<p>I really want to participate in one of these programs, but I'm not sure which one to get involved with. It's between the "Byrne Family First-Year Seminars" and the "First-Year Interest Group Seminars" (FIGS!). I'm leaning more towards FIGS although the Byrne program surely sounds interesting. </p>
<p>I know that only 2 or 3 Rutgers students actually roam these boards, but if you guys/gals have participated in either of the two programs mentioned above, could you please share your experience? </p>
<p>Anyone else considering this program during the fall?</p>
<p>I found out about these seminars in the catalogue and I was really interested. I'm going for Byrnes, becuz i remember reading that FIGS isn't really helpful from this board...lol</p>
<p>hey but i would love to hear some comments on this !!</p>
<p>Lol skittyskii :) I found the thread about FIGS not being really helpful!</p>
<p>Perhaps I should lean towards that Byrnes one, especially since it had some really interesting topics on there. When I go to the Academic Planning day in two weeks I'll just ask the advisor about the two programs.</p>
<p>I really wish that more Rutgers students roamed this board :(</p>
<p>Guys/Gals I really hate to burst your bubbles but FIGS and SAS seminars are a waste of time, they'll seem interesting at first but ultimately if your an incoming freshman you might as well just not do them and find other things to do with the time.</p>
<p>Aww, really Inkontrol???</p>
<p>:(</p>
<p>Now I don't know if I want to do it or not. The real reason I wanted to get involve with the program, however, is to get to meet other first years like myself. Sure I was going to try meeting them through clubs and such, but I thought the class would help too.</p>
<p>I'll wait for other opinions, though :)</p>
<p>I think these seminars are a great way to get involved in diverse programs at RU. They certainly are not a waste of time. You do get one credit and the pass/not pass grading at the end of the seminar insure that your GPA is not affected. I certainly know that colleges will like to see it on a transcript, especially for transfer after the first/second year.
I'm thinking about taking Creativity and Collaboration, Love and Reason, or The Limits of Computation and the Limits of Knowledge. No, I'm not a philosophy major, but I do want to become well-educated when I graduate from college and these seminars are a great way for me to get involved in group discussions and learn about how the mind works.
There are a few seminars that are blatantly random, but they can offer a better insight to people of who you are and what you're passionate about.</p>
<p>They seriously are a waste of time. I had to do more work for a pass/fail grade then for a real class. But if you are gong to take one, take a Byrne, the FIGS and USELESS for anyone but the person teaching it, as they will have something to put on their resume.</p>
<p>I am a RU student, just so you know</p>
<p>o man..
i signed up for FIGS psychology on APA day
is that what everyone thinks, purplefoam?
I mean,, someone asked the orientation guys (also rutgers students) and they said they'd recommend it to us. </p>
<p>maybe they were bsing since they are supposed to say good things about the school..</p>
<p>skittyskii, you could probably drop the class during that drop/add period at the beginning of school if you still feel that you are wasting your time.</p>
<p>I will probably still consider it. Had any of the orientation guys taken a FIGS or Byrnes class during their freshmen year? I'll probably ask them that when I go this Saturday so that I can hear their opinion based on their experience.</p>
<p>Hey, can anyone explain to me how the APA day goes??? What did you guys do (aside from choosing classes)??</p>
<p>It's basically a series of lecutures on description of SAS program, what your general requirements are, and some specific outlines on how to chooose your first semester courses.</p>
<p>You also get to ask questions to current Rutgers students while eating lunch:) and then you will split into different class rooms depending on your major. there you get to learn more about the major/department of your choice.. oh also you get to meet the actual professor :D </p>
<p>This might sound like a suck up but try to get to know them, ask them questions afterwards.. I got myself into an honors class after talking to the professor :) </p>
<p>then AT THE END OF THE DAY you finally get to fill out that course form. They are quiet simple and basic.. but if i were you i'd research and have the specific courses in mind to put down. </p>
<p>the day ended around 4~4:30 ...
it was actually pretty helpful, its up to you to make it an imformative day.. do your research and bring as many questions as you can !</p>
<p>Ooh, thanks for the information skittyskii :)</p>
<p>So basically:
-> Have a couple of questions in mind to ask
-> Meet with the professor; suck up a bit ;)
-> Research specific courses and have them in mind</p>
<p>Hey, when you state that you are having lunch and get to talk to certain students, do you mean that we get to sit at certain tables and talk directly with current sudents (face-to-face) or is it basically EVERYONE in a large room asking questions to students who are at the front with a microphone at hand?</p>
<p>This might sound ignorant of me, but what type of questions did you ask the professors anyhow? Is it basically like </p>
<ul>
<li>How intense is the course? Is the class more "discussion based" or basically " lecture, notes, exams, see you next class"?</li>
<li>How many students to a class? </li>
<li>(If it is a literature teacher) What are some books/works that might be covered in class?</li>
<li>How available are the professors? Do they communicate by email and how often?</li>
<li>How many hours approximately would I spend on assignments for class?</li>
<li>Do you give tests involving multiple choice or open-ended?</li>
</ul>
<p>What type of questions did you ask skittyskii?</p>
<p>It was a little bit of both: its a small classroom setting, (like you highschool classroom size) and there are about 20-30 kids. There are like 7 orientation guys in front of the class and you just ask them questions, just like how you would in your actual class. It's close enough to hold a long convo with them too.</p>
<p>About the questions.... I think academic-related questions would be better. If you find any particular program to be your interest while you research, (like 5 year BA/MA program, research program, etc.) ask them! show them you actually did your research and that you have a passion for your major. Once the professor notices that, he will keep his eyes on you.</p>
<p>+</p>
<p>i asked about my future career, (the professor was a researcher and I just had several questions about that...) and about an honors track. Each major has its own distince honors track seperate from general SAS honors. (less then 10 people graduate with honors track ... ) I asked him what i should do to get in, and he said i should take honors class starting my freshmen year. Normall you apply at the end of the sophomore year but you will have more advantage by taking honors class, i guesss..</p>
<p>he sent me emails about the info and asked me to send my AP score directly to him so that he can place me into an honors class:D pretty cool, huh?</p>