the end my advisor was saying "next time I'll do it this way...." But it all worked out.</p>
<p>All the advisors are students. Most are current students, some just graduated. And while they did group all us Poli Sci kids together, our advisor wasn't. But he explained all the major requirements really well anyway. You go to three academic advising sessions 1) general ed 2)major requirements, pick your classes on paper, and have one on one time with your advisor to make sure your schedule is good, and that you aren't taking classes you've already recieved credit for (AP tests and such), then 3) picking your classes on GOLD.</p>
<p>There is a time limit on GOLD I guess to give everyone the same time frame to pick their classes. And yes, each quarter there is a time limit. You'll learn about the different Pass times you get at orientation, and I think if I explained it here it would just be confusing. Signing up for your first set of classes is a little different than the time limits we'll get for next quarter.</p>
<p>Yes, the advisors explain how to use it. They sit at the computer with you while you pick your classes. And also, if you go on GOLD now, it will not count against any time limits. You just won't be able to register for classes because they only open that part of the site to you during the time frame they set up. </p>
<p>Hope that answered your questions.</p>
<p>Meggs, you are awesome! Thanks for the speedy helpful reply!</p>
<p>Hey baller4lyfe and anyone else that might want to know, I got an email today from UCSB housing:</p>
<p>*This notice is to confirm that we have your completed contract for the UCSB Residence Halls for next year. At this time, however, we currently have a waiting list. In case you have been reconsidering living in the Residence Halls we wanted to give you the opportunity to cancel your contract, without penalty. This offer is valid through August 15, 2005. </p>
<p>The Community Housing Office is a resource for students seeking private accommodations. Check out their website at <a href="http://www.housing.ucsb.edu/hchoices/cho-general-info.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.housing.ucsb.edu/hchoices/cho-general-info.htm</a> to access the rental listings.</p>
<p>Please reply to this email if you would like to cancel your UCSB Residence Hall Contract. If you do not cancel, we will book you in a double room. Room assignments and roommate information will be sent to you in early September.*</p>
<p>While this message is a little strange (first it says there is a waiting list, then it says at the bottom you will be booked into a room), but I interpret to mean that housing is going to be tight this semester, and I think the chances to get it if you're on the waiting list is unfortunatly pretty low considering they're trying to get people accepted to find housing elsewhere.</p>
<p>That sucks. It probably means there will also be a lot of triples and very few singles this year. Good thing I'm living at Trop and don't have to stress.</p>
<p>New students rarely get single rooms. My friends and I got single rooms with no problem in Manzanita.</p>
<p>You guys are lucky because you get first pick at the 1000 rooms available for continuing students at Manzanita and San Rafael I think. I guess after that, what's left goes to transfer students (and freshman in Manzanita), and looks like they're a little low on those spots this year.</p>
<p>There are probably a lot of transfers applying for dorms next school year. Freshmen are guaranteed spots and continuing students went though lottery but everyone was accomodated. Most of my housemates last school year are living in IV now with the exception of people who got single rooms. </p>
<p>I was originally picked to live in San Raf during lottery but they assigned me to MV so it's all cool now. I don't like San Rf and their singles re very small.</p>