<p>I was reading some information Brown sent me for next fall and it says something about a Lottery for FYS and CAP and other stuff. The reading isnt very specific. Can anyone help me and tell me how to register for the process and how it works?</p>
<p>You’ll get information about the lottery rounds you can enter (if you choose…you don’t have to take an FYS or CAP course) around July-ish. That’s probably when you’ll get the list of FYS and CAP courses offered–I think you enter the lottery in August…I can’t remember.</p>
<p>But you’ll basically rank up to five or so (can’t remember the exact number) FYS and/or CAP courses you want to take, enter yourself into the lottery, and are randomly placed in one of your choices. If you are placed in a particular class, you aren’t bound to the class for the entire semester if it turns out you don’t like it. And if you are not placed in a particular class, there will be another lottery. Also, you can just show up to the class on the first day of classes and ask the professor if you can join–it’s usually not a problem.</p>
<p>^ thanks alot
I believe the date of the “first lottery” is is June 7th. Do you know if you have to register for these. Did you ever take one? How are they? (Directed at anyone) What kinds do they offer. In the description they mention they have ones in every subject but thats about it.</p>
<p>I’m currently in “Into the Machine.” It’s most excellent, and probably the only Lit class I will take here. They’re discussion-based classes, and are topics the professor is personally really interested in teaching, which means it would be weird to get a boring professor (though I’ve heard about one where that was the case). Really, they offer all kinds: there’s a physics one, Nanoworld, that I’ve heard rave reviews about, as well as history FYSs, anthropology, etc. Each will be pretty different from any other class, because it’s usually a subject the professor is passionate about, which may or may not be something typical. Mostly, I’d recommend when you get on campus, use shopping period to figure out what classes most interest you. Don’t worry too much beforehand (besides making a list of a ton of different candidates), because a lot could change once you get advice from your advisor and meiklejohn, and actually get a feel for what college is like.</p>
<p>For the record, everyone should try to take an FYS. Mine was the best class I took at Brown.</p>
<p>I didn’t take an FYS. And I know several people who didn’t as well—and I also know many people who have taken one each semester. Basically, it’s completely optional and you should only take it if the subject interests you! I entered the lottery, got my first choice for the fall, went to two or three class periods, did the first assignment, then dropped the class maybe one hour after I handed in the assignment. No questions asked and I found another class that I enjoyed a little more (modern dance)!</p>
<p>Are the CAP courses freshman discussion classes? What are the FYS courses? Thanks.</p>
<p>@Ambiotious
What do you mean by lottery? Do you pick who chooses first and do you have to register for the lottery or are you just in it because youre a Freshman?</p>
<p>I don’t know much about CAP courses, but I don’t think all of them are freshmen discussion specific. I think some can actually be normal-sized to open-enrollment courses. The only unique thing about CAP courses, I think, is that the professor will also be your advisor. FYS courses are first year seminar courses–small, discussion-based classes for first years.</p>
<p>The lottery is just a way of randomly placing students into the various FYS courses. You enter online during a given time frame (a weekend or something). You don’t have to enter the lottery (rank your desired courses according to preference) if you don’t want to. It’s completely optional.</p>
<p>Is the first lottery for the FYS courses June 7?</p>
<p>That actually sounds about right. I can’t remember the exact date, but you should have received (or will be receiving) info from Brown about lottery dates. Weekly email from Office of the Dean of the College? Packets in the mail?</p>
<p>My son got a packet, but doesn’t seem to have anything on the FYS courses yet. Is it online or perhaps it will still be coming in?</p>
<p>I would just keep an eye out for the email that will remind students when the lottery will take place. I think every Friday they (Office of Dean of the College) send out a new email with information.</p>
<p>I remember that this whole thing was very confusing last year when my son was a rising freshman. Part of the beauty of Brown is the maximum flexibility it offers, but it makes everything seem so loosey goosey the summer before! In the packet of materials or online, the kids should get an offering of the First Year Seminars (FYS) classes–basically it’s an opportunity to have a seminar-type setting as a freshman–small group with a good professor on a very specific topic. They should sign up for several if the topics interest them. They sign up when the lottery opens, but there are a couple of opportunities over the summer, so don’t despair if you happen to miss the first one. With the shopping period at the beginning of the semester, students basically “try on” the classes and see if they want stick with that class. If you missed out on an FYS you think really want, go by during the shopping period–maybe someone else will drop it and then you can get in.</p>
<p>Here is a link to Brown’s web site page for an explanation of the FYS. On the right side of the page is a pdf downloadable document that has the FYS list for the year that is just now ending. The ones for next year will be up during the summer. It’s really not loosey goosey, it’s just that it hasn’t been posted yet because the current year is just finishing with finals, papers, etc. Be patient. They will appear soon. Keep looking on the Brown web site, and keep your eye out for email, and your questions will be answered.</p>
<p><a href=“Complete Your Degree | The College | Brown University”>Complete Your Degree | The College | Brown University;
<p>This second link is a list of the emails students received a year ago-- something similar should be up for the current rising freshman soon (notice the date-- June 5, 2009):</p>
<p><a href=“Undergraduate Orientation I Brown University”>Undergraduate Orientation I Brown University;
<p>thanks alot everyone for your help</p>