flopsy

Yes, it is extremely hard to sign up for the first Orientation session because everyone wants it the most. It usually fills up to capacity within about 24 hours or so.

collegegirlgirl

yea so if i decide i want the first orientation, do you think i will get it if i sign up for it on the 1st day? should i anticipate each day by checking the ucla website for orientation signups or what because i really want to get the first orientation. by the way, when do we know when orientation signups begin?

flopsy

Yes, you should be able to snag it on the first day. Yes, you should check MyUCLA every day just in case you might miss out on it. Sorry, I forgot when Orientation sign-ups begin.

UndecidedMom

Hi flopsy,
Is orientation required or optional? My son is already going to the Summer Bridge program in late summer.

flopsy

Orientation is optional. If you don't attend Orientation, you just miss out on the various campus tours, guidance seminars and bonding activities. You'll have to enroll in Fall Quarter classes by yourself, though, and I don't really know how that works for freshmen outside Orientation since there's no URSA Enrollment Appointment for first-time enrollers.

ucsd_ucla_dad

Hi flopsy,

I appreciate all of the sound advice you give people on this board.

My D will be starting at UCLA in the fall majoring in CS. I know that no prior experience is necessary but I've seen from my other D's experience at UCSD that it would be very helpful and those that have some prior knowledge do have an advantage due to the quick pace (assuming UCLA is as quick-paced as UCSD in CSE). I can teach her some preliminary info myself but would like to focus on what she'll see in CS31 to start with. In CS31, is the language used Java, C++, or C (or multiple)? Is UNIX used to compile/run/turn-in the programs or is some other method used? Does the class use MS VisualDev? Do you have any other tips that would be helpful for her so she can hit the ground running?

BenedictChan

In CS31, you will be using C++. You can use any compiler you want and the school provides MS Visual Studio .net 2003 free of charge.

The course textbook is Absolute C++ by Savitch 2nd edition. It's a pretty good book, not too shabby. I like it.

For reference, you can look at the programming projects here from my course last quarter:

http://www.cs.ucla.edu/~shinnerl/cs31/

flopsy

Beaten to the punch... I'd like to add that UCLA now offers Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 as well as 2003 for free download. Anyways, I would suggest your daughter start learning basic C++ syntax so she won't be disadvantaged. Most UCLA Computer Science freshmen enter with some previously obtained programming knowledge.

yuilife

What if you're a EE major, should I take C++ or java at a community college?

ucsd_ucla_dad

BenedictChan and flopsy - Thanks for the info. She has no prior experience - her HS didn't offer AP CS. Her sister (3rd year CSE at UCSD) and I will give her an intro to both C++ and MS VDev this summer. Don't worry, we'll let her have fun this summer too but then, programming IS fun.

It'll be interesting to compare the CS programs between UCSD and UCLA after she's there awhile.

sofakingwangsta

flopsy, do you know when we will receive our financial aid notifcation letter?

flopsy

Take C++. Both EE and CS majors learn C++ as their first language.

flopsy

According to the Financial Aid online calendar (http://www.fao.ucla.edu/calendar.html#TOP), it could be received anytime from today to September 1.

yuilife

Flopsy, Should I also take Java or C++ instead? Which one's more helpful later on in college for my major?

flopsy

C++ is definitely more useful in college because you'll be writing about twice as many programs in C++ than in Java, and if you know C++ then you can adapt to the openness of Java easily, but not vice versa. Also, if you're a straight EE major then you can probably do without learning Java at all because you won't have to take CS 131.