<p>Just returned from my little jaunt around western europe. That was lovely, but now I’ve just returned and am faced with a very overdue pile of administration for Brown. I’ve receved the CAP advising thing, and I was wondering, is it preferable to opt for that or for normal academic advising, because the course list for CAP is quite limited. What are your takes?</p>
<p>Cheers!</p>
<p>I'd say don't register for CAP unless it's a course you would take anyway. No sense in getting stuck taking something you don't want to take. Totally defeats the purpose of going to Brown. And besides, I don't see anything wrong with the normal advising system.</p>
<p>Hey there, Brown grad 2005 here. I did not take a CAP course as a freshman and at the time I was nervous about that because, as you say, the materials seem to stress its importance. But in the end it ended up being fine, as it was for those who did take a CAP. For those who don't know, this is Brown's Curricular Advising Program, which means that your academic advisor is also the professor of one of your classes. (Students without a CAP course will be randomly assigned to an academic advisor who is a member of the Brown faculty or staff. All advisors receive the same training and are theoretically familiar with Brown's academic protocol and the full spectrum of academic opportunities at Brown.)
Advantages to CAP: you see your advisor on a regular basis so if you need to talk, they are regularly available. Also, you can get to know each other better and in a different way than just in the advising context. Also, assuming your CAP class is in an area that might become a concentration, you have an advisor who is very familiar with your area of interest and can give the best advice possible in that area.
Disadvantages: There are a limited number of CAP courses (courses for which the professor is a freshman advisor), and more importantly, on occasion, find that there is a conflict of interest with having their advisor also be their professor and that they cannot be completely candid about what their experiences are, their thoughts on their schedule, etc. This is especially important during registration for spring, when freshmen are using their fall experiences to figure out what they want to take, and it's important to be able to be open with your advisor about what you liked and didn't like in your first semester. Lastly, on a rare occasion, students will sign up for CAP, get their class and accompanying advisor, and then end up dropping that class. The advisor stays your advisor anyway, but that sometimes makes for an awkward advising dynamic.
Long story short: If there's a class you are very interested in and think you're likely to remain in even after shopping period mixes you up and makes you change around your plans (and it will), and this class happens to be in the CAP program, sign up for the CAP. If not, don't go out of your way to be in the program: you may even benefit from having an advisor who is, as I said, separate from your academic realm and not in your area of interest. While all advisors are as objective as they can be, a chem professor advising a music student (as was my situation) might be able to give a perspective that is fresh and useful in a different way.</p>