<p>I'd like to add a couple of questions about orientation</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I'm not very aware of how registration works, but will some classes be unavailable to me because I'm scheduled for the mid-July orientation?</p></li>
<li><p>At orientation, who do we meet exactly? Are there actual introductions between students and other students and teachers, or just a bunch of speeches?</p></li>
<li><p>Other than class registration, is there anything that we have to do at orientation in regards to our classes (or dorms or anything else)?</p></li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li><p>yes, but you’ll get into a math section you need. You probably won’t have an “ideal” schedule…the most popular classes are the ones that meet from 10:00 to about 2:00…those sections may be closed so your choices could be outside that window.</p></li>
<li><p>Other students who are in your same college (so you will probably make acquaintances that you’ll see again if they are in your major). You’ll meet w/ advisors, get to know the (awesome) orientation staff, a few professors. They try to limit the “speech” thing for the students. </p></li>
<li><p>Lots of “get acquainted with the university” activities, and things intended to make you not feel lost when you arrive on campus. Class registration is the biggie (I’m not sure what else you’d do in regards to classes). I wouldn’t recommend buying the textbooks right away…you’ll probably be able to get used copies and save yourself lots of $$. Do a search on UMD CC for books and you can read all the recommendations in the past.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Astrophysicsmom, for sure you will get into a math you need? Son registered on Tuesday,couldn’t get into MATH241, no open seats, got waitlisted. He said since it’s a sophomore level course, everyone in his group was waitlisted. He is concerned that he will forget math he learned in high school if he doesn’t take math this fall. I noticed they do have open seats in honors, but not for scholars (regular people). It seems strange that an engineering college doesn’t offer enough math classes.</p>
<p>@cv1214 - had same situation -an orientation advisor (student) actually answered that question by relating how they were 23rd on the wait list for a class in a previous semester and still got in before classes began, so it shouldn’t be a problem. They supposedly continue to open seats in a class throughout the summer, and when a wait list becomes long enough, they open another section. So, hopefully, that is not a problem.</p>
<p>The engineering college doesn’t offer the math classes, the math department does. I’m looking at math241 right now and there are many sections where there is a high chance your son will get in ([UM</a> Testudo | Schedule Of Classes](<a href=“http://www.sis.umd.edu/bin/soc?term=201208&crs=MATH)…that%5DUM”>http://www.sis.umd.edu/bin/soc?term=201208&crs=MATH)…that) is, unless he’s trying to take it with Wyss-Gallifent (the highest rated prof across all rating sites lol, I’m also taking 241 with him next semester hehe). Is it because of that or time constraints?</p>
<p>Just because you’ve been waitlisted doesn’t mean you should lose hope, I’ve been waitlisted twice and have gotten in both times. People either change their schedule around during the summer, fail math141 (if they’re taking over the summer like I am right now), sections are added, or other circumstances may occur.</p>
<p>goodday91 - you are right. I meant to say the university.</p>
<p>I don’t think being an non-honors freshman he can afford to be choosy on the professors. That’s just my impression. By the way, where do you find your waitlisted class on Testudo Add/Drop?</p>
<p>Mary - let’s hope we don’t have to wait until late August to find out if they get to take math.</p>
<p>This is the link for waitlist checkin, make sure he’s waitlisted for six sections (the maximum amount allowed): [University</a> of Maryland | Testudo | Records And Registration | Waitlist Check-In](<a href=“http://www.testudo.umd.edu/apps/cilive/]University”>http://www.testudo.umd.edu/apps/cilive/)
There’s only two honors exclusive sections for 241 and they’re really small (40 people total) so I wouldn’t worry about him being honors or not…don’t stress yourself out because he isn’t in honors! Also to make yourself feel better scholars are by no means “regular people,” it’s offered to those umd likes a lot but won’t give honors. I hate to do this, but if you’re gonna put us in tiers, it’s regular students, then scholars, then honors. I’m a regular student at the bottom of the crop because I’m a spring admit lol, I wish I were a scholar at least. :(</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the link and helpful information! I didn’t mean to put anyone down, just a little frustrated that they didn’t open any seats for the orientation.</p>
<p>No it’s ok! I don’t think they open up too many extra sections for 241 because they don’t really expect many freshmen to be taking it (usually it’s 141 at the most), so your son is a special case heh.</p>
<p>I suspect they wait until they have enough students waitlisted to create a new section before they add it. This is ONLY the case for math, as far as I know. However, waitlists (for most classes) aren’t a terrible thing. I think that D2 has been on waitlists for her first 6 semesters on campus (including freshman year semester 1), and has always gotten into the class she wanted (just not always at the time she preferred or with the professor she preferred). The movement and schedule switching the first couple of weeks of class are guaranteed. I would recommend that if you/your student doesn’t clear the waitlist before day 1 of class that they talk to the professor and see if they can sit in on the lectures until they see if they will clear the waitlist. The professor can also give them an idea of how many people usually drop their class at the beginning of each semester. It also has the benefit of introducing yourself to the professor, and showing that you REALLY want to be in their class. Nothing wrong with a good start!</p>