<p>My son got his first choice Freshman Year Seminar pick some months back, for a class that is only offered in the Spring. Now, looking at next semester’s schedule, he sees that there will be a time conflict with the second semester of a 2-semester class he is currently taking.</p>
<p>Should he contact the professor now to open his slot for another eager student? Does he have any option to swap this Seminar for another that won’t conflict? (Priority enrollment?)</p>
<p>I don’t think he can swap for “priority enrollment,” but it’s still pre-registration right now, so he can just un-register from that FYS and pick a different one if there are still slots open. If there aren’t spots open, he could still email the professor to ask if he can get an override or be put on a waiting list. Some are more lenient than others when it comes to capped classes.</p>
<p>If he loves, loves, loves the particular freshman seminar, I would think another idea would be to talk with the prof of the 2 semester course to see if he could possibly defer the second semester to spring next year. Since freshmen seminars are so encouraged and you don’t get really a second chance at them, the prof might be sympathetic. This might particularly work if it is a course that isn’t in his concentration track. It might still be a bit difficult with something that you want to “keep on a roll with” such as a language, but with the winter break next year to refresh yourself, I would think quite possible and a good case to plead with the prof.</p>
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<p>It’s one of his two math classes and he’s planning on an applied math/CS major. I think the sequence is also a prerequisite for other math classes he wants to take.</p>
<p>My son is currently taking a 5th class in history, which only has about 20 students in it. It’s not a FYS, but it’s got the flavor of one without being restricted to just freshmen. I’d like to get a sense of how important it is to the “Brown experience” to take a FYS. He’s currently also taking 4 math/physics/CS classes this semester and will be taking 4 math/CS classes next semester. These are very time-consuming courses (two labs and lots of problem sets) and his current 5th class doesn’t allow for much downtime, should he get sick for more than a day or two or otherwise encounter difficulties. </p>
<p>I wonder if it might be wise to ease back to a more leisurely 4 classes next semester? Of course he was advised not to take 5 classes this semester, but when the shopping period was over, he couldn’t bear to give up any of the classes. He’s used to pushing himself to the limit (finishing high school in 3 years), but he was also pretty exhausted by the end of his last semester of HS.</p>
<p>Honestly, he’s probably getting as much (if not more) out of that history class than he would with an FYS. The real benefit of an FYS, in my opinion, is the ability to get into a small seminar-style class within your first year at Brown. He’s already done that. If he doesn’t see any others that he’s really excited about taking, then he doesn’t need to take them. He could also just back off a bit on the math/CS classes (take one fewer) and take a FYS. Totally up to him, though I’d strongly suggest that he take 4 classes next semester. There’s a lot more at Brown besides that he probably just hasn’t had time to explore so far, and I’m saying that as someone who has averaged 4.5 classes taken per semester.</p>
<p>Thanks, Bruno! </p>
<p>Question: How do you decide when to take 4 classes and when to take 5? Do you match up 4 classes with TAing or research or does it just depend on the classes you’re taking at the moment? How do you know when 5 is too much?</p>
<p>Honestly, for me it’s varied. I tend to match up 4 classes with research or other heavy extracurriculars, then tone my life down when I’m taking 5 classes. I very much prefer my life with 4, though - I feel like I’m getting more out of my Brown experience than spending all my time studying. I’ll probably be sticking with 4 classes a semester for the rest of my time, since there’s no need for me to take 5 any more (was previously considering double-concentrating).</p>
<p>Follow-up question because my son will be home for Thanksgiving, which will give us more time to talk:</p>
<p>How does one become a TA and when does one start applying/lobbying/inquiring about it? Should that be done after the end of the first semester for next school year? What are the advantages? Does it help toward getting an internship or research opportunity? Or is this just one of many possible paths?</p>
<p>It depends on the department, really. CS has what it seems to be a rather streamlined process for applying to TA for a class. I believe an announcement will go out around the time applications are open, and there’s an online form for you to fill up, listing your preferences for which classes you want to TA. If you did well in a class, the Head TAs for next year’s offering will also likely e-mail you, encouraging you to apply. I believe there is also an interview with the professor and Head TAs somewhere down the line. More comprehensive information can be found here: [Brown</a> CS: UTA Program](<a href=“http://www.cs.brown.edu/courses/ta/]Brown”>http://www.cs.brown.edu/courses/ta/)</p>
<p>The only other department I have experience TAing for is Biology. Personally, I just spoke to the professor since I was taking one of his other courses at that time. In general, as with many things at Brown, a simple e-mail to the professor stating your interest and asking if s/he needs TAs is almost always the best thing to do. If you want to TA for a class in Spring, about right now is the right time to make inquiries. (Though I believe the applications for CS have already closed).</p>
<p>Thanks, aleph, that was very helpful – my son is a CS major and will look into becoming a TA next fall.</p>
<p>When my son came home for a visit this past weekend, it seems he missed his cats most of all – unlike the rest of us, they don’t keep in touch via phone and text message!</p>
<p>My son also used to volunteer at an animal shelter one evening a week. Does anyone know if there is an animal shelter near Brown that needs volunteers?</p>
<p>PARL: Providence Animal Rescue League ([Home</a> | Providence Animal Rescue League](<a href=“http://www.parl.org/]Home”>http://www.parl.org/)) is my shelter of choice around here. I haven’t found the time to volunteer, but they also have visiting hours that I take advantage of every month or so. Who could say no to an hour or two of kittens??</p>
<p>They’re right down the hill in the Jewelry District near the med school - he could walk, bike, or take the bus.</p>
<p>That sounds perfect, Bruno! I’ll let him know.</p>
<p>TA interviews for at least one spring CS class are going on now. My son is a first year planning on concentrating in CS and has a second interview this week, but I have no idea how you apply or whether it is too late to apply for spring semester.</p>
<p>How many hours per week are typically required for a TA in an introductory CS class?</p>
<p>Also, I heard that TAing a class counts as taking a class. Does that mean one receives a grade for being a TA? Would TAing a CS class count toward one’s CS major requirements?</p>
<p>The number of hours varies depending on the class, but the time commitment is often comparable to taking another class. Usually you can choose whether to TA for pay or for class credit (in which case you would get a grade, though it might be S/NC), but in neither case does it count towards concentration requirements.</p>
<p>By the way, this is all information that your son can find on campus for himself! (For example, on Thursday there was a Q&A about TAing following a big UTA info session.)</p>