Going over credit limits

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
21

<p>db:</p>

<p>Normally I encourage first years to limit themselves to 15 hours or less for all the reasons some of the other posters have mentioned.</p>

<p>However, in your case, I believe you will do just fine with the schedule you discussed in your post. You might want to stick with it. The schedule lays out quite well from a day, time and location standpoint (depending on the schedule for your Biol and Chem labs), and it has a symmetry and variety that looks interesting. You'll probably find the workload and the material quite challenging, but I'm confident you'll be able to handle both very well. I've heard the Chem 181 Lab is pretty intense; hopefully you'll get a good TA, which helps a lot. Mr. Harman is awesome for the lecture class.</p>

<p>I say go with what you've planned out for now. If you get going with the schedule and find it's more than you bargained for, you can always drop one of the classes and still be above the minimum required hours. Also, if you get really stressed out, you can always look Baxter up and spend a little down time roaming the Grounds with him. I'm sure hanging out with him would be a welcome change of pace from your studies!</p>

<p>Also, FYI, the Biology 203 Lab is two (2) credits, not three (3). That gives you a total of 17 hours. You won't need your Association Dean's permission to take 17 hours (you would with 18 or more). You can simply wait for ISIS to reopen for all students (in mid August) and then sign up for whatever you didn't get at Orientation, thereby filling out the schedule you've got planned.</p>

<p>Good luck first semester. Please let me know how things work out for you.</p>

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<p>galosien: i signed up for CHEM 141 because at the time, I didn't know about CHEM 181. But if spots don't open up sometime during August or the first week (and I'm pretty sure some will), then I'm going to call or meet with Dr. Harman to see if he will let me join. Because it's such a a large lecture class, I'm betting he won't mind. However, getting into lab might be a different story.</p>

<p>and HHD: oops, it is indeed 2 credits. I just looked at the paper again. </p>

<p>so ALERT EVERYBODY: SORRY!! i think i caused a lot of problems. (but no worries! now i know how to go over semester limits.) :) but I love you all for caring so much. (and not killing me.)</p>

<p>Also, a few final notes.
1. I'm not taking classes to get advanced standing in picking classes. I pick classes based on what sounds interesting and what I want to study. Besides, after my AP credit kicks in, I already have 52. So 1 or 2 credits is peanuts right now. And honestly, I'm not willing to kill myself for a few months to be able to pick classes 10 minutes early. few months > 10 min. I understand that.
2. I'm somewhat familiar with what a college lab entails. I don't know what labs are like at UVa but I do know what labs are generally like through another university (on par, if not better than UVa). Now, I'm not saying I know exactly what to expect, but I have a hazy, electron cloud like idea. (haha get it?! don't worry. I laughed. :))
3. My schedule, in terms of time, and location, do lay out well for me. I have the most energy on Monday and then it slowly falls until I'm pooped on Friday. Similarly, I'm in class a lot on monday but I have like 2 classes on friday, one of which is a discussion. I know how I work and how I study, so based on those facts, I planned my schedule.
4. I know someone mentioned something about 5 midterms in a week. I know this may sound odd, but having 5 doesn't bother me. If that's how things work out, then that's how they work out. I'll have to deal with it. And besides, if I know my stuff, I'm not worried. If I don't and I'm trying to cram, then I'm going to have a problem. I had 8 AP tests this past May, and everyone was like w-t-f?! but it felt like a normal week because I knew my stuff and had been prepping for a while. The year before that, I had 4 and I crammed so I was completely stressed out. So if I prep, I'm fine. If I don't, I freak out.
5.
[quote]
Do to your GPA what you will, or save it with your lack of social life, whatever.

[/quote]

If you know how you learn and how you operate, then you can have a great GPA, hard classes, and a social life. There's no reason that you can't have it all. But, if you have too much of a social life (which is a problem for some incoming first years) or take too many credits than you can handle and are too arrogant to admit it (another possible problem), then you'll have a problem. Honestly, it's all about how well you know yourself and how you adapt knowing your limitations.</p>

<p>And I think that's all I had on my mind right now. HHD, thank you for the vote of confidence. And I'll most definitely let you know how my semester works out. And if I do get really stressed, I'll take Baxter out. I'm sure Dean J could use the break. :)</p>

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<p>lisieux - I come from one of those schools you just talked about and I would recommend you run far, far away from taking more than 15 credits your first semester. College academics are a whole different ballgame.</p>

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<p>Also, students from the ultra-competitive asian schools tend to do well academically at UVa, but far too many of them don't ever really "get" the extracurricular/social scene that US colleges promote. I'm sure melli can attest to this. While it's great to be an academic stud, it's also great to develop personally and have fun. What you learn in the classroom at UVa will hopefully only be a small part of what you take away from your college experience.</p>

25

<p>Thanks hazelorb,</p>

<p>Yes I'm from Canada. Calgary, Alberta. Not a Canucks fan, Go Flames!!!</p>

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<p>It's too bad CVille's hockey scene is nonexistant. The channel here in the US that broadcasts games, Versus, blacks out during games or turns into spanish soap operas. This drives me insane. UVA does have two (small time) hockey teams (men's, women's) - the women are decent, I saw them kick some UMD butt my first year. The skate rink downtown is also great, you can skate for free on your birthday! Plus, broomball. Too bad their rental skates are so shabby (...they're these blue plastic... things), if you wanna skate down here you should definitely bring your own.</p>

<p>The Flames are pretty decent. So for a long time it drove me crazy that the NHL redid the websites to all be [teamname].nhl.com but I didn't have to worry about what the Flames' website was (flames.com? flameshockey.com? calgaryflames.com?) to check which players are still on the roster from back when I could watch hockey every day, so now I kind of appreciate it.</p>

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<p>I've been to a few hockey games downtown and it's fun to see them up close (knowing some obviously helps), even if is just club level.</p>

<p>Regarding the OP, sure you can take over 15 and still enjoy your first semester like everyone else but it requires you to manage your time well and have some credits that aren't too time consuming</p>

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<p>Just FYI, because this seems to be lurking: AP credits DO NOT count towards your registration time slot assigned to you. You will receive a time based on how many credit hours you've occurred AFTER completing high school (so dual-enrollment credits don't count either). So, if you take a class between your first and second year at another college/university, that will count (I've taken a total of 10 extra credits during summer/j-term, so they count, as do my VT credits, but APs do not). </p>

<p>Also, I suggest dropping either the politics or psych classes. My first choice would be to drop Chem or Bio, but you seem intent on taking those, and I know people who have taken Bio and OChem together, so it could be possible. But, those in your first semester are going to suck with the other classes. I really hope you take our advice and drop one of those. I think Psych would be your best option to drop, since you know you want to do neuro, you've got plenty of time left to take it. That, and politics makes for a nice, balanced workload.</p>

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<p>k thanks for clearing that up shoebox. I was under the impression that AP credits kick in after 1st semester in terms of picking classes.</p>

<p>And to all, I think I'm going to keep my schedule for now. If, after school starts, I find that I signed up for more than I bargained for, I'll drop a class to keep my sanity. :)</p>

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<p>I was pretty sure I'd have to forgo hockey going to college in the South. Skating would be nice, but I still prefer skiing. I'm not sure if Wintergreen is going to cut it.</p>

<p>The Flames are a good team, but it was pretty bad when they were beaten by a Florida team for the Stanley Cup.</p>

31

<p>db,</p>

<p>I think you’ll enjoy Psyc 220. One of my son’s suitemates took the course, and he found it to be fairly interesting. You do have to learn (memorize) a good deal of material to do well on the tests, but as I understand it, students are given a pretty good idea of what they need to know beforehand.</p>

<p>You’ll probably be able to handle the material and the course without too much trouble. It’s a good class to take if you’re thinking of doing a Neuro major.</p>

32

<p>so i only read the first few posts, but i have a little bit of knowlege</p>

<p>Im an RA and ive seen kids take 17 credits and handle it and get all As/A-s. Some people really can handle it. Also I took plcp212 and can say that at least that class wont be too hard for you. Its a pretty easy class with not too much work.</p>

33

<p>Db123, the CHEM 181 Lab is 3 credits.</p>

<p>COD</a> - Course Offering Directory</p>

<p>So that'd put you at 18 credits for fall semester. You might need that approval form after all...</p>

<p>I was wondering -- did you ask anyone about CHEM 181? I'm trying to decide between 181 and 141 myself, but I'm not sure how much more intense 181 is compared to 141. I got a 3 on the Chem AP, and I definitely feel like I need to retake the course as I am not at all comfortable with my knowledge of intro chemistry.</p>

34

<p>AH. it is. so i got the lab credits mixed up. good old dyslexic db123.</p>

<p>so that does in fact put me at 18 credits. the final schedule with credits is:</p>

<p>BIO 203 Lab (2)
Chem 181 (3)
+ Lab (3)
HIND 101 (hindi) (4)
PLCP 212 (3)
PSYC 220 (3)</p>

<p>3+3+4=10
3+3+2=8
10+8=18</p>

<p>(i thought you might like to see the process in my head.)</p>

<p>so back to the question i posed: I'll be in Charlottesville on the 11th for something (the 11th is a monday) so would I be able to fill out the necessary paperwork then? Or should I wait until school starts?</p>

<p>EDIT: i just thought everyone would like to know that I originally wrote 3+3+6=10.</p>

35

<p>you should email your associate dean or advisor and see what they say, we can't fill out the paperwork for you.</p>

<p>canuck: yeah i'm from philly, so 2 years ago was pretty shameful on my end.... i think the facebook group "we can't even win the draft lottery" sums that up well.</p>

36

<p>
[quote]
i'm from philly, so 2 years ago was pretty shameful on my end

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Hazel, I believe you have adopted Virginia's sensibilities. Philadelphian's do not feel shamed. They bluster their way through adversity.</p>

<p>Any decent hoagies in C'ville? I know a cheesesteak on an Amoroso roll is too much to hope for.</p>

<p>Back to the thread.<br>
I am enrolled in Bio 121, Human Biology and Disease, but when I looked at the COD to see if I could change the time I noticed that after the 303NF Section, I'm in 301H3, it reads
Restricted to: Nursing</p>

<p>Don't ask me how I managed this. How screwed am I?</p>

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<p>From what I've read about BIOL121 from thecourseforum.com, it seems that both regular and nursing students can take BIOL121. You mentioned that you're in 301H3 which contains ~115 students while the 303NF course only has ~50 students. It would make sense that the nursing only restricted course is significantly smaller than the other class which you're registered in. I don't see the problem here.</p>

<p>COD</a> - Course Offering Directory</p>

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<p>
[quote]
They bluster their way through adversity.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Lol. The dining hall attempts to serve steak sandwiches but they're pretty gross. THERE IS A RITA'S NOW THOUGH WOO. More pertinent is how Bodo's bagels are actually pretty good (my mom was convinced, as a Philadelphian turned New Yorker re-turned Philadelphian, that no Southern bagels would be worth eating - Something about NY water, which Bodo's claims to use? I still won't buy any bagels from the grocery stores... again, gross). The closest Wawa is up in Gainesville (up north on 29 where it hits 66)... Or near Richmond... Either way, not close enough. But Virginia's southern city charm is cute enough to be worth it.</p>

<p>Actually, wait, if you go to this deli called Little John's on the corner they know what's going on. I'm not sure if they do steak sandwiches BUT they do offer NY cheesecake and sandwiches. I bet you could get a great hoagie there.</p>

39

<p>
[quote]
no Southern bagels would be worth eating - Something about NY water

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Are you sure she didn't mean the river from the Schuylkill River? I grew up understanding that it was the pollution from that river that made the dough rise in Amoroso and WaWa rolls. </p>

<p>On second thought, NY prolly has as many refinaries dumping in the rivers as Philly does. Maybe more on the Jersey side.</p>

<p>As for the best hoagies, you could put a dent in your tuition bill running hoagies from Trios, near the intersection of the Blue Route and I95, to C'ville. Travel Hoagies. Gigantic, perfectly wrapped, and about six bucks a piece.</p>

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<p>By the time I get to the Blue Route all I want to do is be home, haha. I also usually drive late at night because there are less bad drivers to interfere with my cruise control. But next time I go down to Delaware from Philly or into the city for a Flyers game I will have to check it out.</p>