Questions about CSE at the University of Minnesota-TW

<p>When could I expect to recieve a financial aid package from the U of M? I turned in my FAFSA before the March 1st deadline. I know that the U of M said that as long as you turned in your FAFSA in before March 1, you could expect a financial aid package before May 1st, but I just wanted to have an range of times when most people start recieving theirs.

  • Thank you</p>

<p>Does the U of M always award AP credit to students as long as they passed the AP exams? </p>

<p>Credit for an AP course depends upon your score on the AP test.</p>

<p><a href=“Advanced Placement Course Awards - 2021 | Office of Admissions”>http://admissions.tc.umn.edu/academics/ap.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Even though you passed AP tests in high school, your CSE advisor might require you to take some freshman-level math & science courses rather than going right into sophomore courses. This ensures that you have the solid foundation you will need to succeed in the engineering curriculum down the road.</p>

<p>In my son’s case, he enrolled in introductory courses in Chemistry and Physics, but was able to skip Calculus I course and enroll in Calculus II. AP credits in English, history and government allowed him to skip those college classes altogether, but he did receive credit. However, even though he entered UMN with eight passing AP test scores, the curriculum for his major will require him to attend all four years to earn his degree. If he chose a non-CSE major, his AP credits would have likely shortened his college career by one or two semesters.</p>

<p>The one thing that AP credit did in my son’s case was to allow him to somewhat lighten his course load in the first two semesters to allow him the time needed to focus on maximizing his technical GPA for automatic entry into the CSE major program of his choice.</p>

<p>Also with the AP credits, you can double major (if you choose to do so). DS has taken advantage of this and he plans to major in CS and CE. </p>

<p>I received my financial aid package in… April I think? (I’m a current U of M Student) so I wouldn’t worry too much. </p>

<p>AP scores are dependent, to some extent, on basically what the University thinks about them. Here’s a link: <a href=“Advanced Placement Course Awards - 2021 | Office of Admissions”>http://admissions.tc.umn.edu/academics/ap.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Further, in the future you might consider asking questions about the U on <a href=“https://gopheranswers.umn.edu/questions/”>https://gopheranswers.umn.edu/questions/&lt;/a&gt; a site devoted to answering questions about the U of M!</p>

<p>What’s the difficulty of Calculus I/ Calculus II and Intro Physics courses at CSE? </p>

<p>Last semester, DS took Calc 2 and intro. physics. He found Calc 2 to be OK, not overly difficult. Physics was a lot of work especially the labs (and continues to be so this semester in physics 2). Comparing the homework between the honors physics and reg. physics class, he said the regular physics’ homework was more difficult and more lengthy. He is taking honors physics and some of his friends are in the regular physics class. Differential Equations is a lot of work especially the homework and it takes an average of 4 hours to finish each of the homework assignment!!!</p>

<p>I am currently a student in the Aerospace Engineering Department in CSE.</p>

<p>CSE Calculus 1371/1372 is not curved by the professors at all. Mainly, high averages on test scores mean that curving the class is unnecessary. As a CSE student you are permitted to take the non-CSE version of the class, 1271/1272, but students typically feel that the CSE version is easier.</p>

<p>Introductory Physics 1301W/1302W is curved heavily by professors. Averages on the exams are anywhere from 40-60%, and they’re not easy by any means. Labs will take up most of your time and are graded differently, depending on the TA.</p>

<p>Chemistry 1061/65, required for AEM students, is not particularly hard. However, low test scores, particularly among non-CSE students mean that exams are curved to the B-level. There are two lengthy lab reports (10-15 pages is usual) in this class as well.</p>

<p>You are permitted to take introductory Calculus/Physics courses regardless of your AP credit history. Many students choose to do this over taking more advanced classes as they are basically "easy A"s.</p>

<p>FlyingGopher, how difficult was it to maintain at least a 3.2 GPA throughout freshman/sophomore year so that you could be admitted to the Aerospace engineering program at CSE?</p>

<p>FlyingGopher, how difficult was it to maintain at least a 3.2 GPA throughout freshman/sophomore year so that you could be admitted to the Aerospace engineering program at CSE?</p>

<p>FlyingGopher, how difficult was it to maintain at least a 3.2 GPA throughout freshman/sophomore year so that you could be admitted to the Aerospace engineering program at CSE?</p>

<p>Hmm, the same post 3 times…</p>

<p>For me it was not hard to maintain a GPA greater than 3.2 mainly since I had covered most of the first two years’ material in high school. However, a majority of students who don’t have a college mindset will not maintain a 3.2 GPA. The classes are straightforward, but they aren’t something that can be blown off.</p>

<p>That said, getting below a 3.2 does not mean denied from your major. The 3.2 mark is simply a guarantee that you’re accepted into the major.</p>

<p>Sorry about the same post being posted 3 times, it was a mistake, my phone was acting up.</p>

<p>What would be a good laptop to have for college that has at least 8GB RAM, 500GB- 1TB hard drive, and functions well as a gaming laptop?</p>

<p>Is living on campus freshman year worth it, or would it make more sense to commute to school from home?</p>

<p>Sorry for such a late response but you should definitely live on campus; all of your classes are there and you will make a lot more friends and meet more people.</p>