Class of 2013
Fall 2009 Course Selection
Courses Recommended for First-Year Students
The most important part of your Summer Advising Day is your individual appointment with a summer advisor, a faculty member who will help you select your first semester courses. If you have indicated a possible major or area of interest, we will try to have you meet with a faculty member from that department or area. But it's not at all necessary that you know what you want to major in - 'undecided' means 'open to a lot of possibilities'! And all the summer advisors are well trained to assist students with all areas of the curriculum.
To prepare for your appointment with your summer advisor, we've provided the following information:
- Explanations of the first year writing requirement, the foreign language requirement, and the distribution requirements
- Descriptions of ENG 101 and GRW 101, which fulfill the first year writing requirement
- A list of courses most appropriate for first year students
- Suggestions for how to select courses and balance your course load
- The Summer Advising Course Selection Worksheet to prepare and bring with you to your appointment with your summer advisor
- The Recitation Schedule that you can use to plan your schedule of courses
Your summer advisor will expect you to be well prepared for your advising meeting, so be sure to review this material and complete and bring with you your Summer Advising Course Selection Worksheet!
Course Suggestions
Thinking about First Semester Courses
In selecting your Fall 2009 courses, don't worry too much about fulfilling requirements (though most of the courses you select will fulfill requirements). Focus instead on what combination of courses will allow you to make a good adjustment to college academics and get off to a great start at Washington College.
First, read the description of the first year writing courses and decide which you want to take in your first semester. Then think about a good balance of courses - a combination of courses that make different demands and require different talents is usually best. You might take a course in an area you might major in, one in an area that's completely new to you, and one in an area that you find challenging. Or you might try to balance one course that requires more reading and longer papers with a course that requires more, shorter readings and frequent homework. Or consider a combination of a course that focuses on contemporary issues (political science, economics, or sociology), a course that focuses on the past (history, history of art, some philosophy and literature courses), and a course with a hands-on component (acting, fine art, lab science or social science courses with field work). You can also check the College catalog for the requirements and suggested first year courses for majors that interest you.
Before you come to campus for your advising day you must complete your Summer Advising Course Selection Worksheet. This worksheet asks you to work out several different combinations of four courses that you think might make a good first semester for you. Bring your worksheet with you to your appointment with a summer advisor on your Summer Advising Day.
Completing this worksheet will help you develop a better idea of what to discuss with your summer advisor and having more concrete plans to discuss with your advisor will help him or her to advise you. You should also feel free to ask your advisor any questions that you have - we expect you to have questions and we're happy to answer them.