This post is where you can find most of your questions involving what to do with your character if they are currently attending and/or working at NVU! Please feel free to PM if there are any further questions; if they need to be widely addressed, they might be added to our thread!
If you are posting your schedules, know that in real life, students can only take up to 19 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters but most schedules consist of 12-15 (which would be 4-5 classes)! For graduate students, it is usually recommended that students do not take more than 3 classes because usually, the class credit hours are between 5-7! That's a lot! Full time students must take 12 or more hours. Full time grad students must take 9 hours. 6 hours is considered half-time.
Freshman are usually constricted to taking general education classes. Ex: English, any math classes not completed, in high school as college credits and maybe 1 elective. Note that classes are usually an hour long (though some can last up to 3-4 hours) and it is not usually advised to take more than 4 classes your freshman year! Especially if they are higher than 3 credit hour classes.
Being a TA as a freshman is impossible because in order to be a TA, you need to have passed whatever class you would be TA'ing in with an A and have complete and full knowledge of all of the course content.
A sophomore has a bit more leeway. This is the year you are advised to be thinking of career options and what you want to do with your life! Volunteering and getting involved with campus life is a plus, and there may be one more slot on your class schedule for an elective. While a sophomore has less of a chance to be a TA, there are so many more things he or she can do like joining clubs and organizations, going to school events, or joining one of the many intramural sport teams.
By the time you are a junior, you should already have your career of choice in mind, as well as your major and academic plan all mapped out. These students are advised to begin student internships and get ready for additional test taking such as the GRE, GMAT, etc. for furthering his or her education. A junior can definitely become a TA.
So long as the ‘senioritis’ doesn’t kick in, this should be your final year of college. Depending on your major and the average amount of classes you’ve taken per semester, this is usually your fourth year though in some cases it is not uncommon for it to be your fifth. A senior has the ability to become a TA, the head of a club or organization, and also do one or more internships. Though this is your last year, a senior still has a lot on his or her plate because if graduate school is going to be an option, a senior will be applying and sending in final transcripts, samples of writing, and any other important documents to secure a spot with the other graduates students of New Versailles University.
In order to be considered, or to become a graduate student, one must apply and be accepted to this program. The first and foremost requirement is to have earned a bachelor’s degree. A graduate student can be what is known as a GTA, or graduate teaching assistant, and will sometimes even teach undergraduate classes or labs as part of his or her major’s requirements. Graduate school is no joke and oftentimes it is advised that no more than two classes be taken per semester. There is a lot of individual research and writing in nearly every class that will need a lot of time dedicated to in graduate school. Note: It is rare for a graduate student to take a course that is outside of his or her field of study!
A professor is not likely to be young. Very few people become Full Professors before the age of 40 and the average age of a full professor is 55. Yes there are adjunct professors (graduate students who are teaching as part of their degree-requirements), as well as GTAs (graduate teaching aids), etc. but the title of ‘professor’ should only be given out to a character who has earned at least a Ph.D. At a community college, a Master’s Degree is often acceptable, but being that New Versailles has a full-blown University, a Doctorate’s degree is required. Along with this degree, experience as a graduate assistant and research in your field of study is encouraged and looked highly upon as well!
Many students chose to work whilst earning his or her degree, however, know that if you are a full time student, having a full time job at the same time is very taxing. A full time job often requires at least 40 hours a week, and if you’re on salary sometimes even more! You might want to consider being a part time student (less than 12 credit hours per semester) -- this would actually be great if you’re looking for more roleplays!
As a student worker hired by the university, jobs can vary widely all across campus. Student workers can act as office assistants, IT support, and more. Please keep in mind that as a student worker, due to national guidelines, one can only work up to 12 hours unless special permission is given. Student workers usually receive minimum wage. Many choose to take these jobs in hopes of both gaining experience in their desired fields, and eventually becoming a full time employee of the department they work for. Please note that there is a difference between simply being a student worker, or being a work study program; anyone can apply to be a student worker, but work study involves Financial Aid.
Information Involving Class Scheduling
If you are posting your schedules, know that in real life, students can only take up to 19 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters but most schedules consist of 12-15 (which would be 4-5 classes)! For graduate students, it is usually recommended that students do not take more than 3 classes because usually, the class credit hours are between 5-7! That's a lot! Full time students must take 12 or more hours. Full time grad students must take 9 hours. 6 hours is considered half-time.
Freshman
Freshman are usually constricted to taking general education classes. Ex: English, any math classes not completed, in high school as college credits and maybe 1 elective. Note that classes are usually an hour long (though some can last up to 3-4 hours) and it is not usually advised to take more than 4 classes your freshman year! Especially if they are higher than 3 credit hour classes.
Being a TA as a freshman is impossible because in order to be a TA, you need to have passed whatever class you would be TA'ing in with an A and have complete and full knowledge of all of the course content.
Sophomores
A sophomore has a bit more leeway. This is the year you are advised to be thinking of career options and what you want to do with your life! Volunteering and getting involved with campus life is a plus, and there may be one more slot on your class schedule for an elective. While a sophomore has less of a chance to be a TA, there are so many more things he or she can do like joining clubs and organizations, going to school events, or joining one of the many intramural sport teams.
Juniors
By the time you are a junior, you should already have your career of choice in mind, as well as your major and academic plan all mapped out. These students are advised to begin student internships and get ready for additional test taking such as the GRE, GMAT, etc. for furthering his or her education. A junior can definitely become a TA.
Seniors
So long as the ‘senioritis’ doesn’t kick in, this should be your final year of college. Depending on your major and the average amount of classes you’ve taken per semester, this is usually your fourth year though in some cases it is not uncommon for it to be your fifth. A senior has the ability to become a TA, the head of a club or organization, and also do one or more internships. Though this is your last year, a senior still has a lot on his or her plate because if graduate school is going to be an option, a senior will be applying and sending in final transcripts, samples of writing, and any other important documents to secure a spot with the other graduates students of New Versailles University.
Graduate Students
In order to be considered, or to become a graduate student, one must apply and be accepted to this program. The first and foremost requirement is to have earned a bachelor’s degree. A graduate student can be what is known as a GTA, or graduate teaching assistant, and will sometimes even teach undergraduate classes or labs as part of his or her major’s requirements. Graduate school is no joke and oftentimes it is advised that no more than two classes be taken per semester. There is a lot of individual research and writing in nearly every class that will need a lot of time dedicated to in graduate school. Note: It is rare for a graduate student to take a course that is outside of his or her field of study!
Professors
A professor is not likely to be young. Very few people become Full Professors before the age of 40 and the average age of a full professor is 55. Yes there are adjunct professors (graduate students who are teaching as part of their degree-requirements), as well as GTAs (graduate teaching aids), etc. but the title of ‘professor’ should only be given out to a character who has earned at least a Ph.D. At a community college, a Master’s Degree is often acceptable, but being that New Versailles has a full-blown University, a Doctorate’s degree is required. Along with this degree, experience as a graduate assistant and research in your field of study is encouraged and looked highly upon as well!
Having a Job While Being a Student
Many students chose to work whilst earning his or her degree, however, know that if you are a full time student, having a full time job at the same time is very taxing. A full time job often requires at least 40 hours a week, and if you’re on salary sometimes even more! You might want to consider being a part time student (less than 12 credit hours per semester) -- this would actually be great if you’re looking for more roleplays!
Student Worker
As a student worker hired by the university, jobs can vary widely all across campus. Student workers can act as office assistants, IT support, and more. Please keep in mind that as a student worker, due to national guidelines, one can only work up to 12 hours unless special permission is given. Student workers usually receive minimum wage. Many choose to take these jobs in hopes of both gaining experience in their desired fields, and eventually becoming a full time employee of the department they work for. Please note that there is a difference between simply being a student worker, or being a work study program; anyone can apply to be a student worker, but work study involves Financial Aid.
