<p>OK, Sonny returned from Orientation Session A (first session) for CAS Freshmen class of 2010-2011.</p>
<p>Some comments:</p>
<p>1) DS had a tremendous and super BUSY time. He really thought the people (other students and staff) there were friendly and fun to be around. He loved staying overnight at Founders (his first choice dormitory for Freshmen year). He said NYU is amazing and it was a blast for him to walk around the city (even though he lived there for 4 weeks last summer, he is still loving NYC).
He said the food was enjoyable (they ate in the Kimmel cafeteria for most of the meals).</p>
<p>2) Be aware that you should be prepared for your advisement sessions. Oftentimes tricky issues can come up that the advisor may not be aware of. I was rather annoyed that DS was told he could only sign up for MAXIMUM 16 credits per semester when, in fact, we know through the CAS Bulletin and threads here in CC NYU that the base tuition and fees cover up to 18 credits per semester, then there is additional $1000+ for each credit or point over 18.</p>
<p>I called the Advisement Office and the second person I talked to said they will make sure that the advisors are trained to provide the right info for the next session.</p>
<p>3) If you are planning to sign up for a popular course, you should make sure your advisor hits that register button ASAP. My son's advisor obviously was slow on the "button pressing" for Expository Writing and DS was locked out of all sections open to Session A students (probably just by minutes or seconds). He will have to wait to take EW in the spring.</p>
<p>All in all, DS loved what he experienced of NYU through the Orientation session, but I am afraid what has been shared previously by NYU students about how difficult administration can be is proving partially true already from my experience. (I got a sense of the rigidity of some class registration rules and other matters I am not happy about.)</p>
<p>Just sharing some info with those of you who still are waiting to start your NYU CAS Freshmen Orientation. Hope it helps someone with planning.</p>
<p>If you can, I would suggest the waitlist for those classes. Every waitlist I have ever been on, I’ve gotten into the class (especially signing up early on like this summer). </p>
<p>Additionally, if I’ve learned anything from dealing with NYU administration and my own mother, it’s that as much as it’s a pain in the butt to fight for what you want, you can do what you want (within reason) as long as your willing to work for it. Switching into full recitations, into full classes and into classes you haven’t placed into are all possibilities (I’ve done them). You just have to work for them. It takes a lot of energy and persistence but personally, I find it worth it to get exactly what I want from a school I’m paying a lot of money to attend.</p>
<p>I had inquired about being waitlisted for the EW course (after reading this rec multiple times here). However, the first advisor I spoke to today strongly advised against the chance for it, then finally said there are no waitlists for the Expository writing. She could only approach the dean if my son has a very, very strong reason for taking EW this fall. For instance, he plans to major in English, which is not the case. She convinced me it is not essential to take EW the first semester, though I stated I thought it was supposed to serve as a foundation to help the student in writing for other college classes.</p>
<p>It was my first taste of a naysayer. However, this is not that important an issue. My son has another class registration issue which he will have to take up with the academic dept. So, yes, the fighting for your own needs and the "rights’ of an expensive education has begun. Welcome to NYU (and I guess many other colleges as well). The orientation certainly introduced my son to what looks good about NYU, but also some of the problem areas already.</p>
<p>evolving, welcome to being a NYU parent. It is rewarding and it is frustrating. I recall the advisement my daughter got in freshman year. they are very concerned about the time management abilities as freshman getting adjusted to a new routine, new life and new schedule.
My daughter took 14 credits her first semester, that is what they planned with the premed track. I was annoyed at this because we are paying for 18 credits.
By time she became a sophomore they are so much better at getting their preferred courses, and waitlisting and swinging everything around. The advisors give them advise as to how to get into classes, like show up the first day, speak with the prof, etc.</p>
<p>^^ that seems strange that her advisor signed her up for only 14 credits for premed (I’m guessing two classes, gen chem and gen chem lab?). I’m a premed too and every semester of freshman and sophomore years I had 18 credits (3 classes, the science and 2 cred lab).</p>
<p>But I definitely agree as you get used to nyu it’s much easier to maneuver your way around the bureaucracy. Also I encourage asking one’s RA for help regarding these (and any) issues. I’m going to be an RA at Founders next year and personally I’d be happy to help anyone regarding these types of things.</p>
<p>While we certainly want our college students to be independent and to step up to what life throws at them, the Parents Helpline has been very quick to respond and rectify certain situations. I don’t think they would handle registration/advisement issues, but just wanted to offer this up as a resource for other problems that may come up and just don’t get resolved. </p>
<p>Thank you all for your well intentioned attempts to offer “comfort” and help. I am here to learn and to provide what little info I have acquired along the way as a new NYU parent.</p>
<p>I tend to be proactive and assertive, so be assured that I expect and hope the same for my son and other students.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your well intentioned attempts to offer “comfort” and help. I am here to learn and to provide what little info I have acquired along the way as a new NYU parent.</p>
<p>I tend to be proactive and assertive, so be assured that I expect and hope the same for my son and other students.</p>
<p>Sorry for the double post that somehow went through CC.</p>
did people get roommates for the orientation? Not that it’s a big of deal but I’d just like to know whats going to happen
do people bring computers? how much time do we have to decide what we are going to take and all…currently I have NO idea about any of the classes or anything, they do explain it at the orientation right?</p>
My son had a roommate but told me he hardly saw him due to how busy the Orientation schedule was. Note that my son was so busy I had a hard time nailing him down by phone on a time to pick him up at the end of the Session (for those interested, it was close to 4 PM on the last day of the Orientation when I picked up my son).</p>
<p>2) My son did not bring a computer and it sounded like he was kept so busy he would not have had time to use the computer. </p>
<p>3) I will deal with part two of Question #2 separately since it is a big one. DO SOME RESEARCH AND PREPARATION before going into the meeting with your advisor during Orientation. Start by looking up what MAP is (go to the NYU CAS Bulletin and also refer to the NYU thread here on CC on “Choosing Classes”). I had my son bring in an unofficial copy of his AP exams taken with the scores obtained, as well as a transcript of H.S. Senior classes he had taken Spring 2010. Finally, do some research on sections of professors you might be interested in taking classes with (give yourself several choices since some of the classes may already be closed when you register).</p>
<p>I am coming from out of state for session E. Is it true that because I am in session E, I will have the worst choices in terms of class timings, etc? Will I not be able to choose the classes I want because I am in the last session. Or is it true that they have a set amount of students from each session and they cap certain classes so that the later sessions can also sign up for those times.</p>
<p>I was at A, and when we registered for MAP courses, most of the sections were blocked off, giving us only a few sections that we could register into. The blocked off sections were reserved for later orientations, so you will still be fine getting into your classes.
However, more advanced classes that you have to place into won’t have that luxury; on the flip side, those classes usually don’t fill up quickly.
Freshmen honors seminars, however, have no block, and will fill up first come first serve. So if you wanted to register for one of those, you will find your options limited.</p>
<p>Actually I heard Freshman Honors seminars had limits on the numbers permitted in each one for each orientation </p>
<p>Also, As soon as Orientations are over, you can register/change classes again. They Block them off to give everyone a fair chance, but it’s possible there will be open slots at the end of the summer.</p>
<p>@pumpfake
I had Orientation E (albeit two years ago) and I will admit the picking was not as good as it could have been. However all major classes (for me Chem, World Cultures, WTE) had spaces. It was just a matter of having a not great recitation time or a morning lab. They save spots in big classes (like Cultures and Contexts and WTE) so you can take it. However the Honors Seminars do fill up very fast and immediately my advisor went through the book and crossed off about 70% of them because they were full. I still got one that I really liked with a prof at NYU med so don’t worry too much about it. Also I fully support switching things up (ie recitations and labs) after registering at orientation. Feel free to PM me about that if your UOLs were unclear (mine were).</p>
