<p>Okay, it’s now obvious we have no idea what we are doing. You should see us sitting here with two laptops…sure looks good LOL but it’s not!</p>
<p>Major in Biology and Psychology, with a minor in Philosophy (MAYBE)</p>
<p>Here is what we’ve come up with…don’t know if it’s good or bad???</p>
<p>Honors Chemistry 117 - 4 hrs
Advanced English Composition 103 - 3 hrs (is there an Honors class instead of this one?)
Psychology - 211, 355, or 356 - 3 hrs(took AP Psych…is there an Honors class for this one?)
Honors Intro to Philosophy 105 - 3 hrs
Some language…</p>
<p>Does this sound normal? </p>
<p>Are we going about this the correct way…how are you guys gathering all this info?</p>
<p>We’re just feeling our way along, as well. D will also be a bio major with a possible marine biology minor, and it looks like we need to knock out the BSC 118 and Chem 117 ASAP since it is required for so much that comes after. I started by looking at the bio major course requirements-</p>
<p>Wonderbreadmom: Do not overload on the honors classes. Take just one or two a semester. He will meet the required 18 hours without having to overload on the honors classes.</p>
<p>I’m glad this came up since I have a question about the “only” 1 or 2 honors classes a semester. D hasn’t taken a regular level class in anything in quite a while since she wanted the challenge & was bored in regular level hs classes (and annoyed with the kids who didn’t really want to be in school, KWIM?) Her natural inclination is to want to take the honors level, if available, for every class she registers for. Any insight as to which honors classes she should focus on and which she should just take the regular level in? She’ll be humanities focused, so I’m thinking taking regular level math & science would be the way to go.</p>
<p>RobD: One of the things that sticks with me from Bama Bound last year is the issue of meeting a new challenge. No one says that a freshman must take all 100-level classes. </p>
<p>In fact, during one of the sessions, students were told that if they wanted to take a 200-level class, go ahead. My son took that advice and had a 200-level political science class that he loved. During the spring semester, he had two, 300-level classes and a 200-level class. One of his friends took a 200-level history class and loved it. She already had AP credit from HS so moving to the 200-level was a good thing for her.</p>
<p>So the challenge does not have to always be in honors. It can be at the next level.</p>
<p>You guys are doing just fine by my reckoning. Whenever you get in over your head, just remember there are thousands of your fellow freshman who have no idea what they want to do as a major, let alone what second major and minor they want.</p>
<p>I don’t know if anybody’s discussed this option with you, but have you considered declining your AP Psych hours? I learned the hard way that no matter how rigorous an AP course was, it was still very much a high school class. High school classes simply can’t replicate the hectic nature of a college course. The pressures of a full load of college courses are often underestimated by freshman, especially ambitious freshman. If you were to take honors intro psychology, you would have the advantage of knowing the material pretty well, and thus being able to concentrate on adjusting to the pressures of college course. Nothing is bigger confidence booster than an A in your first semester.</p>
<p>I will tell you that CH 117 (especially if it is with Dixon) is quite difficult from what I’ve heard. All of my friends who took it had quite a bit of work to do. That said, it should be manageable with this schedule. And EN 103 is an honors course. Other than that, I would say it is pretty reasonable.</p>
<p>Also, according to the registrar’s book and mybama, PY 211 is a prerequisite for PY 355 or 356.</p>
<p>Feenotype, I love your attitude. I do wonder what kids are taking that have undecided majors. I guess they’re just taking core curriculum to start out. Or they’re the lucky ones who get to take those fun honors seminars and such. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, as engineering majors, my son and his friends will not get any fun classes, and they’re hesitant to take any of their classes at the honors level. Lucky for son, he has CBH to earn some of that honors credit, but doesn’t see where he’ll get to even fit in a fun honors seminar without going over 16 hours. </p>
<p>His friend did Bama Bound already and got scheduled for both honors chemistry and honors English 103. No way, jose, for my son. It’s Alabama Action and CBH to get his feet wet.</p>
<p>One question, though, since you do have to get 18 hours of honors. Can you go back and take some of those one credit honors seminars as an upperclassman, or if you miss them as a freshman, you’re out of luck?</p>
<p>If your child can fit in Philosophy Deductive Logic (honors or regular), my older son will be a TA for his labs.</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that the first semester is an adjustment period, and it can also have the distraction of football. </p>
<p>My younger son took 17 credits last fall, and he said all he did was study and go to football games. He did take two 300 level classes and one 200 level class, so that probably was a factor. That was too much (in my mind) for a first semester college student. </p>
<p>I would recommend taking no more than 15 credits the first semester - if AP/dual credits allow.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, as engineering majors, my son and his friends will not get any fun classes, and they’re hesitant to take any of their classes at the honors level.</p>
<p>I don’t understand this fear some kids have of the honors courses. They aren’t more difficult. </p>
<p>If an engineering major wants to fit in some fun classes, then he needs to either allow some AP credits to cover req’ts or take a summer class or two to fulfill some core req’ts.</p>
<p>S (EE major) is counting on using AP credits to put him in a position to take the spring semester class towards Costa Rica. He’s still pondering his fall selections. He has to take the chem. 101, Engr 111 & 131 classes. He’s lucky to have already nocked out math 125 &126, engl 101 and probably 102. How heavy are the workloads in Engr. 111 & 131. Any professor recommendations?</p>
<p>Also…keep in mind that many honors classes can be used to fulfill Core Curriculum classes …like the ones with the FA designation…and, of course, the 300 level courses with W designation.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that many majors will let you take honors 300 W classes instead of their own.</p>
<p>Spoke with someone in the EE office yesterday. She said that many in the EE program choose to take the Chem class at home over the summer because it has no bearing on any other class taken for that major. This allows for a “fun” class or a slightly lesser course load first semester.</p>
<p>Between Dixon and Vincent for Honors Chemistry, I’d heartily recommend Vincent. Dixon’s tests may be a bit easier, but I’ve found Vincent to be much more accessible lecturer and a better teacher overall.</p>
<p>Honors Bio 118 w/ Caldwell (both Guy and his wife teach sections of it, I took it with Guy) wasn’t much harder than normal Biology I, and the class size was roughly 30 versus the 200+ lecture size of the normal section. I’d definitely recommend taking Biology as a honors course, especially due to Caldwell’s explorative “enrichment sections” in which he invites other professors to lecture on fields they are interested/work in. Chemistry, on the other hand, is quite more difficult as a honors course in my experience, so I’d be a bit more cautious with including that in your schedule.</p>
<p>16 hrs is average to me lol. But the only thing I can see about this tentative schedule is that your child will be doing a lot of reading/writing with the EN 103 and Honors Philosophy. </p>
<p>Montegut - I’m not sure if you can take those freshmen seminar courses as an upperclassman. It may vary amongst the courses. If an upperclassman needed say only 1 more hour of honors credit I’m sure that arrangements could be made through the honors college and teaching professor.</p>
<p>Thank you guys. You are all awesome. My son has read all of your replies and will be working on his schedule. If he has anymore questions, I’ll let you know. Thanks again.</p>
<p>BTW, we got HONORS HOUSING tonight…thanks to my friend on CC who called me and told me to get on quick there was a room!!! Thank you!!!</p>
<p>We attended the early honors bama bound and I will tell you that they REALLY push the students to take a light load the first semester. I really wanted my son to take more than the 15 credits but they convinced him not to!!! Oh well, I told him we would see how the first semester went and can adjust second semester if needed. They also HIGHLY recommended no more than 2 honors classes a semester and preferred 1. You would think they would know these kids are “over achievers”!!! So we took their advice…</p>
<p>^^^ I agree with malanai. Congrats on getting honors housing.</p>
<p>I see no problem with taking as many credits as one’s scholarship pays for (currently 16). I took 17 each semester of my freshman year because my scholarship covered it and still did very well. I do caution against taking all honors courses just because they may involve more time and there are a lot of interesting courses that are not honors. UHP will work with a student on reaching the 18 hours of honors classes required for completion of UHP. </p>
<p>Overall, I like the schedule you posted, but remember that some language courses are 4 credits and thus an extra charge would be assessed for the 17th credit ($800+ OOS). </p>
<p>Has your son considered taking any community college courses this summer? I realize that he would probably like a break from school, but it is a great way to get requirements out of the way and prepare him for classes at a university.</p>
<p>Hey Sea_tide! Well I don’t think he will want to take any classes this summer. He is coming in with around 36 hours of credits it looks like, so we’ve told him he doesn’t need to rush. He got the Presidential Scholarship, so I don’t know how that works with taking 17 hours vs. 16…ugh, so much to learn…and of course, not having time to get to it until the last minute. I will let him know what you said. I personally think he will be fine, as he is pretty good with his class work, but whatever he decides, after reading all of your posts and talking to an advisor, is fine with us. I wanted to give him some insight from others before he spoke with his advisor. Thank you for your help.</p>
<p>Quote: Awesome! The CC posse strikes again. What a great group of people.</p>
<p>Yep, I got a long distance call from a CC friend that was getting ready for her son’s graduation but she took the time to stop and call me and tell me to HURRY up and get on line to get that room!!!</p>