Frequently Asked Questions for New Freshmen
1. What is unique about UCSD?
2. What distinguishes Revelle College?
3. What majors are available at UCSD?
4. How can I qualify for the Freshman Honors Program?
5. What is the Analytical Writing Requirement and how can I satisfy it?
6. When is placement testing?
7. How and when will I enroll in my classes?
8. How will the AP and IB Exams I have taken affect my schedule for the upcoming quarter?
9. What are the registration fees and estimated costs for the 2007-2008 academic year?
10. When will I hear about my financial aid and/or scholarship application?
11. What is the housing situation at Revelle?
12. What computer facilities are available?
13. What kinds of student activities are available?
14. When may I visit the campus?
15. What important dates do I need to remember?
16. Whom may I call with further questions?
17. Where can I get further information on the internet?
18. How do I get my UCSD E-mail address?Click here to read all about UCSD
2. WHAT DISTINGUISHES REVELLE?
Explore and compare the six colleges by visiting the Undergraduate College System page.
3. WHAT MAJORS ARE AVAILABLE AT UCSD?
Return to Top
4. HOW CAN I QUALIFY FOR THE FRESHMAN HONORS PROGRAM?For up to date requirements, check the Freshmen Honors page.
5. WHAT IS THE ANALYTICAL WRITING REQUIREMENT AND HOW CAN I MEET IT?
Students enrolling in the University of California are required to demonstrate their ability to write effective essays by satisfying the Entry Level Writing Requirement. The requirement can be satisfied before enrollment by showing proficiency on the university-wide Analytical Writing Placement Examination, by scoring 680 or better on the SAT Reasoning Test (Writing section), by scoring 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement Examination in English, or scoring a 5 or higher on the IB Higher Level English A exam or a 6 or higher on the IB Standard Level English A exam. In addition, for out-of-state students, UCSD administers an on-campus Analytical Writing examination shortly before the beginning of the quarter. Test dates are available at the Basic Writing Program Web Site, Writing Placement Calendar. Students may also satisfy the writing requirement by passing a U.C. Transferable course in English composition prior to enrolling in their first quarter at UCSD.
Students who have not satisfied the Entry Level Writing Requirement before enrolling in the University of California must complete a noncredit Basic Writing course at UCSD. More detailed information is available on the Basic Writing Program Web Site.
Return to Top
Students will be enrolled in UCSD introductory chemistry, language (French, Spanish, Italian, German) and mathematics courses in accordance with their scores on U.C. Administered placement examinations, AP Exam scores (not just an AP course), or U.C. Transferred course credit.
The placement exams should be taken before enrollment. Students admitted for the winter quarter should also take these tests. The results of these exams are not recorded on a student’s transcript.
The chemistry and language exams will be available as part of the online academic advising process, which begins in late July. Each exam is 30 minutes long. The Online Placement questions will lead you through exemptions and determine which (if any) exams you are required to complete. Students should review material and prepare for the exams. Students can not enroll in a course higher than his or her placement score merits.
Mathematics placement testing will be offered as a written test (90 minutes) in May and June at sites throughout California. You are strongly encouraged to take this placement exam; those without it may have trouble enrolling in their classes for the Fall quarter. The Math Testing Web Site lists times, places and maps. For those who live far from the sites, math placement testing will also available the evening prior to and after orientation. We urge you to take one of the May/June tests.
Return to Top
7. HOW AND WHEN WILL I ENROLL IN CLASSES?Students will receive information concerning online enrollment through the summer orientation sessions and through the New Student Web Site.
Return to Top
8. HOW WILL THE AP AND IB EXAMS I HAVE TAKEN AFFECT MY SCHEDULE FOR 1st QUARTER AT UCSD?Students will receive 4 to 8 units of university credit for AP examinations in which they earn a score of 3, 4, or 5; 8 units of credit for a score of 5, 6, or 7 on the Higher Level IB exams (no credit granted for Standard Level exams). These credits can exempt students from placement testing and count toward the total units required for graduation. Most can be used to meet college or department requirements other than humanities/writing. Refer to the AP/IB charts for Revelle if you have any questions.
9. WHAT ARE THE CURRENT REGISTRATION FEES AND ESTIMATED COSTS FOR UCSD?View the UCSD Undergraduate Basic Budget.
10. WHEN WILL I HEAR ABOUT MY FINANCIAL AID AND/OR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION?All admitted students can view their financial aid status by accessing TritonLink.
Return to Top
11. WHAT IS THE HOUSING SITUATION AT REVELLE?UCSD guarantees housing for Fall admitted freshmen for their first two years provided they return their applications and contracts on time. Winter admits are not guaranteed housing but may apply to be placed on a Housing waitlist. Students can apply for housing at Triton Link as soon as they are admitted.
Freshmen are housed in our eight residence halls conveniently located just seconds away from classrooms and the dining common. Continuing students are eligible to apply for on-campus apartments located east of the Price Center and Geisel . Roommates may be chosen at orientation or will be assigned on the basis of a computer match based on a self-reported interest inventory. The Revelle dining common is centrally located to meet the needs of our residents. Further information is available on the Revelle Residence Life Web Site. Our Off-Campus Housing office will be available to help Winter Admits.
12. WHAT COMPUTER FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE?
Academic Computing Services maintains computing facilities for UCSD students, provides accounts for using them, and offers on-line help and student assistants to guide you. ACS maintains nearly 1400 computer workstations located in computer labs and libraries throughout the campus including the Blake Hall computer lab for Revelle students. Please see the ACS home page for more information.All on-campus housing facilities are equipped with data service through cable data modems. The cost of the data connection is included in the housing payment. For students living off campus please view our Connedting From Off Campus information, for on-campus accounts see ResNet. All students are assigned E-mail accounts.
The newly renovated Center for Library and Instructional Computing Services, CLICS, is adjacent to the Revelle residence halls, and has one hundred eighty computer terminals, study rooms, a reference collection, popular reading materials and a popular computing collection, as well as magazines and newspapers.
Return to Top
13. WHAT KINDS OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE?A wide variety of student activities and programs are available at UCSD. Many are college-based; others offer the opportunity for campus-wide involvement. Events in the Revelle Plaza, commuter breakfasts, community service projects and programs focusing on student leadership, increasing cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity, and campus pride and spirit are but a few of the hundreds of activities available within Revelle College. Committee positions and leadership opportunities abound for both resident and commuter students. The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) gives students the opportunity to further develop their leadership skills and the One-on-One Program matches new students with current Revelle students for the first year. In addition to college programs and activities, there are many opportunities available for involvement campus-wide with over 450 student organizations, including student publications, student government, intercollegiate athletics, state of the art campus recreation facilities, a dance studio, and fraternities and sororities. Check out our Revelle student committee web pages.
Return to Top
14. WHEN MAY I VISIT THE CAMPUS?
a. Attend Freshman Admit Day for a college session, a tour of the residence halls, and department presentations.
b. Attend an Admitted Student Information Session.
c. Student-led campus tours are also available Monday through Saturday beginning at 11:00 a.m. For more information, see Campus Tours.
15. WHAT IMPORTANT DATES DO I NEED TO REMEMBER?
a. Please visit Admissions and Admission Events for important dates.
b. Important UCSD Housing Deadlines
c. University of California Analytical Writing Placement Exam: Writing Placement Calendar
d. Transcripts Due to UCSD (recommend sending transcripts earlier): July 15, 2008
c. Instruction Begins: September 25, 2008
Return to Top16. WHOM MAY I CALL WITH FURTHER QUESTIONS?
Academics: Revelle Provost's Office (858) 534-3490 revelle@ucsd.edu Admissions: Office of Admissions and Outreach (858) 534-4831 admissionsinfo@ucsd.edu Admit Day: Office of Admissions and Outreach (858) 534-4831 admissionsinfo@ucsd.edu Analytical Writing: Basic Writing Program Office (858) 534-6177 jking@ucsd.edu Campus Tours Office of Admissions and Outreach (858) 822-1455 http://admissions.ucsd.edu/tours Financial Services: Financial Aid Office (858) 534-4480 finaid@ucsd.edu Housing: Revelle Residence Life Office
Contracts + Fees
Off Campus Housing(858) 534-3025
(858) 534-4010
(858) 534-3670revreslife@ucsd.edu
housinginfo@ucsd.edu
offcampushousing@ucsd.eduOrientation & Student Activities: Revelle Dean's Office (858) 534-3493 revelleorientation@ucsd.edu Residency: Office of the Registrar (858) 534-4586 ddeangelis@ucsd.edu Student Activities: Revelle Dean of Student Affairs Office (858) 534-3493 jlew@ucsd.edu
Return to Top
17. WHERE CAN I GET FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET?Check our Revelle College website with links for Prospective Students, Academic Life, Student Life, and Residence Life, as well as Admissions and Housing.
University of California, San Diego
Revelle College
Academic Advising
Student Affairs
Residence Life
Frequently Asked Questions
Admissions Office
Career Services Center
Financial Aid Office
General Catalog
Housing & Dining Services
Libraries
Parents
TritonLink
Virtual Tour of UCSD
Virtual Tour of San Diego
18. HOW DO I GET MY UCSD E-MAIL ADDRESSStudents will obtain their UCSD email address through our New Student Gateway. Instructions will be sent to students after they submit their SIR (Statement of Intent to Register). The UCSD Email address is the official means of communication between the University and the student. Be sure to check your UCSD email regularly.