CAP, FYS and UCAAP

Colleges & Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<p>I need some help understanding this UCAAP, FYS, CAP thing.</p>

<p>Before he left town, my son applied for two FYS’s (the two he was most interested in – a really hard choice!) and the UCAAP program (he had to fill out the application in a rush, after graduation and before leaving town, so he is not feeling hopeful about getting in). He also got a quick look at the list of CAP courses and highlighted a few he might be interested in. A couple are classes he will likely take anyway (e.g., Econ 0110 and Chem 0330). Does that necessarily mean he “should” or “should not” apply for them as his CAP course? FYI: They are not in his intended field of concentration (poli sci). Can a first-year CAP advisor be in another field and still be a good first-year advisor? Do CAP advisors necessarily remain your advisor all four years? What’s the expectation? the norm?</p>

<p>One of the CAP courses is also his second choice FYS. In terms of strategy and getting in, would it be a good idea or a bad idea to also list this as a preferred CAP course? The thing is, it’s his SECOND choice FYS. He’d rather get into his first choice, obviously. Also, he wouldn’t want to have this one as his CAP course and the other as his FYS and be taking them both at the same time.</p>

<p>I have read about CAP and FYS in a thread from last year. It sounds like the best advice is to sign up for courses that you really want to take. Period. That is, do not “force” yourself to choose an FYS or a CAP course simply because they are FYS’s and CAP courses. The overriding motivation should always be “I really want to take this course.” Do you all agree on this? When we visited campus in April, the person who led our info session really praised the CAP opportunity and kind of said “don’t miss it.” I can also see great value in a first-year students only seminar experience.</p>

<p>I have also read in last year’s thread that it’s really awkward to drop your CAP course during shopping period. Why, exactly? I mean, there are so many choices and decisions for new students to make, it can get a little overwhelming. People try to strategize, to cover their bases. Surely there is flexibility and forgiveness? I am assuming, btw, that if you drop your CAP course, that prof is no longer one of your first-year advisors.</p>

<p>Thanks for your help, everyone. As I’ve mentioned, son is in the wilderness and out of contact for a bit. He’s asked us to do the best we can in taking care of any details that arise while he’s away. CAP courses are one of those details. Fortunately, we all know that anyway it turns out, it will be great!</p>

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<p>Yes... the bottom line is don't take a course you don't really want to take. You only get 32, and any guide telling you to take something you only sorta want to be a part of because of the interaction it provides is probably a sophomore, no offense to them, who hasn't yet felt the crunch as you run out of spaces to take classes but still have a long list to get through.</p>

<p>Honestly, advising will always, always, always be a two way street. This is all the more true at Brown where we depend so much on student initiative and responsibility as the driving force behind their own education. Whether or not you're in a CAP course, FYS, or all huge lectures, the experience of creating a meaningful relationship with a professor or professional as an adviser will only come if you are proactive and want that relationship.</p>

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<p>Where can the list of this year's CAP courses be found? All I saw on the website was a list of the 07-08 CAP courses.</p>

<p>Do we apply specifically for CAP courses, or do we just sign up for them during orientation week when we pick the rest of our classes?</p>

<p>Also, if Chem 33 is a CAP course, how can the professor provide advising for all those students? (Isn't it a large course?)</p>

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<p>CAP courses are not necessarily small or even capped courses. When they are larger classes, it simply means 10 of those students will be CAP students and the rest are not.</p>

<p>Of course, if you're going into chem and want a chem professor as your adviser you can sign up for that. My freshman year my Chem33 professor was my adviser, though that section was not a CAP section.</p>

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<p>There isn't a summer lottery for CAP courses or anything, right?</p>