Hello everyone.
I will be attending U.Va. in the fall, and I was wondering perhaps if some alumni or current upperclassmen could shed some light on this question I have.
I intend to study Economics in the College of Arts and Sciences for my first and second year. I then would like to try to transfer into McIntire.
I have several AP credits that I would like to use. I will undoubtedly be using them to place out of my non-Econ gen Ed. classes.
However, I also have the ability to place out of both Intro to Macro and Intro to Micro based on AP credits (scores of 5.) I feel that I know the material very well and that I would likely be OK placing into higher level Econ to start. I was thinking this could also help me with McIntire.
However, AP classes and college classes are obviously much different, and as a rising first-year, I do not want to propel myself into some excruciating course work before I can establish myself. Plus, the McIntire “mini-GPA” includes both introductory classes to Economics. Should I repeat the intro level classes, or should I begin at a higher level either first or second semester? How would this affect my potential admission to McIntire?
Also, I have the same question regarding Calculus, since it is another “McIntire considered” course. I may have the AP credits come the fall. Should I retake Calc as well?
Thank you for your time and your responses. I appreciate it very much.
Is it possible to audit the classes? That way you can learn the material that you did not learn previously, but you don’t have to do all of the work, so you can put more effort into your other classes.
Take the higher level courses. you’re paying a lot of money to learn new stuff, not something you took in high school. McIntire will also be more impressed you took higher level classes.
I’d be surprised if you will be able to get into a 3000 level econ class as a first year student. I also wouldn’t recommend jumping into a 3000 level class as a first year, until you get used to college level work. Some students don’t even get into the 2000 level econ classes their first year - particularly when Mr. Elzinga was teaching, because he was so popular. (Did he retire?)
Also, for calc, you have a choice of taking a more intensive 1000 level calc class than the class taken by the masses.
@Allbusiness2015 there’s no harm in trying an upper level class and dropping it within a couple weeks if you don’t feel prepared! As for calculus, I’d recommend starting as high as you can; finishing calculus early gives you time to take other math classes that you might be interested in.
Thank you all for your input and replies, it is much appreciated. There are definitely some valid points made above, so I certainly have things to think about.
However, I think that I would still like to take intro level Econ over again since it is so heavily weighted in the consideration of “Pre-Comm GPA” at McIntire. Plus, since I’ve already fulfilled most of my area requirements, I should actually have time and brushing up/learning it more solidly couldn’t hurt I don’t think.
Any thoughts or opinions on that strategy?
Calculate the cost of each credit you are taking at UVA and ask should you really waste thousands of dollars when you got a 5. You have mastered that material. Take something new.
There also is a 2000 level econ class named American Economic History. That would allow you to take an econ class that is not extremely high level your first year, while still using your AP credits.
http://rabi.phys.virginia.edu/mySIS/CC2/Economics.html
By the way, that link is to Lou’s list. That is a course catalog crafted by a prof that has been easier to use than the official UVa course listing.
@Allbusiness2015 there’s certainly nothing wrong with that, though you may be bored with the course since you already know the material; getting a 5 on the AP exam means you already have the foundation necessary to take higher level courses. However, if all of your other classes are relatively difficult, taking introductory economics could be your easy course for the semester and lighten the load, as well as provide you with a buffer for your GPA.
You can also unofficially sit in on the lectures and get a copy of the textbook and concentrate on aspects you don’t fully understand. I mention that because they may not let you audit the class if the seats are needed for students taking it for credit.