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Student Advisor Conversation on RAPs

The conversation between a student and an academic advisor addresses the student's concerns about large introductory courses and the benefits of smaller classes for subjects requiring discussion and feedback. The advisor introduces the Residential Academic Programs (RAPs), which offer a supportive community for students, including an undecided major RAP that focuses on English composition. The advisor highlights the positive experiences of previous RAP participants, emphasizing the importance of personal development alongside academics.

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4 views2 pages

Student Advisor Conversation on RAPs

The conversation between a student and an academic advisor addresses the student's concerns about large introductory courses and the benefits of smaller classes for subjects requiring discussion and feedback. The advisor introduces the Residential Academic Programs (RAPs), which offer a supportive community for students, including an undecided major RAP that focuses on English composition. The advisor highlights the positive experiences of previous RAP participants, emphasizing the importance of personal development alongside academics.

Uploaded by

wfvqfvjhzf
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Listen to a conversation between an incoming student and his academic advisor.

Student: The orientation has been helpful in showing me where everything is on


campus, and I'm looking forward to starting in September, but I'm worried about the
introductory courses. Aren't they held in giant lecture halls with like 300 students?
Advisor: We've had over 500 students in our introduction to astronomy course.
Student: Wow, I'm not interested in astronomy, but I am looking forward to the
introductory English composition course. I really need detailed feedback on my
writing. Plus, I've never been comfortable answering questions in a large group.
Advisor: Oh, no worries. Classes are smaller for subjects like that, ones that require a
lot of discussion and individual feedback. But you know what might be good for you?
Have you heard about our Residential Academic Programs, RAPs?
Student: RAPs? Hmm, I don't think so.
Advisor: We started RAPs several years ago to kind of usher in students like you,
students who might be feeling overwhelmed by college life. They've been expanding
every year.
Student: Okay.
Advisor: Each RAP functions as a sub-community, about 30 students live together
and take at least one, maybe two courses together. We've got about 50 RAPs right
now, each with a different academic focus, ranging from health sciences to sports
management to psychology. There's even one for those who haven't declared a major
course of study.
Student: That would be me.
Advisor: Okay, so your best choice would be the undecided major RAP. You'll all live
in the same residence hall on the same floor, and the common class meets right inside
your dormitory. For the undecided major RAP, that'd be the English composition
course, which is required for all first-year students.
Student: Great, so I would get extra attention. Um, which dorm is it in?
Advisor: Tyler Hall, I believe. South side of campus.
Student: Tyler Hal. How far is it from the main library?
Advisor: It's not next door, let's call it a healthy walk.
Student: Oh, I was hoping to be closer. Sorry, go on.
Advisor: I was gonna say that we just did a survey of previous RAP participants, and
based on the results, RAPs have been rewarding. Students especially like that their
professor goes beyond academics. The end of the first few class sessions focuses on
personal topics, like adjusting to campus life and developing good study habits. The
survey also showed that lots of former RAP students are still hanging out two, three
years later.
Student: Sounds great. It's just that I got so excited when we toured the new high-rise
dorm, Henry Hall. The rooms are big, and it's a stone's throw from the library.
Advisor: I get it, but there's more to university life than the library, especially your
first year. And Tyler Hall has a quiet study area with private cubicles.

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