Preview - How Fast do classes go?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Florida
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<p>So the Freshman Preview Dates went up for Summer B, and I know that we choose classes during orientations, but if I pick a late date, will all the classes be gone? I was hoping to register for MHF 3202 MAP 2302 (I checked they are offered for summer B, and I will have the qualifications to take it) since I need it for my major, but will it be gone :(? </p>

<p>Or will all the "previous" students (non-first years) have already filled up those classes? So should I take the first session(May 17-18, I'll have to miss two days of school, but I won't be missing AP Exams or anything that important) or the second to last session (June 5-6 after school is over).</p>

<p>Which one did you go to? and should I take the earliest date?</p>

<p>By the way, I live in South Florida, so driving distance is an issue(but my parents don't mind if it's going to make a difference with my classes), so if the classes I want are going to be filled up, then I'll have to go to the earliest date.</p>

<p>Also, for anyone that has taken the aforementioned classes are they hard(just your experience)? I'll have finished Calc BC by the time I got to UF so...</p>

<p>Thanks everyone!</p>

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<p>How good was your HS? That seems like a crazy combo esp for a freshman but some kids go to pretty sick schools these days. If your AP class wasn’t really that tough( a lot of them can’t be because too many kids would fail for HS) then you’ll prob want to retake whatever it was because UF math is on a different level</p>

<p>However, if you do press on theres a nonzero chance I will be in these with you</p>

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<p>My Calc BC class was pretty good, my HS decent. I’ll definitely pass the BC exam with at least a 4. Even if it’s on a different level, I’m very confident that I can do well, are those two classes really that crazy of a combo? Could you tell me about it?</p>

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<p>They hold spots for 2000 level classes and open them up during each preview. I went last year to very last preview offered for the fall and got all but one class I wanted. I was able to get that one during the drop/add week as many spots opened up.</p>

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<p>So does that mean I should just take the preview date most convenient for me? In this case it would be a late one. Actually doesn’t that mean it would be better to take a late date? I mean, lets say they reserved 1-2 seats each preview session, if it gets to the last session, and more than 1-2 people want the class, and up until then those 1-2 seats from other sessions haven’t been taken, wouldn’t they just let the students in the late sessions take them(since they would probably want to fill up the class, but in earlier sessions they have to reserve those seats for later sessions)? </p>

<p>Also does anyone know about entering a class late, like really late, like half way late? I’m talking about Calculus III, if i buy the text book, and learn the material really well, and offer to take the midterm or something like that, to prove I can handle the class, even though I’m entering late, and know the material up until then, and say I get an A on the midterm. Do you think anything more than teacher approval would be required?</p>

<p>I really want to do this, seriously, please don’t tell me “there’s no hope” or “just give up”</p>

<p>I guess what I’m really asking is how rigid is the policy in UF, particularly in CLAS? Are they bent on rules? or are they willing to make an accommodation under reasonable circumstances? If this makes a year difference in graduation, would you call me reasonable for asking? Does that qualify as a good reason for wanting to take Calc III over summer B.</p>

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<p>take the convenient registration date. those classes should be open during the summer.</p>

<p>by why would you want to spend a bunch of time studying for a class when you’re not taking it just to join it later on? how is that better than taking it from the start?</p>

<p>and why would you want to graduate earlier than you already are?</p>

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<p>You cannot join the class midterm. Second week after the drop/add week is the latest to join the class. You may want to attend first week of classes to see what they are all about and how much work is required and then decide to drop a class (or add a class) at the end of the week w/o any penalty. You can drop the class pretty late during the term in which case you would receive “W” (withdrew) in your transcript and no refund.
Adding a class is difficult later but can be done with professors permission but usually only first few weeks after drop/add week.
I would recommend taking reasonable course load first semester and see how you adjust as college level classes are usually much harder than same classes in HS.</p>

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<p>Just letting you know that you may have a really really hard time registering for those classes in the summer for the following reasons:

  1. The staffers at preview are supposed to try and get you to take the normal freshman stuff
  2. You won’t have your AP scores back yet, so you can’t prove you have the prereqs (at least not for diffeq, you can probably get into sets without any pre-req)</p>

<p>The first problem isn’t so bad, because you can get into any class you’re qualified for if you press the staffers to let you. The 2nd problem could be a roadblock though.</p>

<p>My personal experience was that I took BC senior year, so when I got to my preview and didn’t have my scores yet (even though I knew I got a 5) they were very hesitant to let me sign up for calc3 <em>in the fall</em>, much less the summer. What ended up happening was I got to sign up for it conditionally pending my AP scores, so if I scored less than 4 I would be removed.</p>

<p>I recommend trying to make a conditional kind of deal like I did if you’re hell bent on taking those classes. You will of course run upon a ton of resistance from the staff, so things to bring up if you have them when trying to prove you’ll be fine in those classes are high HS math grades (especially in BC), high (preferably perfect) SAT math score, high SAT2 math score, and extracurricular math stuff you’ve done, like MAO.</p>

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<p>Oh dear :D, I’ll probably try a deal, I only got a 700 in SAT math, is that not good enough? I guess I’ll take the SAT2 math. My math classes are straight As, but I was only in MAO one year, I’ll be going to states in April, do you think if I won like 1st or 2nd place (assuming I could pull something so wonderful off) would that really turn the tables when trying to make some sort of deal?</p>

<p>Thanks for all the responses everyone!! I never knew what a helpful place CC was!! :D</p>

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<p>Are you doing engineering or math? A lot of engineering kids wind up taking extra time so you don’t have to freak if you wind up “only” graduating in 3 years. What are you trying to do after undergrad so quickly</p>

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WHOAH! :D, That’s cool, and creepy at the same time </p>

<p>Math major, by the way. I want to push myself to the limits, see my potential</p>

<p>And sometimes I feel like the people that talk about graduating quickly, they talk about it in a not-so-positive light like “what’s the rush, why you want to do this so fast” like there’s nothing better after college. Like they think “Oh, you get a job, life goes down there from then,” they’ve been infected with the “these are the best years of your life” sentiment, and I really have to disagree, at the very least, I want to be different!</p>

<p>I mean, if you were told after you finished eating you’d get a million dollars, wouldn’t you chug down your food even though you know the million is still going to be there when you finish? (No, that’s not what’s happening to me :D) </p>

<p>That’s how I feel, like there’s something so much better waiting.</p>

<p>Your posts in particular haven’t really said a lot about graduating quickly but, just for anyone thinking about those aforementioned thoughts I see plaguing “early graduate” threads"</p>

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<p>oh also, I believe you have to get a C or better in a UF math class before you’re allowed to take sets and logic but I have no idea how strict that is. I do not have that yet so I will see if it lets me get in there when my reg opens up tomorrow</p>

<p>You should prob talk to a MATH advisor ASAP you don’t want to try to run anything remotely unconventional(or really anything at all) by the regular CLAS advisors. But the math advisors will have probably seen people who get through the early math really fast before and will know the best strategy for grad school or w/e you want to do.</p>

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<p>its not about life going downhill after college.</p>

<p>being a college student is a very unique experience with unique opportunities that you won’t be able to recreate later in life. if you want to push yourself, learn more in 4 years. if you finish your math degree in 3 years, spend the 4th year doing comp sci or finance. it’s worth it. </p>

<p>graduating early should only be a consideration if you are either unable to adjust to the college social environment, or if you have a really great job offer or compelling and money-generating opportunity. neither of those things are something you can know that you’ll have after 3 years before you even get here.</p>

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<p>Those things I listed were just what I mentioned to the adviser when he was doing the whole “calc3 is a very challenging course that we don’t usually let incoming freshman sign up for” thing. It can’t hurt to have them, but I don’t know if they’re really necessary (because usually advisers will give you just about anything you want if you press hard enough).</p>

<p>By the way, I can totally understand wanting to be ambitious and take lots of classes related to your major early on, as I was the same way when I came into college. My only question is why rush MAP2302? I know Sets & Logic is a pre-req for a bunch of math classes but as far as I know the only classes that have diffeq as a pre-req also require linear algebra, which you won’t have by the fall anyways. I think saving diffeq for the fall and getting something like your international or diversity credit out the way could be more beneficial than trying for both math classes in the summer (and won’t affect when you can graduate). Plus, as someone who entered Summer B I can say that it was easily the most enjoyable semester of college I’ve had… so it can’t hurt to have a little free time to do things other than class/study.</p>

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<p>

that’s what it usually sounds like :O, not necessarily your opinion</p>

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Yes, but I think graduating early is also a very unique experience, with unique opportunities - for me, I really do believe this is the best choice.</p>

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I might actually do this one, if I were interested in any other topics, to be honest, I like math, it’s very intriguing and exciting, but not any other topics too much. I’m planning to get some electives with comp science and see how I like it, but I’m probably only going to get a math degree. Of course, if I find some incredible major when I get to college, that’s even cooler than math, then I’ll probably double in it.</p>

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Actually I’m pretty sure it should be whenever I want, I get that you don’t want me to make a “mistake” and graduate early, I’m sure with good intentions, but 4-years really isn’t my thing.</p>

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Thanks I’ll do that tomorrow (if I get a chance)!</p>

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Nice. This is very pleasing to the eyes. :D</p>

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If I can get Calc III over the summer, I’ll be qualified to take Linear Algebra, which according to their website, is a super important class, so I want to take it over the fall, a nice 16-week span.</p>

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If I took something like that online, wouldn’t it probably be a lot easier than taking it the traditional method? Like throwing an extra online class? I’ve taken online classes in highschool, and online DEs, anyone that’s done an online class in UF know if it’d be easy?</p>

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Are these three classes going to be that much of a burden? I heard that if you could do Calc II you could do Calc III definitely, and I plan to do pre-studying before the semester starts, to lighten the amount of studying I have to do in the actual classes, I’ll have about a month after school ends to learn, shouldn’t that be enough?</p>

<p>Oh, yeah, Data, you ended up taking Calc III in the fall right? how was it?</p>

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<p>i just think its a bit premature to think 4 years of something is too much when you haven’t even really experienced 4 minutes of it. also, what specific opportunities do you think graduating early gives you? curious.</p>

<p>online classes at UF aren’t really like online classes on high school. there are certain courses that are totally online and that are unusually easy, but the majority of ‘online’ classes are actually normal classes that just have online delivery. they aren’t easier than normal classes, and they require the same amount of effort and work to do.</p>

<p>for instance, most of the bigger business classes are online, but they all have a live lecture period 3-4 days a week which is recorded so that students can watch it at their leisure. you could go to the live lecture and it would be as if it wasn’t even an online class.</p>

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<p>Time to do the things I want, time to reach my full potential in the manner I choose (specifics aren’t important in this scenario). I felt the same way about high school when I got there. I’m sure you can guess what happened -I graduated early.It was a good thing I planned it, and planning for college isn’t so bad. </p>

<p>The worst case scenario, is me thinking “hey, I think I want to stay longer” and then I just do it, that’s the worst thing that could happen. However, if I decide that I don’t want to, and I haven’t planned properly, it will be harder. What if the so called opportunities mentioned by you appeared? and I had to delay them (or even lose them) because I didn’t? </p>

<p>I’m planning ahead, it sounds like your advocating - err… just going with the flow or something? Yes, I am planning more than the average person, but that’s what I like to do.</p>

<p>Would you rather be over prepared or under prepared?</p>

<p>I’m not saying I’m bent on doing whatever and absolutely closed to any new ideas, I am however, keeping my options open by planning very ahead.</p>

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<p>I should mention that a more correct statement is that advisers will give you anything they <em>can</em>, and somethings are out of their control. I have a feeling you may need to get professor approval to get in those classes without the pre-reqs (because that’s what I had to do in the past to bypass pre-reqs).</p>

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<p>A bit confused here. MAP2303 is Differential Equations, not Calc3. Calc3 is MAC2313, and I’m not sure if it’s even offered in summer B.</p>

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<p>3 classes would definitely be a burden. 6 credit hours (2 classes) is considered full time in the summer, so 9 credit hours is not unreasonable but is not recommended (and good luck getting the preview advisers to let you do that). Keep in mind you’ll have every class every day of the week and that the classes are 75 minutes each. With 3 classes that’s almost 4 hours of class a day (even if one is online it still takes up a good chunk of time). Throw in daily homework problem sets or something of the sort (since after all, it’s 14 weeks of material in 6 weeks), and you’re looking at lots of time spent. I would stick with 2 classes, especially if you’re gonna try for the 2 math classes.</p>

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<p>If you did well in BC you’ll be just fine for Calc3. It’s more or less just Calc1 again in 3 dimensions. I didn’t go to class much, skipped a few quizzes (lol) and got over a hundred on the exams and ended with an A. To be fair, my professor used a very lenient grading scale (85+ is an A, 80+ is A-, etc). I’ve heard that other professors are not so nice (but they probably also curve some, which my professor didn’t do).</p>

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Yeah, I know that, but if I some how manage to convince them to let my start Calc3 late like when summer B starts, (yeah, I did realized this one won’t be easy), then I’ll be qualified to take Linear Algebra in the fall! I plan to call a CLAS advisor on Wednesday, so I’ll talk to them about it then. Unreasonable as it may seem, I’d rather try than not :O.</p>

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Nooo!!! Please let me!!! I’m begging you! I promise I’ll do well! Pinky promise!</p>

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I think I can do it!</p>

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<p>first, i want to say that i’m not trying to tell you what you need to do or not do. i want to put emphasis on the word ‘perspective’ below. my intent is more motivational than critical.</p>

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<p>no no, quite the opposite. and there is nothing wrong with graduating early. </p>

<p>i’m just floating out a perspective of someone who has seen many other people be truly exceptional without graduating early. in almost every case, the act of focusing on graduating early would have held them back because its a non-trivial distraction from things that make sense to actually focus on. there is a treasure trove of different skills that you should be devoting time to outside of academics, and graduating early is a purely academic goal. no one will care that you graduated early. anyone could do it.</p>

<p>being a math major is a more impressive goal. but even then, rather than focus on being academically exceptional, you should be focusing on as specific as possible goals for what you want to do after graduation so that you can make the absolute most of your time here, no matter how long that is.</p>

<p>you should be focused on planning how to gain experience and specialization. if you want to be exceptional, you need to come up with as specific a career plan as you can as soon as possible so you can explore it, confirm you like it, and then become the best at it. thats being exceptional by planning ahead and having focus.</p>

<p>getting a great job at google that pays you $100k/year right after graduation is exceptional. graduating after 3 years with a 4.0 gpa and no specific programming experience to your name doesn’t do that for you. having no genuine leadership experience will hurt you a lot too. having no internship will definitely hurt you. missing out on research opportunities could hurt you. being a nobody will hurt you. these are all things that are more likely to happen if your top priority is graduating early.</p>

<p>if you’ve gone as far as college can take you in those particular things, more power to you. but i’ve met a lot of really exceptional people, and not many of them have done that in 3 years. none of them intended on graduating early as far as i know, and none have.</p>

<p>my point is that as far as you’ve described, you’re only graduating early for the sake of graduating early. that is an inherently worthless and inconsequential goal. no one will be impressed by that, and it will, by its self, do nothing for you. instead of taking 3 math classes every semester until they hand you your piece of paper, you should spend your time making a name for yourself. networking. doing whatever it takes to be successful.</p>

<p>if you find that after 3 years there is in fact a compelling opportunity to leave, then do it. but don’t let over-planning planning and misguided ambition hold you back. it happens way more often than you think.</p>

<p>of course this is according to my interpretation of what you mean my exceptional. if this isn’t applicable, what would it take for you to feel like you were were successful in college? “graduating early” doesn’t count.</p>