<p>Yes, I had been thinking it might be a possibility for my son, too…</p>
<p>i think it depends what you want to do. For International studies or communication or even business AU is an excellent school with a lots of opportunities… it’s maybe not a good place for Arts(obviously!!) and i’ll run fast too if i were you!! but for me is the right school and i’m happy i’ll begin there next fall (SIS).</p>
<p>I find this thread to be very disturbing, although my S has had no problems (so far!) with his schedule as a student in SIS. Here’s a link to the AU schedule of classes, which will show which ones are open, closed or have waitlists</p>
<p>[American</a> University - Schedule of Classes](<a href=“http://www1.american.edu/american/registrar/schedule.cfm]American”>http://www1.american.edu/american/registrar/schedule.cfm)</p>
<p>Good luck, and I hope things work out for your D</p>
<p>That link to AU is interesting. It appears to have some openings. Hopefully this will all work out for the best. Keeping my fingers crossed. I like AU too as a school we are watching and learning about.</p>
<p>Dear CherryHill:</p>
<pre><code> The 200 level art courses my daughter is supposed to take are completely filled. I called the Office of the Provost this morning. I (as usual) was connected to an assistant who knew little about the art department and wanted to refer me to the art department again. I was insistent and said that I wanted the Provost’s to take care of the situation. She said that she had a 2 hour meeting today and needed find out who to talk to about it. She said she would call me today or tomorrow about it. Out of frustration I told her how we were paying full tuition, and that AU should have been honest if there really isn’t an undergraduate studio art program in place. She did not respond. I also emailed the Director of the Studio Art Program yesterday, since he did not return my phone call. No response yet from him. In all of our visits to AU nobody ever mentions him, nor did we see him there, just some art teachers and the art registrar. In fact all questions and problems are automatically directed to the registrar, nobody who is actually in charge of the program. I truly appreciate the input from everyone on this post!!!
</code></pre>
<p>I do not give up easily and am not ready as yet to cut and run from the program.</p>
<p>Here is the list of all the open studio art classes:</p>
<p>[American</a> University - Schedule of Classes](<a href=“http://www1.american.edu/american/registrar/schedule_proc.cfm?term=2009FN&subj=ARTS&search=&mode=title&stat=OPEN&hr=&mn=&m=AM&class=Search+Courses]American”>http://www1.american.edu/american/registrar/schedule_proc.cfm?term=2009FN&subj=ARTS&search=&mode=title&stat=OPEN&hr=&mn=&m=AM&class=Search+Courses)</p>
<p>(of course, it could be out of date, though my d. reports that in her experience, they’ve always been pretty real time).</p>
<p>I do see that Art 205 and Art 215 have waiting lists. But I also see that both of them have prereqs (Art 100 or Lit 105, etc.) Wouldn’t she need permission to skip the prereqs in order to register for them in any case?</p>
<p>Have you called the other schools, though? Just to have a plan B in place? Is your daughter able to handle any of this herself? I only ask because once she leaves for college it’s not like you’re really going to be able to be the one handling this, whether you are footing the bill or not. It’s questionable whether or not they will even talk to you. Has your daughter called the provost? Do you want to put her in a situation where she will be fighting such an uphill battle to get the education she wants? Does she? Could she call the other schools? It seems like you are doing the heavy-lifting here, and it is unlikely you will be able to support her this way once she starts at AU.</p>
<p>Mini:</p>
<pre><code>Intended art majors get to skip those pre-reqs. She is too advanced for those pre-reqs anyhow. She is supposed to start with 200 level at least which is even too basic for her.
</code></pre>
<p>Well, if those are too basic, as noted, there are other studio art classes open (which, in our experience, though not in studio art (my d. doesn’t take any) can be accessed by permission of the instructor.)</p>
<p>Mini:
You are correct, and we did request that my daughter take even more advanced art courses However we were discouraged from doing so and the advisor would not help with this. She said my daughter would have to go to the art department for this. My daughter is not even there yet and doesn’t know the the professors, who are pretty unreachable. We were told that it was very rare to skip to the advanced levels and it would require a portfolio review which my daughter was more than willing to provide. Nobody facilitated this. Again, I tried contacting the Head of the Art Department, art professors to discuss that possibility and no response from any.</p>
<p>Upsetmom</p>
<p>Cadmiumred,</p>
<p>A couple of points . . .</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Let your daughter do the calling and the asking. Professors, deans, provosts, etc. can’t stand it when parents stand in for what their child should be doing. I fully understand your impulse, but you’re unlikely to get the same response that your daughter would. She needs to make an appointment with the dept. chair and ask him what he is going to do for her, if anything.</p></li>
<li><p>From the lack of response, I assume that you believe it’s too late for RISD. Definitely have your daughter get on the phone to admissions, explain what is going on, and ask if they will take her despite turning them down. For a more well-rounded education, she can take classes at Brown, just up the hill.</p></li>
<li><p>First year students often get locked out of their major classes. My D, who at the time was intending to be an East Asian studies/Japanese major, was locked out of Japanese classes (at a different college) because her level was high enough that it had been filled with upperclassmen. She showed up the first day of class anyway, and the professor allowed her in. Students tend to “course shop” at most universities, which means that they sign up for more classes than they intend to take. Many drop the classes, especially if the professor makes the course seem tough from the onset.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Good luck. I know the impulse you have to make this right for your daughter, but your role should be supportive. Let her be the face/voice on the front line. You’ll get better results.</p>
<p>Yes. And also because now is the best time to make sure that she knows how or even can handle it. (I’m sure she can.)</p>
<p>“My daughter is not even there yet and doesn’t know the the professors, who are pretty unreachable. We were told that it was very rare to skip to the advanced levels and it would require a portfolio review which my daughter was more than willing to provide. Nobody facilitated this.”</p>
<p>Don’t know what to tell you. That’s exactly what my piano-playing daughter did. Was told there was no space. That the available spaces were only for majors/minors. (She was even told basically that the piano prof was an ogre.) She made an appointment, walked into Katzen, played for 20 minutes, and now is her prized pupil. Turned around and did same with the professor of jazz. It wasn’t “facilitated”. (Maybe it should be, but that’s another question.)</p>
<p>I want to note that Mini’s D and my D went to the same undergrad college. Our D’s experiences with getting into closed classes as first years might not work at other colleges.</p>
<p>Has anyone else had a child who had to deal with this?</p>
<p>Dear Mom:</p>
<pre><code> I totally hear what you are saying but my daughter is still in high school taking senior exams this week which takes precedence over her having deal with this situation which is beyond her and me as well. I do encourage independent thought and action. She chose to attend AU. However, this situation is stressful and too much for any high school student to handle who is not even there yet. She should not wonder after being sold on the art program by AU, whether she will allowed to classes in her chosen field right beore the fall session. In fact, she was working her schedule using the AU suggested Program list of courses for intended art majors posted on AU’s site and Au’s freshman online guide This list, posted by AU already pre-filled by upperclassmen. AU’s staff themselves,suggested these courses on the guide for her to use.It is under the link, Suggested Program for Potential majors. Now how can she be locked out of these classes already. She doesn’t know the professors yet to ask for favors. She is graduating next month from high school.
</code></pre>
<p>Upsetmom</p>
<p>I know you’re upset – and you have every right to be. My point is that professors and deans find it objectionable when parents advocate for their children and that you’re likely to be working against the goal, rather than for it. Faculty members are generally instructed not to discuss a student with the parents because of privacy rules.</p>
<p>One other thing that may be frustrating you: the semester is over. Department heads and faculty members go on vacation, work irregular hours, and sometimes travel for research. This is scholarship season, not teaching/course season. The silence you are hearing may simply be because the person is not there.</p>
<p>Are you considering getting her into RISD or another school? Or are you going to stick with AU, no matter what happens?</p>
<p>This is stressful and I understand cadimumred’s position with her daughter taking finals, finishing senior year etc. As mentioned, a deep breath, they are finishing the end of the year as well. I would expect at the minimum a 72 hour response time.</p>
<p>More questions - was skipping levels offered verbally or written in acceptance letter? </p>
<p>I also hear everyone’s argument that the student should be empowered to fix this on her own, I however feel that if I paying the bill, I should be able to talk to whomever I see fit! Especially if I the payee believe that my child and I were misled. This is an expensive purchase!</p>
<p>Have you called other schools? Any response? Is there a department head in the registrars office?</p>
<p>“I want to note that Mini’s D and my D went to the same undergrad college. Our D’s experiences with getting into closed classes as first years might not work at other colleges.”</p>
<p>No, I am talking about my younger one who just completed her first absolutely wonderful year at American. (And the best part was the absolutely stellar advising.)</p>
<p>TWO musically gifted children? Wow.</p>
<p>Different ways, though. The Smithie/Princetonian is a composer, and musicology nerd. The younger one at American is pure performer (I have a funny story - I’ll pm you.) Both extremely gifted in languages, which I find odd, as I struggle with English! ;)</p>