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E-PrinceOn Nov. 12, freshmen submitted applications for the spring term’s freshman seminars. In keeping with past years, the seminars were enormously popular: More than 1,200 applications were submitted for 75 seminars in the fall and spring terms. But ...(back to the article)
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I mean, looking back on it, I was miffed that I even had to write ANYTHING for my FRS application. However, I did get my first choice in the fall and signed up for my top choice in the spring without ever applying. Just saying.
I agree with Sophomoric. Plus, isn't the whole point of FRS that they are DIFFERENT from the rest of the classes at the University? Also in keeping with the program's rationale, if a student can make a compelling case for his/her committment to the subject of a Freshman seminar beyond that of other students, is that student the one who will be the best-served by securing a spot in it?
Your suggestion is exactly how I remember doing it for my freshman seminar applications. How revolutionary of you.
color makes a good point. FRS should be for kids who aren't particularly jacked in a subject already.
No, the application process should be biased towards people who are actually interested in the course and will stay in it. It is unfair for someone to not get into a course they want, and then to have people who did get in drop out.
I had a FRS which started with 14 people, and by mid-term it was down to 4. I felt terrible for the poor professor, who put the huge effort into building this course only to have 10 people drop out of it because there was a decent amount of reading.
I think people do go into FRS classes expecting a light-ish workload, along with engaging professors and discussion... things like midterm tests and excessive reading are likely to turn people off. Professors should be aware that they're going to be faced with dilettantish freshmen in their "freshman seminar".
It depends on what FRS is supposed to be. If it's going to be more intense, demonstrated interest and course-specific applications could reframe what FRS is all about. But the same demonstrated interest would be a reason for a student to attempt to get into a higher-level course on a similar topic.
Abolish the FRS application essay. "Your course description looked interesting" is reason enough and is adequately communicated by a ranking of top three choices.
Honestly, who cares? But the application process is random. I had a friend who wrote "My reason for choosing this seminar is Cornel West" and got into his seminar. And I agree - freshman seminars should allow people to explore subjects outside of their comfort zone without being particularly jacked. Being particurlarly jacked in a subject, btw, might not make much of an impact. I came into my freshman seminar on music with no knowledge of the technicalities behind it and ended up with an A.
looking back on my frs, i am sooooo happy that we didnt have anything silly like reading or tests.
Re: Avoid
That's regrettable, but I guess the professor will now know better than to give freshmen a lot of reading lol.
this is a good point, sort of, but I actually didn't have a problem getting into a freshman seminar. I actually took two, and got into my first choice both semesters without writing anything eloquent. Maybe they should have more seminars? I had no idea that people actually got turned away at an appreciable rate.