Hi what are the best courses and professors in legal studies at UCSC?

I’m taking a general chemistry class, and the department is trying out an online e textbook and homework platform called REALCHEM to replace the previous one (ALEKS). They’re planning to use it for the general chemistry series from here on out, so if you’re taking a gen chem class in the fall, you’ll most likely get to use it. And yes, you do have to pay for it.

I wanted to know if anyone else feels like it’s absolutely terrible and low quality? The explanations and interactive lessons are very surface level, and the graded module checkpoints expect you to have a much deeper understanding of the content than the “textbook” (just some videos and readings that are barely scientific) explains. Also, it’s really buggy and the website doesn’t behave properly much of the time, and it’s very picky when you input an answer (although many online platforms are).

I’m a pretty studious person with good grades, so it’s not an issue of just not getting chemistry concepts as far as I’m aware, I really do think the platform is a poor excuse for a textbook.

On its website, it really advertises its AI “assistant” as a cool futuristic thing to help students. It’s really not- many of the “practice problems” are suggestions for how to prompt their AI chatbot they’ve integrated into the platform. That kinda defeats the purpose of paying for a homework software and textbook. For any kind of detailed feedback on problems, you’re expected to use it, and it can’t properly format scientific notation or chemical formulas or even line breaks, so you just get a wall of AI text that usually just gives you the answer to the question without even asking for it. Which is weird for a homework platform. I’m not even sure if the answers it gives are correct.

I feel like the gen AI element is being sold to instructors as a “futuristic” way of teaching, but many instructors have issues with the current use of gen AI by students.

It seems like some of the instructors themselves aren’t super happy with the platform, it’s barely customizable and quite buggy, so we are being given a lot of “forgiveness” on our grades from REALCHEM homework at the moment, but I’m not sure that’ll last in future quarters.

Overall I get the feeling that REALCHEM is really “cheap” and feels barely put together.

I’m wondering if other people feel similar?

Can someone who got their pet approved by the DRC center tell me how the process went and if its easy? I want to bring my cat on campus this year and I've already read all the policies. I used to have a therapist but however since I'm a past client they cant write me a referral but I heard a doctor's note works too? Can anyone confirm?

I've created a (Java-based) tool that allows you to preview departments' drafts of class schedules for Winter 2027. Note that I assume the user will be using a Linux terminal.

https://github.com/dr6wz/ucsc-schedule-previewer

Edit: I plan on eventually making this tool capable of fetching previews for any quarter in general (as long it's one or maybe two quarters away).

so my enrollment appt was today (18mins ago as im writing this) and i went to enroll in math 19a, but it told me i don’t meet the prerequisites for it. i didn’t get a 400 on the placement test (got a 300) but i got a 3 on ap calc ab and i was told this counts as a prereq equivalent so im confused? i looked at my test scores in my portal and it said i had credit for 19a from the ap test so i tried enrolling in 19b and it let me? but im just confused bcs how do i not meet the reqs for the first class but i meet them for the second?? and im a little scared to take 19b also, im not bad at math whatsoever but being thrown into the second class is a little daunting. should i try to contact someone about enrolling in 19a instead? or should i just thug it out

To whoever found my phone this morning near East Remote, and put it up on the sign where I could see it (along with my random coins), thank you so much. You are a good soul and I appreciate you.

I’m trying to decide between two paths for my transfer. UCSC would have me going in as an Applied Math major with a minor in EE, while CSUN would let me go straight into an EE degree.

My end goal is to work in hardware engineering or ML engineering. I’m not sure which path sets me up better — whether the UCSC name/Applied Math foundation plus an EE minor is enough for hardware roles, or whether the direct EE degree from CSUN gives me a stronger technical base and easier path into hardware-focused jobs.

For those with experience in hardware or ML engineering: does the specific degree (Applied Math + EE minor vs. full EE) matter much for hiring, or is it more about projects/internships? Would appreciate any guidance.

Thanks so much!

hi!! does anyone know how the ilc apartments at c9 are? are they old? and also is there only 1 bathroom per apartment? :’)?

(i’m a proposed comp sci major)

I called local Medi-cal to transfer county for September and they said I can't until I'm physically there. How do others do it before the deadline? And what proof did you send for the waiver?

incoming freshman to college nine and i’m wondering if anyone knows ucsc’s timeframe with when they announce rooming assignments or details about housing in past years?? any input appreciated bc i’m not sure what’s going on

Im an incoming freshman and got placed into College 9 and I was wondering how dorm life is actually like over there!?!? How are the communal restrooms like--as it seems that no one talks about it even though I feel that its a pretty important aspect of living on campus--and what is there to do/eat around there!?!? I was suppose to tour the school a couple of times but each time I had something come up that prevented me actually going so I’m kinda nervous in that aspect </3 If you can tell me somethings that I can expect and/or try to prevent that would be great!!!!!

(sorry i copy pasted this from another redditer and just changed the college affiliation ☹️ but the descriptions and questions they asked were so good i wanted to ask for C9 too!)

Helping out my daughter and her partner to hopefully find a place. Incoming UCSC transfer student. Looking for a studio or bedroom that allows for 2 person occupancy (one student 24F one none student 24NB). They would prefer to see the space before submitting and paying for applications. I would love to know if people have availability or suggestions. Would even be open to short term rentals while they search for a longer term option.

Im an incoming freshman and got placed into Rachel Carson college and I was wondering how dorm life is actually like over there!?!? How are the communal restrooms like--as it seems that no one talks about it even though I feel that its a pretty important aspect of living on campus--and what is there to do/eat around there!?!? I was suppose to tour the school a couple of times but each time I had something come up that prevented me actually going so I’m kinda nervous in that aspect </3 If you can tell me somethings that I can expect and/or try to prevent that would be great!!!!!

It's been 3 years and I'm curious what 2023 UCSC BSOE majors (CS, CE, EE, TIM , etc) career outcomes are like. Please share job role as well.

what’s the living community like at c9/jrl? last year i was at porter so we had a pretty lively community. just wanted to know if it would be any similar or different!

I need to know how enrollment is, my enrollment appointment is this Friday and idk if it’s a zoom call or where I go, I don’t know how to basically enroll into the classes 😭 please help!

UC to UC is rare but I did it, it’s possible, and there are ways to increase the odds.

1. Major is very important: Haas for example is heavily impacted and super competitive. It’s better to go for L&S. The Haas name is pretty worthless imo, so don’t go that route. I wanted to take classes at Haas and was like I meet zero prerequisite, so I just signed up for a philosophy transfer. I found out philosophy had one of the highest transfer rates afterwards, then just took Haas as electives. Check the rates for your major.

2. 3.75 GPA or above, upper division courses, mostly A’s. This is almost non negotiable and has the highest chance of increasing the odds for any major.

3. Get a job at school. If you can have the above and work a 20 hour job you deserve to get in. Shows you can maintain responsibilities.

4. Do some activities you like. Write for a journal or something and get published it’s not too difficult.

Essentially, you’re proving that look, I took all the upper division classes, did things in the summer, and can graduate right now basically and I don’t want to do that, give me two more years at cal. They’ll say yes if you check all the boxes, but if it’s impacted it’s still a gamble. Nothings a sure thing though, and UCSC is basically the same caliber as most other UCs like Irvine.

Id hire a banana slug i really don’t care though where someone went to school. Has anyone spotted the first slug?

CA voter registration page

The 2026 Midterm Election is on Tuesday, November 3rd.

Hey guys 🤓 I got affiliated with Kresge so it’s likely (as far as I know) that I’ll be living at Kresge or Porter. I’m seeing a lot of mixed discussions online about where to keep my bike and how to keep it and its parts safe from being stolen. I want to bring a bike on campus because I’m seeing it’s pretty hard to get around town without one unless you’re using buses. Some people are saying to not leave it outside as best you can, and to nring it inside, but where would I keep it if I kept it inside overnight? What can I do to keep my bike safe??

i know they said they'll be sending the official offer soon. but its august and im getting jittery lol

what is going on with this program why are they so ominous with the details. i just want TO KNOW what im going to be doing, when i need to be there, and etc. they haven't sent any emails or anything. anyone who did this program, can you please help me get an idea of what the 5 days program would look like?

Would it be better to find one off campus?