Needing someone elses perspective...

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>My school has a required 'freshman perspective class' called RSP 101 and also another class that some people with bad study skills get called RSP 120.</p>

<p>I am in both. That's a total of 3 credit hours. My tuition covers 18, but most students go with 16.</p>

<p>My rough draft schedule:</p>

<p>MWF - THL 100 (Required) 10:30 - 11:20
W - RSP 101 (Required) 11:30 -12:20
MWF - PSY 101 1:30 - 2:20*
MW - RSP 120 (Required) 2:30 - 3:20 </p>

<p>TR - EDU 103 9:30 - 10:45*
TR - HIS 101 12:30 - 1:45*
TR - Eng 150 (Required) 3:30 - 4:45 </p>

<ul>
<li>I'm undecided between psychology and secondary education. So these classes would fit into both, so i'm not closing any doors.</li>
</ul>

<p>Any opinions?</p>

2

<p>From what you're saying. That's not too bad. :) The RSP 120/101 shouldn't be too difficult. Also, the stuff you learn in RSP 120 might really help you excel in your other classes. I don't know your school. But, take the one that interests you more. Psych 101 will probably be full of freshman. So, if you want to get to know others, it might be an ideal situation. </p>

<p>Considering that you're only taking two "actual" classes, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. (hopefully!). Good luck!</p>

3

<p>My college counted credit hours very strangely, so I'm unfamiliar with the "normal" system, but that looks like a lot of classes. You have seven courses there. Even counting the two RSP courses as only one total, that's still six full classes. </p>

<p>If I'm interpreting that correctly, I'd remove two full courses, so you'd have the two RSPs and then three regular classes. 4-5 courses is the normal load at most semester-system schools that I know of, and if you're going to be a first-semester freshman with poor study skills, I wouldn't push that. The two RSPs, three regular classes, and a PE would also work if you needed a one-credit bump or something. </p>

<p>I'm still worried that I'm misinterpreting, but no matter how I cut it, that seems like a lot of courses. Feel free to elaborate if your school has different standards. Will you be able to talk to an advisor?</p>

4

<p>I have three advisors. Which could go one of two ways, hinder or help.</p>

<p>I am enrolled in Creighton's Student Support Services, which is for 1st gen college students with limited family income. Etc.</p>

<p>My RSP 120 advisor, and my RSP 101 advisor.</p>

<p>The rsp courses aren't really actual... classes. It's more like in the RSP 101 we have to read a book, An Anthropologist on Mars, and from what i gather the class is there to help connect us to a faculty member, and lay out our educational plans. ETC.</p>

<p>The RSP 120 is basically a class to improve study skills, it's going to teach me how to be a better student, etc.</p>

<p>So to me, they aren't really classes, it's more of like a workshop type thing that they require.</p>

<p>And if i drop anything, i'll be behind, because during the second semester, i'm going to hope to know if I am more interested in PSY or EDU.</p>

<p>My SSS advisor told me to enroll in the EDU 103, and PSY 111, the 111 is the lowest course they offer in psychology. If that makes sense.</p>

<p>I can't drop the theology course or the english class... as they are required for the first semester.</p>

<p>I guess i should add tha EDU 103 is a course that actually makes us go to the local schools and basically sit in to see if teaching is really something we want to do.</p>

<p>And theology is required every semester, just different aspects, as Creighton is a Jesuit school.</p>

5

<p>In my experience, a course like your EDU103 that requires off-site visits like you describe is one that might make your load feel even more heavy than it is. But if this is what you want to take, and what your advisors are suggesting, then what exactly are you looking for here? You already have the most important opinions, and they seem well-founded.</p>

<p>You seem to have good reasons for taking most of what you are (though you don't give a particular reason for taking or for being unable to drop history). If you do find that you need to drop anything, know that the end of first year is still plenty early to be choosing a major...unless there are specifics that I'm unaware of, that won't put you behind. </p>

<p>Other thoughts:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Timing looks fine. T/R has some awkward gaps, but they shouldn't cause problems; M/W will be a bit long, but at least nice and consistent. I always had an easier time going straight from class to class than having them more spread out. </p></li>
<li><p>Is Creighton's campus small enough that you'll be able to get between classes in 10min? I imagine so, but still something to check.</p></li>
<li><p>Are you taking history to fulfill a GE? If you have a math or foreign language requirement, I'd start by fulfilling one of those, instead, as they'd give you a non-reading/writing course and they both build on info that will be fresh in your memory from HS (provided that you'd be continuing one language). If you have no such requirements, or can fulfill them in other ways (I've seen quantitative requirements that can be fulfilled with logic, or even music theory), then this is a non-issue.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>I've heard good things about Creighton...I'm sure you'll have a great time. Best of luck :)</p>

6

<p>if the reason you're in the "study skills" class is because you have bad study skills, you might want to consider not taking too heavy of a load your first semester.</p>

7

<p>I'm taking the history class to 1. fulfill a gen ed and 2. because if i do go into teaching... i'd like to teach history. Actually i thought about it a great deal last night, and may very well end up dropping it until next semester.</p>

<p>About a month after we go through registration we have placement tests for math, science, and foreign language. I should be able to test out of spanish, if not i'll end up taking it second semester. I don't know exactly where i should be in math or science. I was advanced at my high school for both, but my HS SUCKED.</p>

<p>I guess what i am asking is do you think this is an overload?</p>

8

<p>The EDU class sounds pretty intense but also fun. It might be wise to choose just one between EDU and PYS. You'll still have plenty of time to decide which you want to do (you can also double major or minor in one). Personally, I would start with EDU now because the rest of your schedule seems relatively chill (no labs, no super scary classes). It's probably doable to take all of these classes, but you should wait to talk to an advisor. You want to leave time to hang with new friends and all. It's good that you have backups since there's no telling how registration will go. Good luck!</p>

9

<p>
[quote]
I guess what i am asking is do you think this is an overload?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>For a first semester freshman, and based on my own college's standards, yes. But I don't know Creighton's scheduling norms, so I can't say that definitively. </p>

<p>IMO, first semester is not about whether or not a schedule is "doable"...it's just not a wise time to stretch yourself too far. That's especially true if you're worried about your study skills and about your high school preparation.</p>

<p>I suggest emailing this schedule to your advisors, noting that you feel it may be overloaded, and asking how it appears by Creighton's standards, as well as how it might measure up if you were to drop one course. I also suggest posting on the Creighton board and seeing if you can get an opinion from any current students.</p>

<p>I'm sure things will work, whatever you choose...it's what add/drop periods are for! The classes sound interesting and meaningful. They just sound, to me, like a lot. I had a comparable schedule one year...five full classes, one audit, and one P/F (I'm comparing my P/F and audit to your RSPs, because all they really took up were hours of my day). It was a little further down the line in college, but it was still...not anything close to what I would've wanted to be doing first semester. Anecdotal experience is all I can base this on.</p>

<p>Good luck :)</p>

10

<p>MWF - THL 100 10:30 - 11:20
W - RSP 101 11:30 -12:20
MWF - PSY 101 1:30 - 2:20
MW - RSP 120 2:30 - 3:20</p>

<p>TR - EDU 103 12:30 - 1:45
TR - Eng 150 3:30 - 4:45</p>

<p>Revised, after talking to all three of my advisers.</p>

<p>Think it's better?</p>

11

<p>Again, the disclaimer that I'm unfamiliar with Creighton's specific norms...</p>

<p>That looks much more reasonable to me. That's four meaningful, relevant, but freshman-friendly sounding courses + two sort of...workshops/seminars, as you're describing them. Do have a plan of action in case the RSPs turn out to be more time-consuming than you expect, but since that would seem kind of counter-productive to their purpose, I imagine you'll be just fine.</p>

<p>If you have more free time than you're used to, think of it as a blessing...use it to explore campus, meet people, build a strong academic foundation, and stockpile the sleep that you'll miss out on for the next three years. My own first semester allowed me more free time than I'd known for some time, and it really helped me...gave me a much needed chance to catch my breath. And if you feel sufficiently loaded-up, then you can just plow through and be grateful not to have to worry about a history class on top of it all!</p>

<p>Do you feel comfortable with this? Also important: do you have some back-up courses in case any of these fill up before you register?</p>

12

<p>you should post the credit hours with the classes</p>

13

<p>MWF - THL 100 10:30 - 11:20 --- 3
W - RSP 101 11:30 -12:20 --- 1
MWF - PSY 101 1:30 - 2:20 --- 3
MW - RSP 120 2:30 - 3:20 --- 2</p>

<p>TR - EDU 103 12:30 - 1:45 --- 3
TR - Eng 150 3:30 - 4:45 --- 3</p>

<p>15 credit hours.... And the RSP classes aren't going to turn into actual classes.</p>

14

<p>I would tell you to add another class. For me personally, I got really bored when my credit hours were 18 (compared to my 21). There's always lots of free time and another class or two wouldnt hurt I think.</p>