<p>So my FTCAP day is on tuesday and I'm wondering how easy they make it to pick classes. is it very easy to tell what kind of classes you need to choose (in terms of needed GenEds, Electives, etc. ? ) Help!</p>
<p>Im not sure how it is for the other colleges but in the eberly college of science the advisors are a godsend. I did the FTCAP homework and still had no clue what classes I wanted to schedule. </p>
<p>When you sit down at a computer to schedule your classes, your advisor already knows what you’ll need to take first semester. They will tell you what classes you have to take to stay on track. You basically pick the place and time. The other choices you get are with GenEds. They let you know what you should take and yo choose according to what interest you.</p>
<p>Its all very structured but you do get a ton of freedom. Also the advisors advice you against classes you shouldn’t take wether its based on your placement exam scores or just becuase the professor is horrible. As I said before they are a godsend and they pretty much lead guide you in selecting courses and staying on track to graduate in a reasonable amount of years for your specific program.</p>
<p>Well my placement scores are probably horrible because I did not try on my FTCAP (Guessed on everything, it was during spring break lol). Do I get a chance to explain myself?</p>
<p>Of course. You can tell them you took the course in hs and got a good grade. You just forgot. They hear this excuse all the time so dont use it. Your best bet are your SAT scores wich are presented right next to your placement exam scores. If you did exceptionally well on the reading/writing portion of your SATs but atrocious on the english part of your placement exams, then they will be more likely to believe your story and let you take the higher level class. Ultimately the choice is up to you but you’d be going against an advisors experienced judgment.</p>
<p>@ephenst I am probably wrong but shouldn’t you be able to choose the classes you want and suffer the consistences if you cant cope with them? I thought the advisor is there to advise you in choosing your classes not force you to take other ones.</p>
<p>No you definitely can. They are not going to stop you but it’s their job to provide insight when they don’t think your capable.
The truth is, you know what you’re capable of and if you think you can handle the class then you should take it. They won’t make you take anything you don’t want to take and they don’t guilt you into making a decision like some teachers and guidance counselors.</p>
<p>Follow up- I was able to schedule what I wanted of what was open… However, I bombed much of the FTCAP as I anticipated (I didn’t take it seriously…pressed random answers). The advisor in my short session said that I HAD NO CHOICE but to schedule Math 21, AKA Algebra 1. I took Algebra 1 in 8th grade. I am in Honors Calculus now, With an A- for the year, exempting my final exam. The advisor would not budge, saying I HAD TO TAKE ALGEBRA 1!!! I called the math office immediately after on my car ride home and they transferred me to an Advisor in Undergrad Studies. They told me I could schedule whatever I want and I went ahead and switched that out from my iPhone. Outrageous.</p>
<p>The unfortunate part about advising day is they are trying to get you in and out of there as quickly as possible. You have control over your schedule on elion, so unless there are enrolment controls on the course itself (which you will see on elion aswell). You probably won’t ever see this adviser again, so forget it ever happened…well, almost.</p>
<p>Realize this is what happens when you don’t take stuff like FTCAP seriously…this is college, and your actions have consequences.</p>