My son is very interested in the Sc.B. degree for Computer Science-Economics. He has a good amount of coding experience and thinks CSCI 0170 would be a good start for this fall - it’s offered MWF 10 am only. He took AP Econ and his AP scores start him in Intermediate Microeconomics. On the requirements page for the dual concentration http://www.brown.edu/academics/economics/undergraduate/requirements/requirements-scb-degree-computer-science-economics the recommended Intermediate Micro course is ECON 1130 - the mathematical version of ECON 1110. However, ECON 1130 is only offered the same exact day/time as CSCI 0170. My son would like to take ECON 1110 to get started in both fields and the concentration states ECON 1110 can be taken “with permission” instead of ECON 1130.
This leads me to my question - how does one get permission? Is this something that can be handled the day before classes start when he meets his advisor or should he be writing to his advisor ahead of time once he learns who will be advising him? Thanks as always for any advice.
He can email his advisor once one is assigned. Advisor might suggest waiting until the advising appointment or might give approval in advance. Keep the emailed permission for your son’s records.
His freshman year advisor won’t be the advisor that he gets once he enters into the concentration. He should just go ahead and take 1110 if he’s interested in the subject matter, and he can work out the specifics of concentration credit later, if he even ends up in this concentration. The courses he takes in his first semester aren’t going to make or break anything.
One of the most wonderful things about Brown, and colleges in general, is that students get to explore, try something new, perhaps change their minds, and even question what they thought they knew prior to coming to the university at at the ripe old age of 17/18. Micromanaging a freshman schedule down to the class and time is surely at odds with having DS/DD experience the Open Curriculum to its fullest. Time for dad to get a copy of Julie Lythcott-Haims’ book, How to Raise an Adult.
Literally, the amount of freedom and flexibility you can have at Brown is just ridiculous (in an amazing way, of course). I’ve seen people create their own course with a professor because they were passionate about a specific subject, for example. Don’t stress about this at all.
I agree with erlanger. TerpDad888, it’s awesome that your son got into Brown. I’m sure you were a big help too. Congratulations to both of you! With all due respect, though, it’s time for you to back off now and let your son fly. It’s okay if he makes mistakes, maybe even big ones. That is how he will learn. Please let him learn to be the adult he is now. It’s time. He can talk to his advisors about all of this when he gets there. Your job now is consultant, not manager. Thanks for listening to my advice. 