As You Think About SLACs...Limited Number of Courses

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This must be school dependent. My daughter is also at a SLAC - she meets with her adviser before pre-registration, goes over the classes she is interested in and, together, they come up with her schedule. She then pre-registers - if a class is overenrolled, she reaches out directly to the professor and, so far, things have always worked out - once they added an extra section for the extra students. One time she took a class a semester later than she originally intended, but then she was able to choose a course she really loved instead. Another time, she was supposed to take a level 1 course in one department, but was able to substitute something else by writing to the department head. Her friends at larger schools regularly complain about getting shut out of classes, but the difference at her very small school seems to be the access to professors and department heads, and the school's flexibility. While I agree there are issues with some schools and the oversubscribing of certain majors (eg, Pomona and CS), overall I can say her experience at a SLAC has been excellent and she has yet to hit a brick wall with faculty or administration - it seems like everyone there is very willing to help resolve any issues.

OP here. Honestly, I think this would be true of her school too. Last semester she had issues with all the classes fitting, and they did help her. I think part of it is that outside of her major she has a few other interests, and getting all of those things to line up is really hard. She can also take classes at another college close by, but that requires going between the colleges which also takes time and make it harder to line up the classes. (And she needs that other college because there is like 1 section of a CORE CS course that she MUST at her college so if that doesn't line up properly, she will not have the course for her major.) She is a rule follower, so I don't think it really occurs to her to ask for exceptions. And we are very happy with the school overall. My point is just that there are so FEW classes available, especially in her major, it can make setting up her schedule very challenging. Maybe this depends on the school. I'm just saying it's something I wish I had paid more attention to when we were looking at schools. I don't know that it would have changed our mind, but I would have liked to know it.

You need to back way off and let her figure out how the system works on her own. This isn’t about a SLAC v bigger schools. Yes, most 18-19 year olds can figure out how the system works. Tell her to sit down and actually read the course manual.

Perhaps you didn't read where I said I wasn't asking for parenting advice. This is a heads up to parents with Seniors. Look at the classes in your kid's major that are offered and when and how often they are offered. If it's fine, that's awesome. If not, take it into consideration. (She cannot get a new advisor. There is one advisor for first years.)

your mistake is trying to make people think that your parenting issue (being overly involved and not teaching your kid independence) is an issue related to the school type (SLAC). it’s not. SLACs overall are going to be MUCH more flexible and accommodating of individual needs, IF the student knows how to ask for it. If all you are saying is that SLAC programs are smaller with fewer course offerings - well that’s kind of obvious from the “small” part of the name!

[Anonymous]

Take advantage of a consortium. My kid at SLAC is allowed to take classes offered across the consortium even graduate schools.

[Anonymous]

OP, this is useful advice because many folks don’t think about it. One of the many blogs/books/websites I’ve been reading (and I don’t honestly remember which rn) made this same point when discussing preferences for large universities vs smaller LACs - bigger schools offer more classes, more often, and with more sections. SLACs can require more planning and awareness because a key class may have only one section and only in the spring - if you miss it, you wait a year and that can have a domino effect if it’s a prereq.

Despite the flack you’re getting for being involved (I plan to be involved similarly for my kid with an LD, at least the first couple times unless the advising is STELLAR, because it’s complex!) it’s an important consideration, one that not everyone realizes in advance.

[Anonymous]

I went to a SLAC and was able to pick my classes. DD is at big state school. Getting any classes is a crapshoot. I had much more control. This is a non issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, this is useful advice because many folks don’t think about it. One of the many blogs/books/websites I’ve been reading (and I don’t honestly remember which rn) made this same point when discussing preferences for large universities vs smaller LACs - bigger schools offer more classes, more often, and with more sections. SLACs can require more planning and awareness because a key class may have only one section and only in the spring - if you miss it, you wait a year and that can have a domino effect if it’s a prereq.

Despite the flack you’re getting for being involved (I plan to be involved similarly for my kid with an LD, at least the first couple times unless the advising is STELLAR, because it’s complex!) it’s an important consideration, one that not everyone realizes in advance.

Thanks. I pay a lot of money for my kid to go to this school. So if you think I’m turning everything over to an 18 year old—nope. The people who are cool with that must have really deep pockets. I’m not paying for an extra year of college because my kid couldn’t get the class she needed and didn’t fully understand all of the requirements. BTW, my kid isn’t a dummy or irresponsible. She’s there on a merit scholarship and is getting good grades. I’m also not highly involved outside of this because she won’t let me be. But course selection is very important for graduating on time with the degree you want. She’s also considering an accelerated master’s program, so getting the classes she needs is extra important.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for mentioning this OP! I would have never considered it but it totally makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Problem is OP, not the school. #HelicopterParent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This must be school dependent. My daughter is also at a SLAC - she meets with her adviser before pre-registration, goes over the classes she is interested in and, together, they come up with her schedule. She then pre-registers - if a class is overenrolled, she reaches out directly to the professor and, so far, things have always worked out - once they added an extra section for the extra students. One time she took a class a semester later than she originally intended, but then she was able to choose a course she really loved instead. Another time, she was supposed to take a level 1 course in one department, but was able to substitute something else by writing to the department head. Her friends at larger schools regularly complain about getting shut out of classes, but the difference at her very small school seems to be the access to professors and department heads, and the school's flexibility. While I agree there are issues with some schools and the oversubscribing of certain majors (eg, Pomona and CS), overall I can say her experience at a SLAC has been excellent and she has yet to hit a brick wall with faculty or administration - it seems like everyone there is very willing to help resolve any issues.

OP here. Honestly, I think this would be true of her school too. Last semester she had issues with all the classes fitting, and they did help her. I think part of it is that outside of her major she has a few other interests, and getting all of those things to line up is really hard. She can also take classes at another college close by, but that requires going between the colleges which also takes time and make it harder to line up the classes. (And she needs that other college because there is like 1 section of a CORE CS course that she MUST at her college so if that doesn't line up properly, she will not have the course for her major.) She is a rule follower, so I don't think it really occurs to her to ask for exceptions. And we are very happy with the school overall. My point is just that there are so FEW classes available, especially in her major, it can make setting up her schedule very challenging. Maybe this depends on the school. I'm just saying it's something I wish I had paid more attention to when we were looking at schools. I don't know that it would have changed our mind, but I would have liked to know it.

You need to back way off and let her figure out how the system works on her own. This isn’t about a SLAC v bigger schools. Yes, most 18-19 year olds can figure out how the system works. Tell her to sit down and actually read the course manual.

I disagree entirely. If OP is paying, she absolutely can help with this process. College has gotten so expensive now a lot of families can't afford for DC to go an extra year outside of the four that they have budgeted for

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for mentioning this OP! I would have never considered it but it totally makes sense.

+1

[Anonymous]

OP, you are correct. This isn't about your parenting. My DC's selective SLAC has the same problem, especially for a few especially popular STEM majors.

[Anonymous]

For our LAC kid, there were some issues getting non-introductory courses in their first year due to registration priority being lowest. Hasn’t really been much of a problem since.

On the flip side, they’ve never had a class with more than 35 students, even in popular stem courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This must be school dependent. My daughter is also at a SLAC - she meets with her adviser before pre-registration, goes over the classes she is interested in and, together, they come up with her schedule. She then pre-registers - if a class is overenrolled, she reaches out directly to the professor and, so far, things have always worked out - once they added an extra section for the extra students. One time she took a class a semester later than she originally intended, but then she was able to choose a course she really loved instead. Another time, she was supposed to take a level 1 course in one department, but was able to substitute something else by writing to the department head. Her friends at larger schools regularly complain about getting shut out of classes, but the difference at her very small school seems to be the access to professors and department heads, and the school's flexibility. While I agree there are issues with some schools and the oversubscribing of certain majors (eg, Pomona and CS), overall I can say her experience at a SLAC has been excellent and she has yet to hit a brick wall with faculty or administration - it seems like everyone there is very willing to help resolve any issues.

OP here. Honestly, I think this would be true of her school too. Last semester she had issues with all the classes fitting, and they did help her. I think part of it is that outside of her major she has a few other interests, and getting all of those things to line up is really hard. She can also take classes at another college close by, but that requires going between the colleges which also takes time and make it harder to line up the classes. (And she needs that other college because there is like 1 section of a CORE CS course that she MUST at her college so if that doesn't line up properly, she will not have the course for her major.) She is a rule follower, so I don't think it really occurs to her to ask for exceptions. And we are very happy with the school overall. My point is just that there are so FEW classes available, especially in her major, it can make setting up her schedule very challenging. Maybe this depends on the school. I'm just saying it's something I wish I had paid more attention to when we were looking at schools. I don't know that it would have changed our mind, but I would have liked to know it.

You need to back way off and let her figure out how the system works on her own. This isn’t about a SLAC v bigger schools. Yes, most 18-19 year olds can figure out how the system works. Tell her to sit down and actually read the course manual.

I disagree entirely. If OP is paying, she absolutely can help with this process. College has gotten so expensive now a lot of families can't afford for DC to go an extra year outside of the four that they have budgeted for

Then OP can sit down and tell DD to research it herself and map out a plan.

[Anonymous]

My kid just graduated from a top 3 LAC. Never had an issue

[Anonymous]

I understand the urge to try to micromanage this for your college kid, but I would advise you to urge her advocate better for herself - one major upside of a SLAC is unfettered access. OP's dd could meet with literally anyone about this - her adviser, a new adviser if the first one isn't working out (does she have a major adviser yet? it sounds like she has a major), a trusted professor, the professor of the class she wants, the head of the department, the first years dean, the dean of students. Try to encourage her to knock on every door until she gets what she needs - while I am not saying this is the case here, often a kid will try for something once, get a no, and push no further. Learning to keeping pushing is a life skill that would serve her well. My dd attends a SLAC that, in our experience, has amazing internship and career services - another parent was complaining to me about how they had not helped her dd at all, but when I pressed a bit we figured out that her dd had not even set up a meeting with them, she was talking only about the emails and job/internship postings that she had seen. She was not being proactive enough. Many SLACs have amazing resources - but you must access them.

[Anonymous]

The defensiveness of LAC parents in this thread is really something. LACs are great. They aren’t perfect.