<p>I had heard that certain sat scores make you exempt from some classes like frosh English or something. Any truth to this or anyone know details?</p>
<p>I know for the current freshman class, that is true.I don’t remember what the cut-off critical reading score was though. My son told me though that this would be the last year as Maryland was going to change their policy.</p>
<p>I thought they did away with SAT score exemptions. (For the English and Math requirement) However, AP credits still get you out.</p>
<p>My English teacher last semester told me either Fall 2011 or the next everyone was going to have to take freshman English. The good news is if you get an A in English 101 you don’t have to take Junior English. So it can pay off to just take it freshman year anyway.</p>
<p>TA’s in English 101 are encouraged to make it nearly impossible to get an A. (People in my frat have heard they’re actually paid to do so.)</p>
<p>ginab591 "TA’s in English 101 are encouraged to make it nearly impossible to get an A. (People in my frat have heard they’re actually paid to do so.)</p>
<p>That’s the most ridiculous thing I have seen on CC</p>
<p>Really? You’ve never read the college life, high school life, or parents forum then…</p>
<p>Well I know at least 5 people in my class of about 22 got an A. And my TA was a pretty harsh grader. The part that makes it hard to get an A is the fact that 3 papers make up 60% of the grade. My TA would give what he called solid papers an 85-88, which made getting an A hard because your papers had to be really great. It was a struggle, but it’s possible.</p>
<p>I APed out, so I’m only going off rumors, it just seems like the grades are disproportionately low given the difficulty of the class.</p>
<p>5/22 A’s That’s pretty good in my book. What do you expect all A’s?</p>
<p>[ENGL101</a> | OurUMD](<a href=“http://www.ourumd.com/class/ENGL101]ENGL101”>http://www.ourumd.com/class/ENGL101)</p>
<p>Compare to junior writing:</p>
<p>[ENGL390</a> | OurUMD](<a href=“http://www.ourumd.com/class/ENGL390]ENGL390”>http://www.ourumd.com/class/ENGL390)</p>
<p>[ENGL391</a> | OurUMD](<a href=“http://www.ourumd.com/class/ENGL391]ENGL391”>http://www.ourumd.com/class/ENGL391)</p>
<p>[ENGL392</a> | OurUMD](<a href=“http://www.ourumd.com/class/ENGL392]ENGL392”>http://www.ourumd.com/class/ENGL392)</p>
<p>[ENGL393</a> | OurUMD](<a href=“http://www.ourumd.com/class/ENGL393]ENGL393”>http://www.ourumd.com/class/ENGL393)</p>
<p>[ENGL394</a> | OurUMD](<a href=“http://www.ourumd.com/class/ENGL394]ENGL394”>http://www.ourumd.com/class/ENGL394)</p>
<p>[ENGL395</a> | OurUMD](<a href=“http://www.ourumd.com/class/ENGL395]ENGL395”>http://www.ourumd.com/class/ENGL395)</p>
<p>Legal Writing and Advanced composition are sort of low too, but they would be made more difficult because they’re geared towards majors and careers that already do decent amounts of writing.</p>
<p>The ENGL101 grade distribution is a lot more normal than the other courses. You’re more likely to actually learn something than in a class where the professor just gives everyone a blanket A. </p>
<p>Regardless, I placed out of ENGL101 with AP credit, and am taking junior english. Honestly, I don’t see why everyone is always so worried about needing to take a professional writing (junior english) class; it’s not that bad.</p>
<p>It is definitely normal compared to most other classes I’ve been in, especially English classes. I was just showing the difference in how easy junior English is.</p>
<p>I do agree with you and I’m in the same situation. I’m not worried about Junior English at all. The worst thing will be working it into my schedule.</p>
<p>^My TA had only given out 1 A in two sections combined on MyUmd prior to me taking his class, but like I said he gave out at least 5 A’s this time. He said we were a really good class, so I mean if you deserve the A, I think you’ll usually get it. I’m just glad I don’t have to take Jr. English…not that I think it will be really hard, but it’s one less thing I need to fit in later on now.</p>
<p>What is your major…i.e. why don’t you have to take one of the 390-series classes? I know that both of my Ds sure would have liked avoiding it. Neither of them considered it difficult, but neither found the class to be very useful, either…</p>
<p>I’m a Journalism major…I don’t have to take it because I got an A in English 101, so I’m exempt from Jr. English now. That’s why I was saying even though I think they’re making English 101 mandatory for everyone soon, if you can get the A you’ll get all the English requirements out of the way early.</p>