<p>I have heard of people being blocked out of classes at BU. Does anyone have any information or suggestions on how to deal with this. I’m planning on History and International Relations in CAS. I was planning to go to an early orientation date in June.</p>
<p>You'll be fine, especially if you go to an early session. You'll never be shut out of a class you really need to take freshmen year (i.e. intro level classes for your major, writing) but you might just be more limited in your time slots or choices of topics for writing seminars. For example, if you're trying to have all your classes after 12, those might be full if you register later in the summer.</p>
<p>Now when you register for upper-level classes, that's another story...</p>
<p>I should have some upper level history classes freshmen year because of ap credit. How difficult is registration for these and other upper level classes later on? and how does registration for second semester work?</p>
<p>Not really going to be an issue.</p>
<p>First, you do your planning online - for every term - so you see what's available and then muck with it. There's a date registration opens for each term. You might not get the section time you want but you'll almost always be able to get in a class. If a class is limited, you might have to talk to the professor but still . . . </p>
<p>Second, as your plans change, so do the plans of others. Only a few classes are fixed in stone and those are specifics like COM assigns you to a COM101 section and you can't change that because they won't let you. Seats open up.</p>
<p>Third, you'll likely not be taking any really small classes even with AP credits because you'll still be knocking off distribution reqs and prereqs. And upper level small classes are more flexible - meaning you can talk your way in if necessary. The system seems to work pretty darn well.</p>
<p>You should be able to find at least one you want. I advised a freshman last year who was in a similar situation- she had no problem getting into some 300 level history courses. Registration for upper level classes down the line can be difficult depending on the class. There are definitely some classes that are more popular than others, so they will fill up quickly, and since upper level classes are smaller, there are less spots. Since upperclassmen register first, they get first dibs. But you'll find that's the case anywhere, and you can always take them later. </p>
<p>For second semester registration, you'll choose 4 classes and 2 alternates and take them to your advisor. He or she will sign off on it, and you'll be assigned a time and date to register based on your ID number and class year. At your assigned time, you log into the Student Link and register for your classes. (You'll learn how to do all this at Orientation this summer.)</p>
<p>If you are really worried about getting classes and you have enough AP credit, try and get advanced standing after 1st semester. Since upperclassmen register first, you'll get to register earlier if you're a "sophomore."</p>
<p>I really wish I could go for the first Orientation, but I still have classes those days.</p>
<p>Don't worry...only the last couple sessions encounter any real problem, and that's usually just for pre-med students who are trying to work with limited lab options.</p>
<p>If you take a less popular language - like an Asian language - then you should talk to the department to find out where they'll place you. The upper level languages have few classes a term so you need to arrange around them.</p>
<p>thanks, does anyone know how they place you into languages?
I'm in ap spanish now but highly doubt ill get a 3 on the ap to forgo the language requirement.
how much spanish will i have to take to get to the 4th semester level?</p>
<p>You take a placement exam over the summer or at Orientation. Pretty quick and painless. It's online.</p>
<p>Depending on what semester you get placed in, you have to take up through the 4th semester to be done. I</p>
<p>My teacher surprisingly told me that sometimes it isn't good to be placed in high classes at the start of your first semester college. She said that students should always use refresher courses and that sometimes kids are placed in courses where they are not really at the level of and end up getting bad grades. This seems quite logical because taking a notch down would refresh you on the material while also maintaining good grades. Are the placement tests accurate at all? Also if you are placed in a class, are you able to go down a level in the course?</p>
<p>The French and Spanish placement exams can actually be taken online, I think. Go to the Modern Languages Department website and check, but I'm pretty sure they're online now.</p>
<p>aznmatrix, the language department website says that it is not recommended that you take a lower level class than the one you tested into, because you will start remembering things better and you will quickly become bored. And bored kids don't do well.</p>
<p>^^
yes, and it's a lot easier to switch into a lower-level class from a higher one than it is a lower level up.</p>
<p>At Orientation, you can talk to an advisor in your language before you sign up for a class. You can let him know your background, and then he can help you decide if the semester you placed into is best.</p>
<p>If you take a less well known language, they'll likely suggest a placement based on your SAT2 or AP score.</p>
<p>thanks everyone, i had another question:
someone sent me a link on the bu website for sample class schedules.
none of them included the writing requirement.
do freshmen take 4 classes including the writing class? or is it extra?</p>
<p>First semester you can only take 4 classes, writing included.</p>
<p>thanks, and do most people take intro classes to their major freshmen year or are you advised to fulfuill the divisional requirements?</p>
<p>You can take 1 credit classes at FitRec like dance or kickboxing or the like. You can take some things like a band or orchestra for credit or not. You get a few extra points that very slightly raise your GPA but then you may have stricter attendance requirements. </p>
<p>BU is pretty careful about making sure students can succeed. You need to have a reasonable GPA to be able to take 5 classes after your first year. All that stuff will be gone over with you and everything is listed in your specific college bulletin.</p>
<p>is taking 5 classes a big deal if your 5th class is a 1 or 2 credit elective? as a freshman i mean</p>
<p>If freshmen can't take more than 4 classes, why do most engineering schedules have 5 classes first semester freshmen year?</p>