UCLA new student orientation session question

Hi all,

For whatever reason I had the transfer student orientation date marked on my calendar for the wrong day resulting in me getting a later date that I had hoped for. Currently I am in session 203 on July 29th which is the third earliest session that they offered. I know that during bruin day they stated that there was nothing wrong with getting a later date as they hold a proportional amount of seats for each session, but I just can’t help but wonder if my screw up may have made it more difficult to get into the classes that I want and need. Is anyone else in a similar situation or have prior experience with getting a later session date for orientation?

That’s what I was told too. They save equal number of spots for each orientation. I was concerned about getting my impacted chemistry and math classes, but I got them both. They say to have a backup plan just in case though.

@firstsax @10s4life That’s not true (at least it’s not true for non-major-specific or gen-ed classes). The way enrolling for classes works is this (and this applies to everyone who goes to UCLA, not just freshmen):

Seniors get first dibs. It used to be whoever had more credits (including APs) would get the first spots, but then seniors couldn’t graduate in 4 years because juniors and sophomores sometimes had higher standing.

If you’re in a specific major, there will most likely be a course outline for all 4 (or however many) years. Many majors like CS (which I’m in) have courses with plenty of prerequisites, and the course outline is formatted so you take this class first, this class second, and this class third.

Given that, you’ll most definitely get into the required classes you need, even if they’re “full”. Waitlists exist for a reason. Even if you can’t get on the waitlist, there’s also a PTE (petition to enroll) option that will get you (most likely) into the class you need.

Note there is an emphasis on need. If you don’t need the class, but are on the waitlist, do realize you have no guarantee of getting in. So when you’re signing up for classes, realize that although this GenEd sounds awesome and you’ve heard awesome things about it (lax prof, etc.), or this class fits better with the rest of your schedule, it’s NOT a good enough reason for you to get into that class.

Other points - specific majors have specific courseloads, and will get into their required classes. There is almost no doubt about this. People who are undecided generally select gen-eds to get those out of the way, and they select major-specific classes later. Generally, all gen-eds work, and you don’t get preference over a gen-ed that “sounds better”. That simply does not work.

@10s4life If they changed the policy, then it’s different. As far as I’m concerned, they probably didn’t change the policy (my enrollment for classes earlier wasn’t any different).

Based on which orientation group you join, you’ll have an enrollment period. If you are studying a specific field, there will be classes that you will get into. There will be sections that may be filled, but you will be able to enroll in a different section.

If you are enrolling in a gen ed, if you are enrolling later, some of the “better” gen eds will be filled. There is no way to get in them unless you wait until someone drops it (hint hint - there’s something called ClassScanner designed specifically for UCLA students). This is also true for the freshmen seminars.

I don’t know who’s telling you that, but it’s simply not true. Perhaps it’s a scheme to make sure you don’t panic and sue the school.

@redwall1521 What is the ClassScanner that you mentioned? Also, if I have already enrolled in a GenEd class but actually prefer another one but was closed at the time I register. Do I need to drop the enrolled one first before I can register the preferred one (if there is spot opened) if there is a section that has time conflicted? Or I can register the preferred one first and then drop the enrolled one?

@newapplicant

ClassScanner allows you to watch a specific class’s section to see if people drop that section and it opens up.

You do not need to drop one gen ed class to pick up another, unless you will be over the maximum number of units per quarter (which I believe is 21 everywhere; I’m not entirely sure, but for engineers, 21 units is the maximum). However, the closed gen ed class is not closed because you will go over the limit or that you can’t enroll in it. That is, you will always be able to see if a class is open, waitlisted, or closed as it actually is. If it’s closed, then it’s actually full. Use ClassScanner for this.

If you will go over the unit limit, you can either exchange a class or petition with your department to go over the limit. Always try to do “Exchange a Class” as it’ll ensure you enroll in the class you want without you losing units. For more information about exchanging, look on MyUCLA

to @10s4life, @firstsax, @redwall1521, and all others who can answer my question:
Hi, I’ll be enrolling in the last freshmen session few days from now. About how many students are there in New Student Orientation? What do you do in NSO (besides stuff already mentioned on UCLA website, such as enrolling in classes)? What specific activities do you guys do? What should I expect in NSO?
…I’m not that social, though not antisocial.
Thanks!

also, please state my username (@Grativity) in your replies!!