<p>My first and second quarter experience as a biochemistry major at UCLA: </p>
<p>I’m a junior transfer to UCLA for Fall 2009 from santa monica college. My experience at UCLA has been amazing yet weird. So, I transferred to UCLA
as a biochemistry major with 3.7 GPA. After two quarters at UCLA with the completion
of majority of my upper division major classes, I have a 3.65 (first quarter 3.3-_-,
second quarter 4.0). Because I wanted to get over with the hard part of my major first
and also since I have a relatively weaker foundations, I have decided that I wouldn’t
take more than 3 classes a quarter (either 1 major class+2 Upper division GE’s or
2 Major classes+ 1 Upper division GE). </p>
<p>Difference between SMC and UCLA: Because of the semester system at SMC, you have more time to learn and digest the new stuff. Rather than learning the whole metabolic pathways and their regulations in 10 Wks, which is really demanding. Also, at a CC, you don’t have to compete with anyone for a grade since all the grades are assigned based on the straight scale. However, at UCLA, I have felt like I’m competing with people who just study as hard as I do. Although, I have no trouble beating the curve most of the time, to get an A, it takes Much, Much, and Much more effort, than getting a B, this is especially true in a challenging course such as Biochem 153 series ,Chem 110 series and Life science series. This is really different from CC because at CC, I had never felt such a huge difference between A and B. </p>
<p>My suggestions to the fellow UC Transfers: To do well at UC’s, you will need a lot of discipline and time management. 1)While at CC, you should have developed the habit of
trying you best to discipline yourself by taking hard courses such as O-chem, physics or biology during the short 6-week sessions, that was what I did at CC, it has helped me a lot later to handle the pace and difficulty at UCLA. 2) Making going to office hours one of your habits, when you are in doubt of something, you should ask this is especially true when you are taking a challenging courses where the teachers stress a lot on<br>
applications of a lot of concepts that seem new to you. 3) Have a good social life, do exercise constantly, make friends, join clubs and do research when you have time truly help to relieve your pressure.</p>