I’m an entering freshman and trying to sort out my classes before orientation. For fall quarter, I want to take three classes and am wondering how a typical schedule should look. I am not worried about my GES because I will satisfy all the Social Sciences courses with my major, all the Arts and Humanities with my language program, and the science I am dealing with through the CC option. Thus, as a freshman I know I am going to take 1. Language Class, 2. Lower Division Poly Sci Class, but what should my third class be? Should it be a second lower division course or an upper division course in Political Science, or an Honors Collegium course(seems impossible for freshmen to get in).
I thought orientation already started and was done. Hmm. Anyway . . . They will help you but I will try to soothe your worried mind right now. Third class - as a freshmen/sophomore you take all you GEs and lower divs. Many upper divs wont be an option/allowed until jr/sr years so dont worry. Its all prep first two years. Get started on your foreign language right away!! You have to take foreign language 1-3 (I believe) to fulfill that requirement. If you double major with a language or decide to later you will have a head start because you have to take foreign language 1 -6 (6 quarters) Three classes is a good start. Four will be overwhelming coming from high school actually it’s just overwhelming as a newcomer period but people do do it. When I started at UCLA it was suggested to take only 3 classes coming in to our first quarter. The quarter system is 10 weeks. It goes by quick. It really picks up at week five/six and that could be where you feel overwhelmed so stay on top of your work. Make sure you see an academic counselor (in Murphy Hall or AAP) for a one on one so they can go over and guide you throughout your four years here. Also at orientation and afterwards you will meet the advisor of the department you are majoring in. They are going to give you advice and tell you which way to go as well, and you will be able to meet with them alone as well to go over your class plan.
Here is another thing I would suggest to you if you haven’t already figured it out. Log on to on to myucla with your log in info (this is where you create you id name and password), click on classes, choose class planner. Follow the prompts.You can plan out your classes on weekly, day by day on a grid and the class planner below it. Go to find a class. Find a major -all the offerings come up , click to put them on your grid and planner. Your classes will be listed. That way by the time you get to orientation where you will pick your classes you will be ahead of the game. At time of enrollment on the class planner on the left. click on the little pencil icon. It offers you choices: enroll and whatever else so click enroll when it’s time and you are done instead of scrambling at last minute.
- Also familiarize yourself with everything on myucla at some time before. We do use it for everything.
I hope I helped you. Feel free to ask me anything. When I came to UCLA I didnt know alot of the helpful little tips.
Best of luck you in all your endeavors. Fight On!
J