FTCAP Day

Colleges and Universities A-Z Penn State
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<p>Information on this forum over the past several months has been invaluable. I hope this post, although long, will be beneficial to some readers.</p>

<p>FTCAP Day</p>

<p>My S hat his FTCAP day on Friday, May 12. Since we live about 4 hours away, we made hotel reservations and arrived on late Thursday afternoon. Taking the advice of a post made, I believe, last year, we suggested that S attempt to get his I.D. that afternoon. We dropped S off in front of the Schreyer Honors College building (Atherton Hall) and had him run up to the HUB to see if he could get his I.D. I followed while my H went to check into the hotel. By the time I arrived at the HUB, my S already had his I.D. This proved to be very advantageous the next day. When we arrived at the Thomas building on Friday morning at about 7:40 a.m., there was a crowd waiting to receive the initial information packet and quick presentation. By the time we received ours, it was approximately 8:00 a.m. We were sent to the HUB with the instructions for S to get his I.D. card and e-mail address. We were also told to return to the Thomas Building by 8:30. When we arrived at the HUB, there was a long line waiting to get I.D.s. Since S already had his, we bypassed the line and went to the one for e-mail addresses. After a very short wait (no more than a few minutes), S sat down at a computer and completed the e-mail task. When we left to return to the Thomas Building, there was still a line for I.D.s. I later heard a parent comment that he had been waiting in line with his student to get his/her I.D. but had to leave before receiving it because they had to get back for the 8:30 meeting. </p>

<p>The meeting consisted of two presentations which took place between about 8:30 and 9:15. At 9:15, students left the room and reported to another designated room. Parents were then sent out into the hallway to receive copies of their student’s Profile of Academic Abilities. We then returned to the auditorium where the profile was explained to us. We were then divided into two groups. One group was given a break while the other had a conference with a Division of Undergraduate Studies Advisor. Then the groups switched. The break for each group lasted about 40 minutes, which was enough time to walk over to the HUB and get a cup of coffee. After the Advisor meetings, both parent groups reunited for another presentation which lasted until about 12:40. </p>

<p>During this same time frame, students were given there own set of profiles and presentations. They were then taken to the MBNA Career Services Building for an Individual Educational Planning Meeting with an advisor. </p>

<p>At about 12:40, we met up with our S. We had until about 1:45 to catch some lunch and get to the College of enrollment meetings. It was suggested to get lunch at the HUB, but since S’s college meeting was at the Hammond Building along College Avenue, we opted to grab a sandwich in town. After lunch, we proceeded to the college meeting. According to the information, each of these meetings varies. Our meeting consisted of an approximate one hour presentation followed by being divided into groups. Each group wast sent to a specified room to meet with a College Advisor. The advisor helped students select their courses. They were also given a packet with available courses and sections to begin setting up their schedule. (We were very fortunate in that, a few days before we attended FTCAP, we used the Penn State online catalogue of courses to come up with a schedule for S. It saved a lot of time.) The students were then sent to another room to enter their schedule online. We finished up sometime between 4:00 and 4:30 p.m. </p>

<p>Although the day was very long, it was well organized. There was a lot of information covered. All Penn State personnel were friendly and helpful.</p>

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<p>Wow, karp. exactly what I was looking for.Thank You for posting. I was hoping you could answer a few questions What happens with your AP's? I have a # of possible AP credits and just took 5 more tests last week. I do not want to repeat some of these classes but obviously won't have the scores back yet. I have not yet reported my AP scores of last year figuring I would just have them sent for free with the new scores. I had no idea we would schedule this early.</p>

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<p>If you go to the Penn State site, they have a listing of what tests/scores they issue credit for. What we did find out is that PSU gives you credit for your APs after you complete your first semester. So if you know you got/think you will get the scores necessary to get credit, you can consider not scheduling the class. That is what S did, even though his scores will not be back until the summer. There are other courses, specifically Math 140 (AP Calculus AB), that it was suggested, that even if S gets the score necessary for credit, he take the course at PSU, due to different teaching methods and that it is a first in a series of courses.</p>

<p>I would suggest you make a list of specific questions regarding this subject and discuss it with the advisors during your individual meetings on your FTCAP day.</p>

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<p>Thanks. You have made my upcoming visit much clearer. Do you know if you can use your AP grade to move up to a higher level course but not actually accept the credits. I will have alot of credit but don't want to graduate early. I can't find the answer to this on the site. Thanks</p>

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<p>I don't know if you can use AP solely for placement without taking the credit. That would be an excellent question to ask an advisor. However, you might consider taking the credit for the course/courses and then take some courses that interest you that don't count for your major/minor to avoid graduating early. Graduation is based on having the right number of credits in the right categories, not the total number of credits you have.</p>

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<p>ConanFan314</p>

<p>Also, if you take the credits, you can also take some easier semesters. Instead of taking 16-17 credits, maybe you can schedule some 13-14 credit semesters. (You need 12 credits to be full-time). The reduced load can enable you to dedicate more effort to the courses you are taking (especially in a semester with hard courses) and participate more fully in extracurricular activities/clubs/organizations/community service.</p>

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<p>karp4170,</p>

<p>Did you guys use </p>

<p><a href="http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/$crmenu.htm"&gt;http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/$crmenu.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>to pick out courses?</p>

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<p>Serge1188</p>

<p>We used the following </p>

<p><a href="http://soc.our.psu.edu/soc/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://soc.our.psu.edu/soc/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>I had no idea that graduation wasn't based soley on the # of credits. That certainly opens things up. Thank you for your input.</p>

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<p>I am scheduled for FTCAP on Tuesday, May 23, and I have not received anything (packets, letters, etc.) in the mail yet. I have also received no notifications regarding if I should take proficiency exams or not. Has anyone received any sort of communication from Penn State since the pink postcard was mailed?</p>

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<p>Setzwzman</p>

<p>The pink postcard is it. You will receive a bag of info when you get there. Don't worry...things are covered at the meetings. Make a list of questions and if they are not covered in the general presentations, ask the advisor when you have your individual meeting. S told me that the advisor he had spent a lot of time talking to him. Just relax, its nothing to be stressed out about. You have already done the hard stuff....gotten admitted and taken the placement tests.</p>

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<p>My d was also at the ftcap last yr. We also got there a day early and started the process about 3:30, she was able to get her id, and if I recall the e-mail also that day. So the next day we didn't have to get there with everyone else, we were able to go an hour later. Also we opted to have lunch downtown, and not the hub. If I was doing it again, I would go to the hub, because they had all kinds of booths set up for different clubs, jobs etc.. which we missed. (My daughter is very active and outgoing, but for someone who isn't I think its a good idea). Also the day before we were able to sign her up for her bank account there in the hub also.</p>

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<p>To verify-- the PNC Bank branch is at the HUB, and the id+ and Access Account services are at Thomas?</p>

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<p>That's Basically what happened karp4170. ( My advising day was Today)</p>

<p>the lectures and stuff were kind of borring, but the Advising and Scheduling stuff was very informational. Being Undecided it really got you on a track for picking a Major. I still don't know if that will be in Bussiness or History or MAYBE Something else. But I do know that I now have a plan for this fall.</p>

<p>I now taking 15 credits. And I don 't have any classes after 4 any day of the week and on friday my last class is over at 12. HOW COOL is that.</p>

<p>Also,,you sign up for your Football Season Tickets on the Advising Day.</p>

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<p>JoeySweets</p>

<p>Where did you sign up for fb tickets? No one mentioned it when we were there.</p>

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<p>In the HUB there was a Table and a guy handed out a blue sheet of paper. Maybe you or your kid can sign up on the Internet. I bet they have something like that.</p>

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<p>JoeySweets</p>

<p>Thanks for the info. Seems that the day S was there, they did not have the table set up. Just started doing it this week. Info will be sent home in about a week or so. Thanks again.</p>

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<p>P.S. JoeySweets</p>

<p>Glad that your FTCAP day resulted in a plan for the fall. Good luck exploring majors.</p>

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<p>Thanks, I'm going to need it. But I'm sure I'll eventually figure something out, so HOPEFULLY by the time I schedule Sophomore Classes, I'll know what I want to be when I get into the real world.</p>

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<p>How did some of you guys get to schedule ftcap so early. I thought they didn't start until the 23rd.?</p>