Looking at maxing out transfer credit via CC courses and AP credit.
Any advice on whether, for AP credits, it is better to wait and take later courses when scheduled or start later courses early? It looks like if courses are just skipped, there will be semesters with only three courses, but the goal is to graduate after 7 or preferably 6 semesters with a co-op in there somewhere.
Do RPI advisors help with this or is there someone who helps with these issues? Our FA is not that good, so graduating early seems the best option to save money.
Also - can they cut FA if they realize a student is on track to graduate early?
Thanks!
My experience with AP credit for math, I would recommend taking the next available courses immediately. I had BC credit for calc I and II and skipped a semester before taking III, and while I did fine in the class, I felt I had to work harder to get back in the mindset. Your engineering coursework takes bits from every core math and science class you take, so its better to just take the next course while everything is fresh. The only reason I think you should skip a semester of coursework is for a co-op. I would avoid taking semesters with just 3 courses though, especially if you are looking to graduate early.
Your major’s adviser can help you set up your degree plan. In my experience, they are way more flexible than that of a state school’s. They do not however have influence over FA. I believe that is through the Bursar.
You have your FA reward until you complete your undergraduate degree. You obviously won’t receive FA anymore once you have completed your degree. RPI is very good about not trying to screw you out of your FA or reward and will let you know if you are trying to do something that will nix the FA award. They want you to focus and excel on studies and aren’t trying to doop money out of you.
For me, my adviser found a way that I could graduate in 2 years. I told him I would not mind graduating in 3 years and it was a huge relief to him because I would suffer so much grade/stress wise with the schedule he had set up. He told me he had it like that because he didn’t want me to think he was trying to squeeze tuition money out of me. I plan on being in school for 2.5 years and doing a co-op for half a year if I can.
Hope that helps, I am transferring in this Fall.
I don’t believe they will adjust financial aid because you plan to graduate early.
I have another question - because of AP credit and also being blocked from a desired course (he hasn’t declared his minor yet and they block students who don’t have the minor or a compatible major), he “has” to take a social science he does not want to.
Does RPI have that few social sciences? He wanted to take psych but could not fit it in due to his major, so “has” to take econ which he has less than zero interest in, but they forced him to fill his schedule up. Does RPI have a list of all the social sciences somewhere?
I’m not sure if it is because he is a freshman he got a limited list of what he could register for. He is very very uncomfortable right now as he feels he is forced to take a course he does not like.
@rhandco the only thing you are “forced” to do is take at least 12 credits (the minimum to maintain full time status). Other than that you are free to add/drop classes (assuming there is room and you meet the pre-reqs).
Not sure what he means by he couldn’t take psych because of his major - any major will accept psych as one of the HASS classes.
He also might be able to convince the professor or dept chair to allow him to add the in major course he wants. He just needs to speak with them.