<p>For those who have done BU orientation, how did you decide the classes? I know about the courses requirements for different majors, etc. but what is the time frame, did you plan what you were taking beforehand, how much time is given to you for deciding over the orientation day, did you have time or access to ratemyprofessor prior to selecting a class? Were you given a handbook of the classes in the beginning so you would know what is available? Or is this all online, or only available when you meet with your advisor?</p>
<p>My main concern is having to meet with my advisor and immediately select all of my courses. I want time to look through what writing seminars are available beforehand, along with ratemyprofessor to see of whom I should select. Do you have the opportunity to do this during orientation? Thank you! This should clarify everything for the anxious students selecting classes.</p>
<p>Well, first off, do you want to take Divisional Studies or the Core Curriculum? Either satisfies your basic credits. But for Core, you still have to fill a foreign language credit on your own. During orientation they give you a list of courses with descriptions and the time slots so you can work out a schedule before seeing an advisor.</p>
<p>Thanks Nickel. You answered my question. I was worried that I would have to meet the advisor on the spot and decide courses right then and there, without any time for deciding. I love the idea of getting the catalog and having time prior to meeting advisors.</p>
<p>There’s this even where they tell you to go to a party. It’s a lie! Don’t go. It’s a lock-in and you can’t leave until it’s over. I skipped most of the events because I thought they were dumb. I went to the mall with my dad. It’s a two day thing if I remember.</p>
<p>Versii, you can start planning your schedule as soon as they transform your Applicant Link into Student Link. You’ll be able to register for classes even before you go to orientation, even though no one ever tells you this. Nothing is final when you register, you can change it over and over again until September, so don’t worry about doing something wrong.</p>
<p>As a SMG freshman, you don’t have much choice anyways. You’ll register for SM121 A1 and a B-section (they’ll assign you one, expect an e-mail sometime in May). If you don’t have AP credit for economics or calc, you’ll also register for EC101 and MA121/123 (doesn’t matter which). Your fourth class will be WR100. You should go over this catalogue first: [Fall</a> 2010 CAS Writing Program Course Catalog Writing Program Boston University](<a href=“http://www.bu.edu/writingprogram/writing-program-curriculum/catalog/]Fall”>Course Catalog | Writing Program)</p>
<p>During orientation, you’ll be given as much time as you need in a computer lab with advisors available to you. You’ll most likely get a handbook (although I got one that was ftom the previous year and I’ve heard other groups didn’t get them…). You can access ratemyprofessors during orientation, but since you’ll be able to view all the classes available at home on studentlink, you can do it beforehand. Last year I registered even before orientation (and I went to the 1st one!) and then had the advisors go over it with me.</p>
<p>I would suggest going as early as possible to orientation. By the time it’s your turn, all the upperclassmen have registered. Might as well try to beat the other future freshman.</p>
<p>If you do the registration before Orientation, like Hanita said, are you actually getting a spot in that like you would be if you were doing it at Orientation? Like, would you not have to worry about that class being available later on at Orientation?</p>
<p>If the system lets you register, then you’re all set and your seat in the class is secured. However, some students may not be able to register by themselves. I think CAS students need to obtain a registration PIN from their advisors first. Let’s wait for someone that goes to CAS to answer this. I’m in SMG and we don’t need PINs, so I just registered sometime in May.</p>
<p>Thanks for the nice tip Hanita. You should be my mentor at BU (haha) or my CC BU advisor/expert/overseer Sounds great, except that should I wait until my AP scores come out prior to choosing the math course? I am taking AP Calc AB, though I probably wont get the credit anyway. </p>
<p>Quick question, what’s the difference between Calculus I and Calc for Social Sciences? I’m NOT a big math person, so I’m thinking the Calc for Life/Social Sciences will be much easier? Am I thinking the wrong way?</p>
<p>Haha yes Versii, and also your housing advisor!</p>
<p>At orientation they told us to think positive about APs and register as if we got the credit. So unless you’re absolutely positive that you blew it and won’t be getting the credit, you should register for a different class. I’ll leave that up to you.</p>
<p>Most SMG kids take MA121 (calc for social science). I took MA123 and I agree that MA121 would have been a bit easier, although I got an easy A in 123 anyways… The curves in Calc classes are massive because so many non-math people have to take it as a requirement.</p>
<p>I’ll be straightforward and honest, I won’t get the credit. I do have a fair understanding of Calculus at the moment, so which do you think I should choose? Is the Calc for Social Sciences more statistics based or applied math per se to management? I am not a strong math student, but a decent one. And I’d love a higher grade (obviously). Any opinions Housing Advisor :)?</p>
<p>I feel like my friends who took 121 didn’t go as deep into calc as I did in 123. The difference is not huge (both classes are equal in the great eyes of SMG), but 121 is a bit easier. So go ahead and register for 121. It’s not really applied to anything you’ll be doing in your management classes; it’s just a requirement to make sure you’re smart enough for college, so you really wouldn’t miss out on the ‘applied’ part if you took 123 either. If you end up getting the AP credit you can just drop the class (it won’t affect your transcript in any way) and take i.e. an intro-level humanities course.</p>
<p>Oo, okay thanks Hanita. The descriptions of the courses kinda showed that 121 was more “statistical” and more applied, as opposed to 123 which is just derivatives/integrals and all that fun stuff. 121 it is or super cram for the AP exam & start praying.</p>
<p>As a SMG freshman, you don’t have much choice anyways. You’ll register for SM121 A1 and a B-section (they’ll assign you one, expect an e-mail sometime in May).</p>
<p>^ so, sometime within the next four weeks i’ll get an email telling me which of the discussion sections i’m stuck in, regardless of what time slot would work best for what i intend to take? i’ve been looking at the schedule on the studentlink a bit in the last few days and i was also wondering why the discussion sections seem to be 2.5 hours one day a week, but split into two sessions? that’s really inconvenient if that’s how it works :/</p>
<p>I know I asked this before, but I didn’t get a clear answer.
Can someone provide a list of pros and cons for core curriculum and divisional studies? </p>
<p>To me, divisional studies sounds like fun because you have more freedom compared to core curriculum? but you still have to make sure you graduate with the required courses?</p>
<p>Core fills all required courses except language I believe. It depends on what you like I guess. And Core can also count towards your major. For instance, the first year of Core Humanities counted towards my Classics major.</p>
Sounds great, except that should I wait until my AP scores come out prior to choosing the math course? I am taking AP Calc AB, though I probably wont get the credit anyway. </p>