<p>Do any of you students recommend either of these for 1st year students? If so which one and why? and if not, agin, why?</p>
<p>Do you think the workload involved with these seminars is more or less than taking an equal number of classes?</p>
<p>GPS is one of the most difficult courses. It requires so much reading and writing essays. It is pretty tough, but I think it is helpful. I didnt take GPS, but my friends did, and most of them regret, because it was too tough. However I would see that as a challenge and would definitely take that course if I had known that earlier.</p>
<p>i talked to 2 students who took heal the world GPS last year…
both of them weren’t happy about the course~
one of the thing they told me is that if you get B for GPS~ it’s actually 2 Bs for the whole semester, it hurts GPA
another thing they mentioned, is that boh of them agreed they did not learn anything…</p>
<p>i feel bad cuz i really want to take GPS at first</p>
<p>This is really helpful info. S really does not do well with essays - tech writing - fine - essays NOT. So I will suggest to him even if he is advised to take this, he just take the classes he is interested in - which will be math, CS and more math. He has college credit for Physics which he will be coming in with - so unless he wants to take it again or another form of it he doesn’t really need the physics credit GPS provides. This will leave him more room for music as well.</p>
<p>Any word on PLC - from how it reads it sounds even more intensive.</p>
<p>if i’m right~on the website it says the math credit PLC gets are cal 1 and cal2… which i think… if your son have any APs or Collegecredits on cal… it seems like not very worthy</p>
<p>I’d go with GPS (which will soon be named GCS). If you want to apply for research your freshman summer it might look nice.</p>
<p>al - did you take it (GPS)? Do you disagree with the above assessments?</p>
<p>Ding - right, he’ll come in with Calc I&II credit already and also Physics</p>
<p>also he wants to do the analysis sequence instead of the regular calc sequence - so I am not sure how valuable either seminar program would be for him as it would keep him from beginning that sequence (he’ll still get the credit for calc I and II for the AP exam)</p>
<p>I think the whole mention of writing intensive has turned him off to the idea of either of them. <g></g></p>
<p>Is it possible to take both GPS and PLC?</p>
<p>PLC is considered a full load for both A & B terms. I think GPS is considered a load of 2 courses and lasts one term.
You should check with advising. If they set PLC up so those who defer until c and d term to start also have a chance for first year experience classes, then you might be able to to take it then, but my bet is both these are only offered to first year students beginning A term. If so, that would mean you can’t take both</p>
<p>You cannot take PLC and GPS together. </p>
<p>PLC is a learning community. By the end you’ll know your classmates pretty well. It’s a small group, perhaps too small for some and just right for others. You have a unique set of privileges that accompanies the size and intent of the program, but also disadvantages. </p>
<p>Pros: </p>
<p>Available to the students are PLA’s, or student tutors. They have study hours almost every day dedicated to the small number of students who utilize their service. </p>
<p>High Success Rate. PLC students traditionally do better as a whole in their first semester than the rest of their first-year class. </p>
<p>Memories. Being in such a small group in such a rigorous class setting, you make a lot of memories. The PLC room is 24/7 access, and a lot can happen. </p>
<p>Ease of Scheduling. Pick the PLC option, and you don’t have to worry about scheduling classes.</p>
<p>Cons: </p>
<p>Are you claustrophobic? You’re with the same people all the time, 9-5. You also have as much of an opportunity to meet people, as you would by taking different classes. </p>
<p>Loss of AP credit. If you want to test out of or get credit for Calc 1 and 2, or Physics, or Humanities, don’t do PLC. </p>
<p>Adjustment. After first semester, it’s hard to leave the comforts of individual tutoring, close Professor contact, and interactive class time for traditional schooling.</p>