ASK ADVISOR ALEX
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Ask Advisor Alex and Other Apt Advice for the Week of March 31 & April 7, 2008

• Planning to graduate in January 2009? Set up time to meet with an advisor before you register for Fall so you can make sure you are meeting all of your requirements.
• Registration is open for Summer Sessions of the Pre-101 Math workshop. Fewer sections of this workshop will be offered in the future, so current Hunter students who need it are strongly encouraged to take it in the first summer session. Contact the Dolciani Math Learning Center in 300-N for workshop times, information and to register for the workshop.
• Haven’t submitted your Degree Audit Application for Spring commencement yet? Do it now! Applications must be completed and submitted to the OASIS by April 17, 2008 to ensure that your name appears in the Spring commencement program.
  

Ask Advisor Alex

Dear Advisor Alex:
I am interested in taking a course listed on the summer schedule because the title sounds good, but it is not listed in the catalog. How do I know if the course fulfills any of the GER, what the course is about and what the pre-requisites are?

Sincerely,
Infoless Ines

Dear Infoless:
Good question! Because the Hunter catalog covers 3 years, it often cannot keep up with changes in departments’ course offerings. Departments may add new classes, alter existing ones or offer special topics classes that are not a part of their regular course repertoire, so these classes are not listed in the catalog. To find more information about a course, click on the “Notes” icon next to the course in the schedule. This will bring up a window with any pre-requisites, and what GER portions the course fulfills, if any. To get a better description of what the course will be about, contact the department and ask for a complete description. Often these new or “one time only” classes can be some of the most interesting, as they tend to be very current and in line with the particular interests of the instructor.

Always,
Advisor Alex

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Dear Advisor Alex:
I am taking a course this semester that is much harder than I thought it would be. It’s only an elective that I don’t need for my General Education Requirements, my major or my minor, but I’m afraid I may fail it and it is too late to Withdraw! I heard something about taking courses for Credit/No Credit instead of a letter grade. How does this work and should I do it?

Thanks,
Overwhelmed Oliver

Dear Overwhelmed:
Now that the Withdrawal deadline has passed, students have to finish out the classes they are in, for better or for worse! The Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) option allows you to take a class without receiving a grade, and you have right up until the final exam to choose this option. If you earn the equivalent of a C or better, you will get the credit for the class, and if you earn less than a C, you will not get credit, but either way, there is no grade attached so there is no impact on your GPA. Of course, like anything, there are limits and pros and cons to doing this.

First, you may only use the CR/NC option four times while you are at Hunter, and you may not use it if you are on academic probation. The pros are obvious: If you fail the class, you don’t have an F dragging down your GPA, and if you pass it, you get to keep the credit and use the class toward any requirements it might fulfill. The cons are more complicated: Some departments will not allow you to use the CR/NC option in a class for your major, some departments that have pre-requisites may not accept classes you took as CR/NC, and some departments, transfer schools or graduate schools may regard Credit as a C grade and No Credit as an F grade (and may even recalculate your GPA- yikes!). Definitely talk to an advisor about all of the factors involved in the decision to see if it is right for you.

Always,
Advisor Alex

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Dear Advisor Alex:
I know it is past the deadline to Withdraw from classes, but I just found out that a family member is very ill, and I will need to spend a lot of time taking care of him and helping him get to the hospital for treatment. I may be able to keep up with two of my four classes, but the other two are on days he has regularly scheduled appointments. I will be missing those classes every week until the end of the semester, and I won’t have time to make up the work. Is there anything I can do so I don’t get Fs?

Sincerely,
Caregiver Carrie

Dear Caregiver:
My sympathies. Your family member is fortunate to have your assistance and care. Whenever you are having serious life situations, an advisor can lend a supportive ear and provide options to help salvage your semester. You should contact an advisor in Room 1119-East to discuss your circumstance and what options are available to you. Best of luck with everything.

Always,
Advisor Alex

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For more advisement information or questions:

Visit the Advising Web Site
http://studentservices.hunter.cuny.edu/advising.htm

Contact the Office of Student Services
(212) 772-4882
1119 East Building

Contact a peer advisor in the Sylvia E. Fishman Student Center
(212) 650-3282
417 West Building

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