Middle Earth vs. Mesa Court - Page 5

tr1p7s · 03-25-2008, 07:48 PM

if i want to be a math major i have to take chem?

mikage · 03-25-2008, 08:21 PM

^ umm i don't think so? isn't chem for people who want to major in the medical field?

tr1p7s · 03-25-2008, 08:29 PM

Have fun in Chem 1a. they fail around half the class, as it's the "cutting the fat" class for math, phyiscs, engineering, and bio-sci students.

ShoeFactory · 03-25-2008, 08:39 PM

They don't fail half the class.

They fail you if you suck at chemistry. I've had friends tell me its jokingly easy.

merc4hire · 03-25-2008, 10:57 PM

Well, after visiting there today, I've decided on Mesa.
The layout is superior to Middle Earth.

All else considered, they're about the same. Mesa's a bit of a walk, but hey, that's good socializing time. Besides, it's not really that much of a walk anyways. What, like 2 minutes to the main campus?

tr1p7s · 03-25-2008, 11:01 PM

what is the "layout" you're referring to? and is irvine a biking campus?

natsu · 03-25-2008, 11:39 PM

I got a tour a few weeks ago. Mesa was much more brighter (huge windows) and slightly bigger, but it was pretty far from the classes--like maybe five to ten minutes.

nschuchert · 03-26-2008, 01:17 AM

Mesa all the way. Yea the food sucks but hit up Brandywine (over in Middle Earth) for lunch and try to stomach Commons for dinner. I just like the layout of Mesa more plus it seems to be more social. It's a little further away from campus but we have bigger rooms and it doesn't seem to be as crowded. Go visit both and see how you feel.

ShoeFactory · 03-26-2008, 01:29 AM

brandywine is good for the first half of the year.

pippin ftw the second.

mesa for dinner like nschuchert said. Mesa = better atmosphere. ME = more convenient.

in the end, mesa > ME.

BirdKiller · 03-26-2008, 02:55 AM

Mikage, as a current math (and soon physics major by double major), you do not need to take Chemistry, you can opt it out with Physics instead.

Here's the required courses to graduate as a math major:
http://www.editor.uci.edu/07-08/ps/ps.5.htm

Just a bit of warning, if you're not prepared in basic Java programming, that ICS 21 or related programming course WILL kick you in the balls. So many non-ICS majors who never did programming will be immediately held up during their first lab, while ICS majors who never did programming will have their dreams (mostly game design >_>) ruined and dashed away as it happened to my roommate.

Even though I had 3 years of programming experience, I still thought the mid-term and final for ICS 21 was difficult (but still got an A ^_^)

BirdKiller · 03-26-2008, 03:21 AM

UC Irvine, despite being concentric, is not a biking campus for administrative and geographical reasons:

1. You are not permitted to bike on the Ring Road, the main road that connects all the schools and major hangouts. However, there's almost no one to enforce this rule so you can bike on this road without getting "caught". Just make sure to get off the bike if you're in a high traffic area.

2. The campus is quite hilly, the core campus itself seems like a huge linear slope starting from the physical sciences area down to Mesa Court/Administration area. In between this big slope is a bowl that we call Aldrich Park.

So with that said, it's going to be a ***** to bike from Mesa Court to Physical Sciences buildings if you go through Aldrich Park, albeit fun on the return trip down. There's a certain path I use instead that doesn't go through Aldrich Park nor use the Ring Road. I'll draw it up if anyone's interested.

jhuscla · 03-30-2008, 01:06 AM

bump
10chars

pamplemousse25 · 03-30-2008, 01:36 AM

God I read this thread and I still can't decide. I do want good meals and to be close to class, but I don't want a dinky little thing either. UGh I'm going to see if I can visit next weekend. This seems impossible without visiting first-hand.

merc4hire · 03-30-2008, 01:41 AM

Don't sweat it. Ultimately the differences are minute, and both are basically the same deal. Here's what I posted on facebook:

Quote:

Hey, I've taken the tour of both housing options twice, and I have to say that I prefer Mesa Court.

First off, much of Middle Earth is co-ed, which is to say that the females live in rooms across from the males. They have seperate bathrooms of course, but still, the living conditions are close. Mesa's layout is that different wings of the same building have different genders. Makes more sense to me.

Also, I liked Mesa's layout way better. It's more centralized than Middle Earth is, and that makes for a better atmosphere in my opinion. Wasn't a fan of ME's slightly cramped and darker layout. Not enough large windows, you'll get a better view in Mesa.

Mesa's activities I hear, are also more geared toward hall pride, in contrast to Middle Earth, which is geared more toward "Middle Earth" pride. It makes more sense to me that I'm going to be more connected to my hall, seeing as how I'm going to live in close quarters with these folks.

Some advantages that ME has over Mesa is that they have cable internet in each of the rooms, and that it's closer to the center of campus. However, internet is still accesible if you live in Mesa, just not in your room, and since you're a freshman, you're going to be taking your GE requirements, you'll have classes all over campus.

Also, ME's dining hall has better food, but that's irrelevant considering you can still eat there if you live in Mesa.

All in all, either is a fine choice. Visit for yourself and see, but Mesa appeared to me as an option more geared to my tastes.
I know there's something I'm forgetting, but I can't think of it now. I'll tell you later if I remember.

pamplemousse25 · 03-30-2008, 01:43 AM

Thanks! I still really want to visit next weekend, but that makes it easier.

Oh, one thing though, I was interested in a certain hall because it involved journalism. Do 'theme' halls really help you out, or matter?