College Discussion - View Single Post

iflyjets · 02-16-2008, 01:22 AM

Congratulations on your decision to attend Furman!

First, Furman will be going to a more traditional calendar this fall, which means four courses a semester and classes not meeting everyday. That will change the experience for many students compared to previous years of attending everyday.

That said, I don't think this will affect the rigor of the classes. Furman uses graduated grades; that is, A, A-, B+, etc.... A grade of B+, for example, yields a 3.3 toward your GPA. By the same token, an A- gives you a 3.7. So, it is hard to obtain a perfect 4.0 after 4 years; last spring (class of 2007) only 3 students graduated with perfect GPA's. But, a perfect GPA is a challenge at any school. Furman also has higher standards than many schools for the award of "cum laude (3.4 pverall GPA)," "magna cum laude (3.65)," and "summa cum laude (3.9)," and this adds to the reputation for academic rigor.

The workload for each class shouldn't change. What causes the problems for most first year students is simply learning to manage their time. If you are a serious student who wants that "summa cum laude" or "manga cum luade" tag, you will have to always place coursework first. But I know lots of succesful Furman students who have found time for sports, the greek life, church, and dating and still manage to have 3.5+ GPAs, and you will too! Like adult life, success is all about priorities, time management, and efficiently working at your tasks.

It sounds as if you may be able to gain credit for some of your core courses due to your APs. This would be great for you. In any case, you will have to take the freshman composition class (my D tried to takea more advanced class in lieu of the compostion class as she received a "5" on the appropriate AP test, but it was way too complicated and cumbersome to work it out).

As for the PoliSci department, ask around as to which classes/professors are the best for your personality and goals. Most of them teach at a pretty demanding level, with a solid "A" grade an achieveable, but challenging goal. The PoliSci department (like the music department) is large with many talented (and polite, but competitive) students.

If you send me a private message, I can have a PoliSci major (a couple of seniors graduating this year) correspond with you and answer any questions you may have.

Hope this all helps and have a wonderful time at Furman!

02-16-2008, 01:22 AM	#6
iflyjets Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 96	Grades and PoliSci Congratulations on your decision to attend Furman! First, Furman will be going to a more traditional calendar this fall, which means four courses a semester and classes not meeting everyday. That will change the experience for many students compared to previous years of attending everyday. That said, I don't think this will affect the rigor of the classes. Furman uses graduated grades; that is, A, A-, B+, etc.... A grade of B+, for example, yields a 3.3 toward your GPA. By the same token, an A- gives you a 3.7. So, it is hard to obtain a perfect 4.0 after 4 years; last spring (class of 2007) only 3 students graduated with perfect GPA's. But, a perfect GPA is a challenge at any school. Furman also has higher standards than many schools for the award of "cum laude (3.4 pverall GPA)," "magna cum laude (3.65)," and "summa cum laude (3.9)," and this adds to the reputation for academic rigor. The workload for each class shouldn't change. What causes the problems for most first year students is simply learning to manage their time. If you are a serious student who wants that "summa cum laude" or "manga cum luade" tag, you will have to always place coursework first. But I know lots of succesful Furman students who have found time for sports, the greek life, church, and dating and still manage to have 3.5+ GPAs, and you will too! Like adult life, success is all about priorities, time management, and efficiently working at your tasks. It sounds as if you may be able to gain credit for some of your core courses due to your APs. This would be great for you. In any case, you will have to take the freshman composition class (my D tried to takea more advanced class in lieu of the compostion class as she received a "5" on the appropriate AP test, but it was way too complicated and cumbersome to work it out). As for the PoliSci department, ask around as to which classes/professors are the best for your personality and goals. Most of them teach at a pretty demanding level, with a solid "A" grade an achieveable, but challenging goal. The PoliSci department (like the music department) is large with many talented (and polite, but competitive) students. If you send me a private message, I can have a PoliSci major (a couple of seniors graduating this year) correspond with you and answer any questions you may have. Hope this all helps and have a wonderful time at Furman!