Specific Guidelines and Information
As you consider course selection in freshman year, be sure to read chapters 4 through 9 and the appendixes of the Freshman Handbook. These chapters summarize Yale’s academic requirements, resources, and programs and provide guidance for putting together a schedule that suits your interests and abilities. Keep in mind the following points in particular. Distributional Requirements for the Freshman YearDuring your first year you must enroll for one course credit in two of the three required skills categories: writing (WR), quantitative reasoning (QR), and foreign language (L1–L5). While you are required to enroll in only two of these categories, it is in your best interests to begin fulfilling all three skills requirements during the freshman year, if you are able to do so. A full explanation of the distributional requirements is printed in Yale College Programs of Study. Your residential college dean can answer any questions you may have. |
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Credit/D/Fail Option
The Credit/D/Fail option was established to encourage experimentation and to promote diversity in students’ programs of study. Complete information about this option is found in Yale College Programs of Study. Some of the pertinent restrictions are:
- Up to four of the thirty-six credits required for the bachelor’s degree may be earned under the Credit/D/Fail option. No course credit earned on a Credit/D/Fail basis fulfills any distributional requirement for the bachelor’s degree.
- No more than two credits per term may be taken Credit/D/Fail; at least two credits must be taken for letter grades each term.
- You cannot earn acceleration credit by taking a designated advanced course during freshman year if you enroll in the course under the Credit/D/Fail option.
Deadlines
A Summary of Pertinent Deadlines is printed in Yale College Programs of Study. These deadlines are strictly enforced; note them on your calendar. Some important dates to keep in mind are:
- Monday, September 14: Course schedules due for the Class of 2013. You must obtain your freshman counselor’s and your adviser’s signatures on your fall-term course schedule in time to file it in the residential college dean’s office by 5 p.m. on this date. Don’t leave this to the last minute, or you may find that your counselor or your adviser is not available when you need him or her. You may not ordinarily choose a new course after this deadline; on the advice of an instructor, however, you may change course levels (e.g., from MATH 115a to MATH 112a or to MATH 120a).
- Friday, October 23 (midterm): Last day to withdraw from a fall-term course without having the course appear on your transcript.
- Friday, November 6: Last day to convert the Credit/D/Fail option in a fall-term course to a letter grade.
- Friday, December 4 (last day of classes): Last day to withdraw from a fall-term course. If you withdraw after midterm but by this date your transcript will show a W (Withdrew) for the course.
Science and Premedical Students
If you are interested in majoring in the sciences or if you wish to pursue a premedical program, you will need advice specially tailored to those areas. Detailed information on placement in science and mathematics courses may be found in chapter 9 of the Freshman Handbook. Appendix B of the Freshman Handbook, “Information for Premedical Students,” also contains pertinent advice. Further information for science and premedical students is provided at departmental meetings during the opening days.
Note especially that members of the Health Professions Advisory Board will hold a meeting for students on Tuesday, September 1, from 1 to 2 p.m. in Davies Auditorium, Becton Center, 15 Prospect Street.
Course Selection Period ("Shopping Period")
The idea of a “shopping period,” during which you can consider alternative courses, may be new to you, but it is a useful way to look at classes you are interested in without having to sign up for them immediately. Take advantage of this time to explore Yale’s rich curriculum. Freshman “shopping period” extends from the first day of classes (Wednesday, September 2) to the day you submit your course schedule (Monday, September 14). Please be aware that classes conducted during the first two weeks of the term are regular, full-fledged classes in which readings and homework are assigned, so you should be prepared to keep up with assignments and participate fully in each class that you may wish to visit. We encourage you, therefore, to limit the number of different courses you plan to visit and to settle on a course schedule as quickly as possible.
