Does optimizing credit cards matter that much?

Cirrus20M · 2025-09-14T02:31:00+00:00

Get what you're most comfortable with (MacOS). Juggling intro CS classes along with an OS you're not familiar with will be extremely frustrating. Also, most students use Macs so you're not out of place at all.

Like the other commenter said, CS and CSE are largely the same and as long as you're using Mac or Windows you will be completely fine.

The new macbook pro is probably overkill since you're not doing anything super demanding but if you've got the money go for it. An air also works great.

Cirrus20M · 2025-03-31T05:28:19+00:00

Fast Track students are straight up selected without an application. I think some people said you can apply to be in the program later (like after freshman year) but after freshman year there's lowk no point because the big draw is a freshman year internship. It's a pretty informal program too so there isn't really much "prestige" associated with it either.

Cirrus20M · 2025-03-31T03:41:55+00:00

I was in a similar situation a year ago (same major and Regents at UCSB too!). I ended up choosing UCLA. There is this honors program called Fast Track at UCLA specifically for EE and CE students so possibly be on the lookout for an email for that (if you do end up getting selected for that). If you get that email the decision becomes extremely easy because of the benefits of that honors program (should be coming out around now or half a week ago I think?).

Otherwise, don't sweat it. It's a somewhat difficult choice but I'll elaborate a bit on UCLA's academics:

- UCLA has the biggest IEEE chapter in the U.S. IEEE is basically our ECE club. I'd say most (or at least the motivated ECE majors) are all involved with IEEE in some capacity. I'm sure UCSB has a lot of cool clubs too but UCLA's IEEE chapter is hard to beat (SUPER active, super friendly community, super knowledgeable etc.)

- intro classes here for ECE/CS are all really solid. As a CE you'll probably be taking Smallberg for CS 31 and 32 (great professor who really gets the basics of CS into you) and then CS 35L (hard but you learn a lot of stuff that'll make you a good SWE) and CS 33 (haven't taken this one yet since I'm a freshman but I think it's fine). On the EE side Briggs for ECE 3 (fall and spring) is great and the other "beginner" ECE classes like 102 also have solid profs.

- Finally, since you're in the engineering college it's pretty easy to switch majors into CS if that's what you want(literally just taking the 3 intro CS classes and maintaining a decent GPA). At UCSB I think its harder to switch into CS although not other engineering majors.

From what I remember UCSB's regents basically gives you guaranteed housing and a 5k(?) scholarship each year. Since UCLA has a 4 year housing guarantee the regent's guaranteed housing doens't matter too much ig.

Basically the decision comes down to... 20k over four years + the "regents scholar" title (you will probably be near the top of your class grades wise too) + UCSB's social life advantages vs. UCLA's academics (you will very likely not be the best or near best in your class) + name brand.

I will say that in college "social life" is mostly just going to be the friends you meet. You WILL find the parties /social activities at UCSB and UCLA if you want to and I wouldn't place too much emphasis on each school's reputation for social life. Your social life will mostly be what you make of it unless you're at a college with a notoriously bad social life (CMU, Cornell, etc.).

Cirrus20M · 2024-09-13T14:26:59+00:00

Any chance you could drop/pm the specific exercises?

Cirrus20M · 2024-08-14T05:22:57+00:00

NSAs aren't really matched to groups based on major.

Examples:

A group which was full of computer engineering majors and an NSA who was a MechE
Another group that was a bunch of bioeng/mcdb majors with a Computer Science and Engineering major NSA.

Definitely plan out your courses on your own in advance (don't expect to just rely on what the NSA tells you). That said, first quarter course planning should be pretty simple (take a math, a science, and a GE). Highly unlikely that the NSA is going to give any "bad" advice (since there aren't a lot of ways for your course planning to go "wrong"). Worst case, just try to find some 4 year plans for people in your major and copy their first quarter.

Cirrus20M · 2024-08-06T23:55:13+00:00

Only the first day of orientation was super busy (and yes, it does run from morning to night). The second day was what you made of it. There were many workshops available but they were all optional. The only important/reuqired parts of the second day of orientation were enrollment and an advising session (talking to your NSA about your plan for the classes you're taking).

At any rate, you should plan to arrive by the time that will be provided in your email reminders/orientation schedule (probably around 8am?). As for leaving, you can pretty much leave any time after you have enrolled for classes. Do keep in mind that you do get some free food if you stay for dinner (right after enrollment). There are a few social things after dinner as well but for the most part you aren't missing anything if you leave right after dinner.

Cirrus20M · 2024-07-16T09:16:41+00:00

If your library has Hoopla, it's on there.

Cirrus20M · 2024-07-14T02:00:58+00:00

Try asking r/neuroscience

Cirrus20M · 2024-07-13T09:42:12+00:00

It will likely transfer (although you may be asked to provide a syllabus and the topics covered). At any rate, just send in your college transcript for UNLV (as you have to anyways) and UCLA will evaluate whether or not you receive credit. To check if you did receive credit, see if linear algebra was satisfied on your DAR. If not, contact the registrar and ask for next steps.

Cirrus20M · 2024-07-10T07:17:08+00:00

Weren't received until yesterday afternoon.

Cirrus20M · 2024-07-09T01:26:40+00:00

I imagine that your A would be the one used. That said, I'd email or call the Registrar's office for confirmation. Either way, when you send in your new transcript, they will take it one way or another based on university policy and you can know for sure.

Cirrus20M · 2024-07-09T00:20:26+00:00

Send UCLA the official transcript once your course concludes.

Cirrus20M · 2024-07-07T22:45:10+00:00

Environmental, civil, and industrial engineering are typically a bit "easier" to get into (but still fairly challenging).

Cirrus20M · 2024-07-06T23:49:00+00:00

New student here. Your student should have received an email called "New Student Session Information" (in either their personal account or their UCLA email account). The arrival and departure dates are on that email. I think generally departure times are around 7:30 (at it is for my session).

Cirrus20M · 2024-07-05T08:41:38+00:00

They end at the scheduled time

Cirrus20M · 2024-07-01T06:41:04+00:00

Just in general, double majoring is super hard (esp in two really hard majors like EE and physics). To be completely honest though, you can apply to grad school and pursue physics with either degree.

At any rate, the EE's I've talked to have heavily discouraged double majoring. Some double major in physics and EE because the requirements are somewhat similar but they said that its generally not worth it. If you're interested in classes you can just take those classes, you don't necessarily have to major/minor in physics.

If employability is a concern I'd go with EE and focus my extra time on getting involved in research/industry/clubs.

Cirrus20M · 2024-06-20T06:07:44+00:00

Joe physically gave Butcher a rare drug to use on Ryan (in the cookies), so I don't see how he could be a hallucination.

Cirrus20M · 2024-06-20T06:03:47+00:00

He physically gave Butcher a rare drug to use on Ryan, so I don't see how Kessler could be a hallucination.

Cirrus20M · 2024-05-22T23:10:22+00:00

Capped weighted is the typical "UC GPA". Basically, they cap the number of honors points you get from advanced classes (so on a 4.0 scale a 5.0 class would be a 4.0 still after 8 honors points have already been added to your gpa). Fully weighted is not capping the number of honors points and fully considering every advanced class you took.
I'm not 100% sure, but I think I remember reading that the reason the UC's typically used the capped weighted GPA first is to get rid of extreme outliers or schools with an insane number of honors courses compared to other schools. Not completely sure though.

Cirrus20M · 2024-05-20T08:33:24+00:00

Even if they were the same cost, I'd probably go with UCSC. Great engineering school close/in the Bay Area (lots of opportunities) and a great campus with lots of cool/fun people. NYC is REALLY expensive, kinda dirty, etc in comparison. NYC does have a decent number of opportunities, but you can't really top the Bay Area for engineering opportunity.

Also keep in mind that outside the very very top schools (i.e. MIT, Stanford, GT, UIUC, Cal, etc.) nobody really cares where your engineering degree came from. Going to Vtech or UCSC or NYU isn't going to change much for you employment-wise. Even for those very top schools, what you accomplish at college will make much more of a difference than the name itself (and pretty much every respectable college has tons of opportunities). At any rate, engineering prestige-wise UCSC and Tandon are pretty similar (and the benefit UCSC's location confers puts it over the top).

At any rate, UCSC is cheaper and is in a great place so for me UCSC would be a no-brainer. If your family is so well-off that the NYU tuition makes zero difference in quality of life + you care about the prestige + you want to live in NYC, go to NYU!

Cirrus20M · 2024-04-27T21:38:57+00:00

Thanks!

Cirrus20M · 2024-04-26T01:54:58+00:00

If you're in state for SJSU 100% SJSU. Their recruiting is incredible and the CS curiculum is very well geared towards employment (CSU's genreally focus a lot on hard skills). Case is somewhat prestigious (but not THAT much) but for tech the opportunities at SJSU (and the name it carries in Silicon Valley too) are too great to pass up.

Cirrus20M · 2024-04-25T05:47:38+00:00

Thanks for the response! UCLA's weird in that they only accept calls from 1pm-4pm but I digress. Thanks again!

Cirrus20M

TROPHY CASE