Scheduling questions & concerns

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Maryland - College Park
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  1. Do you get the complete say in the classes you take first semester (with your advisor giving you advice), or would the advisor make you take certain classes associated with your major to make sure you stay on track?

My situation: I applied as a certain LEP major and now I’m seriously regretting it. My orientation is soon and now I’m concerned about scheduling. What I wanted to do was just take a bunch of GenEd classes my first semester and then switch majors (only if I still want to switch majors). However, I’m afraid that my advisor may try to put me in certain classes associated with my major, since my major requires certain classes to be taken within 45 credits.

  1. Also, is it possible to register for a class that's already full or would I just have to join the waitlist? I heard of some advisors allowing students into classes that were already full, but I'm assuming that's not common. I took the French language placement test a while ago however, today all 3 classes (all offered online) were completely filled.
  2. Is being on the waitlist a bad idea? I mean, if you get off the waitlist a week or 2 after classes started, won't you be behind?
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  1. You need to specify which LEP as it does make a difference. Some classes are foundations/prerequisites for others, so if you don't take them first semester, you could potentially not graduate in time. However, even within engineering (which is probably the most regimented), there is a certain amount of wiggle room if you have some AP credits such as math, chemistry and physics. There is also some wiggle room as to which semester you take some classes as long as you take them your first year.
  2. When you go to orientation, there are a lot of classes that will open some seats that were reserved for freshman...so they show as full beforehand, but on the day of registration, a certain number of seats will become available.
  3. Do NOT be afraid of a waitlist; people change their schedules constantly throughout the summer (more actively in August) so seats become available. You typically would get off the waitlist BEFORE classes start so that's not an issue. If you don't get a seat before classes start, then you likely won't get in the class. The classes that are foundation classes for a lot of majors (you can tell because there are a lot of sections offered) are the ones that will even have sections added when the waitlist gets to a certain level. My son has gotten classes when his number was in the high teens without any problem. However, there are other classes that won't have sections opened but you will still have a good shot at getting in. FYI, the classes with only one section are not likely to have seats open later
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@maryversity Thank you for the helpful reply.

Sorry for not mentioning the major, it’s government and politics… I was accepted as a gvpt major but my mom seriously disapproves of liberal art majors and is making me feel horrible about it. I have 24 AP credits that can take care of some GenEd requirements, like Academic Writing and the 2 History/Social Studies courses.

As for the major I’m currently signed up for - I know they require GVPT170 (I have AP credit for this), GVPT100, ECON200 and a math class like Calc or Stat to be taken within the first 45 credits. According to the four year plan sample, GVPT170 is to be taken in the 1st semester, GVPT100 in the second semester, and ECON200 in the third. I’m planning on doing math in my first semester either way, however I have no idea what class I placed into.

And thanks for the info regarding the waitlist, I wasn’t aware of that. That makes me feel much better, thank you.

  1. Also, I was wondering what counts as a "lower-level" class? (ex. 100-200?) I'm trying to understand the AP conversion chart and it seems I got credit for ENGL240 along with a "lower level elective".
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Smart to take math right away - that’s one subject that you need to take continuously to keep sharp in.

If you have AP credit for GVPT170, you can take that slot first semester for another course and still be on track…but, personally, I would take a GVPT class first semester (so 100 in your case) to see if the major is something you really like. If it is, then it’s worth fighting for (figuratively, of course). Taking classes in college is entirely different than high school and it may be better than you expect or not what you expected at all.

I’m a mom, so I get what your mom is concerned about. The term “liberal arts major” is often equated with no job prospects and that is likely what she fears. However, GVPT is not a straight up liberal arts major and has pretty well-defined career opportunities - especially at Maryland, since it is next door to DC. Maybe if you address your mom’s concerns by showing her what path you are on track for, she might see that major differently. Do you want to go into politics? Prepare yourself for law school? Ask her what specifically concerns her, and try to address that. You can start with these
http://www.ltsc.umd.edu/majorguides/GovernmentPolitics.pdf
http://www.gvpt.umd.edu/undergraduate/internships
http://gvpt.umd.edu/undergraduate/career-development

FYI, the highest math you can be “placed” in is MATH140. If you have AP credit in CalcBC, you can start higher.

  1. So you took AP ENGL literature & comp plus AP language & comp? Yes, a lower level is 100 level but not sure if they count 200 level or not - something to ask at orientation. However, note that if you only took literature & comp, it does NOT get you out of ENGL101 (academic writing).
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@maryversity Once again, thank you for your helpful reply - you’re always so helpful on this forum!

and to answer your last question, yes I took both AP Lang and AP Lit. Unfortunately I forgot to ask my advisor about whether 200 counts as a lower level class but she told me that I should come in sometime during the school year to deal with the AP credits.

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Glad to help! Your adviser is right that there is no rush to know at this stage. You can also check your unofficial transcript and it shows what you have received credit for. If it fulfills a gen ed, the appropriate category (such as DSHU for Distributive Studies Humanities) will appear on the right column.