<p>This is more about class registration, but I do have a few other questions. I've heard our schedules are chosen for us for incoming freshman. How exactly does this work? </p>
<p>In regards to AP credit - when does registration take place for classes, and how does AP credit factor into schedule consideration? </p>
<p>Also, for the language requirement. I am confident that I can easily place out of lower level Spanish, but I do not wish to continue Spanish in college; I'd rather take a different language. However, I know that I have to take a placement test online by June 26th. Should I contact the administration about my issue or will I receive more information regarding registration soon?</p>
<p>There are some threads on this topic here on CC/Fordham. But to reiterate for your convenience:</p>
<p>Yes, they are selected, but not blindly. They look at what you have taken and how well you have done and also you submit a form in the summer on some preferences. You will take an online language placement test this summer as well and that will determine where you are placed as well.</p>
<p>Second semester of Freshmen year you have much more control over what courses you take, within the core requirements…and the options available to you.</p>
<p>On move in day, when your parents are dismissed and you kiss them good bye, you run across Eddies Parade (if its Rose Hill) and join your particular orientation group and they hand out your class schedules then. Its very exciting. </p>
<p>Its all very organized. Don’t worry. Be happy.</p>
<p>However, does anyone know about the language issue? I think I may be leaning towards taking Arabic. How would I sign up for that, or will that be a second-semester issue? I really am not interested in placing out of lower-level Spanish.</p>
<p>Arabic is offered at Lincoln Center. Its a really really tough language to learn. It will HAMMER your gpa. Think hard about that.</p>
<p>Better to place out of lower level Spanish courses by the online test and take upper division Spanish courses instead for completing your language requirement. D1 did that in French and loved it. </p>
<p>Its done all the time. Or begin another romantic language like Italian or French…you have a better chance of success with those. But arabic or mandarin chinese are not for the feint of heart of people wanting something exotic…unless you are really serious about it and perhaps are going to double major in Middle Eastern Studies. Your gpa after freshman year determines your path later at Fordham and possibly some honors programs being offered to you. THINK!</p>
<p>Fordham’s manner of creating and distributing freshmen schedules is one of my only complaint about the school. It’s a system that needs to be updated.</p>
<p>My suggestions would be to contact the freshman dean about taking Arabic. You can find his email online.</p>
<p>And don’t settle for upper level spanish or another Romance language if that’s not what you want to do. You’re paying for your education so you have the right to structure it to match your goals.</p>
<p>I doubt very highly that any Arabic course will be filled with people who have never taken the language before or had any exposure to it or their script. Of course, you have to start somewhere and the DoD does this all the time and immerses people into a new language, from Pashtun, to Arabic, to Persian, to Mandarin Chinese, to Hindi…whatever…but that is a horse of a different color than a beginners course at Fordham among other courses while you are trying to acclimate yourself to life as a freshman.</p>
<p>You can contact the Dean to be certain. You can ask around. And if its a passion of yours and you are prepared to work very hard and be frustrated and perhaps not do so well, then knock yourself out. If your goals are to be a diplomat in that region, or work at the UN and be helpful to others, or even go into business in Dubai or whatever…I applaud your efforts. I am just being a realist. </p>
<p>My point is dont just sign up for it because it sounds interesting. And be prepared to be frustrated. Its a very difficult language. You can complete your language requirements at Fordham and maintain your gpa with an easier path. Its up to you.</p>
<p>I really do not wish to take Spanish, and I do understand the difficult of learning non-Romance languages. However, I’d rather have a difficult and interesting class than one I resent because I only took it to get higher grades. </p>
<p>I think I’ll send an email to the freshman dean about it, thanks!</p>
<p>I can give first hand experience of Arabic actually. My direct roommate has been taking it and she loved the class. It did not “hammer” her gpa, and she had NO prior knowledge of the course. It is difficult to learn because it is a completely new alphabet, but they work very closely with the students, there are a number of tutoring opportunities, and the teachers are said to be good.
Most of the languages at Fordham are somewhat… poorly structured, I would advise against taking French, Spanish, Latin or Italian. Arabic and German have the two best reputations.
If you want to take Arabic, I say take it. A desire to learn a language for itself, not for school, is the greatest motivation one can have.</p>
<p>This is a question I prefer not to answer in detail on the boards, but in my other threads I have made reference to it. The way they arrange this subject makes it very hard to succeed in, so if you are a student considering French and would like more information on how to make it work send me a PM.</p>