<p>I will be joining Rutgers Class of 2015 next fall. I am aware of the Orientation and the APA Days, but after doing some research online, I got some mixed reviews about the 'help" ill reiceve. While it is benefical that RU doesn't baby their students, I come from a family that has little to no experience with college and the processes it beings. I will be attending RU- NB, the School of Arts and Sciences. Just a few questions for anyone who's "been there" before.
How many credits do you recommend a frosh to take considering the adjustment?
Will I get classes I need, how prevalent is the "RU Screw"?
Are the advisors as unhelpful as the reviews say?
Thanks</p>
<p>I went to Rutgers Pharmacy school. My son is currently at Rutgers as a freshman. </p>
<p>12 to 15 credits would be reasonable for a 1st semester freshman. You may not get all your first choice classes so have alternates ready. You may have to take a time, or a campus, that you feel is not optimal, but you should be ok. </p>
<p>For his first semester, my son’s advisor registered him for classes and he seemed to get what he wanted. If you have any AP or college credits, that lets you register ahead of people with no credits (ie most other freshman) which can help when you are trying to get a Planet Earth class that is not 3 hours long. Second semester my son missed out on his first choice of some classes (because he was last priority to choose) but in the end he got a reasonable schedule considering his…parameters.</p>
<p>The RU Screw is not any more or less prevalent than the Real Life Screw so it helps you to get acclimated for the real world ahead of you.</p>
<p>Advisors will vary in their helpfulness so try to find other sources if you run into a roadblock. Tutoring is available if you need it but make sure to seek it out before things are dire. If you go to classes and keep up with the work you will find things very manageable (unless you’re in organic chem heh heh. I averaged around a 25-30 but ended up with a C. Not sure if things have changed!)</p>
<p>I know this may fall on deaf ears but Don’t Wait Til the Very Last Minute to study for a test or complete a paper. It makes all the difference in the world.</p>
<p>like rualum said, you will definitely leave your “comfort zone” at times. but it’s all a part of the experience, how will you be ready for the real world if you have been coddled through college?</p>
<p>Here’s a couple RU Screw experiences I’ve had (Not all of them pertain to scheduling) :
-Noise levels in dorms: this one you can’t really avoid at any college. I’ve had to adjust my sleeping schedule to fit my with my studying and social life. But I have to say, I love my dorm more than anything :)</p>
<p>-Scheduling: Freshman get the last of the options, and sometimes courses will close really fast. You just have to keep an eye out for when a class or desired time slot opens. Scheduling is a little easier for me since I’m an engineering major, I always feel bad for the SAS kids who don’t get the classes they wanted.</p>
<p>-Dealing with the Accounting Office and Academic Affairs Office. As a new student I was confused by the procedures that these offices follow, and apparently some secretaries aren’t aware that there ARE freshmen at Rutgers who are new with these kinds of people skills. Though I have to say, it helps to be put under this kind of pressure, because then you learn from your mistakes.</p>
<p>-Some of my professors have been downright horrible. Sometimes I wonder how these people even got hired! I usually have to teach myself a lot of things in those subjects, but it forces me to study hard :)</p>
<h2>-The bus/transportation system gets annoying at times.</h2>
<p>The thing about all these RU screws is that you learn a lot from them! You learn to grow up and deal with your complaints, like rualum said. At other colleges that may “hold your hand,” you may not learn these important lessons. Then you’ll end up with the Job Screw.</p>
<p>Is it true that you have to take 16 credits to be considered a full time student? Or could that just be a requirement at another school</p>
<p>It’s 12 credits for me, and I’m an Engineering student. However, I think that requirement is University wide</p>