Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change my 76101 section?

If you need to switch sections, you should:

• Talk with your academic advisor to strategize about which other times may work for you to take a different section.
• E-mail Emily Mohn <emohn@cmu.edu>, the Coordinator of the First-Year writing Program, and she can help you strategize about which sections have openings.

Once the semester begins, and you have attended one or more classes, it is harder to switch into another section since you will have already missed work.  It is best to sort out your registration for 76101 as soon as possible, so that you don’t miss much work.

How am I placed in a section?

Every college at Carnegie Mellon handles registration for 76101 and 76100 differently.  Some colleges allow you to register yourself for a section online before you arrive on campus, while others have your advisor register you for a section that works according to your preferences for section topic or time, or simply what works in your schedule (if you are in a college with a highly prescriptive schedule).  If you have questions about this, ask your academic advisor for clarification.

What is the Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate credit policy?

Please read the information under Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate Credit Policy and email Emily Mohn if you still have questions.

What do I do if I am on the waitlist for a section?

In order to teach writing effectively in our courses, we are careful to maintain a maximum number of 19 students in 76101 sections, and 15 in 76100 sections.  No instructor is at liberty to increase that cap, so if you register for a particular section and end up on a waitlist, it is because that section is full.  If you are adamant about being in that particular section because of the topic or time, you can wait to see if space opens up.  Since this course is required for you to complete in your first year at Carnegie Mellon, it is not advisable to wait too long and risk your chances of getting into another section with an open seat.  If you have questions about how best to strategize about your registration, you should speak with your academic advisor, and you can also direct questions to Emily Mohn, Coordinator of the First-Year Writing Program.

Who teaches the 101 sections?

The majority of 76100 and 76101 instructors are graduate students in the English department pursuing either a PhD in Literary and Cultural Studies, and Rhetoric.  Most semesters, we also have a few MA students or adjunct instructors teaching as well.  Your instructors have designed a course experience centered around an area of their expertise and interest and because of this, they bring a unique enthusiasm to their teaching.  Their goal is to make you a better reader, thinker, and writer over the course of your time in their classroom.