<p>My son and I have been debating if he should register for more than 15 credits in SEAS during the summer orientation. He would like to double major.</p>
<p>He is now takiing 5 AP's plus an elective. Grade is A/B. So taking an extra class should be manageable.</p>
<p>He plans to major in biomed. Since the number of space for this major is limited, should he concentrate on his GPA the first year? Any comments from those take more than 15 credits at SEAS or at UVA?</p>
<p>I'm in engineering at VT, and trying to double major in engineering AND keep up both GPAs is hard. Really hard. Also, taking above 15 credits is not unheard of. First year he will take 15 credits, then 17 the next. Would I go over those numbers? Not in a million years. First semester is tough enough because he'll be trying to get used to college life and getting used to the rigors of engineering. And for second semester, 20 credit hours is somewhat academic suicide for most people. First semester he could easily add on a USEM, which are 1 credit seminars. But I would stick to BmE, minor in whatever he was planning on doublemajoring in, and enjoy college. That's my two cents from an engineer...</p>
<p>davhu,</p>
<p>i don't know the class credits in the eschool, but my first semester first year i took 17 credits. i think the most important thing is not to take more than 5 classes--but there are plenty of 4 credit classes that require nothing extra of you besides showing up for an extra hour of class. these are usually beneficial, art history 101 and hieu201 (basic old western civ) are easy classes that are pretty much guarrenteed As if you put minimal effort it, AND are 4 credit As.</p>
<p>He'd take 2 3-credit classes (Chemistry and STS), 1 1-credit lab (chem), 2 4-credit classes (Engineering, Calc). That's 5 classes, which is a lot. Especially for engineering. Second semester is 2 4-credit classes (Physics, Calc), 3 3-credit classes (Computer Science, Science Elective, Humanities Elective)</p>
<p>I took 18 my first semester, my additional class was ECON201. ENGR162 barely qualifies as a class and seeing as that's 4 credit hours, 18 is reasonable. What class are you thinking about adding in? The most reasonable first year e-school class to add is probably CS101 and if your son has had programming then the class will be relatively easy.</p>
<p>When I was a first year, I took 17 credits in SEAS. I already had credit for STS and took the CHEM lab the summer before so I took CS 101 and a USEM in there place. That was my best academic semester so far. Since the required minimum number of credits for E-school is 15, it's okay to go one or two credits above that. The rule of thumb that I acquired early in the game is to tread lightly with going with 18 credits and STAY AWAY FROM 19+! I know people who have suffered through taking 19 or 18 credits and the results are always bad ranging from withdrawing classes to retaking two classes and delaying graduation (E-schoolers have to graduate in 5 years unlike everyone else). Taking more than 15 credits is not that dangerous. Since he is taking 5 APs, then your son would be fine when he comes in the fall. He may work harder than me (a rising third year taking 14.5 credits in the fall).</p>
<p>Protean, I resent you accusation that ENGR 162 barely qualifies a 4 credit class. The lab is a joke, but I worked hard in my robotics class. I worked on my robot in the bowels of the C-wing with lack of materials and sanity while the other robotics class gets whatever they needed. Doesn't matter now. I got my A.</p>
<p>Thank all.</p>
<p>He could take either a science or a HSS elective. Another option is to take physics lab if he get credit for AP physics. He already took a computer science class last summer at Carnegie Mellon and will try to get it as transfer credit.</p>
<p>Anyone knows how competitive is for biomed? Do they look at gpa only or do they consider course overload?</p>
<p>Hey jags, any other classes like art 101 that you can think of :D</p>
<p>The biomed department has an application process that includes essays and the like. They look at GPA and credits, but they go beyond that unlike the other capped majors (CpE, CS, Systems).</p>
<p>I know this thread is about students taking more than 15 credits but what about the other situation? All the classes I am interested in are 3 credits, and a USEM for a total of 14 credits. Thumbs up? Lazy start?</p>
<p>Thumbs up BGjeez. Take what you want to take. If you've got the AP credit you might as well use it.</p>
<p>College students should take 12-16 anyway so you're in the clear. I am taking 14.5 in the fall so it's not like you will be ridiculed.</p>
<p>haha next fall im totally taking 12, with one class pass/fail. i dont know what im going to do with myself with all that time, but i cant deal with another semester like this one. its basically gonna be amazing. but im clas and i came in with a yr of credits so im pretty much able to do that for the rest of my time here... kinda awesome.</p>
<p>Going back to the BME question -- 88 applied this last spring for the Class of 2010's 60 slots (the class was just selected this week). When I applied, I was told that grades matter most. Diversity also matters, but so do your extracurricular activities. Therefore, if you are a white male, stick with 15 hours. Not only does that help your GPA, but that also leaves some slack time for e-school activities.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that if you do double major, BME pushes research hard, so I'm not sure how much time there is available for two majors.</p>
<p>yikes, standard Rodman first year is 6 classes,</p>
<ul>
<li>ENGR 141R Synthesis and Design I
CHEM 151 Intro. Chemistry
CHEM 151L Intro. Chemistry Lab</li>
<li>STS 200R Scientific and Technical Thinking</li>
<li>PHYS 142R Intro. Physics
APMA 111 Calculus I</li>
</ul>
<p>of course, I can probably get out of physics and calculus. Maybe STS, I forget how that works. Either way I would probably replace those with other math and physics classes. <em>scared smiley</em></p>
<p>sts is possibly the easiest class you will ever encounter...i wouldn't worry.</p>
<p>CHEM 151 Lab is not as bad since it meets every other week. STS class difficulty depend on the professor. My STS 200 class was a joke. If it weren't for it being at 6 PM, I could have enough energy to get a A+. I have yet to find a person who never regretted placing out of APMA 111. APMA 111 makes APMA 212, 213, and beyond easier.</p>
<p>I guess, but considering that I have taken Calc I, Calc II, Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, and part of DiffQ, I think it would be a huge step backwards for me to start at Calc I ;)</p>
<p>um so are rodman scholars pretty much guaranteed the BME major if they maintain good GPA.??</p>
<p>and by activities- what are they looking for?</p>
<p>ehiunno - I agree. I assume you've got the necessary AP scores to place out of Calc 1 and 2. Depending on how comfortable with the material I would suggest taking the multivar placement test and possibly linear algebra (this one you have to schedule on your own). The further ahead you start in math the better off you'll be (assuming you got the math down).</p>
<p>BME I think is the only department that actually used any sort of application process/cap this past spring. Activities could include being active in e-school clubs and such.</p>