<p>[Academic</a> Excellence Program](<a href=“Academic Excellence Program”>http://ace.ucsc.edu/)</p>
<p>I’ve heard about the program, but I don’t really know if its beneficial. Is it worth substituting Chem 1A discussion sections with ACE meetings (mandatory)?</p>
<p>I believe in most cases, you’ll get to go to ACE meetings instead of the discussions. That’s how it worked for math classes anyhow.</p>
<p>My roommate from last year was in the program for math, and she benefited from it a lot lot lot. The tutoring quality is excellent.</p>
<p>Is it only open for students in Crown, Merrill, and Oakes?</p>
<p>Nope, it’s open to anyone. People from those colleges get priority, however.</p>
<p>Ohh, I see! What about the courses with discussion sections that are mandatory (or most helpful to attend for future exams and such)? Would it be okay? Is ACE ‘better’?</p>
<p>ACE students get an exception. They get their own test review sessions and everything, but from ACE instead. Not that they can’t go to normal section too for extra extra help. But in general, ACE is better. The quality of the tutors is set at a high bar. Meanwhile, math professors tend to hire whoever, and the students have to deal. I’ve had both incredibly bad and incredibly good TAs through the “normal” system, but ACE is consistently good. More than good, really.</p>
<p>Thanks so much Liesel! </p>
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Do we email them back with an attached application (as this email kind of hints at) or by mail (as the website says)?</p>