<p>The only classes I know I am going to take are MATH 1320 (Calculus II), MATH 3351 (Elementary Linear Algebra) and CS 1111 (Introduction to Programming). I've been looking at the course list, and everything interesting seems to be taken. I'm looking to fill some area/foreign language requirements, and I would preferably want something humanities-esque with the nature of those courses above. I was considering waiting until Spring to start foreign language, but I want to take two more classes first semester. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>I do know this- A class that seems full may not be. They open up slots throughout orientations. So I’ve heard.</p>
<p>The most popular classes with the best profs often do fill up before 1st year students get to register. That’s OK - you have 3 more years in which you will get to register for those classes before the 1st years. Also, many 1st year students do get classes through the wait list process - many many people switch classes before they start, which opens up spots.</p>
<p>Most students concentrate on getting required classes out of the way their first year. If you are considering alternative majors or concentrations, first year is also a good time to test them out.</p>
<p>Yes, space is opened up for common first year classes for each day of course registration. In other words, if you want to take intro chem, there might be 100 spots for the first registration day, 100 spots for the second registration day, etc. Each student is assigned a particular registration day, and the system is designed to avoid being unfair to the students with the later dates. The U. will provide much more info later about the course registration process. </p>
<p>Be sure to use “Lou’s List” (it shows up on a google search) to scan through classes. Just make sure you are looking at the Fall 2012 list - the old ones are still online. It is easier to use that site to do searches than the SIS system.</p>
<p>What language were you thinking about? For Spanish, the system does not work well for someone trying to start from scratch, because there are not many sections of the basic intro class.</p>
<p>People often overlook the small seminars, which are taught by regular professors. They are limited to first years.</p>
<p>Also, most students can take 2 phys ed classes of one credit each.</p>
<p>Note - the above comments are based upon my son’s experience last year with registering for the College. There may be different situations this year, or for other programs.</p>
<p>Here is some free advice on first year, first semester course registration – </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Study the course selections on SIS and through Lou’s list BEFORE arriving for orientation. One area UVa could definitely improve upon is academic advising for new students. Frankly, it is virtually nonexistent for students in CLAS. Accordingly, it pays to study up on courses on your own. See Lou’s list to easily see what courses are being offered Fall 2012. See Course Forum for info on courses and especially professors. Look at the web pages for the departments you are interested in, too.</p></li>
<li><p>For intro/general first year-type classes, additional seats will be added for each orientation session, so don’t despair if they are closed before your session. That said, earlier registration times within each orientation are better, but you will not know your time until you check into orientation. So, COME WITH LISTS OF BACK-UP CLASSES in case your first choices are full before you register.</p></li>
<li><p>Foreign language – If you want to start a new language at UVa, look at Lou’s list for prior semesters to see if there are into classes offered second semester. They definitely are ONLY offered first semester for Spanish. You will NOT be able to start Spanish until second year, unless things change this year. That may be also be true for other languages, as well. Don’t ignore the summer intensive language institutes, during which you can fulfill your entire language requirement in one summer.</p></li>
<li><p>COLA classes – you can search for these on Lou’s List. These are 1 credit small seminars taught by senior professors for CLAS students. They are only offered first semester, at present. The theory for these classes is you will learn about a subject area from an expert, and that expert will be your academic advisor until you declare your major. This Fall both the University Provost and the Dean of CLAS were slated to teach COLA classes, last time I checked. If you are considering one of these, research the professors in advance to figure out who they are and their departments, since they will be your advisor. There will be a couple seats in each COLA class opened for each orientation session.</p></li>
<li><p>USEMs – again search Lou’s List – these are 2 or sometimes 3 credit small seminars taught by senior professors, but without the advising component. A couple seats in each will open for each orientation session. They are a great way to fill out your schedule, if one of your other classes is more than 3 credits. You will only be allowed to register for 15 hours or less at your registration appointment.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Hope this is helpful, and not too early in the process . . .</p>
<p>Do you need to take the first writing requirement?</p>
<p>Are you interested in fine arts or religion? anth/soc/psych are all moderate to easy workloads with interesting topics.</p>
<p>You should elaborate more on which area requirements you still need (you get a lot of credit from AP) and what you are interested in besides cs/math. You could look at taking the “music and computers” class which counts for the BA CS major, or other “integration electives” which you can find on the ba cs page.</p>
<p>I don’t need the first writing requirement as I got a 5 on the AP Eng Lang exam. I need one of the humanities credits, the social science credits, and the non-western perspective credit. Not sure about foreign language until the placement test. I don’t really have that much to fulfill. Fine arts are alright, religion is pretty interesting, and the anth/soc/pysch classes seem decent albeit boring. I’m taking Eng Lit this year, but I’m not sure if that will get me out of anything.</p>
<p>There is a great bioethics class you could look into taking. There is an astronomy class that fulfills non-western and is awesome, called archaeoastronomy. Considering it will be easy for you to knock out the few requirements you have left, you should definitely take a foreign language class (don’t be afraid to start a new language… Especially something like German/French/Russian if you ever want to go to math grad school) and then one other class that sounds interesting enough to you for humanities/soc sci. Psychology is probably the most interesting because it has some science with it (that is what I ended up taking for that requirement). Don’t take 101, take one of the 2000 levels that is more specialized but has no prereq.</p>
<p>Have you taken or heard anything about PHIL 1710 Human Nature? From Courseforum, I get the vibe that it is somewhat boring and a lot of memorization, but it sounds at least somewhat interesting. The only real complaint was that the only grades are 2-3 long papers, but I’m a pretty strong writer and that way I could fulfill an area requirement and the second writing requirement together.</p>
<p>If it’s 2ww, you’ll be writing over 20 pages, which is a lot. You might save that for 2nd semester at earliest.</p>
<p>It is PHIL 1710. From what I saw on student testimonies the papers were all <10 pages, though with all of the writing combined it could fulfill the second writing requirement.</p>
<p>20 pages combined is still 20 pages… Don’t kid yourself.</p>
<p>Well, that is true…</p>
<p>FWIW, PHIL 1710 is not listed on Lou’s List as a class meeting the Second Writing Requirement. See [UVa</a> Class Schedule for Fall 2012 (Unofficial. Lou’s List)](<a href=“http://rabi.phys.virginia.edu/mySIS/CS2/index.php]UVa”>http://rabi.phys.virginia.edu/mySIS/CS2/index.php), and click on “Arts & Sciences Requirements” (under the listing of A & S departments).</p>
<p>Does it say in the SIS course description that it does?</p>
<p>I was unaware that the class has to be off that specific list. I was going off of the CAS wesbite: </p>
<p>"To meet the Second Writing Requirement, a class must:</p>
<p>-Assign at least two writing assignments in English totaling 4,000 words (20 pages) or more independent of quizzes and final examinations
-Have a student/faculty ration no greater than 30/1</p>
<p>Any course meeting these standards can satisfy the Second Writing Requirement. " </p>
<p>[Competency</a> Requirements | The Undergraduate College of Arts & Sciences, U.Va.](<a href=“http://college.artsandsciences.virginia.edu/requirements/competency]Competency”>http://college.artsandsciences.virginia.edu/requirements/competency)</p>
<p>Usually only 4th years can get professors to sign 2wr forms when a class doesn’t meet it by default. If the professor offers for the whole class it is another story. But it is paperwork for them and usually modifying the class requirements so they don’t do it often. I met the 2wr through a math class fwiw.</p>