<p>A couple of weeks ago at CalSo, I signed up for UGBA 10. When I talked to the Pre-Haas advisor, she didn't voice any complaints. She told me that UGBA 10 was difficult, but she felt confident recommending it to me since I earned a 5 on the AP Lit exam. I didn't understand the relationship between my score on the AP Lit exam and doing well in UGBA, but I figured the advisor knew what she was talking about and registered for the class. </p>
<p>Now, I'm not so sure. </p>
<p>I've been talking to a few people about UGBA 10 and they all associate that class with misery. I'm somewhat skeptical of their advice because no one I have talked to has actually taken the class. They just have vivid memories of their floormates slaving over their coursework only to earn a low B thanks to the curve. </p>
<p>I would be internally indebted to someone who could provide me with a review of the course based on a first-hand experience. I've been (repeatedly) told I should delay taking UGBA 10 for as long as possible, but I really want to understand the rationale behind this advice.</p>
<p>If the class requires you to spend time writing about the differences between the timeless nature of things and things you feel inside, I would wait to take the course. Something tells me you may not be ready for that type of a discussion.</p>
<p>Though I can’t say why the advisor advised you for the same, I can give you my own thoughts about the class. I took it in my freshman fall too and what I thought that though the class is competitive(graded on a tough scale since everyone wants to do well in the class), the class is not TOUGH and in comparison to the other classes I took at Cal, it is infact much much “easier” content and test taking wise.
Now, one of the reasons why it is bad to take ugba 10 in freshman year is because you probably don’t know many people in the beginning of the year, ugba 10 depends a lot on how you study the material. each professor has his own test-taking ways which are predictable and you would do much better knowing how to succeed in each module. </p>
<p>All being said, it is possible(completely) to take the class first semester and absolutely ace it. Just keep up with the readings.</p>
<p>Though, Robinson, the regular teacher of the class isn’t teaching this semester so you never know. </p>
<p>I never understood why people freak out about UGBA 10. The fact that there’s a curve that pushes a 37/40 down to a B- should indicate that the class material is stupidly easy. Furthermore, they have to make it a MWF 8am lecture just to weed people out! </p>
<p>That still gives me a good laugh - the biggest academic challenge for undergrad business is having to wake up at 8am for a mundane lecture. And you know what? It works. Cause people don’t wake up, and then they fail the class with a 33/40 average on the exams. </p>
<p>Go to class, take notes, read your notes and the powerpoints, and thoroughly go through any assigned readings. Maybe make some flashcards when you’re done. You’ll be fine.</p>
<p>I’ve heard Robinson is the worst of all the UGBA professors so I don’t think I’ll miss him too much. This semester, UGBA 10 is actually a 9 AM class which makes it more manageable I guess. I’m signed up for an extra course anyway so I’m planning to continue with UGBA and if the first few weeks are too intense for me, I’ll drop it and take it next semester.</p>
<p>You’d be better off taking it this semester. Professors Maria Nondorf and Krystal Thomas, new instructors for this course, are friendly and fair.</p>
<p>UGBA 10 has been MWF 9am for years. A lot of the test questions come from material covered on Fridays, when most students are not motivated enough to attend lecture.</p>
<p>If they don’t want there to be a test bank of old exams, that must mean that there are not that many possible test questions for the course, unlike in subjects like math (where the math department has a test bank on its web site) and other sciences and engineering (where TBΠ and HKN have test banks). Meaning that the class itself shouldn’t be that hard.</p>