<p>D attended orientation session this week. Tips we learned:
- Dorm rooms furnished with sheets, towel and pillow
- Dorms are a long hike, up a big hill with lots of steps- pack light in a duffle bag, not a rolling bag.
- Bring a water bottle</p>
<p>The part about the dorms being distant is very true- last year (and I assume this year) the university put the orientees in Gooch/Dillard, which is infamous for being the most remote of all the first-year dorms, and has lots of stairs if you’re in the upper levels.</p>
<p>Yes, they are a bit of a hike, however given that they have a/c it is worth it. The tip about bringing a duffel as opposed to a rolling bag is a good one!</p>
<p>And do research on courses and profs on [url=<a href=“http://www.thecourseforum.com%5DtheCourseForum%5B/url”>http://www.thecourseforum.com]theCourseForum[/url</a>] and the online “Lou’s list” before you arrive.</p>
<p>I remember thinking the hike was long my first year in Orientation. But really, rooms are 5 minutes max from a bus stop? </p>
<p>And for late nights there’s SafeRide.</p>
<p>D just reported in from orientation and 2 things she was told struck me as different from what the general consensus seems to be on this board over the years. </p>
<p>The first one was re: Lou’s List. D wanted a class that it said was full but she was able to get it at registration and was told “don’t pay any attention to LL. It’s unofficial and shouldn’t be looked at”. Considering that it draws its data directly from SIS, and has a more user friendly layout, I would disagree, and in searching many threads it seems others agree. </p>
<p>The 2nd item was concerning AP credits. Her student advisor told her to go back and take calculus starting from scratch in case she didn’t learn all the concepts in AP BC. While this one isn’t as “cut and dried”, in general, people seem to say to skip calc 1 & 2 if you did well on the BC test, because they are “weed-out” courses at UVA. </p>
<p>Now I know there aren’t any right and wrong answers to these questions, but it seems like advisors should at least give both sides of the various arguments on subjects like these, especially when the prevailing opinion seems to be different. </p>
<p>FWIW- D signed up for Calc III, Ancient Greece, Personality Psych, Human Nature, and USEM- the meaning of love. She originally had another psych course for 17 credits but I told her that was too much for a 1st semester load when she already has 17 credits going in.</p>
<p>The maximum number of credits you can register for at summer orientation is 16.</p>
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<p>The 17 she had was on the forms that they have you turn in the night before. Once she got to registration she had already decided on 14. It’s good to know though that they limit them. She also said something about adding courses online after Aug 1. Is there still a limit then?</p>
<p>
This isn’t quite true. I may be off base here, but I believe what they were trying to tell her is that spaces are made available each orientation for first year students that are not reflected. Obviously this is done so that each orientation group has a fair chance to get classes and they aren’t swooped up by early summer groups. </p>
<p>Your DD can speak with the Calc prof when she gets there to see what their thoughts are. Calc 2 is indeed the most failed class at UVa. In retrospect my son’s e’school friends will tell you it’s not so much Calc 2, it’s simply your first college Calc class. Plenty that started in Calc 3 struggled with the pace at first. I’m sure your DD will do fine.</p>
<p>TV4caster: </p>
<p>Even when the class is full students still manage to get registered later. S2 was not happy because he could not register for classes he wanted at orientation, S1 told him not to worry about it and would tell him what to do when they get back to UVA, and S2 did get the classes he wanted. Did not ask them what it was, but upperclassmen seemed to know the tricks. If you D have problems next semester, ask her to talk to upperclassmen.</p>
<p>With regard to AP, the advisor may be right and depends on the student. My kids felt UVA courses are harder than the same AP course in high school. S2 wish he has retaken Cal before going to higher level. Cal I&II may be hard but I have not heard as being a “weed out” class. The only classes I heard being “weed out” are physics and org chem.</p>
<p>Your D will be glad she listen to you by not taking 17 credits. She will enjoy her 1st semester more. If she does well she can take more later. S1 took 18 credits 3 semesters, he complained it does not leave him much time to do anything else, specially when deadline for projects are due at the same time.</p>
<p>Advisors don’t know anything. People on this forum are much more knowledgeable. Best.</p>
<p>Just a reminder that if you care about things like Dean’s List or Intermediate Honors, you need to take a minimum of 15 hours in each semester (Dean’s List) and a cumulative 60 hours through your 4th semester (Intermediate Honors). AP credits don’t count towards these numbers.</p>
<p>Personally, I think it’s more important to take courses that interest you and have time to enjoy the total college experience, rather than overload yourself (especially 1st year) just to make the Dean’s List, etc.</p>
<p>Yeah, I didn’t make intermediate honors and I made dean’s list a number of times, but I did make Phi Beta Kappa. I took what interested me, took below 12 credits multiple times. Once you are out of school for one year no one cares about dean’s list so I would not put that much weight on it anyways.</p>
<p>Any of the 4 credit calc classes (MATH 1310, 1320, 2310, 2315 and APMA 1090, 1110, 2120) will be tough coming out of high school will be tough, period. </p>
<p>MATH 1210 and 1220 are jokes though…</p>
<p>I say drop the USEM and pick up another 3 credit class, hit 15 credits. The honors and accolades do matter if a good/cheap post-undergrad education is desired.</p>
<p>^^^^^I agree with hazelorb. Mom and dad might think the Dean’s List is cool and good for some bragging rights, but most employers don’t care. I’ve interviewed hundreds of people in my 35 year career and not once have I hired someone because they made the Dean’s List.</p>
<p>But how many times have you hired a person coming out of college who has not made Dean’s List? In this economy every little accolade helps.</p>
<p>What if someone was a science student who made Dean’s List for just their first two years of college ? ;)</p>
<p>^^^^I have no idea how many people I’ve hired who have not made the Dean’s List, because it is not something I look for. Don’t get me wrong, as a parent, I was very proud of both my kids for consistently making the UVa Dean’s List and Intermediate Honors. But as an employer, it is not a focal point for me.</p>
<p>I don’t think “Dean’s List” is a specific item employers look for, but the very best on-grounds recruiters (McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, etc) absolutely expect high GPAs (3.7 and up) to get interviews.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I didn’t include my GPA on my resume in college (still don’t) and have had a decent career (no McKinsey or Goldman…yet) so far.</p>
<p>^^^^^Exactly…a 14 credit semester can be made up of four very challenging courses. A 3.5 GPA in those courses is a much greater achievement than a 3.5 made up of five less challenging courses. Yet, the latter schedule earns a place on the Dean’s List.</p>
<p>Again, my advice is put together a schedule that interests you and challenges you, but leave time to enjoy the ride. I hire bright and interesting people. A degree from Virginia tells me you are bright. What you do when you’re not at the library can make you more interesting.</p>