I'll Answer Your Lafayette Questions! Part I

Colleges and Universities A-Z Lafayette College
221

<p>ediaz,</p>

<p>I'm glad to hear you got in contact with Dean Robbins. He should be able to help you out with registering for your classes.</p>

<p>FYS 127, "The Invisible Hand", is a good choice if you are interested in economics. Math 161, "Calculus I" will satisfy the math requirement. Physics 111, "General Physics - Mech & Thermo" will work towards satisfying the 2 lab science requirement.</p>

<p>Although you may have already shared this information with me, what are you thinking of majoring in? You should probably use that last space to take a course in your prospective major.</p>

<p>You might also wish to take a foreign language. However, please know that we do NOT offer the Chinese language. We do offer Elementary Japanese every fall semester, so you might wish to consider that option. When you get to campus, make sure to take the foreign language placement exam in Spanish (it is just an old copy of a real SAT II Spanish) to place out. As long as you get a 600+, you will satisfy that requirement. As a native speaker, I think you will do just fine!</p>

<p>There are many options for that fourth slot if you just want to take any course that interests you. Allow me to list just a few options, which I am taking directly from the Fall Course Registration Guide online at <a href="http://www.lafayette.edu/admissions/download_reg_guide.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.lafayette.edu/admissions/download_reg_guide.html&lt;/a>. However, be aware that some of these options might have been filled by current students.</p>

<ol>
<li> Antropology & Sociology 102 - Cultural Anthropology</li>
<li> Antropology & Sociology 103 - Intro. to Sociology</li>
<li> American Studies 150 - Intro. to American Studies</li>
<li> Art 101 - Intro. to Art History</li>
<li> Art 126 - Intro. to Architecture</li>
<li> Art 128 - Asian Art</li>
<li> Economics 101 - Intro. to Economics</li>
<li> English 205 - Literary Questions</li>
<li> ANY FOREIGN LANGUAGE ELEMENTARY COURSE (Japn, Russ, Fren, etc.)</li>
<li> Government 101, 102, 103, 104 - Intro. to U.S. Politics, International Politics, Comparative Gov't, Political Theory</li>
<li> History 106 - Intro. To History</li>
<li> Music 102 - Music in Western Civilizations</li>
<li> Music 103 - World Music Traditions</li>
<li> Philosophy 101 - Intro. to Philosophy</li>
<li> Religion 101 - Religion in World Cultures</li>
<li> Religion 102 - Contemporary Religious Issues</li>
</ol>

<p>For short descriptions of these courses, please go to the online course catalog for 2005-07 at <a href="http://www.lafayette.edu/academics/catalog/index.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.lafayette.edu/academics/catalog/index.html&lt;/a>. Be aware that not all of the courses described in this booklet are offered each semester. However, the ones I listed for you will be offered in the fall.</p>

<p>I am sure that Dean Robbins will check to see if the classes you choose have any time conflicts. Also note that I did not list any of the other lab science options such as Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Geology, etc. because I would NOT advise taking two lab sciences in one semester.</p>

<p>As for how to address Dean Robbins in your email, simply call him "Dean Robbins". At most U.S. colleges, students call their professors "Professor Smith" or "Professor Jones". Some professors might wish to be called "Dr. Smith" or "Dr. Jones", but they will introduce themselves to you the way in which they wish to be addressed by students.</p>

<p>I hope what I have shared helps you out!</p>

<p>J</p>

222

<p>J,</p>

<p>I will most likely be an Economics and Business major.
I emailed Dean Robbins (thanks for the tip on how to adress him) the list of my five FYS chioces and the other three courses I would like to take: MATH 161, PHYS 111, and ART 150. Do you know if ART 150 will satisfy one of the required Humanities/Social Science Requirements? Is it hard to get the classes you want?
I will definitely take the Spanish exam to get rid of that Foreign Culture Requirement right away.</p>

<p>What do you think ofthis combination, FYS 127, MATH 161, PHYS 111, ART 150?</p>

<p>Thanks, </p>

<p>ediaz.</p>

223

<p>ediaz,</p>

<p>I have just a minor issue with your choice of courses.</p>

<p>There are ten section of MATH 161 being offered in the fall semester, so I am sure you will get in that course. There are 13 spaces remaining in the PHYS 111 course (out of 60 spaces). You should be able to claim a space in that course. FYS 127 is still open (as are all of the FYS courses because first-year students have yet to select courses), and you have a good chance of getting in that course with Dean Robbins on your side. Remember, however, that each FYS is limited to 16 students.</p>

<p>Since you are thinking of majoring in Economics & Business, why don't you take the Principles of Economics course to begin working towards your major? Here is a short description from the course catalog of ECON 101:</p>

<p>"An introduction to economics stressing the fundamental and central concepts in economics and discussing methods and topics that engage economists. Topics include supply and demand analysis, determination of prices, output and profits, distribution of income, determination of real GDP, and fiscal and monetary policy."</p>

<p>I would highly recommend taking ECON 101. Get this introductory course out of your way so that you may take more interesting economics courses sooner. The courses you are required to take as an Economics & Business major include ECON 101, ECON 211 "Intermediate Microeconomics", ECON 212 "Intermediate Macroeconomics", ECON 213 "Fundamentals of Econometrics", ECON 218 "Financial Accounting", in addition to five departmental electives. Also, you need to pass MATH 161 "Calculus I" (which you will be taking) and MATH 176 "Mathematics for the Social Sciences" (a basic statistics course).</p>

<p>You said you chose ART 150 as your fourth course...did you mean AMS 150 "Intro to American Studies" (this course has 9 spaces remaining out of 17)? I believe you made a mistake because there is no ART 150 at Lafayette.</p>

<p>Please know that AMS 150 would work towards satisfying that 3 Humanities/Social Science requirement. That course is considered a social science. Any art elective would be considered a humanities course, which would also work towards that requirement.</p>

<p>Be sure to take that Spanish placement exam the moment you get to campus!</p>

<p>Get back to me to verify your fourth course choice.</p>

<p>J</p>

224

<p>There actually is an ART 150 - Introduction to Digital Media. It is on the Fall 2006 Course and Hours Supplement. This would be a humanities requirement, right?</p>

<p>As a first year first semester, I'm not allowed to take ECON 101. I'll take that for sure on the srping semester.</p>

<p>Can you please see if you can find something about this ART 150 I'm talking about? i.e. if there is space available.</p>

<p>thanks.</p>

<p>ediaz</p>

225

<p>ediaz,</p>

<p>There is an ART 150 "Intro to Digital Media"...I must have overlooked it! There are only 2 spaces remaining out of 15, and the course meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00am-11:50am. That humanities course will work towards satisfying the Humanities/Social Science requirement. I believe it is a new course being offered at Lafayette, so it is not yet listed in the most recent course catalog.</p>

<p>I would still recommend taking ECON 101 for that fourth course. Where did you hear that you could not take it until spring semester? I do not see that information listed anywhere, even in the departmental handbook for 2005. Could you tell me where you found that out?</p>

<p>If that fact proves to be true, be sure to take ECON 101 in the spring.</p>

<p>J</p>

226

<p>J,
That info is in the course registration guide page 9, and Dean Robbins confirmed it in one of his emails. It's bad to hear about the meeting hours for ART 150 because they overlap with the FYS 127 hours. I guess I have to look for somthing else for that fourth course. Any suggestions?</p>

227

<p>ediaz,</p>

<p>Wow, I did not know that first-year students could not take an economics course until their second semester at Lafayette. Thank you for pointing that out to me!</p>

<p>You can still take ART 150, but be aware that you will not get your first-choice FYS. If you really wanted FYS 127, then think about taking a different course for your humanities/social science requirement. Please note that all of the courses I list here have at least one open space...most have many spaces remaining!</p>

<p>American Studies 150 - Intro. to American Studies
Anthropology & Sociology 102 - Cultural Anthropology
Anthropology & Sociology 103 - Intro. to Sociology
Anthropology & Sociology 104 - On Human Origins
Art 101 - Intro. to Art History
Art 128 - Asian Art
Art 155 - Digital Video I - Photography
Comparative Literature 101 - Survey of European Literature
Education 150 - Foundations of Education
English 135 - Literature & Human Experience
ANY FOREIGN LANGUAGE ELEMENTARY (Japn, Russ, Fren, Grk, Hebrw, etc.)
Government 101 - Intro. to U.S. Politics
Government 102 - International Politics
Government 103 - Comparative Government
Government 104 - Political Theory
History 105 - Development of Modern World
History 106 - Intro. To History
History 108 - Survey American History I
History 215 - History of Technology
History 216 - African Civilizations
History 242 - Premodern Japan
History 243 - Imperial Russia
Music 102 - Music in Western Civilizations
Music 103 - World Music Traditions
Philosophy 101 - Intro. to Philosophy
Religion 101 - Religion in World Cultures
Religion 102 - Contemporary Religious Issues
Religion 201 - Biblical Imagination
Religion 212 - Buddhism
Religion 215 - Islam
Religion 216 - West African Religion</p>

<p>I'll check on the database to make sure each of these courses is being offered in the fall and is still open. While I do that, you could check the descriptions of some of these courses in the catalog at <a href="http://www.lafayette.edu/academics/catalog/index.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.lafayette.edu/academics/catalog/index.html&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p>

<p>J</p>

228

<p>ediaz,</p>

<p>That list is fully edited. All courses are good for the humanities/social science common course of study requirement. All are still open to students. All have no prerequisites.</p>

<p>Let me know what you decide BEFORE you email Dean Robbins.</p>

<p>J</p>

229

<p>I'll probably have to change PHYS 111 for PHIL 110 because of meeting hours if I want to take FYS 127. My second FYS choice, 043 also conflicts with both PHYS 111 and ART 150. I guess ART 150 is not going to be possible. </p>

<p>Is it always this hard to make your schedule? </p>

<p>I guess I'll have to keep looking for a fourth course.</p>

<p>I'll update you about my choices. Thanks again.</p>

230

<p>Scheduling courses gets easier as you begin to narrow down your major. Also, as you spend more time selecting courses, you eventually get better at it!</p>

<p>As you are finding out, you must consider many things when choosing college courses. You must take courses toward your major, take courses to satisfy the common course of study, make sure the courses aren't full, check on prerequisites, check on professors once you know who to avoid, check for time conflicts, and above all else, make sure you are taking courses YOU WANT TO TAKE.</p>

<p>Scheduling courses is almost like putting a puzzle together, but you will get the hang of it quickly.</p>

<p>PHIL 110, "First Philosophers", sounds interesting. Do not change that physics course unless you plan on choosing a different lab science! You need to work towards satisfying the lab science requirement. Maybe you should consider PSYCH 110 "Intro. to Psychology" or GEOL 101 "Intro. to Geology" instead?</p>

<p>If anything, let the FYS choice change according to your other course choices. Even if you get your fourth or fifth choice, so what? You might enjoy them more than you would have enjoyed your top two choices.</p>

<p>By the way, how are you finding out when the courses meet? I thought you did not receive the course "newspaper" in the mail. Did Dean Robbins email you something to help you out?</p>

<p>Keep me updated.</p>

<p>J</p>

231

<p>I got the packet this morning. It was damaged (open and broken) and that is why it took so long to arrive. I have the newspaper now. Thank you for reminding me about the Lab requirement. I've been told to get out of the Lab requirement in my first semester, so I'll stick to PHYS 111. I guess I'll have to start thinking about giving up on FYS 127 and ART 150 then... I don't know.
I emailed Dean Robbins and this is what I told him: </p>

<p>"1.- FYS 127 - The Invisible Hand. CRN: 10639
2.- FYS 043 - Charisma. CRN: 10625
3.- FYS 152 - Problem Solving Techniques. CRN: 10659
4.- FYS 153 - Nanotechnology: Less is Really More. CRN: 10660
5.- FYS 065 - The Uses and Abuses of Science in Science Fiction. CRN: 10630</p>

<p>Besides FYS 127, I would like to enroll in MATH 161, PHYS 111 (Natural Science Requirement?), and ART 150 (Humanities Requirement?) "</p>

<p>Now I know that that is not going to happen, but I'll just wait and see what he has to say. </p>

<p>I'll keep you updated</p>

232

<p>ediaz,</p>

<p>You should take your two lab sciences by the end of your second year AT THE LASTEST. Most students will take one lab science in the fall of their first year and the other in the spring just to get it "out of the way".</p>

<p>I am sure everything will work out with MATH 161 (there are many sections), PHYS 111, and ART 150 (as long as you don't care about getting one of your top FYS choices).</p>

<p>Dean Robbins will find a way to make it work.</p>

<p>I don't know about you, but I find this whole process really exhausting!</p>

<p>J</p>

233

<p>I agree, but again, It's part of "The Lafayette Experience", right? I'm really excited about everything right now! (even course selection) I can't wait to get there in Aug!</p>

234

<p>ediaz,</p>

<p>I like that attitude! You have every reason to be excited.</p>

<p>Keep me posted when Dean Robbins emails you back with a response.</p>

<p>J</p>

235

<p>Hugel Science Center and Acopian Engineering Center are straight opposite, right? I am a quick folk, so is it all right if between two consecutive classes in HSC and AEC I have a gap of only 10 minutes? Will I manage never to be late?</p>

236

<p>rytis,</p>

<p>Oftentimes, you will schedule two classes "back-to-back" (within 10 minutes of one another). You will have no problem making it to the second class, even if the two buildings were across campus. As it is with your situation, AEC and the Hugel Science Center are right next to each other. You will soon find out that you will always be the one who is arriving too early to that second class.</p>

<p>Professors are well aware that some students have "back-to-back" classes, and always try their hardest to end class on time. You do not have to be a "quick folk" to avoid being late at Lafayette since the campus is pretty compact.</p>

<p>No worries!</p>

<p>J</p>

237

<p>Hi candyman92486, i understand that lafayette is one of the best engineering schools. However, im interested in economics or business. How good is lafayette in those majors? Its econs and biz program is comparable to which college?</p>

238

<p>tbhnams,</p>

<p>You are correct that Lafayette has a very strong engineering program, to say the least. Even though I am not planning on majoring in Economics & Business, I will still share as much as I know about the program.</p>

<p>E&B is Lafayette’s second most popular major…about 15% of students decide to major in it! The reason for this is simple: the program offers a diverse selection of courses and is loaded with world-renowned professors who know their stuff. For instance, about a month ago, E&B Professor Susan Averett presented the findings of her research on teens’ risky behavior on NBC’s “Today” show. Read about her findings by following this link: <a href="http://www.lafayette.edu/news.php/view/8683/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.lafayette.edu/news.php/view/8683/&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p>

<p>Since the major is so popular, the college puts many resources into the department. E&B students are always taking trips into New York City, the financial capital of the world. Guest speakers are always coming in to enrich course material. There are so many interesting courses offered each semester that most E&B students have trouble choosing just four courses.</p>

<p>The opportunity to conduct EXCEL research with a professor also attracts many students to the program. You can work one-on-one researching an economic issue, and your findings are likely to be published in some form. Imagine how impressive this undergraduate research would look on a resume for graduate school or when applying for a job.</p>

<p>Speaking of careers, I know that Career Services really caters well to E&B majors. They set up many events for students to mingle with prospective employers and speak with Lafayette alumni about their E&B-related positions.</p>

<p>If you wish to read up on the E&B department at Lafayette, I highly encourage you to visit their webpage at <a href="http://www.lafayette.edu/admissions/majors/economics_business.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.lafayette.edu/admissions/majors/economics_business.html&lt;/a>. Be sure to check out their newsletter, which contains some good information for prospective majors.</p>

<p>I really do not wish to compare our E&B program with the programs available at other colleges. First off, I do not believe I have the knowledge base to accurately compare colleges. Also, I do not like to encourage such comparisons when one should be focusing on a particular college’s merits.</p>

<p>Just know that Lafayette’s E&B program is top-notch. It has everything a serious E&B student could ever want from an undergraduate institution.</p>

<p>J</p>

239

<p>I just wanted to post a thanks to Lafayette for an extremely informative and interesting day. My son and I were there on Friday. In the car on the way there he was stressed because he had no idea as to what courses he should choose for his first semester. By the end of the day he had made his choices and felt very positive about his proposed schedule. The advisors and speakers throughout the day were very helpful. The speakers from the panel discussions stayed around after each session until every last person who wanted to ask additional questions had been satisfied. The separate sessions for the parents and students worked extremely well. Since most parents would naturally have different types of questions and viewpoints it was very helpful to have specific sessions targeted to the audience. It also helped our students to start to focus on making their own academic choices with the help of the faculty advisors. Lets face it, its been a long time since we parents have been college students ourselves and many of us did not go to Lafayette. The faculty advisors and other professors are the student's best source of guidance. Oh and I liked the parent's "reading assignment" list. I'm looking forward to reading "Don't Tell Me What To Do, Just Send Money".</p>

240

<p>joinville,</p>

<p>I am glad to hear that you and your son benefited from the advising program. Thank you for sharing the positive experience with your fellow CCers.</p>

<p>J</p>