IUPUI’S SPAN PROGRAM –FROM A PARENT’S
PERSPECTIVE

Tailor the IUPUI Schedule to YOUR child

It is important to remember that all “early enrollment” students are unique
in their abilities and in the way they learn best; some are great at math
and weaker in English, some are vice versa, some are visual learners
and others are auditory learners who rely on hearing the lecture. There
is no one best way to set up your student’s schedule, but it is good to
think about these differences to help give your student the best chance
for success. For example, if you have a visual learner, it may be
important to get the required texts early so they can have the opportunity
to read ahead for the first day. Books are usually available in the
bookstore 10 days before classes start.

We have also found that a leisurely schedule of 2 to 3 classes per day
with breaks between classes can work very well to our student’s
advantage. While it may be tempting to cram lectures together to limit the
time your student spends on campus, as parents, we don’t advocate that
for their first year. Permitting our kids to take a class and then to have
time to go over their notes, mull over what they have learned, maybe talk
to the professor after class and/or work on homework right then, seems
to enhance their chance for success in a reduced stress environment.
This also gives them time to do any last minute preparations for the next
class. It lets them visit the math center or writing center if they need extra
help. And finally, it has the advantage of leaving the student with minimal
homework for that night so that they might have plenty of time to just “be
a kid” and do fun, extracurricular activities with their friends or family.

Prerequisites. Be sure to check to see if there are any prerequisites for
the courses for which you intend to register. While this is not cast in
stone, it is a good idea to take Writing 131 early because it is frequently
required before other courses can be taken.

Day classes versus night classes. Although it would seem an easy
solution for your student to “pick up a night class” in there needed
subject, we have found one significant difference in day versus evening
classes. During the day, most classes are attended by students of
average college age. Evening classes, however, tend to have older and
middle age students finishing a degree or taking a work related class.
The significant age difference can be very intimidating to the younger
students. We would exercise caution in choosing a night class as the first
class your student takes.

Fall or spring semesters versus Summer I or II. The traditional fall or
spring semesters have 15 weeks of classes. During these semesters, a
typical 3-credit class would meet for two and a half hours per week.  
Summer semesters, however, are very compact, lasting for only 6 weeks.
And although classes do meet for longer class periods, condensing the
same course readings and assignments into a compact summer
semester requires careful preparation for your student to be successful.
We recommend that any student getting ready to embark upon a summer
college class be prepared for the extremely fast pace by purchasing
books as early as possible, getting the syllabus early and starting on
required reading, and possibly “shadowing” the class for a day the
semester prior.

Courses no longer available, but still listed in the College Bulletin
Chem Lab C120
About IUPUI SPAN
Program- Your
Student's Schedule
An early college
high school for the
virtually unlimited
student.