Hi everyone,
I am going to be a first year next school year. I will most likely major in biochemistry or biology, does anyone have any tips on class selection? How it works? What we should look out for? Stuff to avoid? Any amazing teachers in specific (science department)? What is the average number of classes students at Wellesley take?
Thanks!
I am sure you will get great suggestions, but a couple of general comments. It can be hard at all colleges for freshman to get all the classes they want because they register last. Don’t freak out when this happens – take classes to fulfill general graduation requirements if choices in your major are limited. Also, use Rate My Professor to check out info – take the obvious sour grapes posts with a grain of salt, but you can see overall patterns for a prof. Consider taking classes at an unpopular time if it gets you the best profs. And don’t take a really heavy load 1st semester.
Students typically take 4 courses a semester. Don’t take more than one lab class your first semester, or take more than 4 classes your first semester. Give yourself a chance to get used to the rigor first. You will meet with an advisor to assist you.
Since the first semester is “shadow graded,” meaning that your grades will be hidden on your transcript, try to take whatever distribution requirement you dread and struggle through. Hate history and all that long boring reading and memorizing? Take history.
Students take 4 classes, but 1 of yours will likely already be chosen for you–your required first year writing class. The course browser is up and you can see what is out there right now. https://courses.wellesley.edu After the class of 2019 registers (this upcoming Thursday), you will be able to see exactly how many spots are left in each class too. Choose “Writing” for Department to see the Fall 2016 writing courses. Some of them have an extra day and you can use those to also fulfill a distribution requirement. It’s kind of nice to check off two requirements with one class.
Try to fit a “First Year Seminar” in if you don’t get your assigned writing class in the first semester (some get it for 2nd semester). Over the summer you will get a list where they ask you your preferences. Most get one of their preferences, but certainly not everybody (so don’t expect it).
As far as taking two science labs, it isn’t encouraged, but you certainly can do it. My D’s advisor told her it would be fine for her to do that. And it was.
Take your placement tests and figure out your language requirements as soon as you can before anything, though!
You will register with tremendous guidance at the end of Orientation. There is a person assigned to help you and they will give you all kinds of tips. This is a separate person from your advisor, who will help you pick classes. It will probably be an upperclassman from your dorm or a nearby dorm.
Also, you won’t need to buy an agenda book. Wellesley will give you a very nice one when you get there. You WILL need your own safety glasses for your science classes. They are available in the bookstore but you might want to look around for something comfortable.
My quick tip: Have the course numbers for classes you want to take typed in a Word document on your computer. The second registration opens, copy and paste the number(s) in for the class(es) you most desperately want to take. Then hit “register” so you can claim your spot before the class closes. You have to be quick on the trigger for some courses, especially the popular ones.