Yeah, it's not the menus but the execution. I ate lunch with D in Commons on parents' weekend, and the food was not inspiring. As for Trader Joe, D stocks up on cookies, makes her own trail mix, brought back apples this fall, got microwavale mac and cheese (tho you can get that at Durfees), etc. Most or all of the things we get there don't need refrigeration. Only problem is the lack of cooking facilities for frosh -- if she had access to a kitchen this year, I suspect she'd be buying fewer snacks and more meals to cook there.
Well, I don't know--we visit Yale probably 3-4 times a year for my S's various performances, and always eat in his residential college. To me, the food has always been delicious. But maybe I'm just grateful to have a meal prepared for me and not have to cook it myself or do dishes afterwards But, having eaten in many other university cafeterias as a student, professor, and for summer programs, I have to say Yale really tops them all by far. So, I think they are pretty fortunate.
I just was in New Haven this past weekend and was prepared to take my kid and friends out for every meal but she wanted us to eat lunch in her RC to meet some friends. I thought the food was better than could be expected with do it yourself fresh squeezed orange juice, fritata and pancakes, nice salads, etc. It was also my first trip to Zinc, of which I've heard so much hype, and that meal was unexpectedly mediocre. I think most of the RCs have student kitchens available to freshmen but who would have the time to cook their own meals? I'm sure they are mostly used to bake a cake or cookies.
I think the food at Yale is really good--better than most college food I've had.
However, it is a set menu (with choices)--not a food court arrangement like many colleges have now. Personally, I prefer the way Yale does it, because I don't want my kid eating junk food like pizza or a burger at every meal.
My enthusiastic freshman jumped into a new and very challenging foreign language at Yale this fall. I had my doubts, as he is not one of those natural language learners, but he was so excited and I figured it was his call to make. What is college for if not to explore new things?
Fast forward to Nov. and he now acknowledges that he is in over his head. Grade not completely horrible (or so he says) but huge amount of time studying (incl. with tutor), still struggling, and the bloom is off the rose. Feels he cannot handle 2 more semesters like this, esp. as a STEM major and a student with a P/T job (which he loves and which is related to his likely major).
It is his understanding that he will not get credit for the L1 unless he takes the L2 also. The alternative is to withdraw now and get a "W" on the transcript. We worry about this, esp. so early in his college career. He says his dean thinks it's not a big deal, but I am concerned. This is a kid with grad school in his future. Is withdrawing a terrible idea, or is it wise for him to do so now and cut his losses? He would return to the language he studied in high school to fill the lang. requirements.
Obviously, the smart call would have been to drop the course earlier when it wouldn't have shown on the transcript. Ah, the stubbornness of youth.
Many thanks in advance for any insights from parents whose students may have also been down this road.
Language study at Yale seems to be pretty serious. QMP enrolled in an L5 course after receiving a 5 on the AP exam in the language. Hypothetically, that was the logical route to follow. Clearly out of natural depth. Struggled through to a B-. This was fine with me, but these days, that practically makes a "summa" impossible, right there. (I think Yale is a little out of kilter on the Latin honors, but that's a separate thread.)
A lot of QMP's friends at Yale withdrew from classes. I have not detected any adverse impact, especially when it's an out-of-major class, first semester, freshman year. I think it would be fine to withdraw. Just my opinion.
I would trust the dean. If your freshman cannot imagine taking L2 next semester, then withdrawing is the only recourse. The only issue I foresee -- and I may be wrong about this -- I don't think L1 courses are taught in the spring, so your freshman may have to wait till next fall to start again with another language. But, that might be a follow-up question for the dean.
Yale won't give credit for a first semester (L1) language course unless the student also completes the second semester (L2). If there is no credit given for a course I don't think it could possibly factor into the gpa, so that could be an argument for sticking it out. I guess the grade would still show up on the transcript even if the student doesn't receive course credit.
Gibby -- I think you are right about L1, but that wouldn't be an issue as he would just resume the language he studied in high school.
Yalemom2 -- That is a good point; if there is no credit issued, it seems as though it shouldn't be in the GPA. Then again, why issue a grade if it doesn't "count"? The sense I got from him was that he felt a so-so grade was not worth having on the transcript if no credit was being issued -- better to have the W.
Will discuss this with him face to face (rather than via text!) when he gets home and hope for more clarification. I appreciate your and QuantMech's input, and will be interested to see if anyone else weighs in.
Just spectulating, but if he gets a C in L1, then maybe the class "credit" and grade shows up on his transcript, but without taking L2, then the L1 class will not "fulfill" his foreign Lang requirement.
bookmobile - I think you should ask the registrar exactly what happens in each of the scenarios. yohoyoho - I,m sure that if you don't complete L2 you don't get course credit for L1. Here is the listing from the course catalog:
Quote:
Note that completion of a modern foreign language course numbered 110 does not award credit unless and until the subsequent term, numbered 120, is also successfully completed. Except in intensive, double-credit courses in which the equivalent of one year of language study is covered in one term, credit may not be given in any circumstance for the first term only of an introductory modern foreign language; neither instructors nor departments have the authority to make an exception to this rule.
you should ask the registrar exactly what happens in each of the scenarios
This is a good suggestion.
Not related to the language courses: When DS was a freshman and a senior, I believe he had some classes (Perspective on Science seminar and the senior project) which give out "S" (satisfactory) on the transcript in the fall semester semester. After the spring semester, the grades of both the fall semester and the spring semester were changed into letter grades.
BTW, if a student takes a class that could be considered as a class offered by eithe of two departments (an example: one-semester version of biochem could be considered a course offered by mcdb, or a course offered by mb&b, even though it is the same course), the student could choose the course name before the grade is given (before final). But the course name could not be changed once the grade is given. (It was the case back when DS was an UG. Not sure whether the policy has been changed since then. So it is better to select the course name at the beginning of the semester.)
Had a longer talk with my student about this situation now that he is home. He says that the dean strongly reassured him that this is quite a common scenario (esp. with freshmen) and that a W will not have any long term adverse effect. Since he is not going on to L2 he will not get credit for L1, so there is no point in prolonging the suffering and finishing out the semester. Better to focus on his other coursework. He will resume the language he studied in high school next term.
But, having eaten in many other university cafeterias as a student, professor, and for summer programs, I have to say Yale really tops them all by far. So, I think they are pretty fortunate.
