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Early Sophomore Standing
Every year a substantial number of freshmen complete at least one-quarter of their degree by the end of Fall term. They are offered the option of becoming sophomores at the beginning of the Spring term.
Who Qualifies for Early Sophomore Standing?
In late November, at the request of Dean Julie Norman, the Registrar's Office determines which freshmen are potentially eligible, assuming successful completion of the first semester. This determination includes both the number of completed GIRs and the percentage of degree credit earned.
- The majority of the math and science GIRs must be completed and your freshman CI requirement must be satisfied.
- All AP or transfer credit must be documented, processed by the Registrar, and applied to the academic record before the end of the term.
- All credit must be processed and on your academic record by Friday, December 18, 2009.
- Credit processed after the end of the fall term or gained during IAP does not count in this assessment.
- There are no exceptions to these criteria or rules: they are determined by the Faculty.
Please note: Only eligible students will be offered early sophomore standing. If you do not receive a letter from Dean Norman, you are not eligible. There are no exceptions. Also, if you wind up failing or dropping a subject, the offer may be pulled because you may no longer meet all of the criteria.
Benefits of Early Sophomore Standing
The primary benefit of being an early sophomore is that you can declare a departmental major and be assigned to a faculty advisor.
As well, early sophomores are no longer subject to the freshman credit limit, are on full A-F grading, and may designate one of their spring subjects as Exploratory.
When Are Eligible Freshmen Notified?
In early December, Julie Norman, Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, will offer the option of sophomore status to eligible students in writing. Her letter will specify a deadline and include information on making the decision to accept or decline early sophomore status.
- If you are offered early sophomore status, you may accept it and declare a major or become an "undesignated sophomore." You may also decline the offer and remain a freshman.
Factors to Consider in Making the Decision
Early sophomore standing is most beneficial if you are ready to declare a major and be assigned to a departmental advisor.
- Remaining a freshman offers the protection of ABC/No Record grading. Hidden grades (received in early January) may help you decide. Did you just pass, or did you do really well?
- Second semester is often a lot harder for freshmen; most, if not all, of the material to which you are exposed is new.
- How successfully have you learned to balance schoolwork with personal life?
- Second semester is often a great opportunity to pick up activities for which there was no time in the Fall, e.g., UROP or a performance group. A heavy, graded course load may preclude these activities.
Deadline for Accepting
- If you are offered early sophomore standing and wish to accept it, you should accept by the start of IAP, January 5, 2010. This will assist your new academic department to assign you in a timely fashion to your new major advisor.
- The official deadline to accept Early Sophomore Standing is Add Date, March 5, 2010, in the of the fifth week of the Spring term.
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