freshman class scheduling; helicopter parent or legit concern?

[Anonymous]

LAND THE HELICOPTER, OP

[Anonymous]

Yes, you are “that parent”. I’d have been horrified if my mom interfered with my class schedule.

If you’re worried about the ten minute walk, get him a cheap bike so he can do it in three minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This cannot be true...but OP's post is too long/well written for it be a troll....

Sadly I know people like OP. Rarely do their kids make it through without some issue that stems from their parents being helicoptering lunatics.

[Anonymous]

Look OP. I get the concern. But going to his advisor is way too much. You should probably just be quiet and let him figure it out.

If you feel that you must do something, the most you should do is say- hey. That looks like a lot on one day. And the building s May be more spaced out than high school. You might want to consider walking it before school starts to make sure you have time to get to each class. (I would not say this to my DD. I might say this to my DS say this because he has ADHD, and therefore poor EF).

Then stop talking. If he has a miserable semester, lesson learned. If he calls home and complains, sympathize, and say he might want to talk to his advisor about drop add.

That’s it.

[Anonymous]

Great schedule. Why would he want an hour between classes. If the class in building E is too much he can drop it. I would be more worried about 18 credits instead of 15. That is setting him up for failure more than the class times. Being away from a helicopter mom will prob be great for him and he may party too much with his first taste of freedom.

[Anonymous]

Guys, this isn't coming as a surprise for her kid. A parent doesn't turn into this overnight.

[Anonymous]

OP, you just became instant DCUM legend. congrats!

[Anonymous]

Id be more concerned about the 18 credits including 6 classes on different topics (from your description) than the timing and level. 6 classes is a lot! Is he trying to finish early to save money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine is just finishing her freshman year and I definitely advised her on balancing her classes to avoid this. She agreed when I pointed that out and adjusted. I think as long as you explain it to him and step away that is fine. The issue could be that now some classes on Tues/Thur are full but he can most likely just show up and try to get in. Either way, his schedule sounds like it needs balance but since he's been in high school where he's likely gone class to class it didn't seem odd to him.

+1 especially to the bold.

I knew your post would get a ton of "say nothing, you're a horrible helicopter" attitude here on DCUM, where many posters seem to think that turning 18 or entering college magically makes a person into a completely reasonable adult with a good ability to think through consequences of things like a class schedule.

I agree with the post above. Voice your concerns but not in a "you can't handle this!" way. Be aware that you are already apprehensive about your student being in a very high-level math you're not sure he should be taking in the first place, and that your apprehension (which should have been talked over with him earlier; maybe it was) is coloring your view, possibly your view of the whole schedule.

Does he go to some gigantic state college where he will have only a randomly assigned academic adviser in name only who never gets to know him or remember his academic goals? Or is he at a place where an assigned adviser will actually know who he is and can look at his schedule and really advise him on workload, stress, which professors are better for him, etc.? I'm guessing this freshman course selection was done with staffers who are there for just that purpose and who are not and will not be your son's specific academic adviser. If he's at a gigantic "State U" he may really have to get used to advocating for himself and questioning it when he's told a certain course load is OK and he feels it isn't. He's a consumer now -- and has a right to question things and ensure he's getting the right advice. But that's so hard for a new freshman to do.

You should step back for now but strongly advise him to be assertive with the school himself about his own schedule now and the rest of the time he's in college. He should seek out someone who can do more than just glance at a schedule and say it's fine, and who understands his major and the content of the courses he'll be taking as he moves toward the major. Easier said than done, though.

[Anonymous]

Well OP. It looks like you have achieved it - your kid will tell you nothing and hardly call next year.

[Anonymous]

Holy crap - at first, I thought this was a high school freshman issue (saw the post in Recent topics and didn't see the forum) and was going to tell the OP to back off. But this . . .

Let me get this straight, OP - your 18 yo son is going to college, and you are micromanaging his schedule because you're worried he might not get a potty break?

There's no way this is real.

[Anonymous]

Your instinct is right here. It’s a ridiculous schedule. No. No. No. Scale it back.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

She didn't assist him, she overrode his preferences and humiliated him in public by demanding a change to the schedule he'd set up with an academic advisor. On top of the helicoptering, the arrogance of thinking she knows more about college scheduling than someone who does this for a living is pretty remarkable.

[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.

She didn't assist him, she overrode his preferences and humiliated him in public by demanding a change to the schedule he'd set up with an academic advisor. On top of the helicoptering, the arrogance of thinking she knows more about college scheduling than someone who does this for a living is pretty remarkable.

o.k., settle down. I was just saying I also got a bit involved to a degree some here might criticize, but DC seemed happy with the schedule.