<p>Just wondering what your experience was like...any advice, reviews, insights, commentary, etc.</p>
<p>yeah, i wouldn't mind knowing as well.</p>
<p>Well, I can't comment on orientation this year, but I know last year it was pretty fun. of course, there's that usual "wow, I don't know anyone here..." akwardness, but that fades pretty quickly as you get to know your orientation group. There's lots of seminars and info sessions, plus a few mandatory meetings with your orientation counselor. Otherwise it's pretty fun, and (if they still do it) the SNL parody they do is pretty funny and a great way to meet people. Just be as social as you can be. don't barracade yourself in your room, don't hide somewhere and talk on your cellphone to your friends back home all day. Go out, knock on doors, shake hands etc... Talking to people is the only way they're gonna get to know you and you them. Plus, it really helps come move-in day when you already know 20 or so people to hang with.</p>
<p>the problem i had was that i was placed into an orienation group that was completely different than i was. there was no way we could connect. Plus, a lot of the freshmen already knew others and basically just talked amongst themselves. I noticed that it was easier to make new friends when you know one person really well. Anyways, u could always try to just walk up to people and introduce urself or sit with new people during meals to just talk. overall, orienatation was alright and a little boring during the times when everyone was scrambling to find a perfect schedule cause i already had done that at home. The presentation in Moore are alright but really really boring at times. Best piece of advice would probably to make good friends amongst ur orientation group if u don't wanna get bored.</p>
<p>this year's orientation was the same as what owen described...it was lots of fun if you make the effort to meet people...choosing/scheduling classes was the only hard part for me since i didn't really know what i wanted to take...bring a laptop and ethernet cord so that you can do some research about classes if you aren't sure either</p>
<p>i agree with previous posters, a lot of people are friends from HS and make special arrangements to attend the same orietnation session. i think that almost defeats the purpose. i met people in my orientation group and my roommates... that's enough. my main purpose there was to enroll in classes.</p>
<p>Yep, lotsa people come from the same high schools. The whole concept about being the only one in a completely new environment is lost among many at UCLA.</p>
<p>The common advice of meeting people randomly and stuff doesn't really work here, in my opinion. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>cliqueish at orientation:(</p>
<p>I have to disagree big time. I went to orientation last year and met a ton of people and had a great time. It got me really stoked about the school year and I made really good friends with some of the people I met (I'm living with one of them this next year.)</p>
<p>How do they decide who registers first for their classes on the third day? I mean is it alphabetically, by your major, etc.?</p>
<p>the order is random for enrolling in classes on the third day.</p>
<p>Random as in they pick it or random as in first come, first serve</p>
<p>random as in you choose a # out of a hat or something, within your orientation group.</p>
<p>depends.. in my group, the OC hand picked who he wanted to go first, based on personal preference.</p>
<p>last year i had attended orientation and i went with a few friends i knew from home, but i hardly ever hung out with them at orientation. you just have to go out and make new friends. it also helps if you're an early arrival because that's when most of the bonding occurs in my opinion. yea, it's 50 dollars more but if you're from norcal, better than waking up at like 3 in the morning and driving down right? haha.</p>
<p>wow namaste, which OC did you get?</p>
<p>I didn't check this early arrival thing...can this be changed or something? Sounds interesting.</p>
<p>sofa: duno if i should say his name. just a warning to everyone t hat OCs can do what they like with this process :)</p>
<p>actually, my OC picked people who had classes that might fill up fast (ie, eng comp 3) to enroll first. i guess it's pretty logical.</p>
<p>Totally random but do they give you a map of UCLA at Orientation?</p>