<p>For those who may have interest in this program in the future (Freshman Summer Academic Program) I can provide some updated info. My D was accepted ED for this fall and chose (somewhat reluctantly) to attend this program this summer. It is a 5 week accelerated program that allows admitted students the opportunity to take two 3-hour courses in the summer.</p>
<p>We thought it would be a great way to learn about the classes/campus/dorms/food options etc and would allow an easier transition when classes begin again in August.</p>
<p>There are about 85-90 students participating. Quite a few have been admitted in the January program (Jprog in their parlance). I believe these are students who have been admitted on a deferred basis (can't attend until second semester).</p>
<p>They are housed in the Village dorms, which are used for upper classmen during the school year and are next to (great) the fraternity row. Beautiful dorms, with everyone having their own room in 4 room "clusters" or suites. The four rooms share 2 full baths. The floors are co-ed. Food is included in the program on their account and is accessed with their ID, but is only good for $12 per day.</p>
<p>Everyone takes a lit/writing course as well as another pertinent to their expected major. D is taking Zoology. Others offered are Russian Lit, Calculus and Psych.</p>
<p>The check-in last Saturday was great and was staffed by quite a few yellow-shirted current students. Everyone got their info packets, course rosters, permanent student IDs, Webstat and email info. Sat evening included a pizza party and Sunday afternoon had a campus tour along with another evening welcome banquet.</p>
<p>Class schedules are the same each day and have a morning Lit class from 10-12, and the other class from 1-3pm.</p>
<p>We are getting daily updates from our D and would be happy to answer any questions from those who are interested.</p>
<p>Thank you for this posting. Our S is also at the FSAP but we have not been so fortunate as to get daily postings. My husband dropped off my S on Saturday and we received one very brief email. He said things were going fine but there is a lot of work, which (of course) is to be expected. </p>
<p>Feel free to share your D feedback so I can live vicariously.</p>
<p>No, it is in fact, two “3-hour” courses in terms of credit hours. That would typically mean 6 total hours of classes PER WEEK, but because of the the accelerated program they actually have 20 hours of classes per week. Hope that makes sense!</p>
<p>Spoke to D yesterday and she seemed to be in less of a good mood than on Sunday. Asked if she was having fun and she said “what do you think- I’m in school and taking classes and it is summer”. I decided to wrap up the conversation there…:)</p>
<p>I highly doubt they are swamped in work. Summer classes are notoriously easy and low in outside work. Plus, they have a lot of programming put on for them during the summer that takes them out to enjoy the city. </p>
<p>Every year, FSAP students end up getting in trouble for partying or drugs (last year, acceptances got rescinded since people were caught smoking weed on campus). Maybe i am disillusioned because of this, but it seems like FSAP is less a program about helping kids transition into the academic rigor of WashU and more about being able to party away from adults under the guise of taking summer classes.</p>
<p>Woah, woah!! Don’t lump all summer classes into the “notoriously easy” category.
Maybe you were speaking just of FSAP. </p>
<p>My D is taking summer Physics 1 and 2 - it is not easy, she is not partying, and is working her tail off! Being a double major and taking the premed prereqs, something had to give. Taking Physics in the summer will allow a little room in her schedule to take a class or two she really wants to take along with those she needs to take.</p>
<p>Of course, I’m not speaking specifically to your daughter. But even the summer versions of Physics I and II are very easy compared to the classes offered during the year. (Maybe because they are used as weed-out classes for pre-meds…) I’m not saying that the classes aren’t hard at all, or that they’re high school level courses, I’m just saying that they are much easier than those offered during the year. And considering the workload that students have during the year, I really can’t take FSAP seriously. That’s all!</p>
<p>But good luck to your daughter! Physics, as you said, is not easy.</p>
<p>j1234 - Not sure I agree with you. I have never heard summer Physics referred to as “very easy compared to the classes offered during the year”. The one word I’ve heard used most often is intense.</p>
<p>If you’re coming in from high school classes, and then taking a collegiate level course in a very hard subject - yes I am certain that it is intense. However, it really doesn’t compare to the level of physics courses that are offered during the year. Like I said before, I think it’s because they are weed-out classes for the large amount of students that come in pre-med. The summer course does not have the same pressure. In fact, many students elect to take certain courses (especially physics) over the summer since they know they won’t pass in the regular class.</p>
<p>j1234 - Honestly, your postings make no sense and are gross generalizations at best. I have both taken and taught classes in the “hard” sciences over regular and summer terms (I will let you guess which subject) and most profs feel they have to cover the same amount of material as in a regular term. In courses such as physics, I think it makes it harder, not easier, because you have no time to absorb the material comparatively speaking. This is offset some by the fact that you also usually have no other or only one other class at the same time. But since there are only so many hours in a day, you cannot assign as many practice problems and while you might think that is an advantage compared to the work load during the school year, it is a definite disadvantage for doing well on exams. Sure there is a curve, but for the students where the subject doesn’t come as easily, this is a decided disadvantage for them. So it is really the opposite of what you think for these students, which tend to be the majority in these “difficult” subjects. There really are not many Einsteins and Oppenheimers out there.</p>
<p>in j1234’s defense… I know at the school I am transferring from most classes are considered easier during summer term and I believe it is this way for most schools. Although I can’t specifically talk about any class or washu I know that at most schools it is generally thought that a lot of summer courses are considered easier by comparison (although still might not be easy).</p>
<p>Sorry j1234, still don’t agree. There aren’t that many students in this summer’s Physics, so your claim that many students take “especially Physics” because they won’t pass during the regular school year doesn’t float. Also have heard of very few who don’t pass during the regular school year. They may not get the grade they want, but most pass.</p>
<p>What I hear from students who are taking it this summer is that they just want to free up room in their schedule during the regular school year. And, if the course is a weed out course during the regular school year, I would expect it would remain the same during the summer. By the way, D is a rising junior, not coming in from high school and still thinks summer Physics is very difficult. This is a kid who’s been on the Dean’s List since she arrived at WashU and got A’s in orgo and bio last year, with orgo considered to be the hardest premed course at WashU.</p>
<p>Don’t want to hijack the OP’s thread about FSAP, just wanted correct an assumption that all summer classes were easy about 6-7 posts back.</p>
<p>I guess I misrepresented what I meant, and also misunderstood what you meant. I was speaking more specifically to FSAP classes, and actually thought that your daughter was in the program. I was really just trying to make the original poster aware of how notoriously easy the program is, and how crazy the students get during the summer. I originally just assumed that physics was a course offered to the FSAP students so I lumped them all into the same category. Forgive me for that mistake. Obviously, your daughter is not in FSAP and therefore is in a very different situation. </p>
<p>That being said, I do still think that summer courses are easier than those offered during the year. Maybe not in content, or even in professor, but at least in terms of time. During the school year, you’re taking fifteen credits along with having many, many other commitments outside of class. Over the summer, you’re concentrating really on these one or two classes. Unless, of course, your daughter has a job or something as well, which is different. Although the time is shorter, the fact that usually the class is the sole thing you have to accomplish over the summer really makes it easier. Plus, from personal experience, the professors are more laid back and put less pressure on the students. I also rarely had outside work to do. (Of course, this could be because of the courses I elected to take - sciences not included.) And again, the comment I made about students deciding to take Physics over the summer since they believed it to be easier was also from personal experience. Many of my friends have done so, so I have no reason to believe otherwise. </p>
<p>Again, I didn’t realize that your daughter was not in FSAP. My mistake!</p>
<p>Ok folks- Let’s try to get this thread back on track.</p>
<p>D told me that the initial meeting covered “behavior expectations”. which was apparently a nod to past partying/drug use etc. So I think that they all know the consequences of making bad choices at the FSAP.</p>
<p>She finds the Lit/writing class interesting and the Zoology class “boring”, as the prof tends to teach right out of the text.</p>
<p>Lots of individual/group studying last night in prep for today’s tests/essay assignments. D told me it was very weird to see so many people so serious about studying and getting assignments done on time. I guess she was used to seeing a group of underachievers at her HS and realizes that the game has changed.</p>
<p>I think there is a group bowling event tonight and another social activity Sat.</p>
<p>Poskashflo - My D also came from a very mediocre hs (only 65% go to college and only 25% of those graduate). Although she was always a high achiever (val of her class, only NMF), she was blown away by the students at WashU - which is why she chose the school. She wanted to be surrounded by smart, “out of the box” thinking students, and she hasn’t been disappointed!</p>
<p>I’m so glad we’re on track with the FSAP discussion. My S actually came from a very competitive high school with a significant portion going to the top tier Ivy’s and even the top 30% of students are going to highly ranked universities. That said, he has found his fellow students to be “really smart” and needed to be reminded that he would not be there if he couldn’t do the work. So far, this has not been any kind of cake walk, even with good HS preparation. However, our intent here has always been about getting him adjusted to college life, instill more independence, and help him to be more confident in the fall.</p>
<p>Please keep the information and comments flowing. I feel a bit adrift with only sporadic communication.</p>
<p>Somewhat reluctantly? Man, she is lucky! I want to attend (if I end up attending WashU) but can’t because of the money I will not be able to make over the summer (5 weeks = $900). I think it sounds like a great program. Hmm… all sorts of people at WashU. Good!</p>
<p>Remember Applicannot, if you can demonstrate financial need , they will help with the cost of the FSAP program. I would guess if you were awarded need-based aid for the regular school year, they will throw some money your way for the FSAP program as well.</p>
<p>Oh, it’s not the FASP program that is expensive - it’s the money I’d be losing by not working. But hey, if an FA package is good enough, you never know.</p>