Choosing Courses

<p>Is there a way to choose courses before the orientation??? It's because I have to attend the international orientation... but we're the last ones to choose classes.. :(</p>

<p>You can “choose” courses - that is, make a list of courses you would like to sign up for - but you cannot commit your schedule until orientation. USC will set aside some frshman classes for each orientation, so there will still be “classes left.” </p>

<p>Most students take 4 academic classes and a 1 or 2 unit “fun” class or freshman seminar. As a freshman, you have LOTS of classes you need, so make a list of 8 or 9 courses that would work for you and plan to be flexible.</p>

<p>Remember, USC has done this before a few times… it all works out. I can tell you I have never seen a post from a freshman saying they were not able to get four courses they needed for their first semster.</p>

<p>Schedule of courses for Fall: [Fall</a> 2010 | Schedule of Classes](<a href=“http://web-app.usc.edu/soc/term_20103.html]Fall”>302 Found)</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>If I do not attend orientation, will I be at a disadvantage when choosing classes? If there is, is the disadvantage significant? like if i don’t go, will i be essentially blocked out of all my first choices/best classes?
Because i am from New Jersey, so i have to fly across the country. It doesn’t seem to be worth the money in my opinion, since i to have to fly back a month later when things really get going. </p>

<p>Can any current student can shed light on how their orientation was? It almost seems like they are selling me the school even though I have already decided to enroll. and the spirit rally seems a little tacky. But if it is truly a great experience, then i might consider going.</p>

<p>im going to be a sophomore and honestly orientation is a great time to learn more about the school and all it offers and get your bearings on campus. yea, they kinda still are selling the school but this stuff is more practical than anything. also, orientation is a great opportunity to meet people. i’m still good friends with some of the people i met at orientation. its nice to start on move in day with a few friends numbers in your cell phone, because who knows what your roommate will be like. orientation got me really excited to move in.
also, yes you register for classes at orientation. if you dont do it at orientation i beleive you move in to school a few days early and do it then and have “orientation” once you’re moved in before the rest of the freshman class moves in. most classes will be pretty full by then, so odds are you will be left with the 8AM classes and bad professors no one wants to take</p>

<p>The spirit rally may seem tacky to you, but that’s just because you don’t understand yet. Don’t worry, you’ll get it soon enough ;)</p>

<p>If you don’t go to orientation, then you will likely not be able to get into the GE classes that you want, as well as specific sessions of classes like math, chemistry, etc. There will be spots available in those classes, it’s just that some sessions will be full. As far as classes for your major go, same deal. You will be able to take classes you need, but they may not be the ones that you wanted to take your first semester, and they may not be at the specific time you want.</p>

<p>I just finished up my first year at SC and going into orientation, I wish there were some things that I’d known beforehand. </p>

<p>First of all, it’s true that they leave some spaces open for registering freshmen but keep this in mind: when everyone at orientation is gunning for the same however many spots, they fill up quickly. If there’s a class you really want (namely GEs or classes that are just really popular), don’t spend your time trying to make the perfect schedule before you hit “Commit Changes”. It’s a waste of time and by the time you go to save it, the course you want will probably be full already. </p>

<p>Second, to those of you contemplating skipping orientation, I would discourage you from doing so unless it’s a huge financial issue. To be honest, I didn’t make the most of my orientation session (I was coming down with a bad cold and I ended up skipping most of the afternoon after I registered for courses in order to sleep in my mom’s hotel) and I kind of regret it now. It is really nice to have friends made going into the fall semester and you might even meet people who end up in your classes. Not to mention the courses you’ll be able to choose from when you finally do get to register will legit suck. Chem at 8, MWF, anyone? No thanks. </p>

<p>Oh, and also: SC is all about the school spirit. If you think the rally is tacky, football season may be a bit of a shock to you.</p>

<p>Is registering for courses any different for TO students? Are there some required classes? I have no idea how scheduling works for TO, if it’s even different at all.</p>

<p>Thematic Option students have their own advisement and registration session. Most sign up for CORE 102 and the attached CORE 111 Writing seminar. Their other two courses might be a lower-division major requirement, foreign language, diversity, one of the theme courses for TO, etc… Then there will be 2 “extra” units you can use for a freshman seminar or PE or other “fun” class.</p>

<p>^ Thanks so much alamemom! If I was considering taking art sometime, where would that fall under?</p>

<p>There are a bunch of 2-unit art classes in Fine Arts that you could fit in any semester as an elective, or you can take a four-unit elective whenever you want (as long as you know you can get all your requirements in 4 years). There are Art History classes that fulfill the diversity requirement. [FA</a> | USC Schedule of Classes](<a href=“http://web-app.usc.edu/soc/20103/fa.html]FA”>302 Found)</p>

<p>How come most of the courses are shown as “registered”?? Is this freshmen?? If not, are the same courses provided for freshmen??</p>

<p>Are you talking about the line where it says “19 of 24” (just for example) under the “registered” heading? That is the number of students already registered in the class. No, it isn’t freshmen, it is sophomores, juniors and seniors. They all registered in March and April. Some of the most popular freshmen classes will show as closed at this point, but some slots will be opened for each orientation session.</p>