<p>Is the orientation really required and helpful? Sure you can take your math placement exams there along with speak to future educators and view the dorms, but is it worth it if your on a budget? What do you guys think, should I sign up?</p>
<p>@Sinvid17 Definitely, you’ll get earlier registration for classes and be more prepared for what is in store for the rest of the year.</p>
<p>The only reason to go is the “early” reg.</p>
<p>I was lucky enough to qualify for the fee waiver for orientation (winter) a couple years ago. But I still would have scrounged up the money to go if I hadn’t. That “early” reg is still better than the reg for those who don’t attend. Even talking to advisers can be worthless since they have very little time (with so many at orientation) and many are available earlier if you have the initiative to contact them ahead of time.</p>
<p>What is not worth it is for the parents/family. There is absolutely no reason for them to attend. They can come and do a self-tour around the campus or go enjoy the beach. There’s nothing to be gained for them paying to attend.</p>
<p>How will you know what classes to register for first? Will there be an adviser or counselor to guide you based on your major?</p>
<p>You can easily figure that out yourself if you do a lot reading and create spreadsheets of requirements for major and university requirements.</p>
<p>But yes, there are advisers available both for college affiliation and major. You should talk to both since major advisers do not always know university requirements. Many majors offer a rough schedule example in the class descriptions. Available as a pdf online or you can buy a book from the slug store.</p>
<p>I just asked my cousin and her friends who attend UCSC currently. My cousin didn’t go, but she thinks it is not important. Her friend who did attend last year also agreed it wasn’t useful.</p>
<p>Like I said, it’s only good for the “early” reg. Waiting until open enrollment can be alright, but you never know. If you wait until then, you will get the last pickings. However, this is not a big deal to some and it can offer an opportunity to take a class one might not normally have chosen. It’s up to you to decide if getting a better chance at classes you want is worth it.</p>
<p>I do recommend looking up information in the course catalog to get an idea of what to take, though, no matter what.</p>
<p>Bring your own laptop if you do go. If they haven’t changed it, you can log on through your own computer to reg for classes and do not have to wait for a computer to free up.</p>
<p>Orientation is not required at UCSC and students don’t get to register before the rest of the student body. Continuing students register in early May. Frosh and new transfers do get a time frame set aside that is just for them before it’s a free for all again. However, first crack always goes to continuing.</p>
<p>Truthfully, there is no reason for orientation except the “early” reg. Welcome week is the better time to become familiar with the campus as it is better designed for doing so.</p>
<p>ETA: Not everyone needs a summer orientation not to feel overwhelmed. I would have been fine without my winter orientation and this is taking into consideration that welcome week was turned into a welcome day that lasted for an hour. I hit the ground running with no time to catch my breath after move in.</p>
<p>Yes, some might need it to feel prepared, but not everyone does.</p>
<p>My 2 cents as a parent: Daughter resisted learning about the process of picking classes, understanding about GE’s (UCSC’s are pretty specific, not just ‘pick one humanity’, ‘pick one science’, etc) and all the other info re major requirements, etc. prior to orientation. So she went and was totally overwhelmed. Called us to rescue her (we were on beach having a lovely time- agree that orientation for parents not necessary). I think useful to go but be prepared- read info in course catalog, have a set of questions.</p>
<p>Also as noted- you don’t pick all your classes- just a couple. They hold back some spaces and release them for each orientation group. So you may find a class no longer open, but it isn’t really full, just full for that moment. The real fun starts when the whole system is re-opened for all.</p>
<p>One nice by-product of the orientation was that D did come away with some FB contacts. Meeting friendly students helped her feel eager for the start of school.</p>