<p>So I researched a bit into freshmen seminars. and I have some questions. It would be really nice if you guys can help me out with this stuff :)</p>
<p>So basically, I've heard that first semester you aren't allowed to take more than 4 courses. So lets say I take a seminar, then another course will be Expos 20 or 10, does that mean I just have two more slots? With this, how will my GPA be determined since the seminar is a UNSAT/SAT? If its just out of three courses, then the GPA can fluctuate very easily :S</p>
<p>Thank you gibby. So considering the fact that I will be able to take 5 courses second semester, is it better to avoid taking a seminar course first semester? I might apply to law school after undergrad, and I don’t want to kill my GPA first semester. Plus I’m not an exceptional writer, and I’ll be taking either Expos 10 or 20 freshmen year as well :S Any suggestions?</p>
<p>^^^ Seminars are a great way to explore a subject that captivates your interest. Alan Dershowitz taught a seminar last fall, which was not available in the spring. So, the best advice I can give: follow your passion, wherever that may lead. If you find a seminar you want to take in the fall, sign up for it.</p>
<p>BTW: As all freshman are required to take Expos, the course is randomly assigned to half the class in the fall. You don’t have much choice as when you can take it; those not assigned to Expos in the fall, must take it in the spring.</p>
<p>Yeah, I totally understand that man. But after my freshman year in high school, I really don’t want to screw up GPA in college. Those median GPAs of top law schools are really high, as much as I hate it, I’ll have to make sure my GPA stays high, especially since I am quite sure I can’t score very high on the LSAT. With three courses, I will be taking a big risk. I will see the options available second semester. Hopefully I can find some good seminars then And I’ll also talk to my advisor and see what he/she has to say Thanks a lot for the input, really appreciate it :)</p>
<p>I don’t understand your concern. GPA is compounded by course, not by semester. So your grade in class X will still count as 1/32 (or 31, 33, 34, whatever) of your overall GPA, regardless of whether or not it accompanies 2 or 3 other classes.</p>
<p>I doublechecked this with my own GPA. I took 4 graded classes first semester and 3 graded classes + 1 seminar second semester. My GPA is the sum of my graded classes divided by 7, not the average of the two semesters. </p>
<p>D opted for no freshmen seminars. First semester she had no space. She ended up being assigned the first semester Expos 20 (if you don’t know that yet, you get assigned wich semester you will be taking that course). </p>
<p>Then second semester, D decided to not take a seminar in order to take a graded course in which she hoped to get a high grade for better GPA. Having taken the not recommended 5 problem set courses over two semesters, this was a good choice.</p>
<p>I don’t get the sense that she felt she missed out. (I can try to remember to ask her directly)</p>
<p>Things I know for sure. She is extremely grateful for the miracle of her passing out of foreign language. This is not her strength nor an area of interest and would have been two more classes to fit in.</p>
<p>She was actually surprise by enjoying her expo class.</p>
<p>Has concluded that she hates math - though that was not the case before Harvard. She now wants to avoid it at all costs but may not have that option.</p>
<p>Don’t think she was fully thrilled with her introductory science courses.</p>
<p>For the most part, this was not the happiest of years with regard to enjoying her studies but to keep her options open, she had to do what she had to do.</p>
<p>She is looking forward to this coming year.</p>
<p>Here were her courses last year:
Expos 20 - Ethics of Human Experimentation
Math 1a
LS1b
SLS 20
(ie two clsses w/ problem sets, 1 class w/ additional lab, two classes w/ added section)</p>
<p>Math 1b
PS1
LS1b
Antro 1165 - Digging the Glyphs
(ie three classes w/ problems sets, 2 classes w/ additional lab, three classesw w/ added section)</p>
<p>xr: Quite a few people get their first choice—not as many as get their first choice for Expos, but still quite a few. I got my fourth choice but still enjoyed it a lot, and there are so many options that you will have more of a problem paring down your list than finding interesting seminars.</p>
<p>Freshman seminars are awesome: it’s like a two-hour discussion section, except that you have a professor instead of a TF and there’s essentially no homework other than reading. (It depends on the seminar, of course, but most are pretty low-key.) You might even consider taking two of them, one each semester. I know some people who did this, and I strongly considered doing it but had to take a foreign language class instead. Sure, a seminar doesn’t contribute to your GPA, but it’s kind of nice to have a class where you don’t have to worry too much about the grade so you can devote a little more time to your others.</p>
<p>2b: Almost everyone I know enjoyed their seminars, so it might be more helpful to name ones that people <em>didn’t</em> like. The point of seminars is discussion, and sometimes a professor will come into a seminar and treat it like a lecture, which is kind of pointless. I heard that this was the case with “The Atomic Nucleus on the World Stage,” but that’s the only seminar still in existence that I can remember that hearing about.</p>
<p>My daughter loved her seminar - still says it was one of her favorite courses. She took it first semester and was very glad to have had the experience of a small class that semester.</p>
<p>“Comparative National Security of Middle Eastern Countries” was like that too.</p>
<p>Though I wouldn’t argue that a lecture-heavy seminar is “pointless.” If I am taking a ~10 student class with a knowledgable member of his/her field, why do I want to listen to a bunch of college freshmen for 90% of the class? Sure, additional questions and insights are great. But given the choice between listening to what a former National Security Advisor to the government of Israel has to say about national security in the Middle East and what Jimmy from Wigglesworth has to say, I’ll take the former anyday. As long as the professor gives time for questions and allows students to contribute in some way, I don’t see the problem with a lecture-heavy seminar. It’s just like taking a normal class but you get to meet and speak to an interesting professor more often.</p>
And I’ll also talk to my advisor and see what he/she has to say 
Thanks a lot for the input, really appreciate it :)</p>