<p>How does S/U (aka pass/fail) work at Emory. Can you start out on a graded basis, see how you do on the initial test or tests, and change to S/U if you do not like the results? What is the drop dead date as far a taking a class S/U? Can you change from S/U if you subsequently decide you want the a grade for class?</p>
<p>The registrar has a published date. You can change to or from S/U until that date. There is a place on OPUS when you sign up for classes that asks whether the class is graded or S/U. You’ll get that info during orientation.</p>
<p>I don’t think most of my classes had any assignments during the switch period, though. I think it’s only 2 or 3 weeks into the semester, and that’s right about the time that they assign the first paper. Midterms/tests aren’t usually until about the 4th week, I would guess. It all depends on the class if you have a grade or not.</p>
<p>The thing about S/U, most departments will only let you take 1 class at most S/U if it counts toward your major or minor. There are a lot of departments that won’t let you take any. Also, you can’t take any GERs S/U. That leaves pretty much PE classes (except health) that you can take S/U, and if you’re lucky, maybe a couple of electives, if you don’t double major or minor or something. Most freshman take Preprofessional classes or GERs, especially their fall semester, and those have to be graded.</p>
<p>You also only can take a certain number of classes S/U, though I don’t remember how many. Save them for harder classes that you might take because they sound interesting. Or you need the credits to graduate senior year.</p>
<p>Dgebll, are the first two years just completing the GER and getting ready taking the prerequisites to your major? Also how does double majoring work? Can I graduate in four years?</p>
<p>Ther percentage of students who graduate within 4 years is somewhere within the 90s. Students who stay an extra year usually do so because of some extenuating circumstance: honors thesis, transfer student, etc. etc. There’s no reason that you should have to stay an extra year, unless you choose to.</p>
<p>You don’t have to declare your major until the end of your Sophomore year. However, you can declare earlier if you choose - you just fill out a form in the department of choice’s office. To double major, you fill out a form in both departments. A lot of people choose to do that.</p>
<p>You can take classes to count towards your major at any time. You could take 4 English classes your first semester, if you’re going to be an English major. You don’t have to “declare” first to have the classes count. One of the great things about the GERs, though, is that they introduce you to classes that you might not otherwise take. So nearly everyone takes classes from the GER list that look interesting for at least the first semester, and then look more towards their major. If you’re preprofessional, though, make sure that you know what prereqs are required for that field. The earlier you start them, the easier they will be to fulfill.</p>
<p>One last thing:
Most classes are open to the entire student body. The exceptions are noted on OPUS. While upperclassmen get priority (because they register first), there is no reason why you couldn’t take a 300 level class the second semester of your freshman year. Once add/drop/swap begins, everyone is on a level plaing field - no one gets priority. You have to decide if you are ready for those upper division classes, but OPUS doesn’t prevent you from enrolling in them. I had a friend who took a 400 level senior seminar as a Sophomore and enjoyed it.</p>
<p>Is it odd for an upper classman to take 100-level courses</p>
<p>No. Sometimes you just need a class to graduate. There will probably be students from every year in many of your classes. It’s not like high school where there are freshman classes, Sophomore classes, etc. Everything is open to everyone. It just depends what you need for your major.</p>
<p>Actually, it’s quite common to take 300 level classes right from the beginning. </p>
<p>My son and his roommate both took Deborah Lipstadt’s Holocaust class as first semester freshmen on campus. Great class, great professor, great experience–but hard, because your papers are graded just like everyone else’s–and so some of your classmates have had 3 years of experience of turning in polished college papers, so a freshman’s paper or exam , while good, may pale in comparison. My son’s first effort was a C+ (a midterm exam) but he finished the class with an A- overall. Professor Lipstadt was quite helpful in going over his first paper to show him how it lacked and he caught on to college writing quickly. He had placed out of the freshman English requirement so he basically learned how to write for college from her.</p>
<p>Boysx3, that’s cool about your son taking Lipstadt’s class… she’s turned into a regular celebrity and hero, hasn’t she? Did she influence your son in his studies and major? I’ve just begun reading “History on Trial”… an intriguing book.</p>
<p>Quite a book, isn’t it ?! What an Alice-in-Wonderland experience.</p>
<p>Professor Lipstadt is a fabulous teacher and a wonderful person. Both she and her class are very popular on campus. She is very accessible and really loves teaching and she really loves teaching at Emory specifically–that is something she talks about.</p>
<p>The year my son took her class, on parents’ weekend she had an open house for all the parents of her students so she could meet them and also get to know more about her students. She was quite personable and it was amazing that so early in the semester she already knew all of her students’ names and apparently had had at least one one-on-one with each of them --it was clear that she and my son had had several extensive conversations because she knew quite a bit about his background.</p>
<p>Many students on campus take her class even if they are not interested in the Jewish studies area, because she is a very good lecturer. My son said that several classes actually ended in applause.</p>
<p>As far as her class influencing my son’s choice of major–not really. He has just been following an interest he has had all of his life. Right now he is being faced with having to make big choices about which track his career is going to follow–oy! I’m sure he will be talking to her this fall along with other favorite professors.</p>
<p>When she was speaking in our home town (about her libel trial in England), she contacted my son to see if he could have coffee with her. Unfortunately, he was out of town that weekend, but still…!</p>
<p>boysx3, I’m early into the book, and I can see it has a very “personal” flavor to it, but I think she acknowledges that as well. I’m trying to envision a class ending in applause! That says it all. Wow, contacting your son for coffee – that’s remarkable for a tenured professor to take that kind of initiative for an undergrad. Again, that confirms her genuine interest in teaching.</p>
<p>BTW, I had been tentatively considering the Family weekend in October (Oct. 20-22nd?)… but would have to travel from CA. What takes place and do you think it’s worth it? I’m leaning toward taking the trip out just to check up on my daughter.</p>
<p>Norcal dad–</p>
<p>My opinion? Skip parents’ weekend and go down virtually any other time ! I’m really not that interested in the dog-and-pony show the school puts on for parents, although Dr. Lipstadt’s open house was special. Everything is so crowded on parents’ weekend–the stores, the good restaurants, the parking…!</p>
<p>Although freshman year it might be special for your daughter for you to be there, do you think it would be hard to be without you when other kids have their parents?</p>
<p>We generally go to visit about once each semester–we get the pleasure of taking our son’s friends to dinner and getting to know them (they are a great group and we truly enjoy them) and there is no competition for restaurants, etc. </p>
<p>By the way, you will find that most professors at Emory make a great effort to have personal contacts with their students–I think that is maybe what sets Emory apart from other schools, and I don’t think the school plays up this aspect enough. </p>
<p>He has several professors on his speed dial, and, as he is contemplating grad school, has three professors in particular that he calls his “brain trust” who will be directing his efforts this fall. We have had the great pleasure of meeting two of them, including dinner and drinks until the small hours with one of them. He has one professor with whom he regularly goes to sports bars to watch international soccer matches, a passion for both of them.</p>
<p>This is not by way of boasting–this is quite a normal thing at Emory. All of his friends seem to have the same kinds of relationships with their professors, and see them as comfortable friends and mentors.</p>
<p>I am sure your daughter will have the same kind of experience, if she is open to it. Just tell her to stop by a professor’s office, and to talk about anything other than, “what do I do to get an A?”</p>
<p>Boysx3, thanks for your input – I appreciate your insights. I think for my daughter’s freshman year, it might be important to her for me to make an appearance… plus, I’ve never been away from her for 2 months!</p>
<p>I’ll suggest to my daughter to maintain her relationships with her professors – it has obviously been a positive experience with your son. I think she fears being an annoyance to her teachers, so she tends to not “bother” them unless necessary. I marvel at the experience your son has had at Emory and only hope that the newbie freshmen will have equally gratifying times. :)</p>