<p>I was wondering if anyone is not attending the summer orientation? Is it mandatory? I called them and they said you don't have to go and can sign up for classes during welcome week. I might not be able to make the orientation since I am going out of the country.</p>
<p>the orientation is not mandatory, but recommended. I dont think there are even enough spaces for all incoming students to attend, so dont worry too much if you cant attend. Also, one downside to attending orientation is the $110 fee</p>
<p>not mandatory. so what happen is that (in my opinion) it is a $110 fee to sign up for classes that you need… which is becoming increasingly harder for particularly science majors. what happens is those at the first orientation get to sign up for classes first and so on. if you dont go to orientation, you get last pick.</p>
<p>If you can, I think you should go! With all the budget cuts, classes are getting really hard to get into.</p>
<p>Also, I believe if you qualified for a fee waiver for your applications, the orientation fee is waived for you, but you have to pay for any guests you bring. (My orientation fees have been waived)</p>
<p>I haven’t decided. The fee seems like a scam, so I don’t really want to go on principle. I’m also not really interested in learning about clubs and meeting new people and all of that hype. I’d only go for academic advising and to register for classes, which may end up being reason enough for me to hand over the money. Still, it’s a service that should be provided to the students for free in my opinion unless they’re going to provide some kind of accomodations.</p>
<p>As a current student, I highly recommend attending orientation if you can. Besides getting priority enrollment (a huge plus itself) you will get to meet with your proposed department, hear about the new GE requirements for incoming frosh, meet other students in your college and major, tour campus, tour your college, and start to get comfortable overall. There are student panels where you can ask anything you want (no, really, anything) and separate panels for parents. you get lunch (usually burgers i think), too. I made friends at orientation that I still keep in touch with today. One of them was on the plane ride home with me, randomly.</p>
<p>Go!</p>
<p>Thanks, Kewkie, you made it sound worthwhile for me. Is there an orientation for winter transfers?</p>
<p>I’m going July 25th :] anyone else?
I think it’s worthwhile to go esp. for me, even though we have to pay the unnecessary fees, because i’m a psych major and those classes are super hard to get into because their so popular! Orientation is just something most people should do, but if you can’t go then don’t sweat it.
I mean hey, we all knew college was going to be expensive.</p>
<p>barnaby, I don’t know about Winter quarter, i’d ask the admissions office.</p>
<p>I’m going on July 25th as well. Got the fee waived so I don’t have to worry about anything. Can’t wait to start at UCSC!</p>
<p>Yay for the 25th! Haha, cjoachin what were your top college choices?</p>
<p>haha yaaay! well oakes was my first choice, i dont remember any of the rest. what were your top choices?</p>
<p>Cowell and Stevenson :]]</p>
<p>Late admission, waiting on UCSC to update all my info so I can access everything, crown is my first choice</p>
<p>cjoachin, how were your fees waived? how do you qualify?</p>
<p>gooooooooooo! </p>
<p>I pretty much just second everything that has already been said.</p>
<p>Just to add my own two cents…</p>
<p>I thought orientation was a nice way to ‘preview’ the campus. However, the $110 fee was quite steep for what the campus did for you. They gave an okay lunch (hamburgers and hotdogs) and you got to listen to your college advisors talk for an hour. The main events ran from around 9-12, which is when the majority of parents and students went home. There were some remaining lectures going on until 5, but nothing too earth shattering. Stuff like why drugs are bad and how they control alcohol on campus (big lols). </p>
<p>The only reason to go to orientation, imo, is for the opportunity to sign up for classes early. Though I know several people who did not attend and had absolutely no problem signing up for classes.</p>
<p>All and all, I recommend going just to visit the campus, but I think you all will feel a little underwhelmed at the end of the day :)</p>
<p>I’m also going to orientation to meet people. 
Some new people, some people I’ve made friends with on facebook and want to meet.
Yup yup.</p>