So my academic advisor emailed me last saying that due to my SAT score, I was able to waive the regular English class (ENGL1050) to a higher level class (ENGL1051). I would still have to make up the credits later on but I would basically skip Freshman English.
Now, however, my Dad is saying that taking a higher level class is too much stress for me my Freshman year and that I should email my academic advisor and tell her I want to switch back. I am going to ask her if it’s possible to change classes at this point (orientation is a week from Wednesday) but should I stick with the higher level class? I survived AP Lit if that counts for anything.
I would say that a higher level English (especially with just a one number change) shouldn’t be too difficult. English doesn’t have as much of a necessary flow and ramp up in difficulty (note: I’m not saying it’s easier or harder, it’s just more variable). When people want to skip into a higher chemistry class, then I’d caution them against it unless they REALLY know their stuff, just because it’s a more linear flow of difficulty.
Looking at the course numbers, they’re both Freshman English. Students probably take 1050 in the fall and 1051 in the spring. There’s not really an increase in difficulty, just a different class. I would skip it and use the credits to take an extra elective you’re interested in. I would have loved to skip the low level English classes as they were very easy for me.
I doubt that the difference in actual difficulty between the two courses is very great. My English requirement included Composition I, which was more essay based and included writing a narrative essay, persuasive essay, descriptive essay, and a couple other types, and Composition II which was focused on writing research papers and only involved two papers throughout the semester. There wasn’t really much of a difference in difficulty though. Not in the sense of a 100 level course versus a 300 or 400 level course.
Thank you all so much, I think I’m going to keep the class in this case then.
If, for some reason, it seems to difficult right away, your school probably offers a week or so of adding and dropping classes with no penalty.
I would skip it.
English, if it’s a class you can reach by skipping, then you shouldn’t have trouble with it. Also, I’ve found that English classes don’t ramp up in difficulty too much.
If they’re letting you skip it, it’s because you don’t need it.
Freshmen writing classes can be pretty remedial. You’ll be fine. If it turns out to be too much, drop the upper level course and drop down either that semester or another semester.