To those who attended, what was your S or D’s impression of UCF BHC based on the Orientation, or UCF in general? I think S will be excited to be UCF this fall but has a lot going through his mind and heart about high school and the transition to college. Also – his high school doesn’t graduate until June 20th, so he missed three days of “fun and primarily social activity” at his HS, so that took away a bit from UCF Orientation. (We’re OOS – Virginia.) Still, I think he’ll look back and then start to get excited as the summer progresses.
Did you attend? What was your impression?
I attended the UCF parents’ orientation, which I found very helpful. It’s a lot of information to take in. The most useful sessions were the presentation by the UCF BHC dean and the Q-&-A session between current UCF students and parents.
It’s nice that S was able to get his fall schedule set (except for math – waiting on the IB exam score for placement). He also signed up for his UCF meal plan (and received a $100 gift card to on-campus restaurants for doing so) and established a bank account at Fairwinds Credit Union, which is located on campus. And – very important – S finally purchased his UCF sweatshirt. 
We attended parent’s orientation, enjoyed first day except for the freezing cold room! The second day we only went to two or three presentations that interested us. Didn’t make the Q & A, when was that?! My son stayed on campus, in Lake Claire, so he could get the whole college experience! By Thursday night he seemed to know where everything was both on and off campus. I think he is getting excited and we all loved the BHC. I went over there and hung out by the pond on Friday for an hour, it’s nice they have a quiet place the kids can hang out. Told S he could go there between classes if he doesn’t have time to go all the way back to the Towers
Is your S going to live in Towers? Bringing a car? What’s his major? Joining band? My S also bought hoodie and lanyard! BTW…Welcome to Sunny Florida:)))
I’m surprised the advisors suggested not picking a math class, if your S is planning on taking an honors one they don’t have too many to choose from. It might be better to pick and then change if you have to. Have S talk to Rex and see what he thinks (if he hasn’t already)
@VABogart
Is your s wanting an honors or regular math class?
He can just grab one until his placement score comes in…but it wouldn’t surprise me if honors are full by now.
Additional sections of many regular classes open up at each orientation to give students a fair chance to get what they need. If he is looking for a particular class, check orientation dates and make sure to check the afternoon of each second day of each orientation.
If he did want an honors class of any kind, math or otherwise, I wouldn’t count on more sections opening up. HOWEVER, right when AP scores are posted (I guess in early July), look everyday to see if a seat opens up as students will be shuffling classes due to passing and failing their AP exams.
@VABogart have your S pick his spring schedule too, you will find that some honors classes have very limited offerings (Calc2 and Physics are examples that are only offered two or three times). He can always change his mind but grab the small classes while he can!
@KBCNY8 Glad to hear you enjoyed Orientation. Agree that the Pegasus Ballroom was ice cold. I bought a UCF sweatshirt just to keep warm! The student Q-&-A was late morning of the second day – really useful to hear from them. We stayed at Homewood Suites nearby so it was an easy drive to campus each day. S is going to live in Towers III and is aiming for Mechanical Engineering (with possibly an Aerospace bent). He’s not in band but he’s in his high school’s EDM (electronic digital music) club. One of the UCF students said to think about getting involved in three activities at UCF – one purely social, one academic-related, and one service (or religious) oriented. That sounds like a solid template.
S needs to take the math placement exam. The advisers say you have to be stuck in intermediate algebra until you pass the exam. He’s likely to place into Calculus 1, but you’re right in saying that he may not make it into an honors class by that point. Well, I told him to take it but he kind of lollagagged for several weeks until it was too late. Live and learn, which he’ll be doing soon enough, anyway. I’ll remind him that he can pick his spring schedule, too. Thanks for the tip!
@VABogart
When my d went to orientation 2 years ago, they told her that the students HAD to put at least 1 class in their spring schedule while at orientation in order to open it up. I can’t swear to this or if it has changed since her orientation. If he can, it is best for him to at least pick some honors classes if possible or maybe any GEP classes before they fill up. If he can’t get in, perhaps call BHC tommorow to see if they can open it for him.
Good advice, thanks ufmomfriend!
@KBCNY8 & @ufmomfriend Did your S/D sign up for classes for Spring 2018 as well as for Fall 2017?
Oh yes!! One of the benefits being part of BHC.
Next year during spring registration, you can register for classes for summer 18, fall 18, and spring 19.
You can go on his myucf and look under term spring 18 to see if he registered for any classes.
@VABogart
My s and d are going into 2nd year and 3rd year and both did sign up for spring classes during their summer orientations. D told me they were told they had to during orientation or they couldn’t get in after orientation…don’t know what they were told this year. Did you get a chance to see if it was open for spring18?
My S is signed up for his spring classes also, it can always be changed. Better to sign up while there are openings
then not be able to get a class he needs. S tested into Calc 1, when we looked at Calc 2 for spring there were only three choices for honors classes and according to Rate My Professors none of them are good. We picked the one that looked like didn’t have an accent! So many of the classes have pre-reqs that I was having a hard time finding something he could take in the spring!
It can be like a crazy puzzle. We mapped out classes basically for all four years. Some programs have very good charts and suggestions to achieve a degree in 4 years…some do not…check the actual catalog and webpages for your selected degree. The problem we encountered was the amount of AP credits made it difficult to keep a full load and progress at the same time. That is why both s and d are doing double majors and/or minors.
@VABogart Did your S get his schedule figured out and get his math placement test done? He has to take Chemistry placement test also (due to major), unlike the math placement he has to request it (it’s not automatically added to his To Do List). This is from the website:
To request access to this exam, send an e-mail to the Chemistry Department with your full name and NID using your Knights E-mail account. You will receive a login, password, and instructions on how to complete the exam.
My S hadn’t taken any chemistry but watched a bunch of YouTube videos about studying for the AP test and passed.
@KBCNY8 S completed and passed the Algebra portion of the Math Placement Test over the weekend but keeps getting an error message when he tries to initiate the Trig portion. He’s going to contact UCF tomorrow if he still can’t get on.
S is majoring in Mechanical Engineering, so he isn’t required to take the Chemistry Placement Test (though I understand it’s recommended). Honestly, it’s like pulling teeth to get S to take these placement tests, so I’m fine if he can get the math test done. He may have to wait to get his IB Math score to confirm placement in Calculus 1, though.
S is kinda in a funk right now – probably because of withdrawal from HS, which he ended on a very strong note, academically and socially. Graduation was June 20th, so it may be a few more days of wistfulness and disconsolation before turning the corner and looking forward to UCF. I think by mid-July, he’ll be chomping at the bit to get to UCF.
@VABogart Glad your S got started on the math test, you are not alone with the teeth pulling, not sure it it’s a guy thing or an age thing! If I recall, my S had a problem with some part of the test but they were able to help him when he called. My S is getting pretty excited about the fall and all the new adventures but he graduated a month ago so is over the funk!
@VABogart
Did your son get into the trig portion of math placement? Perhaps he needs to do Calc portion first?? I don’t remember if there was a required sequence…been a few years…lol
@KBCNY8 & @ufmomfriend S was able to get into the Trig portion of the Math Placement and passed the test (though he passed with only a 72% in Algebra and 73% in Trig). He took the Pre-Calc portion and got – a 40% score. So a UCF e-mail later that evening recommended S to be placed in MAC 1140 (Pre-Calculus). He’s still waiting on his IB Math score (which will arrive in July, I think), but his Pre-Calculus indicates to me that he should start with MAC 1140 (there’s an Honors class for that as well as the regular class). My worry is that, according to the Mechanical Engineering course chart, he would already be behind in math (since Fall first year shows a student taking MAC 2311C, which S presumably can’t do until he completes MAC 1140).
Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks for reaching out to us!