2021 RC Group Advising Notes

Based on a presentation presented by Kathryn Grubbs and Kim Anh Tran. View here (requires login).

Navigate

• Personal Information and Communication
  • FERPA
  • Directory Information
  • UW Email
• Preparing for Registration
  • Placement Exams
  • Credits
  • Degree Pyramid
  • UW General Education Requirements
  • Honors Options
  • College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADR)
  • Immunity
• Selecting Courses
  • Using MyPlan
  • Fall Quarter Courses
  • Other Classes to Consider
  • Math Pathways
  • Science Pathway
  • Planning for Technology Majors
  • RC First Quarter Average Grades
• First Year A&O
• Pause Action Steps

Personal Information and Communication

FERPA

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act: A federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.

The University can disclose education records or Personally Identifiable Information when:

• written consent from the student is obtained,
• if the disclosure meets one of the statutory exemptions,
• or if the disclosure is directory information and the student has not placed a hold on the release of directory information.

Directory Information

• Name, address, email, etc.
• You can refuse to release directory information.
• Go to the Office of the Registrar via MyUW and choose ‘restrict access’ to directory information.

UW Email

• Check spam folders frequently.
• Don’t miss important emails from administration, professors, TAs, or RC Staff.

Preparing for Registration

Placement Exams

• Check the appropriate website for updates.
• Placement Exams help determine which class level is appropriate.
• Proficiency Tests allow language requirements to be waived.

Credits

• You can earn credit by completing courses.
• Generally, 1 credit means 1 hour in class per week.
• Many UW courses are 5 credits (meet 5 hours per week).
• If you take 15 credits per quarter and attend three quarters per year, you will have completed 180 credits in four years.
• Most UW Bachelor’s degrees require 180 credits.
• Between 12 to 18 credits costs the same for tuition.
• College assumes you spend at least double the class time outside of class.
  • e.g. a 5 credit course would need 10 hours of work out of class per week.
• Aim for 12-15 credits for the first quarter; you can take more later.
  • Aim for 45 credits by the end of Spring for the first year.

Degree Pyramid

UW General Education Requirements

Areas of Knowledge (“Big Buckets”)

• Visual, Literary, Performing Arts (VLPAs)
• Individuals & Societies (I&S)
• Natural World (NW)

Proficiency Requirements (more specific)

Honors Options

No need to worry about this in the first quarter.

• Interdisciplinary Honors (yr 1-2)
• Departmental Honors (yr 3-4), exists within major departments.
• Interdisciplinary + Department Honors = College Honors; recognition that you have completed requirements for both.
• Learn more here.

College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADR)

CADR Rules:

• UW Academy and EEP students must finish CADR before obtaining a new major status.
• One-year high-school course is equivalent to one 5-credit course.
• Transition School students - TS classes count for one CADR.
• Complete means a grade has been posted for the course. Enrollment does not mean completion.
• All UW students must declare a major by 105 credits.

General CADR Sheet

CADR Deadline is the end of the summer quarter, 2023.

Immunity

• All students under 22 must submit evidence of measles, mumps immunity, and a conjugate meningitis ACWY vaccination given as age 16 or older.
• Students will also need to verify they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 or file for an exemption.

Selecting Courses

Using MyPlan

• MyPlan is an online tool to search for courses. www.myplan.uw.edu
• Search for courses
• Plan your academic path
• Find general educations
• Audit your degree
• Register for your courses

Fall Quarter Courses

All RC first-year students must:

• enroll in FIG - first-year interest groups, small clumps of classes to support the transition into UW. You can add a class or classes.
• enroll in GEN ST 297 A3 (Undergraduate Seminar). Small-group discussion with faculty representing a wide spectrum of academic disciplines. RC first-year seminar (1 credit, C/NC). Focus on support, connection, and faculty guest lectures. FIGs open June 28th.

Other Classes to Consider

Math Pathways

A self-assessment is recommended for entry into any math introduction series/class.

Math Introductory Pathways:

Advice from ACADs/EEPers

• Math in college is harder than in high school.
• Be wise - don’t assume classes are easy. Talk to ACADs/EEPers.
• Try the honors math sequence.
• It’s better to review some things than take a class you’re unprepared for.
• Take MATH 124 unless you have a very solid background in mathematics.
• Be prepared to study no matter what, and attend lectures.

Science Pathway

Chemistry Introductory Pathways:

Advice from ACAD/EEPERs

• If you don’t have any HS CHemistry background, taking 142 would be a bit of a challenge.
• If premed, take 142 unless you’ve taken AP/IB.
• MATH 125 and CHEM 142 together are tough, though manageable. Be warned that these are known as “weedout” classes.

What about biology and physics?

• Most students begin with math and chemistry.
• BIO 200 requires CHEM 152.
• PHYS 121 requires MATH 124.

Planning for Technology Majors

Check prerequisites for CS, INFO, ACMS, ENGR, PRE-HEALTH.

• Computer Science: students interested in software systems and application design. Suitable for double majoring.
• Computing Engineering: students interested in building systems, including hardware and software components.
• Students working towards either degree have the same broad opportunities that the Allen School offers.

ENGR Requirement for the Fall

• ENGR 101: Engineering Exploration. Required for all ENGR students.

Allen School Admissions

• Students take prerequisites in their first year and apply to these majors in the summer after their first year.

Info from RC Letter

• Most UW majors are capacity constrained; admission to UW does not guarantee admission.
• Enrollment at UW means preparation for the possibility of pursuing a non-CS or engineering major.
• RC staff will work to support students.
• See RC Information on CSE Entry.

Majors and Minors

• Double majors
• Double degrees
• Minors

Take a balanced schedule.

RC First Quarter Average Grades

First Year A&O

July 14th and 15th, 2021

Small groups will be within RC.

Pause Action Steps

1. Go to your My UW page and make your selection on Directory Release.
2. Take a few moments to check out the placement test websites to plan for what you need to take.
3. Think about what courses you have taken so far in HS/TS and note what CADRs you are likely to have left.
4. Take a few moments to go over the immunization information and talk with your family to make a plan.
5. Log into your MyPlan page and explore some of its features.
6. Add the RC courses to your MyPlan, a CADR fulfilling course, or any other suggested courses that interest you.
7. Add a math or science course to your MyPlan if you plan to take one in the Fall.
8. Add ENGR 101, a computing course, or a pre-health pre-req to your MyPlan if you are intending to pursue any of those areas.