<p>For my son who is going into Comp sci, so when must he take the intro to computer class, first, second, or third quarter? I have some background in comp. science major, so I am thinking about advising my son to take for his first quarter, if he can: </p>
<p>1: core course
2: math (may be calculus), or other required math
3. intro to computer</p>
<p>does it look reasonable to you?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>@MidnighGolfer</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the very useful and first hand knowledge and experiences that you and everyone here have posted. These posts shed so much information for the prospective incoming students. I’m leaning toward 8, 9, 10, or Crown for my son who is coming in with a comp. sci proposed major. From reading your posts, i think you live in 9 or 10 right? Do you like your college/dorm and would recommend it? My son is Asian but gets along with anyone. And most important to us, we would like him to live in an academic and substance free area. Thanks in advance for your insight.</p>
<p>@schooldad</p>
<p>Why are you making these decisions for your son? He is the one going off to college, not you?</p>
<p>Not attacking, just curious.</p>
<p>Thanks for replying,</p>
<p>We didn’t even smoke in 3 generations. Caught our son started doing weed in his senior year (recreation). UCSC= weed rep. He didn’t want to go to UCR, SDSU or CC.
We are paying for his fees, so just want to make sure our hard earn money doesnt go to waste. And most important, not coming back as drug addict. Graduate or not (we’ve seen similar situations from friends.)</p>
<p>@Schooldad</p>
<p>I’m actually a 2nd year student who lives off campus, but I did live at C10 last year. I really liked the dorms, but it doesn’t necessarily mean he will enjoy the same things. I would HIGHLY suggest letting him tour each of the colleges and pick for himself. I completely understand that you are worried he might partake in drugs, but I’ve witnessed a lot of freshman last year who tried out weed because they were either: </p>
<p>A. Curious , B. Bored with a group of friends , C. Wanted to fit in</p>
<p>If he doesn’t truly like his living environment, there is a higher possibility that he might try smoking again. I’ve seen sober students get mixed with drugs just because they wanted people to hang out with. I liked it at C10 (also spent a lot of time at Cowell due to friends), but I was fortunate to like my floor/friends. It was quite easy for me to stay away from the drug scene because I knew I had friends who wouldn’t do it. However, one of my close friends from high school got placed at Crown and he started smoking with a few people on his floor because he didn’t really fit in with the people he lived with. I’m not targeting Crown here, but you should understand that this possibility is available at ANY residential college at UCSC and really ANY university (that includes CC).</p>
<p>Btw, a small hint of advice for his course structure. I would tell him to take the core course, math OR computer course, and then a regular GE class that’s somewhat easy. It’s his first quarter as a student at UCSC and he should get at least one quarter to adapt to the academics. He doesn’t want to get a C in a course (especially a major-related course) just because he wasn’t used to handling his workload. Also it gives him a chance to boost his GPA/start finishing his GE’s.</p>
<p>Many people had asked this question, I’m sure, but can’t seem to find in recent posts.
I’m also trying to plan our budget for next year, so is finding housing outside campus relatively easy? And is it a bit or much cheaper than living in campus? </p>
<p>Thanks again</p>
<p>@schooldad:</p>
<p>1: core course
2: math (may be calculus), or other required math
3. intro to computer</p>
<p>This is the exact same schedule that I had first quarter of this year (I’m a freshman). Ignore what MidnightGolfer said about doing math OR comp sci, the intro to comp sci class (CMPS 10) is a breeze. Even my roommate who had no experience with computer science or programming barely had to do any work for the course. </p>
<p>If if your son is a computer science major, CS10 is not required. It is not a prerequisite to any other course in the major. Unless your son has already done a lot of programming I would suggest taking that class, then intro to programming with java (CMPS 5J) the next quarter. If he’s gotten a good grasp on any programming language, he should take pass up on CS10 and do the advanced intro course (CMPS 12A). </p>
<p>These links should be helpful:
[2010</a> Computer Science Classes Schedule](<a href=“Computer Science and Engineering – Baskin School of Engineering”>Computer Science and Engineering – Baskin School of Engineering)
[Curriculum</a> Charts | Jack Baskin School of Engineering | UC Santa Cruz](<a href=“Baskin School of Engineering – Baskin Engineering provides unique educational opportunities, world-class research with an eye to social responsibility and diversity.”>Baskin School of Engineering – Baskin Engineering provides unique educational opportunities, world-class research with an eye to social responsibility and diversity.)</p>
<p>Finding housing outside isn’t that difficult, but Santa Cruz can be a bit expensive compared to other cities. If you look early enough (early April), you can get the best prices and the most choices. However, it is still cheaper compared to on campus housing. </p>
<p>[UC</a> Santa Cruz - Housing and Dining Rates](<a href=“http://www.housing.ucsc.edu/rates/index.html]UC”>http://www.housing.ucsc.edu/rates/index.html)</p>
<p>On campus housing can run anywhere from ~$1000 a month to about $1500 a month (INCLUDING A MANDATORY MEAL PLAN).</p>
<p>If a 2nd year student wishes to remain on campus, they usually pick an apartment on campus so they can live with their friends. Otherwise, housing off campus also varies depending on location and living situation. From my research this year, prices off campus usually range from $350 (sharing a room) to about $800. I’ve had friends get a house for $550 each (nobody shares rooms), but I’ve also had friends who have to pay $750 each. This is not including utilities. Then you need to pay for food/groceries, which may come out to another $80 a month or so (depending on how he eats/shops). Here is another website that shows some avg’s for off campus housing</p>
<p>[UC</a> Santa Cruz - Community Rental Costs](<a href=“http://housing.ucsc.edu/cro/costs.html]UC”>http://housing.ucsc.edu/cro/costs.html)</p>
<p>I HIGHLY recommend that he stay on campus at least for his first year so he can get the true college experience and make most of his friends. After his first year, I would probably move off campus to save money.</p>
<p>Liesel, it may have been easy for you but you don’t know about his son. My gf, who is a CS major, took Core 80B, Math 23A, CMPE 80N, and Econ 2 her first quarter and she got straight A’s. My roommate who was a health sciences major took Core 80A, Math 19A, and some required bio course. He got a D in his biology course and he had to switch his major this year because his appeal was rejected to declare his major. It’s better to take less major-related courses your first quarter so you can learn your mistakes earlier in the game.</p>
<p>Let me stress that CMPS 10 is NOT a major class. It in no way counts toward completing a major in CS. It’s an intro, meant for non-majors. So it’s very basic and mostly focuses on pseudo-code and how to write algorithms, with a tiny bit of programming being introduced at the end.</p>
<p>But if it really comes down to the choice between CS and math classes, choose math. Everything in CS beyond intro courses requires that the person has “eligibility to enroll in Math 19A”. I know a girl who decided to take it easy by only taking CS classes and GEs, but no math. She got left behind this quarter because Intermediate Programming, which was the next required CS class for us both, required “eligibility to enroll in Math 19A”. She did not have that fulfilled because she did not score high enough on the placement test and had not taken pre-calculus at college.</p>
<p>You have been so kind with you time in giving me very detailed pertinent info. I really appreciate it and hat off to you for your progess at UCSC. I am from so Cal and not familiar with SC at all.</p>
<p>how do you apply for housing for ERC? It says that I’ve completed my housing application but I didn’t choose if I want either single, double, or triple dorm yet and didn’t fill out that survey thing about your roomate. and when do you register for classes for ERC too? thank you so much :)</p>
<p>This may be a stupid question I’m suppose to know the answer to bug what is erc?</p>
<p>If I’m not mistaken, elenkim might be on the wrong forum. ERC = one of the colleges at UCSD.</p>
<p>Housing questions please:</p>
<p>Is the small double room considerably smaller than the regular double? Toured campus but didnt get a chance to look at the rooms carefuly. Is it roomy enough for two students to live and function efficiently? Any downside for choosing a small double, beside that it’s smaller? Thanks</p>
<p>Small doubles are somewhat smaller, but I really don’t think it’s a major difference.</p>
<p>If you are interested in looking at the dorms, UCSC has posted a virtual tour of all the rooms at the different colleges:</p>
<p>[UC</a> Santa Cruz Housing Virtual Tours](<a href=“http://housing.ucsc.edu/tours/index.html]UC”>Housing Virtual Tours)</p>
<p>Schooldad,
I understand your questions & concerns expressed on this forum. Parents care about the well being of their kids, even once they get to college age. My student’s at the end of his 2nd yr as comp engineering major. He’s lived at Crown dorms both years & plans to get a single dorm room next yr. because he wants the convenience of being on campus. He was placed in a cramped small triple 1st yr & had very considerate roommates, so it worked fine for them. this yr he’s in a large regular triple & that too has worked fine. He would like more personal space which is why he’s elected a single room for next yr. Most of his friends are staying on campus again next year too, either in apts/dorms. He specifically chose Crown because he didn’t want to be in a super-partying environment. He’s made friends, has fun & to my knowledge doesn’t indulge in pot/drinking. That said, I have other friends whose kids are @ ucla, ucd, CAL, etc. & there is plenty of partying at all of them. No matter what school, each student will make their choices, we aren’t there to do it for them - that’s the idea of going away to college. From your posts, I would guess Crown would be a good fit for your kid, again mine deliberately chose Crown as 1st choice & was glad he was placed there. I do suggest your son have input into which college he’s in so he can take responsibility for his experience there.</p>
<p>schooldad i know what ur saying but well, all people will have to make their choices for themselves. crown is a good place. there’s plenty of partying in all colleges, but wouldn’t it be great to have some fun instead of working 24/7?? i’m not saying party 24/7, but party in moderation.</p>
<p>that being said, you’re not going to always be there for your son. just know that</p>
<p>Which college has the Academic “seriousness” that you can benefit from Math and Science help? My son will SIR today and thinking about 9 or 10 as his college pick. He will start trying to get into computer science/engineering as his interested major. So is 9or 10 a good overall environment with minimal drugs exposures? Thanks</p>
<p>@schooldad: </p>
<p>Crown has a lot of support for engineering and science majors. I think I mentioned this before in the thread, but Crown hosts the ACE program that gives extra help for students taking math or chemistry. Drugs are less prevalent there. 9/10 are decent choices too but there’s a lot more partying and not as many engineering students there.</p>