First of all, the types of classrooms in American universities
Generally speaking, undergraduate courses in the United States are generally divided into three types: basic courses, elective courses and professional courses.
1. Basic courses: Those who lay the foundation for specialized courses can also cultivate their interest in other courses.
2. Elective courses: relatively free, but there are difficult elective requirements, such as completing the first stage of the course before choosing the second stage.
3. Specialized courses: Courses suitable for majors are generally divided into ordinary degree difficulty and honorary degree difficulty.
More generally, the courses in American universities are mainly composed of large classes and small classes.
1. Lecture is the most important course for students. General courses for freshmen or sophomores, as well as many professional basic courses, are taught in the form of large classes. Generally speaking, the teacher speaks and the students listen below. There may be hundreds or even thousands of students attending classes at the same time. Courses in many comprehensive universities are in the form of large classes, and there are relatively few colleges of arts and sciences.
2. Conversation/recitation means that TA (teaching assistant) takes students to review knowledge points, discuss questions or answer questions. The purpose of this link is to enable students to better digest and practice the knowledge taught by teachers in large classes. Students in the same big class may be divided into different small classes.
In addition to large and small classes, science students also need to participate in Lab (experimental class). For example, in computer science and statistical experiments, students will learn the application of some course-related software and complete the corresponding programming or statistical homework. In the laboratory of chemistry class or biology class, students will do experiments and submit experimental reports, which are also completed by TA.
Second, the United States study abroad skills (Suggestions)
Because American universities choose courses online and choose courses in the administrative office, students who can't log in online can choose to ask the school staff to help log in to the course selection system, but the time should be estimated in advance and must be before the deadline for course selection. Specific course selection suggestions:
Tip 1: Design a reasonable course.
The undergraduate courses in the United States are very flexible, and students can design reasonable courses for themselves according to their own conditions. For example, if you can't get up early, try to avoid earlier classes. If you don't concentrate, you need to avoid longer classes.
Many students are undecided about their majors when they are admitted. If there is no specific professional direction, the first two years of American universities are mainly general education. Students can use this time to explore courses in different fields and find their real interests. If you have a clear major when you enter school, or you have a very clear professional direction, then you can choose some major-related courses besides the basic courses in the first year, leaving enough time to choose some more challenging professional courses later.
Tip 2: Choose professors and courses.
Freshmen are generally basic courses, but different professors have their own teaching styles. You can ask seniors or seniors for information outside this course to see if you really like this course.
Tip 3: Waiting list
Because the school needs to let senior students choose the courses they need, especially professional courses, to ensure that senior students can graduate on time. Therefore, the order of school courses is from senior to freshman, junior and sophomore, and finally freshman.
The last course of freshman year. What if I can't choose a class? American universities also have Waitlist settings. If the course you want to take is full, you can queue up on the waiting list. Once other students quit this course, students on the waiting list will have the opportunity to join this course.
If no one quits Waitlist's course, students still have a chance to take this course. You can take this course two weeks before the start of school, and express your desire to take this course to the professor by email or face to face after class. In many cases, the professor has the right to add students to his course manually.
Tip 4: Add/Delete Periods
The increase/decrease period is usually in the first two weeks of the semester, which is a very important time for the beginning of the semester. Students are free to choose courses, drop out of school or change classes, and these operations will not be displayed on the final report card. Therefore, it is an opportunity to help students explore different courses and understand different teaching methods.
Third, studying in the United States: the danger zone
In the process of studying in the United States, don't choose the following three situations:
Danger 1. Courses that start too early.
Because of the tight schoolwork, you often need to stay up late to preview and review, so try not to choose the course from 7: 30 to 8: 30 in the morning, so as not to affect your mental and physical strength.
Danger 2. Courses that span lunch time
American universities do not reserve lunch time during class hours, and such courses are also avoided as much as possible.
Danger 3 Three classes are back to back.
From the perspective of curriculum, three different courses are connected together, with only a short break in the middle. This class arrangement will leave insufficient time for preparation before class.
Fourth, studying in the United States: matters needing attention
1. About quitting school
If you find yourself unable to adapt to teaching, overloaded with study or other problems after the course starts, please consider giving up the course as soon as possible.
Some liberal universities, such as Brown University, allow students to give up an ongoing course at any time before the last day of the course, and there will be no record on the final report card. But in most cases, students must give up before a certain point (usually 2 -3 weeks after the course starts) to ensure that there is no permanent record on the transcript.
2. About converting courses into credits
AP is the abbreviation of Advanced Placement, and Chinese is generally translated into American college preparatory course and American college preparatory course. A college course offered by the American College Board and taught in a high school.
High school students can take these courses, take AP exams after completing the courses, and get college credits after obtaining certain results. Generally, a college course costs several thousand yuan, but the AP exam only costs 93 yuan (20 17). Therefore, taking AP course can not only show students' ability, but also save money.