<p>Just got into the FRI.
I have no idea how it works. How to make the steam selection and when?
Is it preferable to join a FIG?
Please if there is somebody here that would like to share any info about this two programs it I would really appreciate it!</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>What is your major?</p>
<p>You should join a fig, its a nice way to meet friends in your major. There are teachers in that class who try to get everyone to become friends. The best part is, you don’t have to go if you don’t feel like, its completely optional and there’s no grade involved.
FIG: [First-year</a> Interest Groups | School of Undergraduate Studies](<a href=“First-Year Interest Groups | TEXAS Undergraduate Studies”>First-Year Interest Groups | TEXAS Undergraduate Studies)</p>
<p>I am accepted as Pre-Pharmacy student</p>
<p>Thank you Blissofcats!
What is the difference between them?</p>
<p>FIGs this year are very different from before, the whole program changed a lot. </p>
<p>Many residential FIGs became Academic FIGs, residential FIGs are now very general and many are not major specific. </p>
<p>There are much more academic FIGs than before but many of them have fewer classes, only 1 or 2 most general. </p>
<p>Some majors like CS don’t have FIGs at all, CS has its special POD program.</p>
<p>Last year there were 6 or 7 research FIGs, none this year. I guess that FRI might have some kind of special program for FRI students like CS has.</p>
<p>I would ask advisor during orientation what programs are available for FRI students since there are no special FIGs. </p>
<p>Also, I wrote this in March, before the new FIGs were posted. Some information is still true.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-texas-austin/1481329-freshman-orientation.html?highlight=fig[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-texas-austin/1481329-freshman-orientation.html?highlight=fig</a></p>
<p>My son is in a similar situation. Hewas also just offered a spot in FRI. He is a non-honors CS major who may apply for Honors during freshman year. I think he regrets not applying. </p>
<p>He’s busy studying for Aleks at the moment and I’m trying to figure some things out for him. He was initially going to look into joining a FIG in order to meet other kids in his major and have the registration advantage with the classes. Now, with FRI in the mix, plus what YaYa says about there not being any CS or Research FIGS, I’m totally confused. My son had read something about PODS (recruiting for mentors) but we don’t know what PODS are, how they work, and how they impact FRI. Argh! Does anyone have any insight on how all these work together?</p>
<p>I’m assuming he will receive more information on these things as August approaches, but since he is scheduled for the first orientation, I want him to have the information he needs to make informed decisions. It seems to all happen so quickly at orientation and I just imagine this huge cattle call where only the tough survive registration. Plus,he’s an S. So there’s that. :-)</p>
<p>Maybe first orientation was a mistake…</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Here is how Fri works. First semester you will be enrolled in a Research Methods course with Dr. Kopp. After the first semester of training you to do “good” science, you will be sorted into a research stream depending on your interests/major. It is a good idea to look for streams that can tie into your major because you will receive credit for the research you do(course credit). Then you will continue the research during the summer (this is optional), it is a paid position. You will then come back the next fall and decide if you wish to keep researching or not, it may be for you, maybe not. You will continue to work on your research or change areas of research. You can also use the experience you gained in the FRI to apply to other research jobs at other universities over the summer (good research skills among undergrads is very desirable) or even take it to study abroad. That’s an overview of how it works essentially your first year.</p>
<p>Just to clarify</p>
<p>According to 2013 Fall semester Registrar’s page </p>
<p>Kopps Sacha is teaching
UGS 303 CRIT THINKING FOR 21ST CENTURY (no restrictions)
and
UGS 303 ORIGINALITY IN ARTS/SCIS-CNSHS (restricted to Dean’s scholars and Health Science Honors program)</p>
<p>There is UGS 303 RESEARCH METHODS taught by GONZALEZ, L (no restrictions)</p>
<p>There is UGS 303 RESEARCH METHODS-FRI , classes are taught by 5 different people (restricted to CNS FRI)</p>
<p>2btpts</p>
<p>First orientation has only 1 disadvantage - students don’t know their AP scores yet and usually don’t register for certain classes.</p>
<p>I asked about POD program
It’s going to be 9 PODs, all based on placement in CS 312 or CS 314 only, so students will have 1 CS class together and 1 hour per week with POD mentor and faculty facilitator (something similar to UGS 018). </p>
<p>CS FIGs did not work very well in the past because students had very different level of Math and very different taste in what UGS 302/303 class they wanted to take. </p>
<p>All the information will be provided at the orientation. Your son can sign for POD based on CS class and FRI based on UGS class. There is no conflict between them.</p>
<p>Thank you YaYa for the clarification. I was speaking from an honors perspective where “Originality in the Arts and Sciences” is the Research Methods course.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help YaYa. I’m hoping for a good registration outcome for my DS. It all just seems so confusing to me. I went to a small LAC and we basically took what they told us to the first semester. Very few options. I guess it’s time for me to trust he will figure things out at orientation and get things done. </p>
<p>Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD</p>
<p>My son just finished freshman year at UT in CS and is in FRI. He did not apply to honors (Turing) CS either, but was content with that decision.</p>
<p>He felt the main benefit of being in FRI is that the second and third semester classes count as upper-division electives in CS. Since there is little room for extra classes the first year until you are admitted into the CS major, it helped earn credit hours. he did not get the FRI stream he wanted, but has been okay with what he did get assigned, and is completing the sequence first semester next year. It was competitive to be selected for a summer position, but he wanted to come home anyway since he’s OOS. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>This might be off topic, but is a FIG for JUST your first semester freshmen year, or for first AND second semesters?</p>
<p>Most FIGs are Fall semester only.
Residential FIGs and some Academic FIGs for special programs are all year long.</p>