electives question

Colleges & Universities University of Pittsburgh
1

My D (incoming freshman) says that she can register for electives now, before PittStart, but has no idea who to ask questions about it because she doesn’t have an advisor yet.

She wants to take a very basic / intro course to a language she has no background in, either Japanese or Korean, and there is either “First Year Japanese 1” or “Basic Japanese Language 1” or “First Year Korean 1”

Anyone know how hard / easy these types of courses are? She’s in engineering and has to mantain 3.0 gpa to keep her merit scholarship.

Thanks!

2

She can contact the Swanson School of Engineering’s academic advising center with any questions:

Swanson School of Engineering
412-624-9825
ssoefrsh@pitt.edu

-A Pitt Admissions Staffer

3

Be sure she picks electives that are approved by Swanson - http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/First-Year/First-Year/Advising/Approved-Electives/ My dd (rising jr BioE) took Korean - her freshman yr and really enjoyed it but you have to have room in your schedule for a 5 hr elective (I think it’s a 5 credit?) - given the typical engineering frosh has 15 credits of core classes - that makes it near impossible to attempt as a freshman. I have to say language classes require alot of time just to attend the recitations and classes - Chinese was another one she wanted to take but it was something like everyday having this class, just wouldn’t fit in the schedule. Freshman yr engineering is a tough tough yr - esp when you have to keep the 3.0 for merit. You need to find an elective that gives a gpa boost to help counter the inevitable (in my house) disappointment with physics grades (again, problem of probably my house only!)

4

The PittStart pre-work asks them to sign up for an elective so they have an idea how to work the program to sign up for classes - not that they have to stay with that elective - just kicking the tires as it were.

5

Thanks all!
@amandakayak btw, as veteran Pitt mom, my D was wondering, do you know if there is an app to sign on to the Pitt portal from a smartphone?
So far to check her pitt mail she goes on a computer then signs in; we haven’t figured out how she can get ger email directly on her phone.

6

Mail is outlook so likely can get an outlook app? My dd just has everything from @pitt.edu forwarded onto her gmail on her phone already as a workaround

7

Thanks! I’ll suggest that.