<p>Very common. To get into a class that is already full up, here are some tips:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>E-mail the professor early. Explain why you want to take the class (ideally because of your interest in the subject matter) and if it's for your major, explain why it's important for you to take this class in order to meet your major requirements (if it's true). Don't necessarily expect a response, especially if it's the summer.</p></li>
<li><p>During Drop/Add in the fall, put an enrollment request in from online. Make sure to mark your first choice as your first choice, because some professors really pay attention to that. Sending the professor another reminder e-mail or stopping by in person to hir office is an option, and depending on the professor, may be viewed as either critical to getting into the class, or obnoxious.</p></li>
<li><p>GO THE THE FIRST CLASS. If you don't do this, you won't get into the course, period. Go to the first class and stick around afterwards to talk to the professor.</p></li>
<li><p>If the professor doesn't let you in right away, and says that there are definitely no more spots, you can still keep coming to the class through the end of drop/add. Surprisingly often, if you just keep coming back, you'll be let in eventually. If the professor tells you directly not to come back, of course, listen to hir.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>
[quote]
GO THE THE FIRST CLASS. If you don't do this, you won't get into the course, period.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This? True, true, TRUE. So true (unless, of course, the teacher specifically tells you not to, which is rare, but sometimes happens in classes that TONS and TONS of people want in to). It's even true when the teacher emails you and says that you are welcome to come to the class, but there's only space for a very few more people, and it's not likely you will get in. How do you think they chose those few more? You'd better believe that they start by not letting in anyone who didn't show up on the first day! (This happened with Intro to Film Analysis. Every single person who showed up on the first day got in, despite a warning that Freshmen probably wouldn't get in, and no one who didn't show up got in. It was kind of funny, really. Like, "really, that's all I had to do?...Really?").</p>
<p>The point is, be persistent. My friend got into Poetry Writing, which was definitely full, by just (as madjoy said) showing up every day and writing/turning in poems during drop/add.</p>
<p>Re: transfers - when exactly do we sign up? I've already marked my courses of interest but don't have anywhere that I can actually sign up for them. Fortunately there are still spaces available but I don't want to miss out if I'm supposed to have done something now.</p>
<p>Also, regarding payment, I've gotten my financial aid award and will be taking out some Parent PLUS loans, but I'm unsure as to whether I'm supposed to just go with my parents to a local bank and apply or what. Do people usually go through Wesleyan or what? And if I do need to just go to the bank, don't I need some sort of official bill? All I have as of now is my financial award that says approximately how much I'd need to take out in loans (EFC). Sorry, new at this.</p>
<p>how are the sciences at wesleyan? i'm interested in chemistry and science in general but i like the size and location of this school and was wondering about the quality of the program - i know it's probably great i just want a feel of where it is comparatively</p>
<p>From what I hear, Wesleyan is one of the best LACs for science. Someone can probably add much more to that but the school places a lot of emphasis on science, especially for females.</p>
<p>While, many top ten LAC students can qualify for Hughes Medical Research Institute (?) grants that will enable them to do summer research, Wesleyan goes one step further by running its own labs all year round with the help of doctoral candidates. This allows for research that is a notch above the standard summer fare and the number of publishable, peer-reviewed articles, co-authored by Wesleyan undergraduates tends to reflect this.</p>
<p>Could someone better explain the meal plan options? The pamphlet and dining website aren't very helpful. I understand X meals per week but am a bit confused by "declining balance." Does that mean that if I get the All Declining Balance with $1478 in points per semester that I will just basically have $1478 for food per semester? </p>
<p>I have read some posts that suggest getting into one's top classes is very difficult at Wes. On this board or a similar one I read of a student transferring for this reason. I know freshmen are at the bottom of the pecking order, but can you comment. I saw an earlier post about how to get into an overloaded class. What I wonder is if this rumor has any truth to it.</p>
<p>I know they've tried hard over the years to give freshmen access to top professors with the First Year Initiative. I don't know what the verdict is on that. I think what happens is that every course starts out as a small class and the professor tries hard to keep it that way. But, ultimately, if they have to, they can do what Yale does and and turn it into more of a lecture course. It really depends on the professor. And, the course. I'd be interested in what current students think, too.</p>
<p>There is some truth to the rumour. There are some professors who are much beloved, and some class topics that a lot of students are interested in, that cause their respective courses to fill up extremely fast - and there just are too many students who want to take it to get in. In my experience, professors have been pretty strict about not letting a class get too large - a seminar class stays a seminar class, but that means that not everyone can get in who wants to.</p>
<p>That said, you can get into pretty much any class sometime in your Wesleyan career. There are some courses that freshmen admittedly have no chance of getting into, but only because the professor gives preference to juniors and seniors who won't be able to take it in the future. That way, everyone who really wants to does get to take it eventually.</p>
<p>Some large lecture classes, even (ex. Social Psych), get filled up. I took it in the fall, and even though I think there are 150 spots in the class, there was a waiting list of 90 more, because the class and Professor Scott Plous are held in such high esteem. Even smaller classes, like Intro to Sociology, which really have to be smaller because the discussion based aspect of the class iss such an important one, have many sections per semester to try to accommodate everyone who wants to take it - and still, some people are closed out.</p>
<p>The system is as fair as it can be, considering the basic problem that (a) Wes does want to keep class size small and (b) some professors are just too great for their own good, and will always get far more students signing up than can get in. If you really want to get into a class extremely badly, and e-mail the professor in advance and such and explain why it's perfect for you, the chances are extremely high you'll get in.</p>
<p>I've never been closed out of a class I really wanted to get into after two years here, if that helps at all. Still, horror stories do abound, and while what you've heard is probably exaggerated, there is a grain of truth. :)</p>
<p>I know that there is obviously a bed and that students get a desk and a dresser, but is there any closet space available in the dorms or is the dresser all the storage we get?</p>
<p>There is some closet space in all the dorms, though how much depends on the form (Clark has a small walk in closet, whereas Fauver rooms have smaller open closets. Not sure about the rest, though I don't think any of them have as much space as Clark closets).</p>
<p>I've been getting a lot of great information from the Wesleyan parent listserve.</p>
<p>Theyelenanator: Butts seems to have good-sized walk-in closets, too. PM me if you want me to send you photos of any of the dorm rooms. (Sorry, don't know how to supply a link to them here.)</p>
<p>Brand_182, have you figured out a meal plan yet? Yes, the points are equivalent to dollars, but you can always add more. If you are more inclined to go for all-you-care-to-eat dinners (or lunches) in the main cafeteria, which cost $9 or 9 points, you are better off getting a plan that includes some meals plus points. Freshmen and sophomores are required to get one of those. Upperclassmen tend to want more flexibility, it seems, and some prefer all points. My freshman son will get 8 meals plus points, as he suspects the cafeteria will be a good place to meet people. Maybe the 5 meals plus points would be a good compromise for you as a transfer.</p>
<p>Wes students, please correct me if I'm wrong!</p>
<p>Skie: You've got it right. And for sophomore transfers I'd definitely suggest the 5 meals plan…while eating in the cafeteria IS a great way to make friends as a freshmen, the 5 meal plan will offer a lot more flexibility, which is nice for a sophmore.</p>
<p>[/sophomore who is bitter that we can't get all points anymore]</p>
<p>I would be a little bit careful about the parent listserv. I mean, it's a great place to get information and to talk to other parents - but my own parents forward me some of the e-mails from there once in a while, and sometimes they border on ridiculous, especially when talking about things like campus health "epidemics" and campus complete-lack-of-safety. Health and safety are two things that, while not completely perfect, as they won't be anywhere, most students are pretty satisfied with. When a lot of parents get together and worry about their kids en masse, it can get a little bit crazy. So just be warned :)</p>
<p>Madjoy, thanks for the warning ;) ! Funny, I used to roll my eyes about my parents in the same way. The ridiculous worrying must come with the job of parenting! </p>
<p>I've actually found the parent listerv to be helpful and fun. I'm very impressed with the practical advice, the smart and funny commentary, and the warm, welcoming vibe. For the most part, the parents seem just as happy as the students are about Wes.</p>
<p>Some rooms (singles) in the Butterfields have walk-in-esque closets too. It totally depends on where you are, but you will definitely have space to hang your stuff. It might not be a ton of space, but unless you have TONS of hanging clothes (and why would you, this is college!) you should be fine.</p>