Introductory classes

<p>All the classes I've registered for are all "Introduction to _____" classes - is this normal for a first year schedule? Also, what are 'audit credits?'? And when should we start buying textbooks for our classes if we already know our class schedule? And just to make sure, it's normal that my IB credits still haven't appeared in my Transfer Credit Report in SIS right - should appear before the semester starts? </p>

<p>Sorry for all the questions, I really really appreciate all the replies!</p>

<p>If you’re certain about what courses you are taking, you could go ahead and buy your textbooks… but most people end up changing schedules, so I would wait a little bit. As for your transfer credits, I’m not totally sure about that…but it should definitely show up by the time school starts. It it doesn’t show up by then, I’d ask someone about it.</p>

<p>I would definitely encourage comparing prices for your textbooks though, rather than buying all of them at the uva bookstore the first week of school. you can save a lot of money shopping online. </p>

<p>as for your classes, everyone is different. Some people will take lots of intro classes as a first year, and some don’t. It depends on your interests/anticipated major, how many requirements you have to fulfill, etc.</p>

<p>audit: you show up on the roster, but you don’t get a grade or even the credits. 0 reason to do this unless you already have enough credits to graduate and don’t even want to put in the work of pass/fail. sometimes requirements are more lax (no tests?). sometimes they’re not (i asked a prof - who i had for 4 semesters already - last semester if i could audit and she said the workload would be the same, i was only going to take the class if the workload would be less - as i already knew she gives a lot of work - so i didn’t take it). i’ve taken quite a few classes pass/fail, it’s great because it’s easy credits and you don’t stress at all, but OTOH pass/fail doesn’t satisfy any requirements for major, minor, general education, etc, so they can only be used for elective credits.</p>

<p>Awesome, thanks dzem! I’ll probably look online on amazon/uloop for used textbooks then. One more question (sorry, sorry!) I am planning to do a history minor and there’s a class called “HIEU 1502 - Intro Sem Post1700 Euro Hist” - it’s a seminar. Is a seminar a normal class? It’ll still count for 3 credits towards the minor, right? (Pardon my ignorance, I appreciate your help)</p>

<p>Ahhh, a really excellent explanation, erases some of the confusion I had. Thanks hazelorb :)</p>

<p>I think all 100-level classes are first years only for history. You need to check their website and see if 100-level classes count. My friend is a history major and I think she said they do but I would check and if it doesn’t say email the professor and ask.</p>

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<p>But keep one thing in mind when picking classes. If a class has prereqs, it has them for a reason. Don’t assume that some familiarity with a topic will suffice; that’s not equivalent experience. I took an upper level foreign affairs class (3000+) spring semester with 2 prereqs, and I said eh, prereqs. I ended up doing fine in the class, but I struggled all semester and it ate up a lot of my time. A lot of info that was new to me was common knowledge for most people in my class. So, when I studied, I had to do a lot of backtracking so everything would make sense. </p>

<p>Don’t try to be a hero; take the prereqs.</p>

<p>Or at a bare minimum, take the prereqs at the same time if you know you’re really good at it.</p>