UCLA progress/advice

<p>I currently am taking calculus II, my last English, and first calculus-based physics.</p>

<p>I have a mid 3.7-ish with B's from general ed classes. I plan to transfer in Fall 2013.</p>

<p>The problem is that I am probably going to get a B in physics. I can retake it but I might not be able to take some engineering classes I planned for. Do you think UCLA would not consider me if I am applying as an electrical engineer?</p>

<p>Calculus based Physics is difficult and a B just might be the best grade you can get in it so I would take the B and move on. Furthermore, the first semester of Calculus based Physics is generally Classical Mechanics. If you are planning on majoring in Electrical Engineering, UCLA will probably be more interested in what you get in the next two semesters of the sequence; Electricity and Magnetism and Wave Mechanics and Optics.</p>

<p>If you get a C or better, and then later retake a class (if your community college even allows it), UCLA will only count the original grade. Tough break, you’re stuck with that B.</p>

<p>I am taking classical mechanics in a different community college. Same district but different numbering. Los Angeles city college has physics 101, 102, 103 and Los Angeles harbor college has physics 37, 38, 39.</p>

<p>If I move on, is there any classes that can reinforce what I am learning. For example an engineering class. I know I need calculus 3, but I’m undecided on what else to take. I need know I can pass electtromagnetism with an A.</p>

<p>taking a class over to replace a B with an A isn’t going to impress anyone in admissions, just a giant waste of your time. i think anyone that looks closely will interpret that as a shallow effort to look perfect.</p>

<p>Where are you taking the mechanics? If you’re at LACC, I can help you out (tutoring)</p>

<p>It’s not really the material that I’m not understanding (ok maybe I’m just a step and a half behind). The specific format of lab reports and quizzes before I am able to retain what we just learned is the problem.</p>

<p>Since I am just taking that physics class at LACC, I don’t need LACC’s transcript. Even if I did, I can still drop with a W.</p>

<p>Lol, are you taking it with Bhakta or McCudden? Bhakta hasn’t been doing labs as of late, thankfully.</p>

<p>I don’t understand the part about not needing transcripts, though. Also, if you’re taking it with Bhakta - he’s a pretty nice guy and will probably give you an A if you ace the final.</p>

<p>I don’t know about McCudden, which is why I asked. I think that, if you have a B, you could probably get an A with Bhakta, though.</p>

<p>I go to LA Harbor College. I am only taking physics 101 at LACC.</p>

<p>I could either continue taking physics in either school or retake it and write off as if I never went to LACC.</p>

<p>Let me explain. LACC has physics 101, 102, 103. But harbor has 37, 38, 39. So I could register for 37 again next semester. And when I apply to a 4-year, I won’t need to show LACC’s transcript because I don’t have any classes to transfer. It won’t show on LAHC’s either.</p>

<p>McCudden is great but first of all he grades on a curve and the tests are extremely difficult. Good idea if only it wasnt for all the D and F students dropping the class. The quizzes are somewhat challenging too. Technically not hard but he throws tricky things that need to be considered. Well I need more time to let the material sink in, so it’s not that I don’t understand, I just need a slower pace and more elementary calculus based physics hw. He puts questions that won’t allow us to check if our answer is rgt or wrong. Don’t have time to go to tutors unless they have weekends or middle of the night available.</p>

<p>Who said there won’t be anything on your LACC transcript? Even if it’s only a single W, you still need to order transcript and report that grade to the UCs you are applying too.</p>

<p>It’s too late to drop w/o a W now, and 99.9% you will need to report that W, or B.</p>

<p>As Sparky said, you have to provide transcripts from LACC, even if it’s a W. And at this point, you’re either going to get a W or whatever grade you earn in the class. So, yeah - if you’re applying for Fall 2013, then take the W. Just try not to make a habit of it.</p>

<p>“He puts questions that won’t allow us to check if our answer is rgt or wrong.”</p>

<p>One thing you can do that does not guarantee right answers but will always let you know if an answer is wrong is a dimensional analysis. That is if the question asks you to find a velocity to be correct it has to be an answer that is a length(meters, centimeters, feet) divided by a time (seconds, minutes, hours). If the question asks for kinetic energy your answer should have units of mass x length^2/time^2 such as kg x (mass/time)^2. If you get an answer with dimensions Kg^2 x (mass/seconds^2) you can be sure that you have done something wrong.</p>

<p>No see this is what I’m saying. It’s so engraved into people’s heads that every transcript must be reported.</p>

<p>If I retake physics with or without a W on LACC’s transcript, I’m suppose to report it, but I don’t need to report it. Suppose to and need to make a big difference.</p>

<p>Basically, what I’m asking is ‘is what I’m suggesting possible?’ Sure it’s unethical academically. But it’s not as if a 4-year will check every community college across the US to see if I was enrolled and took classes there. UCLA will only record what I report.</p>

<p>I hope you’re not receiving any kind of financial aid or fee waiver. If you’re not, there’s a chance you can get away with it, but I don’t think so, esp cause they are implementing district wide notations on transcripts now (for all xscripts starting Summer 2012) to count Ws as ‘attempts at a course’, along with Fs and Ds. You can only get a combination of 3 Ws, Fs, or Ds per course, or something like that - before they stop letting you enroll for that course or it’s equivalent districtwide. Ws didn’t used to count as ‘attempts’, and I think you could get a W six times or something crazy like that.</p>

<p>Anyway, yeah - if you’re receiving a fee waiver or aid, you’ll be found out for sure. Even if you’re not, LACCD reports its enrollments to the National Student Clearinghouse, which UCLA supposedly crosschecks when they do their financial aid stuff. Plus, it’s a school in the same district as your home institution. I would understand considering that if it were, like, some random community college somewhere far away that you didn’t receive any aid at.</p>

<p>Just a heads up. It’s not worth getting rescinded over a W that doesn’t even affect your GPA/admissions chances. Seriously, why the eff would you risk that?</p>

<p>No offense, but that’s kinda… you know… dumb.</p>

<p>Its dumb if I went thru with it without cross checking with a few people who know the system. Yes I am receiving board fee waiver, cal grant, and fafsa. The whole shebang. I didn’t know about that committee thing. I really was hoping someone really smart with knowledge of the system could talk me out of it.
You’d be surprised, the counselors are really repetitive with answering questions. They can’t easily answer complicated questions.
So in theory, without receiving financial aid, it could have been possible. Right?
Anyways, I’m still lost on what to do with physics. I don’t have any W’s so far and I’ll probably sick with physics 101. But I now I need to decide whether I suppose continue with bhakta, LAHC’s physics 37 with physics teacher (horrible ratemyprofessor grade), or LAHC’s physics 38 with morris a physics prof I took for physics 11.</p>

<p>I know what ur thinking, I have some stupid system of taking classes everywhere. I didn’t even mention LATTC’s English 101, 103 classes I’m taking, ELAC’s chem 65 this winter (if LACC has no classes for me).</p>

<p>Any advice on my scrambled situation? I also took trig at LACC with credit by exam with geometry in last winter at the same time. English 101 at lattc, gen engineering 101 at ELAC both in last summer.</p>

<p>*stick with physics</p>