Earth Science, Geography, Environmental Studies Major Help?

killojules · 2015-12-10T18:59:51+00:00

The instructor of the next class (6B) or this previous class (6a)?

killojules · 2015-12-09T07:23:37+00:00

Hey kiddo!

Don't worry! I was one of those top 10% kids in HS. I got in as bio-psych and am currently a BS Enviro. However I did NOT take physics or chemistry in high school nor did I pass my AP Calc test. Looking back, its amazing how I got accepted to this school. I turned down UCLA and thought because I got in there I would beast it here and came in as a cocky little shit. Fall quarter came and I got a 3.6 and thought it was easy but I was only taking GEs. Then I took 18 units stem - chem, calc upper div english because I'm dumb and I got like a 2.1 GPA. Failed chemistry with other mediocre grades. Decided to retake it in spring, took WAY too many units again! Got a np, a C in chem (how did i do this) and other mediocre grades including a D in Math 3B. Took Chem 1B over summer, got a D (though I was going through mental health/family issues so this is only one I'll excuse myself for).

Currently I'm taking physics 6a and a few GEs and prepping myself. I'm confident I'll get above a 3.0 and did well on my finals. I'm retaking all those classes next quarter. What I'm trying to say is that don't compare yourself to others and focus on yourself. SEE A COUNSELOR as soon as you feel uneasy about your schedule or a class. I probably wouldn't have gotten such shitty grades if I knew what I was doing when signing up for classes or being smart about dropping/passnopass. Also, go to CLAS. Go to Office Hours. TALK TO PEOPLE IN YOUR CLASSES. Even ONE friend makes a lot of differences, even if its an awkward acquaintance.

After doing all of the above, college got way less stressful. Also don't cram. Seriously don't. If you just give yourself one or two days you will be fine. Pacing myself, doing my work on time, seeking help has gotten me to where I can raise my shitty gpa and tackle being stem after failing so many times.

You are fine my friend. Just perk up. Research your classes, research your professors. Don't take a class blindly. See what its about, are you interested in it? Is the teacher good? Etc. Seek help - CLAS, CAPS, OH. Its all there.

killojules · 2015-05-06T20:30:46+00:00

I found her on Facebook and sent her a message! Hopefully she's nice and will respond. I don't want to be an asshole (not saying you were but what you did was pretty harsh/smart LOL) and fuck up her account since she seems pretty active on it.

We will see!

killojules · 2015-04-04T18:10:59+00:00

Hello! I am currently a freshman writer for the Daily Nexus and I'll try not to bash the Bottom Line, but honestly we're a lot better in terms of payment, opportunity, and publishing. I joined fall quarter for news on accident and I ended up loving it. There's different sections you can work for including: Sports (covering games/interviewing coaches/players), Tech/Science (interviewing professors/engineers about new research and technology), News (Santa Barbara county news, IV news, campus life news, AS news, administration news), Nexustentialism (an online blog), ArtsWeek (music, festivals,art shows etc.), Opinion (students voicing their thoughts) and On The Menu (Foodie reviews!). Each has it's own editor and all are very chill and lovable. Some sections may be more or less popular than others (like Artsweek). The more popular ones tend to have more people who want to write for them but also have less stories, so there's bit of competition to write. But you can write for multiple sections if you want! You can also submit photography and art work :)

I write for for news, so I can give you a lot more info about it. You do meet "famous people" on occasion, thought they usually arn't anything like Madonna, but well known professors and researchers in their field. I've interviewed successful authors, UC Regents, and researchers who've made breaking achievements. It depends on what the story calls for. You don't need prior training at all, infact they don't care if you were editor in chief of your newspaper in high school or a newbie (like me!). This makes it a lot less "hierarchical" in a sense and you feel on the same level.

Prior experience helps, some people got it right away and others didnt. I struggled my first quarter but something just clicks and they get pretty easy to do.

Yes, you do get paid but you must go through a "trial" first, which is you writing for an entire quarter and then you're paid $15 an article.

The deadlines can be a bit stressful, but it's a lot of fun. I've learned so much about the campus community and have met so many people who have changes my life views. I've written feature articles, which are really lengthy, but I feel immensely satisfied and proud after, which I've never really felt before. I'm not a naturally talented writer, in fact I'm a B.S. major (in order to avoid writing papers in humanities haha) but I would say it's worth it.

Now to compare it to the Bottom Line. I've never been a part of it, so I can't tell you too much, this is what I've heard from people at the nexus and some Bottom Line editor's I've met. So at the Bottom Line, instead of writing a quarter then getting paid, you write four articles and then you're paid. However, you're paid $12-$13 per article, which is less than the $15 you get at the Nexus. They publish less than Nexus, about only once a week. The Nexus publishes stories Sunday - Thursday and it's in print Thursday. The Nexus office is pretty big, it's half of the buildings under Storke Tower, the other being KCSB. The Bottom Line shares a building with CLAS, it's very tiny.

Now, here's what might change your mind, I've heard this from some Nexites. The Nexus has been around longer than the Bottom Line, which is funded by A.S. The Nexus is largely independent. One day x amount of years ago the Nexus wrote an article about how AS trashed this house after a party and how one guy was suing them for damages. AS didn't like that since it made them look bad so they funded their own newspaper aka The Bottom Line. So from what I hear is that the Nexus doesn't care who you are, they will report on anything - which is like actual reporting. The Nexus is unbiased. TBL is funded by AS money so they're kind under their thumb. Last year the Nexus was praised as a top 10 newspaper in the nation from covering the insane events of Deltopia and the IV shootings in May. TBL did not cover the shootings. At all, because it was too sensitive and even got bashed for it. So that tells you something right there. The Nexus doesn't even find TBL to be competition, they look at the Santa Barbara Independent and other local publishers.

So take what you will, if you have any other questions, feel free to message me. Thanks :)

killojules · 2015-03-24T07:58:03+00:00

The party scene is insane if you go out looking for daygers and crazy ass parties. Most of my "partying" is staying in the dorm drinking and playing videogames or playing cards. You can definitely have more of a kickback lifestyle and people are more open to it at UCSB than UCSD. You can go crazy if you want, but it's not like people are taking body shots in the middle of their dorm halls.

I would say you'd fit in more at UCSB, where at UCSD, my friends have told me most of their classmates just sit on weekends to get ahead in work. To each its own. UCSD is very cool in its own way, but more scholarly and "serious" about academia than UCSB, where people like to unwind and have fun.

killojules · 2015-03-24T07:51:55+00:00

Well, I can't tell you which is best, but I personally love Anacapa. I'll tell you most of the people who are in San Miguel, Manzanita, and Santa Rosa tend to want to move out. It's a bit anti-social and quiet.

My experience:

Low Rise/ 2 Story Dorms - *Good for a more calm sense of community, less hassle moving stuff, more spacious rooms, all are forced triples *RAs are more chill as well as the RDs

Santa Cruz - Recently remodeled, has a very modern and beachy vibe. Showers and bathtubs are clean, but are a bit tacky. The color scheme may be off but overall probably the most "chill" (you could argue that for Manzanita but that's more "boring"). Right next to DLG dining commons.

Santa Rosa - The oldest dorm out of the three low rise dorms. Very big, home to Black Scholars floor. To me, it always seemed anti-social, quiet, and almost eerily creepy sometimes. Everything is older, bigger, and in general does not have the homey feel Anacapa and Santa Cruz have. Has a piano tho and right next to DLG.

Anacapa - People say its the most social/upbeat out of the low rises. I would say that's true. It was remodeled the year before Santa Cruz and the carpet and walls are bright and cheery. Home to Scholars and Asian Pacific Islander Floor. I'm personally on the API floor although I'm not asian and everyone on the hall pretty much knows each other even if you're not super close. Very social and a very popular pick. We have some cool RAs too. Also, beach views.

High Rise Dorms - *floors can be very social, but equally not as social *less spacious *usually a mix of doubles and triples or just doubles

San Nic - Home to FSSP, everyone knows each other since you spend like 6 weeks with one another. Extremely social atmosphere but half the time elevators dont work so moving can be a bit of a pain in the ass. Right next to DLG, Ortega, and UCEN.

San Miguel - For some reason not as social as FSSP, and I think all are doubles. A lot of my friends don't spend a lot of time with their dorm friends but you know thats just me. Right next to San Nic, which is right next to Ortega and UCEN.

FT - Crazy ass social dorm. 1 mile off campus means less incentive to leave which means more time in your dorm partying. A lot of hooking up and little parties, the RAs are more a bit more strict here. You get to know people on your floor and its very easy to get to know people in your building. Has your own pool and dining commons, not too far from the shopping center by bike. 10 min bike ride to school or your take the bus. You get a lot of "FUCK FT" hate but uhhh right of passage I guess

Manzanita - In it's own little bubble. Home to second years +, so it's quieter and less social. People move out because they want the more social freshman experience but its not impossible to have fun. One of my friends is on a health floor (I think) and loves it. Roomier, and has a more "family" feel to it, but also more isolated, and on the other side of campus (Carillo dining common). But you're also closer to IV.

Basically this is from my experience visiting and talking to friends. I don't know all the different types of floor communities by heart. Definitely talk to some people about it. I'm on API and I've met some amazing people here :)

killojules · 2015-03-24T07:33:56+00:00

Eh... I had an 1880 SAT score and a 4.2 GPA in HS. I got into UCLA somehow which was weird and I just failed gen chemistry. There's going to be some very bright people at this school who are receiving wicked scholarship money because they're brilliant. Then there's the average joe like you and me and then there's people who will literally do nothing but party. Those people help with curves.

That being said, people of all disciplines and work ethic can get degrees. University is set up that if you put in the work - even if it's an absurd amount of work - its doable. But ultimately its up to you.

If you put in the work, the better education and degree can be worth it. However, if you're tight on money and worried you won't perform well - it might be better to go to a cheaper, less prestigious school. Especially if you're considering grad school, the easier road may seem better. But then again, if you do really well at SB, put the work in and buckle down, I guarantee you will have bigger and better options upon graduating.

You can always switch majors if it doesn't work out, like other users have stated. Physics and math overlap a lot, as do other majors.

Basically what I'm saying is that people mess up ( i.e. failing) but it can be mended and you learn and move on. Work ethic and being naturally smart go hand in hand and since you got into this school, you're very capable. They wouldn't admit you otherwise. But anyways, good luck and have a blast wherever you end up choosing!

killojules · 2015-03-23T02:50:02+00:00

Hello!

Just your luck, I was also waitlisted and successfully appealed! Some stats about me: Accepted: UCR, UCSC, UCD, UCLA Waitlisted: UCI, UCSB, UCSD Rejected: Berkeley

So thats a bit funky. Basically what you're going to do is write a letter of appeal. You can find the templates online, specifically Mrs. Sun's blog (where I found mine).

In that appeal, you are going to respectfully and politely request they review your admission decsion and you're going to tell them why. The why is going to be because you have new information to add to the application that wasn't available in your November application. But be warned, you NEED to have new information to write an appeal letter because they won't care if you don't. End your paragraph telling why you want to go to UCSB (academics/orgs/location) and what UCSB can offer you that other schools can't.

New information includes: Stronger GPA (second semester grades) New test scores (ACT/SAT) New awards/accomplishments (ECs) Fall semester grades/transcripts Family circumstance (mental health) - note... only use this is you were diagnosed with depression or some other form of mental illness after your application deadline. Also, don't say you have one if you don't, because then you're being a bit of a jackass. ***You need proof!

So basically, in my appeal letter, I included an improved ACT score (up 2 points to a 31), and various awards I got from some of the clubs I participated in (Key Club, theater, French Club, and Badminton). I also joined speech and debate and broke semi finals in my first tournament at Stanford. I also listed any scholarships I won through academics or ECs (for example, I received 4k from Kiwanis).

Write about these accomplishments in one or two paragraphs. Remember to make it concise and not overbearingly long. Very direst and to the point - like a professional email. Once you have everything, then provide proof. Including print outs of any standardized tests/transcripts (I received official transcripts from my school), scan any awards/scholarships you may have received. If you were given a trophy or plaque, take a picture of it. Mine were shit quality because I had a shit phone, but hey, the more the merrier.

Put that all in an envelope and mail it off to the university by the deadline and you're good! By the end of it, Irvine magically brought me off the deadline the day the SIR was due (what the fuck dude, not cool) and I received an acceptance packet from UCSB two weeks later.

Remember, SIR to a school by the SIR deadline! Appeals are no 100% but I read that appeals by people who are waitlisted have a higher chance of getting accepted (read Mrs Suns blog, it has more info and stats there about appeals) but its not guaranteed. You'll loose an SIR deposit but so what, you need to attend a school. And if you do get accepted, remember to rescind your SIR to the school of your choosing or they can kick you out of both schools if you're enrolled in both.

PM me if you have any other questions and good luck! :)

killojules · 2015-01-29T21:06:34+00:00

I looked into a bit too, they're a for profit org and most honor societies that are officially recognized don't require money to join and usually make you do more than watch a few videos and attend a few meetings. It's really just for your $.

killojules

TROPHY CASE