<p>Ok, I'm starting to get ticked off at Fordham policy. What is with the 5 courses per semester rule?? i can understand a university setting a minimum for the number classes one can take, so that the student can be on track to meet their requirements. But saying that 5 is the magic number for everyone, no more, no less?
I think it is ridiculous to have to go to the dean every single time to ask permission to take on an additional class.<br>
Somehow i feel its a helicopter university, watching over every academic movement one makes. God forbid you do your own thing once in a while.</p>
<p>How many classes do you want to take? 5 just happens to be the magic number for most freshmen and sophomores because they want you to take 15 credits every semester. And the first two years, you're only taking 3 credit classes anyway.</p>
<p>When you get to junior level, you take only 4 4-credit classes for a total of 16 each semester. So, you see, it's not really about the number of classes you can take but how many credits you can attempt. Fordham sets a cap on that, so taking 5 courses become the norm. When you wanna attempt more credits, that's when you go to the dean.</p>
<p>By the way, their reason for capping the credit attempt is because they feel 15 credits are enough for the average froshie/sophie to handle. Anything more, and you gotta show you'll be able to handle it. Not sure about the validity of this statement, but they feel it's applicable to mostly everybody.</p>
<p>I know CBA requires 5 classes for each student each semester. You can withdraw from a class but that's besides the point. It really isn't that hard to show you can take more than 6 classes. I believe you need a minimum GPA of 3.5 in order to be eligible to take more classes. If you have that, go to your dean. Seems pretty fair to me. I mean if you got a low gpa with 5 classes, what makes you think you're going to be able to handle more than 5 classes? Anyways talk to your dean about it, especially if you have a 3.5 gpa. Most deans (at least in CBA) are understanding if you give them good reasons.</p>
<p>Its just that it complicates things when one wants to double major...
i did not know that there was a gpa minimum. Good thing to know for the future.</p>
<p>ilyasaber14, you're right, it does.</p>
<p>If you have AP credits, you're in a good position since they free you from taking some core classes, therefore making double-majoring easier. Which majors are you looking to double-major in? If you're purely starting your major when you're a junior, that means you are able to take 16 courses (8 per year - 4 per semester). Most majors require 10 or 11 courses, so the rest can be put toward a minor. You can always take summer courses if you really want to double major, or, again, if you have room in your first two years to take upper level courses to knock out some major requirements before your junior year.</p>
<p>Double-majoring can be done without taking more classes per semester than necessary if you only take what you need and have some AP credits.</p>
<p>ilyasaber14,</p>
<p>Your post leaves much to be desired. I had semesters at Fordham where I took 18 credits and then fall of my senior year I was only in three undergrad classes. A normal courseload for a FT student is 15/16 credits. In order to do an overload you must speak with your dean. They are not going to let you overload unless you can handle it.</p>
<p>aaabbb, im looking to do chem (premed) and econ. </p>
<p>fordhamgrad23, you seem to be taking a condescending tone with me and i damn well don't appreciate it.</p>
<p>condescending tone? maybe i'm blind but i don't see it. he just told you what it was like when he graduated. and it hasn't really changed. students are allowed to take more than 16 credits per semester if they can show they can handle it which can be done meeting the min. gpa and talking to the dean.</p>
<p>"your post leaves much to be desired"</p>
<p>that statement is vague and does not elaborate what exactly is left to be "desired." He could have made his point without making that statement, just like you did BP.</p>
<p>If you go into your dean and ask to take extra classes with the attitude you have shown here, no wonder they give you a hard time. Life and college is not always exactly as you like</p>
<p>some schools you have 500 people in a class, others you can't get the class, some school you can only take 3 classes a semester, and sometimes, you just don't get everything your way all the time and you have to learn to adjust </p>
<p>Its called growing up and realizing that sometimes there are reasons for a "rule" that you have no idea about</p>
<p>For instance, maybe they want to make sure that everyone has the chance to get most of the classes they want, so they limit to a degree the number of classes a person can take, so in essence, someone doesn't take so many classes that others end up with less of the classes they need</p>
<p>Welcome to the real world</p>
<p>ilyasaber14, I know a girl JUST like you...it's pretty amazing! She's been taking her premed classes and is now looking to major in econ. Hasn't declared yet, but she will very soon.</p>
<p>Anyway, you have to figure out whether you want to be a real chemistry major or if you want to be part of the premed program. The difference between the two is basically the number of courses you have to take. A chemistry major is like every other major, requiring you to take X number of chemistry courses (I'm not familiar with this major at all). If you do the premed program though, you only have to take four years of Bio, Chemistry, Organic Chem, and Physics. That's not so bad at all, considering that one year of chem means only taking 2 courses (out of 10).</p>
<p>You also need one year of math, but thats easy considering your core already asks you to do 1 course.</p>
<p>Are you at RH or LC?</p>
<p>Here are some links depending on where you are:</p>
<p>Premed at LC: Pre-Medical/Dental</a> Program</p>
<p>Natural Sciences at LC: Course</a> Requirements</p>
<p>Chemistry at RH: Chemistry</a> Courses</p>
<p>Pre-Health at RH: Pre-Professional</a> Programs</p>
<p>aaabbb, thats pretty cool that you have a friend like that. More and more people are realizing that you need a business and a science background to succeed in the health services field. Oh, and i'm in RH.</p>
<p>I planned my four year course out. Due to my AP credits, i can pretty much fit a chem and an econ major in. I just need to take 1 extra course during some point in my college carreer. I could also take a summer course, though that is not desirable (for and and grad schools). </p>
<p>citygirlsmom, thank you for giving me that wonderful lesson about the Real World.
I am interested in finding out what attitude you think am i showing here. Inquisitive perhaps? Is that not the proper attitude of a student? Or does the fact that I like to challenge institutional rules annoy you?
You make a lot of assumptions about me and what I have done, and let me assure you that you are wrong on most, if not, all of your assumptions.
With regards to the class space issue, that is something for the administration to take care of. I agree that everyone should have the opportunity to take the classes they need. It is unfortunate that some people don't have the opportunity to take the classes they need. You can't blame those that are capable and willing to take on multiple majors for trying to get an edge on their competition in the job/grad school market. </p>
<p>and let me clear things up for everyone. I have NOT asked for additional classes as of yet, and when i DO, I am quite confidant that i will gain permission.</p>
<p>And, gee they are taking caring of the class issue, so a college needs to create a balance and system that is fair to MOST. And if you have to go the extra mile once in a while to get something you think you deserve, so what? What harm does it do you to go and get "permission" to take an extra class?</p>
<p>And if I am reacting to your posts here as have others, then maybe you might what to think about your approach.</p>
<p>If I see an "attitude" just through your words, I can guarantee that carries through much more in person. and its better some anonymous poster brings that up </p>
<p>One can have ambition, but one doesn't need to come across as entitled at the same time</p>
<p>THat is a life lesson.</p>
<p>And if you ever read any of my other posts, you will see that I don't have any problems with bucking aothority or the powers that be, but there is something to be said for looking at the big picture and not assuming that the system is messed up because it doesn't suit you or it makes to have to., gasp, talk to someone to go beyond the rules....</p>
<p>you make it seem like im the only one inconvenienced by this rule. clearly other posters feel the same way.
Many students seek double majors, not only to gain an edge on the competition, but to also have some flexibility when it comes to choosing a career.</p>
<p>Now I'm going to kindly ask you to refrain from making character judgments based on my posts. You cannot "guarantee" anything about my personality based on my posts here.
Someone else threw the first punch, and you decided to step in and further fuel the flames. Lets agree to stop this silliness.</p>
<p>I hate the 17 credits bar!</p>
<p>it's funny this thread was brought up again. i find myself in a situation where i want to take 6 classes next semester (that's 18 credits). Anyways, my dean was pretty strict in enforcing policy. He said if you finish the semester with a cumulative gpa of 3.5 or higher that I can take the extra course. Well needless to say it gave me something to work towards. My goal in the middle of the semester was just to do as good as normally do, without going crazy over work. Well I decided I needed to get at least 3 As to get over 3.5. Apparently that wasn't enough. I had a GPA of 3.356 and now it stands at 3.472. So far I've gotten three grades back, all three are As. I'm still waiting for two of them which I'm hoping for at least one A and then a A/A-. I really need that 3.5 GPA. Whatever the reasoning is behind the rule, I'll get the gpa necessary to get that 6th class. Hopefully my work in the second half of the semester paid off.</p>
<p>Just don't mess up early on is all. It's not that hard of a GPA to reach if you work hard at it. Obviously if you can't even get close to a 3.5 then most likely taking more credits may be more than you can handle.</p>
<p>agreed, quirky, except when i called the school regarding this bar, they never gave a clear answer. some said 17, others 18, and there were a few individuals that just had no clue.</p>