<p>Can any current or past UCLA Regent Scholar post their real-life experience with the benefits-- priority registration, housing, parking, other? Pros and cons? Thoughts or opinions? Any input would be much appreciated . . . D is definitely leaning in this direction . . . thanks!</p>
<p>It can’t ever hurt to be a Regents Scholar. I’m not one myself, but a few of my close friends are. Priority enrollment is HUGE, and even better now that UCLA has abandoned giving hordes of people priority (first 10 units, you enroll before most of the campus. ) I also remember my friends in earlier years being able to get doubles instead of the standard triple (you still pay the price more, but it’s definitely better living and you wouldn’t get a double otherwise as a first year). I also know that the RSS (their student org/society) is another way the campus shrinks. </p>
<p>What I’d suggest you do as well, is ask the current RSS to give you emails/numbers of current students to call or message regarding their experiences.</p>
<p>Cons?</p>
<p>Resentment from others, perhaps? That’s all I’ve got.</p>
<p>Seriously though, I think one benefit that often goes underrated at first glance, is access to faculty and advisers. From what I am hearing, that will be a huge plus.</p>
<p>Regents Scholars get guaranteed (but not free) parking, but don’t forget to apply for it in a timely manner; the deadline is July 22, 2011.</p>
<p>[2011-2012</a> Student Parking Deadlines (1001305)](<a href=“http://map.ais.ucla.edu/go/1001305]2011-2012”>http://map.ais.ucla.edu/go/1001305)</p>
<p>Bob has the regents at UCLA and it is definitely a plus for him. He doesn’t go to the RSS activities, so nobody there knows he’s a regents scholar. </p>
<p>I can’t think of any negatives to it.</p>
<p>He loves having priority registration because he gets the hard to get classes that he needs/wants. This is definitely a plus when you want a certain time or teacher. Some of the teachers need to be avoided and this allows him to do that.</p>
<p>He did get a double this year in one of the plazas, which is usually hard for a freshman to get, and he will probably decide to stay on campus all 4 years, so the guaranteed housing is excellent.</p>
<p>And, of course, the financial benefits are great. Guaranteed $2k a year is helpful, but that they meet your need up to the EFC with grants and scholarships is excellent.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the input and suggestions . . . we’ll be attending a reception for RS on 4/9 to learn more details, too . . . sounds like a great opportunity and one way to shrink the campus experience as Deuces mentioned. D has also received RS at UCSB-- but is a Bruin at heart! She is honored and also sees the practicality in the benefits offered as way to make the UCLA experience even better.</p>
<p>Bobmom, is your son dorming with other RSers-- or is he just blending in-- I think my daughter would prefer the latter . . . yes, the merit aid is nice–and the financial aid support if our EFC changes dramatically in this crazy economy is more than a plus. Agreed, the priority enrollment is huge-- and is really what is swaying her decision as she has always loved the school. It’s all good.</p>
<p>I don’t believe they have dorm areas for RSers. They just fill out the housing app the same as all of the other kids for the 1st year. So, he’s just mixed in with everyone else, but was lucky enough to get his 1st pick in housing with a double and a private bath (he’s a pretty quiet person, so this was perfect for him). They don’t seem to get priority housing registration after that though because he got to select housing about half way through the open period.</p>
<p>So, she can be as involved or uninvolved in the RS experience as she wants, and still get the benefits of the award. I do see the emails from RSS though and they have a lot of fun activities that they do. </p>
<p>Congratulations to your daughter!</p>
<p>Thanks again, Bobmom . . . one other question we have is about applying for a spot in the honors program-- is your S (or anyone else who is reading this) a part of this UCLA honors program as well? My D wants to apply-- but I wonder if, after all the sturm-and-drang of the HS years, it might not be advisable to hold off a bit and just get acclimated first.</p>
<p>No, Bob decided not to try to join the honors program. I think that he wanted to get used to being in college first and see how that went. Getting used to a new environment, adjusting to new people, faster paced classes and increased workload, and joining the symphony, that was enough for him to attempt for his first year.</p>
<p>Exactly-- sounds like he made a very smart decision-- thanks again for the great real-life input, bobmom!</p>
<p>The honors program is something you can join later, there’s quite a few good classes offered that are honors collegium only - they tend to be smaller, more focused on topics the professors enjoy and therefore a more eye opening experience.</p>
<p>Also, congrats to the new Bruin Regents. I have to say I was always a bit jealous of the perks… made it extra fun to score better than them in class though :P.</p>
<p>@neptunehi - Congrats to your daughter (and family)!! I’m another parent of an incoming RS. I have a question. You mentioned you were attending a RS reception on the 9th. Will that be at UCLA on Bruin Day? If so, what time is the reception scheduled? My D has another scholarship reception that she wants to attend that day on campus and we are trying to figure out the logistics of all of this.</p>
<p>LOL Deuces! And thanks for the kind congrats–as parents we are surprised and pleased!</p>
<p>Itscomplicated-- congrats to your D and family, too! I am at work, but will post that information for you later this evening . . . I am thinking that the UCLA RS Reception is at 4pm on April 9 (Sat.), I think that is Bruin day-- and then there are 4 or so dates for a RS overnight-- my D is planning to do this, but not sure which date yet-- it is hard to coordinate!</p>
<p>itsC–Yup. Sat. 4/9 4pm Broad 2160E-- Bruin Day</p>
<p>Thank you so much!!! We have to be up there for events on Saturday and Sunday so this info really helps us plan the weekend.</p>
<p>Regents Scholar students should have gotten OSP (Overnight Stay Program) invites by now. If UCLA is one of your choices, definitely attend OSP and you probably will have most if not all your questions answered.</p>