<p>Anyone have experiences with USEMs or COLAs?</p>
<p>From what I gather, both are seminars that are restricted to 1st year students, except COLA seminars are also restricted to College of Arts & Sciences students and worth one credit (versus the two that USEMs are worth).</p>
<p>Beyond that, are there any other notable differences between them, or are they both basically seminars for 1st-year students based on special topics?</p>
<p>There are also some additional differences that were explained to us at orientation.</p>
<p>If I recall correctly, USEMs are open for first-years both fall and spring semesters, while COLAs are only fall semester. Also, they said COLAs are partially about covering a topic and the rest is advising, while USEMs are purely focused on subject matter.</p>
<p>Thanks the info, skipblue. :)</p>
<p>I was wondering whether to take a USEM or COLA, and I think I’ll aim to get into a USEM of some sort since they seem to be more in-depth with their coverage of whatever their topic is.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>[Getting</a> Started: Advising — Undergraduate, College of Arts & Sciences, U.Va.](<a href=“http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/college/advising/index.html]Getting”>http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/college/advising/index.html)</p>
<p>USEMS:
[url=<a href=“http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=usem+site%3Aartsandsciences.virginia.edu&fp=311cce8fc362a587]Google[/url”>http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=usem+site%3Aartsandsciences.virginia.edu&fp=311cce8fc362a587]Google[/url</a>]
[url=<a href=“http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=uva+usem&fp=311cce8fc362a587]Google[/url”>http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=uva+usem&fp=311cce8fc362a587]Google[/url</a>]</p>
<p>I would also highly recommend LASE (liberal arts seminars) – I took History of Mr. Jefferson’s University and it was the best addition to my first semester schedule, ever. I got to learn all about the secret societies, the Corner, and so on. We even met in the Rotunda most days. The other ones are about honor if you’re interested in that (though they got an interesting rep when this kid was found guilty of an honor offense in the class). Brown College faculty run seminars under INST, which are open to non-Brownies if there is space from what I understand. There are also phys ed classes if you’re interested in that! But USEMs are restricted to first years so I would take one of those over the other ones if you have an interest in that…</p>
<p>Is there usually much outside class work for a seminar?</p>
<p>You should expect 3 hours of outside work for every credit for any course you take. So a 2 credit USEM, you should expect 6 hours of work per week with readings, papers, and so on. A 4 credit math class could have 12 hours of outside work per week with homework assignments. That’s not to say you’ll definitely have that much every week, but you need to budget to allow for it. College is a lot about time management… HTH</p>
<p>dang it…i should have signed up for a cola.</p>
<p>anyways. I was just wondering if Hereford residential college still had the microfridge included in them, or do I have to order them from the company that UVA is advertising?</p>
<p>thanks~</p>
<p>[Hereford</a> Residential College, Housing Division, U.Va.](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/housing/options.php?id=hereford&type=fy]Hereford”>http://www.virginia.edu/housing/options.php?id=hereford&type=fy) doesn’t mention anything about a minifridge being included. I would email housing and ask, or call the company to ask.</p>
<p>Do over the door hooks typically fit? I got this one: [6-Hook</a> Over-the-Door Rack - Bed Bath & Beyond](<a href=“http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=17156772]6-Hook”>http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=17156772) and it doesn’t work on my room door at home</p>
<p>I used an over the door hook in 2 places. 1) the closet in Brown College, it definitely fit, I did over the door hooks and an over the door shoe organizer. I took them down for fire inspections. 2) In the bathroom in Brown, I put one near the shower since there are only 2 hooks in the bathroom and I liked to keep my towel in there. The bathrooms in Brown have 1 stall and 1 shower sharing a wall so I just put it there. Some Brown bathrooms have multiple stalls if more than 4 people are sharing the bathroom (common in 1st year designated rooms for more socialization) but the same thing would apply.</p>
<p>You can’t put them on your room door though since that is a serious fire hazard I believe. But the closets should be fine…</p>
<p>What’s a good size mini fridge?
If I’m ordering one online, can I have it delivered to my dorm instead of my house?</p>
<p>If it’s delivered “to your dorm room” that is not actually your room, that is your local box, which is usually a few buildings away. Unless you are going to haul it up depending on your friends’ schedules to help you, you had better have it delivered to your house and have your parents and UVA move in volunteers (“Greeters”) help you bring it up. The only exception is if you are renting it from the UVA affiliated company, in which case the company will deliver it to your room before you move in.</p>
<p>Just check the housing website for the size, there is a limit you will get in trouble for if you exceed so plan accordingly.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Also, I’m living on Alderman Rd. Do the beds come with attached shelves underneath or are there space to put containers? How tall is the space?</p>
<p>I think the housing website would answer most of those questions for you.</p>
<p>I checked. It doesn’t talk about how much space there is under the bed. I wanted to know how many drawers I can fit underneath it.</p>
<p>There are pictures that show a pretty good view of what you can fit under there, but you still need to make sure you don’t have a captain’s bed since some of the Alderman dorms have those (drawers attached underneath).</p>
<p>for instance this one is lofted <a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/housing/images/options/alderman/underbed_storage.jpg[/url]”>http://www.virginia.edu/housing/images/options/alderman/underbed_storage.jpg</a>
this one is not <a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/housing/images/options/alderman/bed_baskets.jpg[/url]”>http://www.virginia.edu/housing/images/options/alderman/bed_baskets.jpg</a></p>
<p>Hey so does anyone know when our meal plans become active? Also, I’m trying to transfer credit in from a dual enrollment program I did during high school (at another 4 year college), will they still accept that transcript? I don’t have very good excuse for why I haven’t sent it in yet…</p>
<p>they’ll accept it any time. but you’re supposed to send it before you matriculate ie before the semester starts.</p>
<p>your meal plan starts definitely the 22nd, possibly the 21st (there might be pizza in your dorm or you might go to the dining hall). if you moved in early for orientation or otherwise they should have told you about meals; otherwise you’re not moving in until the 21st so does it matter???</p>
<p>Since you can check in on both Saturday and Sunday, I previously thought that I would be able to move in on the 22nd. But, I just heard that you can only move in on the 21st. Is it true?</p>
<p>Well the best way to find out would be to email housing… Since none of us can confirm or deny that…</p>
![http://www.virginia.edu/housing/images/options/alderman/underbed_storage.jpg[/url]](http://www.virginia.edu/housing/images/options/alderman/underbed_storage.jpg%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
![http://www.virginia.edu/housing/images/options/alderman/bed_baskets.jpg[/url]](http://www.virginia.edu/housing/images/options/alderman/bed_baskets.jpg%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
