<p>1012 mom - my D started out STEM (interested in MD/PhD) but is seriously rethinking that now that she has found so many other interesting areas of study. I’m not sure what she finally decided on next semester, but her schedule may look a lot like your D’s.</p>
<p>Sadly, my D’s ballot never arrived and when she contacted them it was a day too late. She was so looking forward to voting. We live overseas and are used to unreliable mail. I had told her how much more reliable the USPS is, but in addition to not receiving her ballot, she also received a letter from a friend that was partially shredded.</p>
<p>My younger D (hs junior) is visiting D at Wash U for a few days and then they will both go to Houston to visit family for Thanksgiving. They are both really excited.</p>
<p>S called after his mid-quarter advising appointment. His advisor approved his plans for next semester. He’ll continue his intermediate French and linear algebra-to-multivariate calculus sequences. He’ll also attempt to pre-register for psychological statistics and to register for a programming class. It will be an interesting change for him going from the writing intensive to the problem-set-intensive.</p>
<p>He’s not the classical STEM kid; he’s relatively quantitative, but a good scientific writer and like the field of psychology itself, his interests seem to be split between the natural and social sciences. I expect the programming and statistics to help him choose (or eliminate) a possible minor.</p>
<p>Wow, there are a lot of you that live close to your kiddos! Son is 3,000 miles away and I just made his reservation to come home on Dec. 21st. He won a scholarship that paid for two round trip tickets. I have to mail him the vouchers; I hope he doesn’t lose them!</p>
<p>My son is a STEM kid and definitely getting more so. His next semester’s schedule may include three math classes-eeks! I think that’s too many but he’s really excited about the idea. Tentative schedule:</p>
<p>Topography
Number Theory
Probability and Random Variables
Electricity and Magnetism (took this a long time ago; I’m sure it will be much harder)
US History
Non-Academic PE class</p>
<p>His advisor is sort of too loose, IMO. She thinks he should declare sophomore standing and take 6 academic classes. Uh, no thanks! I’m encouraging him to stick with 4. I hope he listens…</p>
<p>Here’s the proposed schedule for next semester for my daughter:
Partial Differential Equations
Real World Measurements (a required engineering course)
Principles of Modern Biology
Material Science and Solid State Chemistry
Foundation Topic in Physics: Waves</p>
<p>That’s 19 hours because everything except Real World Measurements is a 4 hour course.</p>
<p>If she actually can get all that to schedule, then she’s done with her science foundation courses by the end of the spring.</p>
<p>So, other than whether she can get the schedule she wants, the other question will be whether she should agree to NINJA (essentially TA) a math class. Sounds like a scary load to me, but I did similar stupidly scary things in college and lived to tell the tale…</p>
<p>My non-STEM kid stood in line for 2.5 hours in 40 degree weather to vote for the first time today. He said a lot of people had it much worse and some who requested absentee ballots never received them. He said the ballot was so complicated it took people a long time which was what created the line. I myself walked in and had one person in front of me. And it was in the eighties today.</p>
<p>I have a STEM kid, but in typical LAC fashion he will probably only have 1 science class this semester. He is now looking at psychology/biochemistry double major so he will have some psych classes. Unfortunately he will have bio and organic chem sophomore year.</p>
<p>He will have a required reading/writing intensive class that is required.</p>
<p>I remember how heavily STEM our kids were from last year. Mine is SO not-- next semester: Acting II, Voice II, Ballet, Stagecraft, Rehearsal and Performance, and ta-da-- Contemporary Math. Also one more academic which will be determined by schedule-- theater classes take up so much time she has to cram in the required academics by time slot instead of her interests. (Which, imho, sucks-- but she’s there for theater and she’s getting great, great theater, so I can’t complain too loudly.)</p>
<p>Looks like S will be taking second semesters of Bio, Chem and Brain/Cognitive Science and then Linear Algebra/DifEq. I wish he could fit in a Psych or Philosophy class but he’s thinking he should stay on track in case he goes for Neuroscience or a science double major. I think he’s getting a little nervous about job prospects for a straight Cog Sci major. (Plus he’s enjoying Chem and BCS)</p>
<p>I think S is taking 2 math classes, modern physics, a microecon class, and a music appreciation type class. My junior is planning on 5 math classes next semester. He’s so very well rounded. ;)</p>
<p>D now has her own radio show on the college station AND last night she joined Twitter and followed me (I was her 4th follow…after Betty White). It’s a feast of lurker communication for a mom wanting to stay connected to her girl.</p>
<p>I tried Twitter and Facebook. I just don’t get it and had to give 'em up. Thank goodness for siblings and cousins that keep each other on the “straight and narrow” when it comes to social media.</p>
<p>No STEM kid here. However, DD did meet with Biz school adviser today. Based only on her casual email schedule request; he took the time to map out an entire 4 year (no summer semester, no J term requirement) strategy that will complete her Marketing Management major with an Econ minor, while accounting for her transferred AP credits and her desire to take 1st Sem Junior year abroad at University of London. :):):)</p>
<p>She said “I just intended to talk with him about what CORE requirements to take next semester and walked out with a complete 4 year plan!” Cool! And 3 of his 4 recommended classes she take next semester, were ones she was leaning towards anyway. NICE!</p>
<p>S is not a STEM kid AT ALL. He’s a music major! His major is actually called Music Technology, with a performance emphasis. He has, however, decided to drop the performance emphasis in favor of a different minor…which means no more private lessons and ensemble is not a required course. I’m glad he took a semester to figure it out.</p>
<p>Middle son and I had this conversation too. He loves BCS, but is staying pre-med. IF a job or MD/PhD deal were to come about afterward he knows he can change easily, but if not, BCS was a “fun” major to have while sticking to his original Plan A (this plan started when he was 8). It’s kind of nice that pre-med students can major in anything they like, but some of those “likes” aren’t necessarily good for Plan B - esp if they depend upon research grants in a poor economy.</p>
<p>I’m so impressed by how well all our freshman are doing! Congrats to all of our students (and their parents) for being on top of winter/spring registration. S gave me his schedule and it seemed fine. He is also NOT a STEM, looking at Econ/Poli Sci with an eye to possible law school.</p>
<p>Off line for a week or so due to Sandy. Power came back on pretty quickly. Internet/phone came on for a few days and then back off for the better part of a week. So I’ll need to catch up with all of you at some point.</p>
<p>S voted in Pennsylvania and then stayed up with friends to watch the returns and speeches.</p>
<p>He doesn’t register until after Thanksgiving. He’ll take the next math course in his sequence, whatever’s next in physics, an engineering course, and then a social science or humanities course. Perhaps philosophy or religion or maybe political science. Also PE.</p>
<p>My daughter’s registration went smoothly tonight. One course was filled, but she already knew that. She got the rest of what she wanted, so it will be an ordinary 15 hours for her. :-)</p>
I’m encouraging him to stick with 4. I hope he listens…</p>
And 3 of his 4 recommended classes she take next semester, were ones she was leaning towards anyway. NICE!</p>