<p>Are the incoming freshman students expected to select their courses for the entire year or only for the fall quarter? How is this process typically done? Do the counselors expect students to have already decided which courses they will specifically take? Thanks.</p>
<p>Judging from my D's experience 2 years ago, you'll map out a course sequence for the year but only pick classes for the fall. Late each quarter, you pick classes for the following quarter. The system has a good deal of flexibility.</p>
<p>It would help, of course, if you had some idea in advance regarding what to take, but you'll also have time to ask questions during o week. For instance, each department has reps to help first years decide classes.</p>
<p>Keep in mind, too, that a great deal of what you might take in the sciences and math is influenced by your performance on the math or calc placement tests. </p>
<p>Chicago offers lots of courses and multiple sections for the more popular. It has also been known to add sections to meet unexpected demand. You'll also learn about begging your way into a closed class. (it's not called that, of course)</p>
<p>Unlike some large state U, you will not have trouble getting the classes you need.</p>
<p>Things you will be expected to have done by the time you meet with your advisor (there are a couple of group sessions first to give you general information, including what you need to do before you meet one-on-one to register):</p>
<p>-Pick a Humanities sequence (first-years basically all take the HUMA core, so knowing which one you'd like is helpful).</p>
<p>Beyond that, much depends on your field of study (or what it might be) and results from placements tests.</p>
<p>If you're planning on (or thinking about) medical school or a science major, course selection can be pretty much made without you choosing much (depending on Calculus placment, language placement, etc.). </p>
<p>You only pick your fall quarter classes specifically, though with HUMA it's a two- or three-quarter sequence (third is optional, recommended for lots of things). If you have to (or want to) take multiple quarters of a language, that wouldn't change each quarter, either. Calculus and science sequences are also often (depending on placement) multiple quarters. </p>
<p>Usually not much changes between the fall and winter quarter of first year, schedule-wise.</p>
<p>So before you get to Chicago, you should proabably know whether the sciences are in your future plans (or medical school). That will direct you in which direction to proceed as you consider specific classes (which most people seem to do in earnest during O-Week).</p>
<p>There are roughly two types of courses: sequences, and everything else. If you register for a class in a sequence you're automatically registered the next quarter for the next class in the sequence, if it exists. For other classes, e.g., those that only last a quarter, you register on a per-quarter basis. Most of the classes you register for your first year are sequences (e.g., humanities, social sciences, language courses, science courses, math courses, etc.).</p>
<p>Dio, correct me if I'm wrong, but even for sequences, you have a chance to try for a better section (better prof or time etc.) each quarter?</p>
<p>Yes. Just because you're automatically signed up for the next course in the sequence doesn't mean you can't drop it and add another course, or the same course in a different section. Just make sure whatever class you want to add actually has room, because it is possible to drop a class, have someone take your spot, and then find out that there is no room in the class you wanted to take. Oops!</p>
<p>Also, before the add/drop period there is something called "course bidding" where you create an "ideal" schedule plus some fallbacks. Some voodoo behind the scenes (i.e., the Registrar) decides who gets what courses in bidding. This is so signing up for courses isn't a total free-for-all and people who actually need to take a course for their concentration can get preferential treatment.</p>
<p>All of this is done via a web interface and it's pretty obvious. As I recall, and it's been four years now, you don't actually do this your very first quarter. There, you create an "ideal" list and bring it to your counselor who then discusses your choices, recommends classes, signs you up, etc. some time during O-week.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info! I'd been wondering....</p>