freshman class scheduling; helicopter parent or legit concern?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always stacked my schedule like that and worked on the off days. it was never a problem for me and I graduated as valedictorian of my college. You were WAY out of line to suggest this.

Most colleges won't let you sign up for too many hours. The poster suggesting huge amounts of hours is out of touch. A full schedule used to be 15-18 and I had to get special approval from the Dean the times I went over 20.

I completed 144 semester credits in 2 academic years and 2 summers semesters. I completed 18 each of the 2 summers and mid 20’s each of the 4 academic year semesters. I graduated with honors, worked full time at nights, and raised a family of 4 young children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always stacked my schedule like that and worked on the off days. it was never a problem for me and I graduated as valedictorian of my college. You were WAY out of line to suggest this.

Most colleges won't let you sign up for too many hours. The poster suggesting huge amounts of hours is out of touch. A full schedule used to be 15-18 and I had to get special approval from the Dean the times I went over 20.

I completed 144 semester credits in 2 academic years and 2 summers semesters. I completed 18 each of the 2 summers and mid 20’s each of the 4 academic year semesters. I graduated with honors, worked full time at nights, and raised a family of 4 young children.

What university allows you to bring 4 young children along to all of your classes?

[Anonymous]

Former college prof here. I weighed in quite vehemently (but privately and in advance) re DC’s first semester course schedule. Took no for an answer re number of courses, but insisted on not combining two killer courses in the same term at a point when DC had zero experience with the U’s expectations. Was thanked later and have consistently been consulted since.

I do think if your DC appears to be setting him- or herself up for failure, you need to speak up and explain your concerns. And know the add/drop deadline first term, so you can remind DC to reassess in a timely fashion. It’s all new to them, so if you’ve BTDT you can point out things they might not think of.

Also, college admissions has created a situation where in high school the mantra seemed to be “take as many of the hardest courses as you can as early as possible.” That is a really stupid way to approach college. Take courses when you are ready for them and arrange your schedule so that you have time to give each course the attention it deserved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former college prof here. I weighed in quite vehemently (but privately and in advance) re DC’s first semester course schedule. Took no for an answer re number of courses, but insisted on not combining two killer courses in the same term at a point when DC had zero experience with the U’s expectations. Was thanked later and have consistently been consulted since.

I do think if your DC appears to be setting him- or herself up for failure, you need to speak up and explain your concerns. And know the add/drop deadline first term, so you can remind DC to reassess in a timely fashion. It’s all new to them, so if you’ve BTDT you can point out things they might not think of.

Also, college admissions has created a situation where in high school the mantra seemed to be “take as many of the hardest courses as you can as early as possible.” That is a really stupid way to approach college. Take courses when you are ready for them and arrange your schedule so that you have time to give each course the attention it deserved.

I think you are a good parent. I did the exact same thing. You don't want your kid starting out in too deep a hole they can never climb out of. Plus it could sour them to college altogether.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always stacked my schedule like that and worked on the off days. it was never a problem for me and I graduated as valedictorian of my college. You were WAY out of line to suggest this.

Most colleges won't let you sign up for too many hours. The poster suggesting huge amounts of hours is out of touch. A full schedule used to be 15-18 and I had to get special approval from the Dean the times I went over 20.

I completed 144 semester credits in 2 academic years and 2 summers semesters. I completed 18 each of the 2 summers and mid 20’s each of the 4 academic year semesters. I graduated with honors, worked full time at nights, and raised a family of 4 young children.

What university allows you to bring 4 young children along to all of your classes?

I raised the children, didn’t bring them to class. Two separate but concurrent activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always stacked my schedule like that and worked on the off days. it was never a problem for me and I graduated as valedictorian of my college. You were WAY out of line to suggest this.

Most colleges won't let you sign up for too many hours. The poster suggesting huge amounts of hours is out of touch. A full schedule used to be 15-18 and I had to get special approval from the Dean the times I went over 20.

I completed 144 semester credits in 2 academic years and 2 summers semesters. I completed 18 each of the 2 summers and mid 20’s each of the 4 academic year semesters. I graduated with honors, worked full time at nights, and raised a family of 4 young children.

What university allows you to bring 4 young children along to all of your classes?

I raised the children, didn’t bring them to class. Two separate but concurrent activities.

Leaving the children alone by themselves means you were neglectful, not "raising them."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always stacked my schedule like that and worked on the off days. it was never a problem for me and I graduated as valedictorian of my college. You were WAY out of line to suggest this.

Most colleges won't let you sign up for too many hours. The poster suggesting huge amounts of hours is out of touch. A full schedule used to be 15-18 and I had to get special approval from the Dean the times I went over 20.

I completed 144 semester credits in 2 academic years and 2 summers semesters. I completed 18 each of the 2 summers and mid 20’s each of the 4 academic year semesters. I graduated with honors, worked full time at nights, and raised a family of 4 young children.

What university allows you to bring 4 young children along to all of your classes?

I raised the children, didn’t bring them to class. Two separate but concurrent activities.

Leaving the children alone by themselves means you were neglectful, not "raising them."

I never said they were alone, and no time did I ever neglect them. You have no idea of what you speak.

[Anonymous]

OP you are crazy. Let your child figure this out on their own and if they make a mistake so be it, they will have learned something on their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always stacked my schedule like that and worked on the off days. it was never a problem for me and I graduated as valedictorian of my college. You were WAY out of line to suggest this.

Most colleges won't let you sign up for too many hours. The poster suggesting huge amounts of hours is out of touch. A full schedule used to be 15-18 and I had to get special approval from the Dean the times I went over 20.

I completed 144 semester credits in 2 academic years and 2 summers semesters. I completed 18 each of the 2 summers and mid 20’s each of the 4 academic year semesters. I graduated with honors, worked full time at nights, and raised a family of 4 young children.

What college? For example, UVA will not permit a student to take more than 17 hours without the Dean's permission, and in no case is a student permitted to take more than 21 hours. This is current policy. You trying to apply standards from Sheboygan Community College that probably aren't even true to criticize this as a light load is....strange and out of touch with reality.

[Anonymous]

Why do so many parents seem to have trouble talking to their college-aged kids as more-or-less equals? It goes something like this: You have a legitimate concern about a choice they have made, and think you have helpful insights due to your experience. You talk to them about it—gee, it seems like you will be shlepping back and forth across campus multiple times every day—that sounds like a pain. Or, gosh that sounds like a lot of lecture time to sit through in one day. Or whatever. But THEN, you actually listen to what they have to say. It may be “oh thanks, I hadn’t really thought about that” or “those were the only times that would work for what I wanted to take” or the flippant “oh, don’t worry, I’m sure it will be fine”. But at that point, you’ve said what you think, they’ve said what they think, and maybe you’ve persuaded them to make a change, or at least think about it. At that point, your involvement is done.

Is this really so hard?

[Anonymous]

Unless this is a very hard-working and self-motivated student (is he, OP?), the load is too heavy. Does he plan to drop one of the classes after attending the first few lectures, which would be perfectly reasonable? THAT is what you should be focusing on. Scheduling classes back to back is great, as you waste no time: There is not much you can get done with a 1.5 or 2 hour break between classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I helped my kid this first semester because using the school's website to pick classes and avoid schedule conflicts, then looking at "rate My Professor" can be a little complicated. You have to read between the lines of some course descriptions too. Anyway, after this it will be the kid's job. I don't see any problem with assisting them this first time out.

‘Rate My Professor’ will do more to destroy the student’s education than help it.
Professors receive higher marks for being ‘an easy A’ than their ability, experience, and discipline understanding.
The student who earns a B in a difficult, challenging class learns so much more than the ‘easy A’.
Much more accurate information exists to help a student find the best quality and qualified instructors.

And there is bias against female professors. It's pretty sad.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/02/09/new-analysis-rate-my-professors-finds-patterns-words-used-describe-men-and-women

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IME, those with longer breaks between classes skip more. If you have 2 hours to kill, most students go back to their dorms instead of staying on the main campus. Once in the dorms they get distracted by naps or friends and tend to skip.

I'm 100% shocked the advisers would even entertain your request. Is your kid under 18? If so, I can see how but if not, bravo for you for getting that done. Where I taught would not have let that happen for an 18-year-old. I had parents go to the Dean of my college to complain about me not telling them their kid's grades. They didn't understand that just because you pay for it doesn't mean you have access to it unless the student gives you access.

Where I taught, most lower level courses were MWF and most higher level courses were T/Thr for longer periods of time.

Ridiculous policy. If the parent is paying they should see grades and any disciplinary issues. Colleges don't do this out of respect for the "adult" kid, it's so they can avoid transparency and all accountability from parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do so many parents seem to have trouble talking to their college-aged kids as more-or-less equals? It goes something like this: You have a legitimate concern about a choice they have made, and think you have helpful insights due to your experience. You talk to them about it—gee, it seems like you will be shlepping back and forth across campus multiple times every day—that sounds like a pain. Or, gosh that sounds like a lot of lecture time to sit through in one day. Or whatever. But THEN, you actually listen to what they have to say. It may be “oh thanks, I hadn’t really thought about that” or “those were the only times that would work for what I wanted to take” or the flippant “oh, don’t worry, I’m sure it will be fine”. But at that point, you’ve said what you think, they’ve said what they think, and maybe you’ve persuaded them to make a change, or at least think about it. At that point, your involvement is done.

Is this really so hard?

This assumes all 18yo teens have baseline life experience and are logical and rational. Many are flat out dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IME, those with longer breaks between classes skip more. If you have 2 hours to kill, most students go back to their dorms instead of staying on the main campus. Once in the dorms they get distracted by naps or friends and tend to skip.

I'm 100% shocked the advisers would even entertain your request. Is your kid under 18? If so, I can see how but if not, bravo for you for getting that done. Where I taught would not have let that happen for an 18-year-old. I had parents go to the Dean of my college to complain about me not telling them their kid's grades. They didn't understand that just because you pay for it doesn't mean you have access to it unless the student gives you access.

Where I taught, most lower level courses were MWF and most higher level courses were T/Thr for longer periods of time.

Ridiculous policy. If the parent is paying they should see grades and any disciplinary issues. Colleges don't do this out of respect for the "adult" kid, it's so they can avoid transparency and all accountability from parents.

FERPA of 1974 prevents the release of grades without the student’s written permission.