One we forgot to ask while visiting are the typical class sizes as a first year and beyond?
Also, are most classes taught by a Professor or TA?
We know that it can depend on specific major and classes. Websites talk about class sizes in general. Wondering specifically about CS program of study.
My son is hesitant to skip any courses in fear that his HS classes may not have sufficiently prepared him.
Probably looking at
First Semester
CH 101, E 101, E 115, ENG 101 and MA 141
Second Semester
CSC 116, MA 241, PY 205, EC 205 and E 102
For 2nd year is PY 208 needed for CS major or simply suggested? If we’re looking at everything right…it looks like 7 credits are needed for Natural Sciences and that the first year classes will have fulfilled that requirement.
favorite instructors or ones to avoid and why?
most semesters are set up as @15 credits. Would 18 credits be a crazy amount of work?
Computer Science and/or Engineering students that stayed in the Engineering Village. What was/is your favorite part of living with all first year Engineering students?
7)any tips on how to maximize your space in engineering village dorms?
favorite club for CS major to get involved in?..or will there be enough to do with classes and Engineering Village the first year?
any tips, tricks, info, etc… you wish you’d known as an entering first year Computer Science student?
It’s changed a little since I was there 30 years ago, but my kids reported about the same information.
Most will be taught by professors.
CH 101 will be a large lecture class 300-400 kids. E 101 and 115 Can’t help much, I think they said some was online and the classes were fairly large. There is a group project in one of them, which you will be invited to attend and see, try to attend if possible, we enjoyed it. Eng 101 small classes 20-30 and Ma 141 50-80.
On skipping classes, we had the same concerns despite a couple of 5’s on AP placement. For my oldest, he was going to ChemE, his AP 5 placed him out of the first two chemistries and straight into organic. He decided to take CH 101, which was an easy A for him, got him use to the lecture hall experience and he then skipped CH 102. Great decision. He did take all the credit he could for the non-stem classes.
Please confirm with his advisor, but looks like PY 208 is optional. Depending on his strengths, looks like he could skip CH 102 or PY 208. If so, He may want to consider taking PY 208 instead as it is the calculus based Physics and studies electrical physics, which would be useful for a CS major I would think.
Rate my professor web site. But try and register ASAP, as the best ones will go quickly.
In an engineering field, 18 hours will be allot. My sons (ChemE and Physics) took 16 (including a PE) most semesters and were up past midnight several nights a week studying and lots on the weekend as well. Keep in mind, the labs will consume allot of time outside the classroom.
6-9 can’t help much. but get involved. He will need some activities to relieve the stress. Mine liked club and intramural sports, church groups, and other campus activities.
@jllmtw thank-you! The idea of 300-400 students in a lecture hall is mind boggling to me! My son has decided that the only Core class he might use his AP credit for is English to place out, but he’s hesitant. He will take all the extracurricular credits he can get. His dad and I are fortunate that he chose a school a few hours from home. So, we will definitely make it a point to attend, any time there is an event we talked and he’s going to follow along with the 15 credits each semester for first year and then can decide next year if he wants to try 18 credits in one semester. As far as picking an instructor, they set his schedule for 1st semester and he can “maybe” make changes at orientation in July depending on availability.
@ParentOf2022 Best of luck! the lecture classes really aren’t that bad. The labs are much smaller btw. Sounds like a good plan. When you say hopefully they set his schedule, I hope that means they have signed him up, which would be good. Many freshman classes get filled early and you can end up with some odd times for class.
@jllmtw yes, we were told that for first semester they place Computer Science students into their classes. We “think” the only changes that can be made are after…maybe at orientation, if they were to place him in a higher course because of AP scores or if wanted to use an AP score to place out of a class to go into something else that they placed him into. Though sounds like there are a few choices in terms of how to take the English class…hopefully they reach out and ask for a preference (likes the hybrid of online and in person). We were hoping he’d get to have orientation in June, but by the time he decided to make State his pick, the earlier choices were gone. Be nice if he could research and choose an instructor, but not a big concern. He’s had a number of instructors that others warned to avoid and he’s always been fine and a few turned out to be favorite instructors.
DS is starting in the summer for that very reason. The presenter at LSFY strongly suggested doing that to avoid the crowds. He checks into the dorm for the summer in two weeks!
My son considered going this summer…but, he hasn’t had a break in four years and we encourged him to take the chance to just have fun this summer. Enjoy time with friends and visit some elderly family out of state
Son just noticed that they have set up a few of his courses. Engineering/CS department schedules his 1st semester, we don’t get to change or add anything (from what we’ve read and heard at admitted students day) before orientation in July.
Should we be worried that they only give him 15 minutes to get from one class to another or that they have not signed him up for English 101 or the E 115 course?
He also saw some kind of hold on his account “term advisement required, student must meet with advisor” just noticed after 6pm on friday…may have been there a while. He doesn’t get an advisor until August? Is this just because as part of the Engineering College he doesn’t get to pick out classes like other students until after orientation in July or should we be worried?
Also, I highly recommend CRU for a large christian community. They do a ton of fun activities in addition to Bible studies, weekly meetings and a big spring break trip. Students from Meredith & Wake Tech join in as well.
@Trusting we won’t know his English AP score until July. That is the one core class he is considering placing out of, if scored high enough…but still on the fence. He hates to take it, but wants to feel prepared for his college papers. So, even if he can place out, he’ll probably take it. He could place out of a few courses, but does not plan to for any main classes, other than English (possibly). He doesn’t want to chance his HS courses not having prepared him with a strong foundation for college courses. He would rather take a few extra courses and know that he is prepared.
I just wonder why he wasn’t placed into an English class. They don’t have AP scores and it will be needed to CODA in for CS. Same with the E 115 course. I wondered if other first year Engineering students, were missing it from their schedules?
Just confused over the fact that they say they do the scheduling for first semester, but still seems as though he needs to schedule two mandatory classes after orientation in July. Why not let them do it before class times are filled up? He’ll have to work it around what they have already done for him (which included only giving him 15 minutes between classes 4 days a week). Just seems like a poor system. Either schedule the whole semester or let the student do it…but only 1/2 of the schedule?
One of the pluses for NCSU was the fact they took care of first semester schedule. He’ll be able to call tomorrow. Won’t stop me from worrying the rest of the weekend
@ParentOf2022 15 minutes is fine, I never had an issue with that and neither did either of my sons. The only issues most kids would have is if they were on east campus and have to get the gym for a PE and change clothes. Just make sure when he signs up for his PE classes, he takes that into account. Also, later on, if he takes classes on Centennial, they are on a different time schedule to allow travel between campuses.
Since English is not a part one class (like Calculus or Physics), he can take it second semester just as well. One of my sons had to do that, worked out fine. If he can place out, instead of taking it for help with papers, he may want to consider the technical writing class. The hold should be lifted during his orientation and he can finish out his schedule then. They don’t complete it because they want them to discuss some issues with their advisor first.
@jllmtw thank-you! That makes sense about the English course and taking it second semester. We’ll know next month if he got a 5 or not. He felt really good about it. It’s the one class he thinks he’d maybe opt out of as he kinda hates writing however until this past year his writing was ok, not great. Since taking honors and then AP English senior year (gave up AP Calc BC, to take it) his writing has really improved (I write, like I talk…not great) he had an amazing instructor. Since writing was always weaker (our school system) he worries if he doesn’t take it, that he’ll get dinged for things on papers/assignments for other classes…any thoughts? He’d love to skip it if his score is good enough, but not at the expense of future grades. I think the only other writing course needed for his major is the technical writing course…junior year I think. He knows that getting into CS is competitive & he doesn’t want to risk skipping something now, only to find his grades suffer later. We just don’t know how much is learned in ENG 101 that sets the foundation for all future course writings. Clear as mudd?
Great to hear the hold is “normal” just worried to see the big exclamation point on his dashboard.
He wasn’t worried about the 15 minutes, that was me. The school is just soooo big!
Sound like he may need to wait until 2nd semester to take his English course. Not a big deal…though probably not ideal along with physics and Calculus II.
Anyhow, any suggestions for a replacement course first semester? Times, days and locations of class will be a factor. He already has micro economics as a transfer credit.
we talked and he’s going to follow along with the 15 credits each semester for first year and then can decide next year if he wants to try 18 credits in one semester. As far as picking an instructor, they set his schedule for 1st semester and he can “maybe” make changes at orientation in July depending on availability.