<p>I have a 3.87 after 3 semesters but have only taken 100 and 200 level classes. I have one 400 level this semester. Am I screwed for say, NU?</p>
<p>edit: I didn't know what major(s) I wanted to take and thus took an elective and try-out courses each sem. But, I'm pretty decided now.</p>
<p>a related question:
how are you suppose to take upper div courses like some people are doing when you have to be fulfilling your ge?</p>
<p>I don't think you are screwed unless the classes are like accounting/some bs pop culture course.</p>
<p>I obviously have no idea of what courses you have taken. I read your thread because I thought it might hold some interesting insights. Different classes at different schools are different levels of difficulty. A 100 level course at your school might be equal to person b school's 400 course. Accounting at my school is supposed to be the hardest course in the Business major (a somewhat easy major). If you have taken courses that you took because you were interested in the subject matter and they were just coincidentally the easy classes, I believe no admissions comitte will hold that against you. Whereas if you have taken your classes to get that 3.87, that is a different matter. I have not completed my transfer process so hold no accurate insight into the whole process, but if you present yourself in an appropriate manner and your GPA is a representation of what you can be at any school, you will be a competitive candidate anywhere. Just make sure your essays reflect your academic experience and why it is what it is. I hope you well, NU is an excellent school.</p>
<p>From my dialogue with NU, rigor of classes is quite important. However, I think that's relative.</p>
<p>I believe rigor of classes is extremely important, but so is performing well in what you want to do. If you have taken easy clases it is quite different from taking classes you want to take.</p>
<p>The most important part of what is going on, is that you have challenged yourself, you have the capability of performing well, you want a change for a valuable reason.</p>
<p>how will the admissions officers determine whether you have taken "rigorous" courses if all they have is your transcript, which doesn't say much?</p>
<p>Well, they're all over the board, with about 1 English per semester as that was my major then. I'm now set on English/Poli Sci, and hope to make that clear to admissions. But, I also withdrew two semesters for medical reasons. I'm at Illinois at U-C.</p>
<p>I was sort of wondering this too, i've taken many introductory courses (astronomy, psychology, sociology, logic, statistics, chemistry, economics), but have also taken math courses every semester, four semesters of chinese, and some philosophy seminars. Is this considered "rigorous"? I'm afraid I'll be hurt by taking so many introductory courses, but my major was undecided when I started college and I'm not sure how else one goes about discovering their major..</p>
<ol>
<li>Many many people (probably the huge majority) transfer without having taken upper division courses. Don't worry about it.</li>
<li>Course selection matters. I, myself, have probably often used the word "rigorous" to describe the ideal courseload. But... maybe that is the wrong word.
2a. Rigor is not necessarily defined by whether it is a 100, 200, 300 or 400 level course.
2b. If you know your intended major, probably the most important thing is to have taken/be taking the courses appropriate to that major. These can certainly be mostly 100-level courses if you are a freshman.
2c. Taking appropriate gen ed courses is also fine, and expected.
2d. It is risky to state that certain subject matter courses are NOT rigorous: eg, accounting. Accounting courses can certainly be quite rigorous.
2e. Courses which would not be seen as rigorous are such courses as: "study skills," "math readiness" type classes to prepare you for college level math. But DO NOT DESPAIR if you have these classes on your schedule - you may have needed them; they may not transfer for credit to your new school, but if they fit in your overall plan, you can still be successful.</li>
</ol>
<p>I think the courseload celticsfan outlines, for example, is quite fine. Especially for someone who has not identified a major. For someone wanting to go into Engineering, otoh, a rigorous courseload would be Physics, Chem, Comp Sci, Calc I/II and/or III and then maybe a social science/humanities elective and English I. Most of these courses would be at the 100-level, with some doing the Math at a higher level and some not. Being without any of these key science/math courses would be a serious disadvantage for someone wanting to transfer into Engineering. Other planned majors don't have such defined expectations for freshman year courses.</p>