some tips for succeeding at ucla (2006 edition)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
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<p>Here is my annual posting for new ucla students. At its best attending ucla can be an exhilarating experience in which you make close friends, get a great education, have tons of fun outside class, and prepare for the working world and a killer entry job. At its worst you know few if any people, treat college as almost a "day job" in which you show up in the morning, punch the clock by attending large impersonal classes, and get dumped out with a diploma only to become just another resume in a big stack of applicants. Most people would prefer the former, so I'm hoping this thread will supply some useful advice.</p>

<p>Short-term tips</p>

<p>1) attend orientation. You get a much higher chance of getting the classes you want, you'll get tours of campus, and lots of information on the resources available at ucla. It will cover the stuff I have below and you'll have experienced students running the session who can answer your questions.</p>

<p>2) buy your books early. For $4 you can order your books on the web for pickup at ucla. If you want to buy used books get there early to get the best selection. "Early" means prior to the weekend before classes begin. The place is a zoo the weekend before classes start, and if you wait until classes start some books will sell out. The store orders enough for the enrolled students, but people on the waitlist often buy books too. BTW to save lots of money infuture quarters consider ordering from Europe and having them shipped. Believe it or not, the very same book that costs $100 here sells for about half abroad. See the NY Times article at <a href="http://tinyurl.com/85mfu%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://tinyurl.com/85mfu&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>3) walk to all your classes before the term begins so you know where they are. New students often aren't sure even where their buildings are, and even if you find the building the room numbering scheme is not always logical. You don't want to be rushing around and end up 10 minutes late for a class and end up sitting on the floor because all the seats are taken; people on the waitlist or just hoping to enroll will go to class too.</p>

<p>4) make a calendar Once you're enrolled in classes, make a grid for the week and write in your class times and location. Then when you get the syllabi for your classes write down (using a different color) the office hours of your profs and TAs. Carry this sheet with you and you'll have a handy reference for where to go get help or when that next class is. I also recommend a large calendar you can put on the wall in your room; at least a month at a glance, the whole quarter would be better. You want to be able to see what is coming up (tests, papers due, club meetings, etc) to plan your time effectively.</p>

<p>5) learn to take good notes. Ideally for all your classes you'd arrange for a grad student from that discipline to attend class and take notes, then you'd compare your notes against theirs. Guess what? You can do just that in many classes!! ASUCLA sells notes for some popular lower-division classes (see the bookstore website). Eventually you want to be able to take those quality notes on your own, so keep in mind what they are -- a learning tool, not a substitute. Take your own notes, then compare. Don't let your notes gather dust after class until you review them for the test. A key part of note-taking is reviewing them after class, the sooner the better while its still fresh. Revise, reorganize, add comments. An article on note-taking from Carnegie-Mellon is at <a href="http://tinyurl.com/cdxyg%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://tinyurl.com/cdxyg&lt;/a> Don't tape record lectures. Some profs allow this, but it's a bad crutch. First you're doing more work than the other people, listening to the same material twice. Second, as you move on to smaller classes far fewer profs will permit it. </p>

<p>6) introduce yourself to lots of people. They're new, too, and they are probably just as anxious as you are. Just because someone looks calm and assured doesn't mean they feel that way inside; it may be just their "game" face. At the start of the year everyone's in the same boat, knowing few if any people and really willing to make new friends. If you see a familiar face (or group of people) from the dorms while on campus, walk over and introduce yourself. They're looking to meet people too. The start of the year is not the time to immerse yourself in computer games or surfing the net, its the time to get to know fellow students. </p>

<p>7) its natural to be nervous about college Don't let yourself be intimidated by others who seem self-assured and act like ucla is going to be a breeze. Here's a true story -- in a chem class my very first quarter a few people sitting near me were looking over the syllabus and loudly remarking how their chem class in HS had covered all the material, how this class was one for sure they'd ace, and so on. My HS was not that strong academically, and I just knew I was screwed. Although discouraged I tried hard so I'd at least pass. To my surprise I got an A on the first midterm and in the class. The cocky guys sitting near me? Some dropped the class, and the rest got B's and C's. Their talk was all just to reassure themselves.</p>

<p>8) Learn to study better. There is a book I recommend every student should own, and you should buy it now before school starts. Its called What Smart Students Know by Adam Robinson, written by one of the founders of the test prep service Princeton Review. I have never seen a better explanation of the steps you need to follow to really <em>learn</em> the material for all types of classes (sciences, liberal arts, etc), and if you've learned it well you will have no trouble with grades. The UC system selects from the top 12.5% HS students and ucla is even tougher than that. Most people who get into ucla were smart enough to skate by in HS on just their native smarts. Now everyone is as smart as you. You will have to step it up a notch at ucla. There's no "secrets" in the book, but a lot of people spend their time unproductively until they figure out what works and what doesn't. Why not read this book over the next few weeks and come in prepared? </p>

<p>9) hit the ground running in your classes. The pace on the quarter system is quick, and you'll be having miderms before you know it. Everyone tells you this, and it's really true. Can you remember what you did on July 4th this year? On the days before and after it? It doesn't seem that far back, but as of this writing (8/24) that was 7 weeks ago. If you had started classes that week you would have had 1 or 2 midterms in your classes by now, and finals are about 3 weeks away. That's fast! You simply can't afford to fall behind. The usual expectation for a college class is that for every hour in class you'll spend 3 hours outside of class with studying and homework, so plan your time accordingly. Also keep in mind the lectures are intended to explain material you've already been studying, not present it for the first time. That's why they pass out the syllabus the first day of class; you are expected to do the reading for each lecture BEFORE class.</p>

<p>10) be an active learner. Its easy to fall into the rut of doing schoolwork almost mechanically while writing up a lab, reading a chapter and answering the questions, solving problem-sets, etc. After you complete each homework assignment or chapter the next 5 minutes you spend is actually the MOST important. Ask yourself what you've just learned. Put it in your own words, as if you were summarizing it to a friend who hadn't done the work yet. And when you have some free time (walking to class, etc) imagine explaining something you've learned in class to a friend who missed the class. If you're taking Econ 1 describe what happens if the demand curve shifts to the right or changes its slope, and what factors could produce these changes. If you're taking a history class on European history explain how events differed in the same time period in Italy, France, and England. It cements the concepts in your mind. Another tool I found useful were the "problem-solver" type books available for many subjects. These have thousands of problems with the steps to get to the solution. Find the chapter on what you're studying and spend some time practicing until you can get the right answer; when you see a similar problem on a midterm/final you'll want to laugh out loud because it's going to be so easy! </p>

<p>11) sign up for workshops and tutoringAs part of the residential housing initiative ucla provides workshops on a variety of topics in the Commons (see <a href="http://www.college.ucla.edu/up/aitc)%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.college.ucla.edu/up/aitc)&lt;/a>. They also provide free tutoring for many intro math/science classes but the catch (which I've never understood) is you have to sign up the 1st week of classes. </p>

<p>12) Optionally, read other books about preparing for college, such as The Everything College Survival Book. Books such as these will give you tips on dealing with money, roomates, social life, and so on. You've probably heard a lot of this in orientation, but its good to refresh your memory.</p>

<p>13) discuss "ground rules" up front with your new roomates. Your RA will probably talk about this in a floor meeting, and it's a good idea. Most people aren't used to sharing their room at home with someone else in their family, let alone 1 or 2 strangers. Talking up front about various situations such as parties, drinking, having a date sleep over, etc. may feel awkward but its better than just remaining silent and hoping things will work out. You don't need to etch rules in stone, but at least talking about them gets them on the table. If problems arise talk about them right away; hoping they'll go away is usually wishful thinking, and it just gets harder to bring up once it's been going on for a while. And keep in mind you don't have to be best friends with your roomates. What is important is that you all treat each other with respect.</p>

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<p>Big-picture items -- this is about taking the larger view of getting the most out of your ucla years instead of the day-to-day mechanics</p>

<p>1) Take charge of your life. ucla is an immense place so you need to get involved to make it an enjoyable. ucla is a hotbed of activity providing an almost uncountable number of options. Whether you participate in the greek system, student government, join some clubs, write for the Daily Bruin, work as a tutor or volunteer, go with friends to concerts or to watch your Bruin teams compete, there are just so many ways to be active. But there is one key thing. Nobody is going to call you and beg you to join their group. If you're the person who waits for someone else to make the first move you might want to consider changing this approach, because it just won't work for you at ucla. The opportunities are there galore, but you have to take the first step to discover them. A list of clubs is at <a href="http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/sgweb/list.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/sgweb/list.asp&lt;/a> You should also check the Daily Bruin and bulletin boards to find out about events on campus.</p>

<p>2) Reach out for help when needed. For better or worse, you are attending a large state U. You just aren't going to get the personal attention and focus that comes as part of the package at a small LAC. There are resources out there that can help (RA's, profs, counselors, tutors, advisors, deans, etc) but you're going to have to go to them. People care, really they do, but they don't go around stopping people at random on Bruin Walk and asking how they can help. You don't have to be obnoxious (this isn't NYC!), but you do have to be persistent and a self-starter. If you have a problem or question, figure out who can help and then go see that person. If you don't know who can help, start by finding THAT answer. Your RA or the returning students on your floor can be a good starting point to send you in the right direction. If, for example, you're not sure what you want to do after you graduate the folks at the career center are more than happy to help but you can wait until a usc diploma is worth a nickel for them to call you (in other words, ain't gonna happen).</p>

<p>3) get to know some of your profs. For one thing you may someday want recs for grad school or an employer, and they will be much more meaningful if the person actually knows more about you than just the grade their rollbook says you got in their class. Profs aren't going to invite you to stop by for a chat or to come over to dinner the way they might at a LAC. But they hold office hours each and every week, and you'd be surprised how many people NEVER go except to argue about the grading on a midterm or paper. In the more immediate term, the ucla profs are tops in their field and can be a good source of advice in choosing a major, choosing classes, preparing for a career, choosing a graduate school and finding a PhD advisor (they have friends from <em>their</em> grad school days at other U's), etc.</p>

<p>4) it's never too early to start thinking about what you'll do after ucla. Sure, plenty of people THINK they know what they want. But stats show that only about 1/2 of the people who enter as engineers, for example, end up getting an engineering degree. Most students who enter college with the idea of being a pre-med don't go to med school. And people who blindly pick a career area without sampling it first sometimes regret it; for example Forbes reported that 38% of the lawyers they surveyed regretted their career choice. So if you think you know what you want to do start testing that idea right away, and if you don't know then begin exploring some areas. You can take career testing, talk with alums (the alumni center has lists of alums who are happy to talk to you about their field), get a part-time job or volunteer, do an internship, to name just a few ways. ucla has lots of resources to help you do all of this, but (have you heard this before?) you're going to have to make the effort to take advantage of them.</p>

<p>5) get an internship. This is probably the single most important thing you can do to prepare yourself for a job after college! Yes, you read that correctly. Internships leap out at companies reviewing resumes because you have real-world experience and know what you're getting into. Even in the tightest job market, a company that is hiring at all will almost always extend offers to those who have worked as interns. Think of it this way: if you interview on campus and then at the company, you've spent maybe 10 hours tops with them. An intern spends a month or a summer. Who do they know better, who do they want to take a chance on? In a tight job market you'd probably have better luck finding a job with a 3.2GPA and an internship than a 3.7 with nothing on your resume but a list of classes. There's another book I recommend -- its called Major in Success by Patrick Combs. Written in a casual tone, it offers example after example of how students parlayed internships and volunteer work into great jobs. </p>

<p>For science majors the equivalent of an internship is a research position. To get into a top grad school it is a virtual requirement to have done some research; before they take you for the 4-7 years it takes to get a PhD they want to know you understand what it's like. All your TA's did this to get into ucla, so they can be a great source of advice and leads. And a campus position makes you a strong candidate for a summer position at a National Institute (NIH, etc). Research really helps premeds, too. </p>

<p>6) broaden your horizons One of the rewards of attending a premier university like ucla is the amazing diversity of events & people surrounding you. So step out of your comfort zone -- that's what college is for! If you're a die-hard conservative this means talks by liberals or leftists to at least learn how they view the world, and vice-versa if you're on the left. As a student you get low-cost or free admission to so many things. If you've never seen ballet, attended a play, or listened to classical music, give it a shot -- you might like it. Go see foreign films, go see student films (maybe it'll have someone who'll be famous). When departments hold seminars they often have a public keynote lecture, a chance to hear someone reknowned in their field. Politicians and other prominient people love to speak at a venue like ucla. Become acquainted with people who are completely different from your HS crowd; maybe they won't become your best friends, but you grow by breaking out of your bubble. And consider a quarter abroad -- everyone who does it says its one of their most treasured college experiences. </p>

<p>It may be hard to believe but the quarters and then years just fly by. Just ask any junior or senior! So list things you want to try but don't regularly do -- attend a play, hear a speaker, explore Santa Monica, whatever is a "someday I'll do it" item. If you review the list monthly you won't find yourself a senior saying "I wish I had ..."</p>

<p>7) create a long-term master plan for classes With most majors there is considerable flexibility in what classes you choose outside your major. There's just so much to choose from! Someone once compared a college education to drinking from a firehose (actually they were talking about engineering at MIT, but I've always liked the phrase). So make a list of areas you'd like to explore before you graduate. This is your chance to learn for learnings sake, from some of the best at what they do. And if you hear from friends of a wonderful prof, add them to the list. Use your list each quarter when you're picking classes instead of filling in the gaps around your required courses almost at random. </p>

<p>8) reflect on the "implicit" lessons College is a time for growth both in and out of the classroom. A lot of what you learn never appears on a syllabus, and many people find it helpful to think about these lessons or they may be unnoticed and lost. Let me give you 2 quick examples. Out in your career you may get an assignment that will take months to complete and your first thought may be "my gosh, where do I start?!!" And yet every quarter, in every class, the prof gives you a piece of paper on the first day of class that breaks a 10 week project down into weekly parts. Not once will a prof ever say "here's an example of how to tackle a big job" when they pass it out, but if you take a few minutes to think about it you're adding to your mental toolbox. In the dorms you may have a conflict that needs to be resolved with a roommate. You may handle it well, you may realize after it's over you could have done things differently. Either way you learn from it, and it's worth remembering so that the next time a problem arises you have this experience to draw on.</p>

<p>9) approach school (and life) with an optimistic attitude. Studies have shown that the best predictor of success in so many fields is attitude. This is based on work by Seligman and others, names you will learn in psych classes. Want to predict which new salespeople will do best? Which 1st-year students at the US Army Military Academy will survive plebe year? An optimistic attitude is the key, and the good news is you can change yours if it isn't one of optimism. See, for example, <a href="http://www.ihhp.com/positive_think.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ihhp.com/positive_think.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>woohoo! thanks a lot</p>

<p>the story regarding the chem class always gives me encouragement!</p>

<p>:)</p>

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<p>mikemac:</p>

<p>It seems that these should be posted in a more general area of this board as well since most of the points would apply to most colleges and would likely benefit a lot of incoming. Good job on these points.</p>

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<p>mikemac: I've been waiting for this, and hoping you would do this again. My other child got so much out of it when she went started at UCLA. Thank you.</p>

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<p>Thanks mikemac! Each edition gets better and better :)</p>

<p>Oh...and my favorite part:</p>

<p>


:D</p>

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<p>This thread is chock full of very important tips. </p>

<p>Thank you, sire.</p>

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<p>Was also waiting for this thread :D Thanks a lot mikemac.</p>

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<p>sticky ????</p>

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<p>Since we can't "sticky" the thread, let's bump it so it stays on Page 1 until classes begin. :rolleyes:</p>

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<p>I thought we could sticky...they have a sticky in MIT forum...well featured discussion...but same thing</p>

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<p>Aw, I love this thread.</p>

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<p>"The start of the year is not the time to immerse yourself in computer games or surfing the net"</p>

<p>I don't agree with this statement....bah!</p>

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<p>I would think Computer Science majors are the exception to that rule. :rolleyes:</p>

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<p>Thank you Michael. You should be a life coach.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
The usual expectation for a college class is that for every hour in class you'll spend 3 hours outside of class with studying and homework, so plan your time accordingly.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>And while you may not see this in lower division classes, be prepared for upper divs where this amount of studying and working per class is required at minimum.</p>

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<p>yeaaa featured discussion!</p>

<p><3 moderators</p>

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<p>:rolleyes:</p>

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<p>great thread, one question about books........</p>

<p>you said about a week before classes start....... how do you know what books to buy, are their specific books, for a given course, or do professors assign books they are familiar with kinda like in high schools, different schools or teachers have different books for same subjects........</p>

<p>if they are standard for given subject, would i be able to buy used ones after my orientation, its tomorrow if thats relevant...........</p>

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<p><a href="http://www.uclaestore.com/ucla/textbooks.asp?%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.uclaestore.com/ucla/textbooks.asp?&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Click "Find Your Textbooks" and log-in.</p>

<p>That's what I did.</p>

<p>Or in the course description, click "Textbooks" should show you the textbooks for the course, if the professor has posted it up already.</p>