Advising Session for First Year students

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Advising Session for First Year students

• Welcome!
• Topics to cover
• Spring Course Selections
• Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements
• Other choices to consider (Minors, Dual Majors
  Double Degrees)
• Professional Opportunities

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Advising Session Advisor Contact Information

• Name
• Office Number
• Office Hours
• Phone Number
• E-mail Address
• Expectations reply to your questions in 2-3days.

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How are things going so far this semester?

• Science classes?
• Calculus?
• Major classes?
• Humanities Social Sciences?
• What are lessons you have learned?
• If you could roll back the clock, what would you
  do differently?
• What resources (LA, Tutoring, SI, TA office
  hours) have you used?

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What should I take?

• Courses you should register for are

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Registration Considerations

• Time tickets for registration were sent
  electronically
• Students may register at that time and any time
  thereafter until December 14
• Make sure there are no financial holds or
  problems with your PIN
• Log in to SIS before registration to remember PIN
  and registration process
• Have multiple schedules so that registration easy
  
• Any problems during the day contact Registrars
  office for assistance x 6231(public terminals) or
  e-mail them at registrar_at_rpi.edu

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Understanding HSS Breakdown

• Interdisciplinary Studies-IHSS
• can be used as a Humanities or Social Sciences
  course

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Guidelines for HSS

• 24 Credits are required for HSS
• Engineering and Architecture students are
  required to take 20 Credits-5 classes
• Need to take a minimum of 2 courses from both the
  Humanities and Social Sciences ( 8 credits each)
• Can only have 3-1000 level classes
• Need to complete a depth sequence (examples 1000
  writ 2000 writ 200 Phil 2000 Phil 2000
  STSS 4000 STSS  4000 Arts 4000 Arts
• Need to have a 4000 level course.

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Other information

• No more than six credits can be taken as Pass/No
  Credit
• IHSS Courses will be in a free elective section
  on the students CAPP Report
• Students can go to the Registrars Office
  request the course to be changed to either
  Humanities or Social Sciences
• Students can only transfer in or receive AP
  credit for 2 classes in HSS

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Some Examples

• If you have AP- History 1000-IHSS
• 1. Humanities Social Sciences
• IHSS (1000) STSS (1000)
• Or
• 2. Humanities Social Sciences
• STSS (1000)
• IHSS(1000)
• If you have AP(Lit), Intro to Psychology (1000)
• Humanities Social Sciences
• Lit (1000) PSCHY (1000)

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One last look at HSS

• If you have taken these courses, what do you need
  to take to fulfill your HSS?
• Humanities Social Sciences
• Lit (1000) STSS (1000)
• IHSS (1000) STSS (2000)
• Art (2000)
• Answer A 4000 level course. Student has met
  distribution requirements, and sequence. Only
  needs a 4000 level to finish.

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Grade Modifiers

• In the fall 2005, instructors teaching 1000 level
  classes have an option to use the plus and minus
  system. (A, A-, B, B-, C, C-, D, D)
• In fall 2006, all instructors teaching 2000 level
  classes will have that option.
• In fall 2007, all instructors teaching 4000 level
  classes have that option.
• A4.0, A- 3.67,B3.33,B3.00,B- 2.67
• C2.33, C 2.00, C- 1.67, D1.33, D1.00

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Minors/Duals Double Majors

• Minors-16-20 credits in an area that is outside
  your major. (e.g. Economics, Management,
  Psychology, Biology, Math, etc.)
• Contact people for specific info
• Elizabeth Large for HSS largee_at_rpi.edu
• Sam Wait for Science, waits_at_rpi.edu
• Jeff Durgee for Management, durgej_at_rpi.edu

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Duals and Double Degrees

• A Dual Degree is a combination of two curricula.
  The total number of degree requirements are
  similar to that of a single major.
• Some examples are
• Aeronautical Mechanical
• Computer Science Computer Systems Engineering
• Computer Science Psychology
• Architecture Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Economics
• Management Economics

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Double Degrees

• Two separate degrees are obtained by completing
  all the major requirements for both majors.
• Students need to have completed a minimum of 30
  additional credits above the required number for
  their single degree.

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Questions to consider

• What are my interests?
• Do I want to pursue two majors with the same
  intensity? (why?)
• What will I miss out?
• What advantage does a minor, dual, or a double
  have?
• What are the downsides?

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Considerations

• MINORS
• Pluses
• Easy to do - only four classes
• Pursue an interest more in depth
• Considerations
• There are some required classes that need to be
  taken to for a minor and they planned out
• Some required classes are only taught annually

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Dual Majors

• Pluses
• Pursue two majors in depth
• More exposure to different fields
• More flexible Career opportunities
• Minuses
• Meeting the requirements for the dual major needs
  careful planning
• Most free electives are used to meet other major
  requirements
• Some duals have more credits than the 128 credits

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Double Degrees

• Pluses
• Two separate degrees with two diplomas
• Pursue two majors in depth
• Minuses
• Can require an extra semester or two (Financial
  aid is only for 8 semesters)
• The general public may not distinguish the
  difference between dual and double degrees

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Summer employment in your field

• Steps for success
• Write a resume
• Have the Career Development Center or the Writing
  Center review it
• Review job postings the Career Development Center
  and your School might have
• Send letters of Interest
• Go to the Career Fair
• See a counselor at the Career Development Center
  for additional resources

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Undergraduate Research Program

• What is it? The URP provides an opportunity to
  work directly with a faculty member on a bona
  fide research project.
• In order to participate in the URP you must meet
  all of the program guidelines.
• You must be a full-time undergraduate.
• You must have a faculty sponsor.
• You must fill out a URP Application and
  appropriate payroll forms (if applying for
  funding).
• Application Deadline 3rd Friday of the fall and
  spring semesters. Check online for projects and
  applications at http//www.rpi.edu/dept/urp

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Questions?