<p>Can anyone break down how many classes are discussion-based vs lectures, especially for science classes? And how big the classes are, really?
Thanks!</p>
<p>Hey, is john wesley around??</p>
<p>I sat in at a lecture based Neurophysiology class yesterday and I'll tell you what I can.
The class was lecture based, so the prof was talking for most of the time. But after every say 10 mins, he'd stop and ask if there were any questions, there normally were and a short discussion normally ensued.
I didn't sit in on a discussion based class, but since friday was pretty warm one of the students i talked to said her class was held outdoors haha.</p>
<p>Thanks ridethecliche,
You were at Wes the same time we were! Beautiful day, and lots going on. Unfortunately, my son socialized at a frat the night before until 4:00am, so he opted to drive back to his boarding school with his pals (2 in ED, another, like my son, still deciding) and snooze, but at least he had fun, and discovered that Wes truly is diverse, even extending to the more traditional college experience.</p>
<p>I was actually more impressed with wes than i thought i would be. My hopes were set extremely high and they were smashed since it was everything and more. I was terribly impressed and happy there.
Good luck to your son :-)</p>
<p>Classes, as everywhere, differ a lot by class. As a science major, you're going to have to take intro science classes, which tend to be lecture based and fairly large. That said, my intro chem professor (in a class of 100 or so students?) definitely knows my name and says hello when he sees me, makes himself available during office hours (though I've never taken advantage of them), makes it clear that everyone can interrupt and ask questions if they like. I've heard similar things from other students in other intro science classes.</p>
<p>Of course, all such classes have TA sessions which are smaller and helpful. Non-introductory classes (including advanced classes, literature classes, language classes and such) are often small (under 20 students) and discussion-based.</p>
<p>Basically, no matter what type of class it is, I've had plenty of professor interaction. Realistically, even though it's a small liberal arts school, you're going to be stuck with some classes that aren't intimate seminars; the thing is, they really aren't as bad as you might imagine!</p>
<p>I took an introductory psychology class as an FYI, which is a seminar designed specifically for freshmen, capped at 19 students. It was fantastic. Other such similar opportunities abound.</p>
<p>Hey Mad, I believe we've met.
"Hey, You're on CC."
Oh wesssss...</p>
<p>Yeeah. I feel bad, I barely chilled with the prefrosh at all this weekend; I was so lazy. But as wesfest shows, clearly wesleyan is basically what life should be for everyone, always.</p>