Hello GW, I had a few questions that I was hoping to get answered.
- I was awarded a Presidential Academic scholarship. Is there anything I need to do to confirm this scholarship or will it automatically be applied to my eBill account? (I have already paid my enrollment deposit, if that helps.)
- I have a ton of AP credits, and was wondering whether or not those classes are worth taking over again at GW. Part of me wants to get my general requirements out of the way, but if there's something (like economics, for example) that may be useful in major (accepted into the Elliott School), would those classes be useful to take? And if so, which classes would you recommend?
- On the flip side, are there any classes/professors that I should try to stay away from?
Hi. I can answer the first - it will be applied automatically.
premature gray is right on the first question.
No, I would not repeat classes you have credits in. Use your extra space to take classes in subjects you enjoy/are interested in and/or get ahead on your major. You only go to college once, make the most of it and learn the most you possibly can.
Avoid taking Micro and Macro at GW at all costs - the courses are structured in a poor way that emphasizes memorization and it can be difficult to obtain high grades in them. Look at ratemyprofessor.com when choosing your classes to get the best professors possible!
@cwclassof2014 Even if I’m thinking of concentrating in an area like international economics you would still advise against micro/macro?
Like @cwclassof2014 said, don’t rush through your general requirements just to do it. Those are your opportunity to try some things you’re interested that you wouldn’t normally take, or a chance to become a little more well-rounded culturally.
I can’t speak to the effectiveness of training in micro/macro, but I wanted to mention that those two classes are required in a few grad programs that are relevant to international studies (in case you’re thinking grad school already).
@Athdrivar unless you HAVE to take micro/macro (you are required to unless you can transfer credits in) or feel like you slept through those classes in HS and don’t remember anything, I would not take it. The intro econ classes don’t really emphasis knowledge, they’re just memorization and cover a few basic econ concepts that you should already know if you took any econ in HS so it would be a complete waste of your time to take them. You should be fine jumping straight to an upper level course for international economics. Focus on taking classes for your anticipated major/minor/concentration(s) and if you have extra time, take classes you are very interested in in subjects you want to learn about but haven’t had the chance before.
do not waste your credit hours and your money repeating courses that you have already taken. you have several advantages with your AP credits, and you would be throwing those away by repeating courses. these advantages include:
- being able to take smaller, more advanced upper level courses sooner
- being able to take fun elective classes as an upperclassmen (as opposed to having to finish up requirements like other students)
- it will be easier to take on a double major, a minor, or a double elliott concentration with AP credits, if you so wish
- being able to go part time your senior year if you so wish (i only took 2 classes my last semester of senior year AND still retained my full financial aid package, it was pretty sweet)
- being able to graduate earlier and save some cold hard cash, if you so wish
- being able to take fewer than the standard 15 credit hours per semester if you so wish (i got sick one semester and was easily able to drop one of my classes without having to worry about not finishing my graduation requirements on time)
- having greater flexibility in choosing your study abroad classes if you choose to study abroad (3 out of the 4 classes i took while studying abroad were just random things i found interesting, NOT specific requirements for my major)
don’t throw away these advantages over nothing.
regarding your concerns with economics: i also went to the Elliott School, and i would NOT recommend re-taking your econ APs. unless you are doing a concentration in international economics (you’ll learn more about Elliott concentrations at CI orientation), you only need to take one micro, one macro, and one international economics course in order to complete your Elliott graduation requirements in economics. international economics is basically the same as macro with some material thrown in about international institutions like the IMF…which means they will be re-teaching you the material that you might’ve forgotten from your AP econ class. don’t stress out about it, you should be able to manage just fine in international econ.