At what universities are students randomly assigned classes instead of choosing their own?

[mom2collegekids]

<p>Not at my kids’ undergrad, but my sister said her son’s classes were randomly selected at Vandy.</p>

[mathyone]

<p>Really? The school just picked random classes in random subjects for them? I’ve never heard of that. Even our high school wouldn’t do that–we do get to list second and third choices. And we aren’t paying a fortune in tuition.</p>

<p>I can see assigning the required classes for a prospective major which has multiple required freshman classes–it might work out better overall than having some kids scramble to piece them all together. But then the kid has chosen those classes anyhow by virtue of selecting that major. </p>

[URichmond2010]

<p>When I was a freshman at Richmond (which seems to have been ages ago, sigh), I was assigned to my freshman seminar before I registered for classes. I chose everything else around that course, and I had no need to see if I could swap the time/day, so IDK if that’s a possibility there.</p>

[frazzled1]

<p>

my sister said her son’s classes were randomly selected at Vandy.

That is most certainly not how my daughter’s classes were selected at Vanderbilt. </p>

<p>If classes are randomly selected, it’s hard to see why Vandy would bother with its extensive advising program. Here’s how it’s done today in the College of Arts and Science:

Students are supported and advised both formally and informally by the Vanderbilt faculty throughout their four years as undergraduates. Formal advising begins before the student moves to campus when students speak by telephone with faculty advisers to plan a fall semester schedule. Formal advising continues as pre-major advisers, and, later, major advisers chosen by the student, create a schedule with the student and discuss his or her academic goals and progress towards fulfilling the requirements of AXLE, the Arts and Science liberal arts curriculum. Informal advising takes place throughout the four years at Vanderbilt as students talk about their ambitions and plans with professors outside of class … .

<a href=“Advising | academics | undergraduates | Internal | College of Arts and Science | Vanderbilt University”>http://as.vanderbilt.edu/advising/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>In the Engineering school, where there is a definitive required 1st-year curriculum, the registration process is not random, either, and students choose their own chem, math, and liberal arts core requirement courses: <a href=“http://engineering.vanderbilt.edu/docs/student-services/Registration-Booklet-Fall-2013.pdf”>http://engineering.vanderbilt.edu/docs/student-services/Registration-Booklet-Fall-2013.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[romanigypsyeyes]

<p>I asked my friend who was some sort of pre-med major at Vandy (I want to say chem but I’m not 100% positive). He said that was certainly not his experience. He started in 09. </p>

[Vladenschlutte]

<p>

I can see assigning the required classes for a prospective major which has multiple required freshman classes

</p>

<p>I think this is what they meant and the only way it happens. I can’t imagine purely randomly assigning students to feasible class schedules either. </p>

[twoinanddone]

<p>Honestly, what difference does it make? The school either does it or doesn’t do it.</p>

[Jazzii]

<p>First semester freshman at Pace University are placed into classes by advisers w/o knowing. We get the schedule during orientation. My department (education) is pretty good about it though… after the first semester you meet with your adviser and discuss what you should take but you have the ultimate choice </p>