<p>Hello everyone,
i'm going to be an incoming freshman this fall and i was wondering if anyone could advise me as to which summer classes i can take to prep for biochem (the major). of if you were in my place, what would you do to prep for my first year? are there GE's i can take over the summer? i will be trying to apply for the FastStart program UCR's offering to incoming freshmen.. but they only have 24 spots, so if i get rejected, i'll still have something to do over the summer. any comments/advice are appreciated!!
thanks guys!</p>
<p>I don’t know what you meant by prepping, but you can definitely get “ahead” by taking the general prerequisites out of the way, I’m guessing lower division course such as Biology 5A,B,C and Chemistry 1A,B,C would be needed. Check which course you need to take first because you may be able to skip one of two through placement tests. If you are going to take courses at a JC/CC make sure they are UC transferable. I did English 1A,B,C over the summer and that got rid of 9 months of “dumb/useless” classes as a computer science major</p>
<p>Ohh yeah, i guess i meant getting ahead. who am i supposed to “check” with? i’ve been wanting to talk to someone, like a school counselor? does ucr have those for the incoming freshmen? because i got their summer courses catalog and it’s kind of confusing… like what does their section number or call number mean…
oh and do you think it’s better to take the classes at riverside rather than at a CC?</p>
<p>I’m just going to ramble on as things pop into my head. I graduated 7 years ago so I don’t remember all the details.</p>
<p>First, you have to think about this very thoroughly, if you take any summer courses in order to “get ahead” by finishing up a prerequisite, you must know that you will be registering for the official UCR fall quarter prior to completing your 2nd session summer class/s. Let say you want to take Chem1C for your first quarter at UCR, you will need to complete Chem1A in 1st summer session and Chem 1B 2nd session, then have the grades transferred to the admission office and wait for them to input it into the system, all this takes time. I used to take to my advisor and she was able to let me register in 1C and I would be dropped out of it IF I didn’t pass 1A or 1B, what I’m saying is, you may want to take 1A and 1B in the summer, register for some other require class for first/fall quarter and then take 1C in the second/winter quarter (I hope you know what I mean, Because everything has a prereq, and the registration times overlap the time you are still taking a class, it makes it really hard)</p>
<p>Check your catalog, if you don’t have it go here and look for BioChem:
[UC</a> Riverside - General Catalog](<a href=“http://catalog.ucr.edu%5DUC”>http://catalog.ucr.edu)</p>
<p>This is an older site, but these requirements don’t really change.
[Biochem</a> - Department Requirements](<a href=“http://www.biochemistry.ucr.edu/ugrad/require.html]Biochem”>http://www.biochemistry.ucr.edu/ugrad/require.html)</p>
<p>Under “Major Requirements” you will see “lower division” course. You are required to take</p>
<p>BIOL 005A
BIOL 05LA
BIOL 005B
BIOL 005C
PHYS 002A
PHYS 002B
PHYS 002C
PHYS 02LA
PHYS 02LB
PHYS 02LC
CHEM 001A
CHEM 001B
CHEM 001C
MATH 009A
MATH 009B
MATH 009C </p>
<p>You can’t take and B class without either finishing an A class or placing into the B class by placement tests.</p>
<p>I assume you are a highschool senior? I would recommend you going to a CC/JC, UC summer course are WAY more expensive, faster and harder, don’t forget you need to find a place to live if you are not from the area, You would have to wait in line for hours in hopes that the class don’t get full, check if they have placement test for Math, Biology, Chemistry or Physic, I know they have it for Math and English. In the CC/JC catalog, it will indicate if the course is UC or CSU transferable. Most if not all of the course I listed above should be UC & CSU transferable.</p>
<p>Call numbers are just numbers associated with a specific class, it’s like an account number. </p>
<p>Session numbers are either 1st or 2nd because the summer’s 10 weeks are separated into two 5 week course (or maybe it was 6 weeks) either way, it’s just telling you if the classes is starting in June or if starts in August, This means you can take Chem1A in the first session and Chem1B in the second session and get into Chem 1C during your freshman first quarter.</p>
<p>In college a counselor is called an “academic advisor” Give them a call and see if they can be of any help, this should be your college for BioChem, Within a university there are a lot of “colleges” think of it as departments:</p>
<p>College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS)
[CNAS:</a> Home](<a href=“http://cnas.ucr.edu%5DCNAS:”>http://cnas.ucr.edu)
Tel: (951) 827-6555
Fax: (951) 827-4190</p>
<p>Oh few more thing since you are new, MWF is Monday, Wednesday, Friday,. TR is Tuesday & Thrusday (I was confused with the “R”)</p>
<p>Speaking in terms of a normal quarter, not summer:
Course like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Engineering courses have 3 hour labs each week, some are 2x3 hours labs per week (summers were more)</p>
<p>Most classes in UCs has 3 hours worth of lecture per week, if it’s a MWF class, it’s a 1 hour lecture, if it’s a TR class, it would be 1.5 hour lecture, this is where you just sit there, listen and take notes.</p>
<p>If the course is NOT a “lab” class, like maybe one of the breath requirements (general knowledge course) lets say Religious Studies, they will have a 1 hour “Discussion” per week where a TA will help you with any questions, give out assignment, etc, so for this type of classes you will be in a class room for 4 hours each week.</p>
<p>If the course IS a “lab” class like Chemistry, you will have a 3 hours lab each week (2x3 hour lab in the summer), for these type of classes you will have 6 hours each week</p>
<p>WOW! thank you SO MUCH! the “ramblings” are really helpful!!
oh and what you said here about CC vs UC summer sessions:
“UC summer course are WAY more expensive, faster and harder”</p>
<p>i actually wanted to take classes at riverside because i wanted to get a feel for how rigorous the classes will be once i start my first year (yeah, i’m a high school senior now)… while getting ahead at the same time. So it’s more of a pre-experience thing for me. Housing’s okay because i got it down (for the summer, if i take the classes at riverside)…</p>
<p>is the intensity level of the lower division and general ed courses have that big of a difference between the UC’s and CC’s? </p>
<p>sorry! last question!
thank you thank you for your help!</p>
<p>UC educators do seem to have a higher expectation from their students compared to a CC. They may use the same material and teach the same things. If you ever get a chance, take a quarter at another UC (I forgot what that program was called) but you will realize that within the UC system it’s about the same. the only difference you’ll see between UCs is when a class is graded on a curve.</p>
<p>Personally I would say go with the CC since you’ll get to experience/suffer the college experience for four years, but that’s coming from a graduate. I’ve had enough of the experience. All I wanted to do was get the best grade while doing less work and having less competition…do you have any idea how it feels when your 92% is a B and not an A because someone screwed up the curve? “intensity” level wise, both systems are trying to get an entire 10 week course into 5 weeks. it’s hard work either way.</p>
<p>I don’t how your high school is like, but in college, I have had many classes where the Final was worth 50% of the course grade, this mean you can be getting an A all the way and end up with a C if you screw up on the Final. You see where by bitterness comes from?</p>
<p>I can’t help you make a decision…some people want that challenge, an A is not enough without sweating for it, others like me just want to get that A.</p>
<p>I recommend you take english and other easier ges. The science class are too intense to take in the summer months</p>
<p>oh… yeah i’ve heard about the grading system…
hmm i think i’m just going to take the class at the CC… although i’d like to take it at the UC, but i think you’re right… i’ll be stuck there for the next four years. so… i’ll just start at the CC… </p>
<p>ohh and thanks for your input, jason i’ll keep that in mind. </p>
<p>thank you both for helpin’ me out here. (:</p>
<p>I thought incoming Freshmen had to go through Orientation first before they could even register for Summer classes at any UC. Meh, could be just a rumor I heard, and not factual information.</p>
<p>but orientation starts during july… and summer school’s halfway over by then. so i think you’d have to register online or something… maybe with the academic advisor?</p>
<p>hey guys, i found out that i’ll have to take math b my freshman year…
which calc bc basically… and i didn’t take any math my senior year…
so should i take calc bc in the summer for nc… to just “brush up” on my math?? </p>
<p>oh btw, a lady from highlanderday told me i should “brush up” on my calc over the summer… so yeah. </p>
<p>i’m kinda scared for the classes now…</p>
<p>I think you meant 9B?</p>
<p>From what I can remember, the lowest Math course is Math 5 which is “College Algebra”. 9A is the 1st course (1 of 3) of Calculus. So the fact that you got placed into 9B is awesome. Some people get placed into 5, they would have to pass that to get into 9A, which means they have 2 MORE classes to take than you.</p>
<p>She told you to brush up on your calculus because 9B is the second course, think of it as a really thick book, you are jumping into the middle of it, or course it’s better to know the basis first.</p>
<p>BTW, Don’t waste your time in high school summer school any more.</p>
<p>STUDY THIS!!!
Here’s an old webpage/syllabus from a UCR Math 9A professor take a look at what a quarter of pressure look like just for one class, basically remember this stuff prior to starting 9B, this professor posted practice midterms and finals WITH solutions. This is one of those “good” professors that everyone wants, they give you so many hints, if you don’t get at least a B in these, you are either stupid or lazy
[MATH</a> 9A First Year Calculus](<a href=“http://www.math.ucr.edu/~jvassil/math9a.html]MATH”>http://www.math.ucr.edu/~jvassil/math9a.html)</p>
<p>Here’s a 9B & 9C site from the same professor with all the study guides:
[MATH</a> 9B First Year Calculus](<a href=“http://www.math.ucr.edu/~jvassil/math9b.html]MATH”>http://www.math.ucr.edu/~jvassil/math9b.html)
[MATH</a> 9C First Year Calculus](<a href=“http://www.math.ucr.edu/~jvassil/math9c.html]MATH”>http://www.math.ucr.edu/~jvassil/math9c.html)</p>
<p>OH MY GOSH!
WOW THANKS!
i think i’ll just study super hard on my own on calc and bio over the summer…
you just made my day and gave me my summer back. 
seriously thank you! </p>
<p>but do you think i could check out the textbook from ucr?
does college still have that checkout textbook like high school… or do we have to buy our own books?</p>
<p>Is the clock wrong are are you just up really late (early in the morning) that has gotta stop in college. Seriously enjoy your summer as a “kid”, prep yourself and study but don’t forget to take some time off and enjoy college life while you’re there…after college/grad school, it gets pretty repetitive and boring. I’m now 30 and have worked 9-12 hours a day for 8 years since I graduated. I really miss hanging out with my friends on a weekday afternoon between classes.</p>
<p>Generally you purchase your own books in college, they are expensive $60-$100 each (sometimes over $100), take 4 classes that’s about $300, 3 quarters, so that’s $900+ just for books.</p>
<p>Once you get your syllabi/syllabuses on the first meeting day for classes you’ll know what books are needed. The campus bookstore sells all required text books, they are located in the “basement” of the store, picture here [Picasa</a> Web Albums - Michael](<a href=“http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_QwkPF0bxtgjnQI4Z-LobGi69iGKnQzHET0cWKbFDBs?feat=directlink]Picasa”>http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_QwkPF0bxtgjnQI4Z-LobGi69iGKnQzHET0cWKbFDBs?feat=directlink)</p>
<p>1st Option:
If the books have been used in the previous quarter/s there may be “used” books available because students will sell the books back to them. The store will not buy back your books if they know that professors are using the next edition next quarter.</p>
<p>NOTE: You will be required to leave your backpack/bag in front of the bookstore (due to theft), normally there are cubby holes at the front but they set up a valet system on the busy book selling days where they exchange your bag with a number. Don’t bring anything too valuable on that day I know they have broken things and lost things before!</p>
<p>2nd Option:
This place is in a little strip mall thing a few blocks past the East Lothian dorms. They mostly sell used books at a lower price always check this place first since they have a lot more used books than the campus bookstore. If you ever sell your books go here they give you a better price than the school bookstore. </p>
<p>University Book Exchange
229 West Big Springs Road
Riverside, CA 92507-4725
(951) 682-3634</p>
<p>3rd Option:
SOME professors make their books available on reserve at the campus libraries, but not all professors do this, yes there are more than 1 library at UCR (apparently 5?, I’ve only used to 2 of them), The science library is the newest/cleanest one built in 2001?, I feel so old I was there when it still smelled like paint! it’s at the edge of campus and houses the…science books. The Rivera library, built in the mid '60s, is at the heart of campus and holds business, and humanities materials. Go to the front desk and if no one has checked out the book you can have it for 1 or 2 hours. I used to make copies of the book a few chapters at a time, If you copy the entire book, it’s about 1/3 - 1/2 price of the actual book itself…if you think about it, it’s the same cost since you get about that much when you sell your books back. Not sure it if’s still available, but at the Rivera Library’s bottom floor there is an repographics office that would copy the books for you for a small charge so you don’t have to do it yourself and they are faster…only problem I remember was that they won’t do some books due to copyright issues or something.</p>
<p>[UC</a> Riverside Libraries](<a href=“Library |”>Library |)</p>
<p>4th Option
RISKY option if the professor decides to go to the next edition or change the book altogether. Find out where the class is held (the end of the quarter BEFORE you take the class) and buy the book off of a student that just finished the class you’ll be taking. Also Check the postings on bulletin boards around campus, people will be selling books there too!</p>
<p>I think I’ve covered everything on books…and you’re welcome. I have no siblings to “guide” so I treat you all as by younger brother and sisters!</p>