COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FIRST YEAR STUDENT REGISTRATION

Q.  How many classes should I take?

A.  Most first year students carry a load of 15-16 semester hours:  that translates into five classes.  To graduate, you'll need to earn 124 semester hours; completing 15 or 16 credit hours each semester for eight semesters will result in a total of 124 hours.  The pharmacy program requires more than 124 credits.  Credits earned through achieving the required score on an AP or CLEP exam, from the International Baccalaureate, from attending another college, or from attending summer school can all be applied to the 124 hours needed to graduate. Your total hours earned at Drake can be simplified to an easy formula. Area of Inquiry credits + Credits required by major + elective credits = 124 credits (more for pharmacy)

To be considered a full-time student, you'll need to carry 10 semester hours (12 for most financial aid packages) -- that amounts to 3-4 classes each semester.  International students and students involved in intercollegiate athletics must carry at least 12 hours.  The maximum number of hours you can carry in one semester is eighteen (18) without paying an overload fee.

When thinking about how many classes you should take, also consider the following:  Will you be employed while going to school?  How many campus activities do you wish to join?  Will you be on an athletic team?  What other demands can you expect to have on your time?  How good are your time management skills?  Each of these considerations may help you decide exactly how many classes you wish to take.

Academic considerations are also important.  If you feel your reading skills are not as strong as you'd like them to be, you'd be wise to avoid a semester of courses involving lots of reading.  In general, these guidelines apply:  heavy reading courses are history, philosophy, sociology, English, political science; moderate reading courses are psychology, religion, economics, biology, chemistry, physics; lighter reading courses are fine arts courses, mathematics, computer science.  Moderate or light reading courses are not "easier" courses:  these classes often have other requirements that take time but are of a different nature (lab work, homework problems, projects).  It is wise to aim for a balance in the kinds of work you'll be asked to do.

Q.  What are semester hours (credits)?

A.  Drake operates on a semester calendar (16 weeks per semester), and its credit hours are semester credit hours.  One semester credit hour usually means one hour of class per week throughout the semester.  Most three-credit-hour courses meet three hours per week.  Exceptions to this pattern include beginning math courses (4 credit hours = 4 hours per week), laboratory science courses (4 credit hours = 3 class hours and 3-4 lab hours per week), and studio art classes (3 credit hours = 6 hours in studio).  We use the terms credits and hours interchangeably.

Q.  I'll be in class for only about 15 hours each week.  I thought college was supposed to be harder than high school.  In high school I was in class from 8 am -3 pm every day.

A.  Keep this rule of thumb in mind:  you should plan to spend at least two hours study/preparation time outside of class for every one hour spent in class.  So, if you're in class about 15 hours each week, you'll have at least 30 hours preparation time (reading or writing assignments or projects) outside of class.  In other words, being a college student is a full-time job!

If you don't have a strong background in math but you need to take a math course, you'll find you need to study more than two hours for each class meeting.  If you read or write slowly you'll probably spend more time preparing than others with stronger skills.  In general, tests and quizzes are given less frequently, so you'll need to keep up with assignments each day to do well in your classes.  Sometimes the professors will not even go over your reading assignments in class, yet this material could still appear on the test!

Q.  I think I know what my major will be, but I'm not sure.  How can I register for classes?

A.  Don't be concerned about not having a specific field of study right now.  About one-third of our entering class each year declares "OPEN-ENROLLED" as their major. As an open-enrolled student you may choose courses that sound interesting to you in your first semester -- courses that will allow you to explore your academic interests as well as develop skills you wish you had or strengthen the ones you have already.  Register for courses in the major or majors you're thinking about, but keep flexible.

It is not unusual for  your interests and goals to change as you explore the variety of courses and programs offered at Drake.  As you sample courses and learn more about various programs and careers, you'll be clarifying your own abilities, interests, and goals.  You'll be assigned a faculty advisor to be your resource and guide as you work on discovering the major and career most suited to your interests and abilities.  This is an important  task you'll face while you're here.  That's what the Drake experience is all about.

All Drake students are required to complete the Areas of Inquiry, our general education program.  Further on in this guide you will be given the web address for the Areas of Inquiry planning document where you may learn what your requirements will be and begin choosing courses to fulfill those requirements.  Most of the courses listed in this Guide apply to either the Areas of Inquiry or a major, sometimes both.  In other words, if you follow the recommendations in this guide it's practically impossible to make serious scheduling mistakes for your first semester at Drake.
 

When you come to campus in the fall, your academic advisor will be able to answer specific questions about the Areas of Inquiry and your chosen major or be able to work with you to help you eventually determine a major.

Q.  I took Advanced Placement (AP) courses and examinations in high school.  How will this affect my registration?

A.   Since we won't receive your AP scores until July or August, you should avoid selecting fall semester courses for which you have taken AP tests.   After your test scores have been evaluated, Drake will notify you about the amount of credit earned.  Your advisor will help you determine how  these credits are to be applied to your degree program.

Q.  I'm an athlete.  Will participation in intercollegiate sports affect my registration?

A.  As a Division I athlete, you will need to register for at least 12 credit hours (typically 4 courses) during each semester in which you are  competing.  Since practices and training occur frequently in the afternoon, we try to schedule your classes to be over by 3:00 pm.   Also, if your major program allows, it is recommended that you not sign up for more than one laboratory science class in the fall.
NOTE:  The pre-med program requires  you to have both chemistry and biology with labs during your first semester if you plan to apply for medical school during your senior year.

Q.  Who's going to help me with all this?

A.  We have confidence in your ability to work your way through this guide and choose your classes for the fall.  Names of resource people in all of Drake's Colleges and Schools are listed further on in this guide.    But remember, we want to help you make decisions--not make decisions for you.

In future semesters, you will have an academic advisor to help you plan courses and major programs.  Your advisor will be a faculty member with  a particular interest and expertise in working with first-year students.