<p>I've gone to orientation now and signed up for different classes. I have a few questions though. At one point, a couple of us were talking about all the different classes required for chemistry 1410, including chem lecture, chem discussion, chem lab lecture, and chem lab. I was under the impression before that credits typically equaled the number of hours of class you had each week, hence the term credit hours. I realized I was wrong when I found we have 8.5 hours a week for 5 credits. </p>
<p>Anyway, I don't want to seem whiney or anything but this was just unexpected and a current student overheard us talking about it. The student told us not to worry and said that the chem discussion and the chem lab lecture weren't really.. required? So to speak? She said class discussions are kinda like office hours, and you really only go the first two weeks or if you have questions.</p>
<p>Anyway, I was just wondering if this was right, as in most kids don't go to discussions and such and you can still do good, even get an A, without them ? Or if I shouldn't take this particular advice.</p>
<p>Also, on related note, is it possible to switch discussion times without having to touch the lecture class on SIS? I somehow got signed up for the wrong discussion for chem ( a different teacher ) and I'd like to switch another class' discussion time to one that was closed during orientation but is now open.</p>
<ol>
<li>credits are vaguely correlated to in class meet times but not always. for instance, intro cs is 3 hours of lecture and 1.5 hours of lab for 3 credits. you should also always assume you will do 3 hours of outside work for each hour you meet in class in college (homework, papers, reading, whatever).</li>
<li>you should take advice that works. it might work for some people but not for you, you don’t know until you try.</li>
<li>you can’t change anything on sis until august 1st is my understanding</li>
</ol>
<p>does it mean almost all classes give hw,reading and outside work that requires approximately 3 hours to finish?
Also, can first-year student take 17 credits? ( 5 course?) in sis it says limit is 16 units and waitlist limit is 17 units?</p>
<p>Many classes do. It’s going to vary on account of several things- the professor, the material, the level course it is. I have had 4000 level courses that required an average of 4 hrs of week effort and this included the time spent in class, whereas, I have been in 2000 and 3000 level courses and that I have easily spent 10hrs a week on between class, writing and reading. I had a 5000 level PLAP course that had less effort required of it than many of my 3000 level POLS courses…there really is no set rule about how much work you’re going to have to put in, that’s why it’s usually good to err on the side of caution. If you get into a good routine now, it won’t be as painful (still painful) when midterms and finals roll 'round. :)</p>
<p>I think there’s a rule or something about 16/17 credits, but I don’t remember, it may only apply to incoming students who are first registering. I don’t remember, but it sounds familiar for some reason. It’ll likely be adjustable in August when it is possibly to adjust your schedule again. I know that typically you cannot go beyond 17 credits without specific permission to “overload”.</p>
<p>Re: switching discussion times - I was able to switch my discussion times in SIS for Fall a few weeks ago. Use the “edit” function. That way, you won’t be dropping your lecture class. (I’m like 99% sure it was “edit” …it was like a month ago)</p>
<p>I don’t know about the Aug 1st rule. Hazelorb knows a lot; maybe that’s true for 1st years or something. </p>
<p>This is just me, but at least check the lectures/discussions out before you blow them off entirely. In some classes they are really req’d & they’re not playing around about it. What you’re saying about credit hours totally makes sense, but unfortunately it doesn’t always work that way. Like in some of the ENGL courses you’re doing 5 hrs/wk total lec/discussion for 3 credits. Way excessive. But if you do it & do the work it’s a guaranteed A.</p>
<p>First years won’t be able to change their schedules until August 1 at 8am. If you’re in the college, you’ll be able to register for up to 17 credits at that point.</p>
<p>It’s an absolutely terrible idea to sign up for an overload if you are a first-semester student. Get used to the workload first. It is a change to be in college and many students have trouble with time management. Even if you don’t, it’s very unlikely that you’ll be bored. If you have extra time after you finish your academic work there are plenty of other things to occupy you on Grounds, and it is healthy to get involved in them.</p>
<p>Assume going into a course that if something is listed on the course schedule, you should attend it. If it is truly optional, that will be made clear early on. But the most common reason students do poorly in classes is that they start blowing off stuff that seems optional and find out too late that they were wrong. Often, too, attending a session where you can ask questions, or where some extra explanation is offered, will save you time in the long run because you won’t have to struggle with it all by yourself.</p>
<p>It varies between the chemistry classes. If you are in 141 you probably will not need to attend lab lecture or class discussion regularly. However, you might want to go for a few weeks while you get the hang of working in the lab/writing reports - and you’ll probably go before major tests and stuff.</p>