<p>So, I got back my AP Exam scores today, I got 5's in all the necessary ones for credit (Calc and Physics C)...except Chemistry. I got a 4. So now, I'm pretty sure I want to either be a Chemical Engineering major or an EE major and I want to know if Chem 31A/B would be appropriate for me or if I should take the placement test for Chem31X. The thing is, I thought I knew chemistry pretty well, but on reflection, I really didn't know a whole lot of chem. So would Chem31A/B be too easy (so I take a placement test to get into Chem 31X) or would it be a good idea to take the 31A/B sequence in preparation for much harder Chem 33, organic chem? Also, since I have credit in other subjects, would taking 2 quarters to complete what could take one quarter adversely affect me, especially since I'd like to coterm with Management Science and Engineering? Thanks in advance! :)</p>
<p>Chem 31A/B assumes no AP background and starts from the basics like stochiometry, so I think you'd be quite bored if you got a 4 in AP Chem. On the other hand, Chem 31X moves pretty fast, and you shouldn't count on much of an exam curve since everyone else has also taken AP (and many have gotten 5's), so you should be prepared to spend a lot of time on it.</p>
<p>My advice would be to take Chem 31X, because ChemE and EE have enough required classes as it is, and you want maximum scheduling flexibility, especially toward senior year when you'll want to start taking coterm classes.</p>
<p>Thanks! And on a side note, would you advise that I choose whether to pursue ChemE or EE by the beginning of my freshman year?</p>
<p>I'm going to give you an alternate point of view to the above advice. I know that some, perhaps many, people will disagree with this, but I think planning every single course decision from the very beginning of freshman year based on a 4-year plan with a specific major/minor you've predetermined, is not a good idea. Not only do I think it can make you give yourself a bear of a freshman year, but, and more importantly, I would be willing to bet a good amount of money you'll be changing the plan anyway, so don't make every decision according to it.</p>
<p>Now I understand the arguments that some majors are so big and so time consuming that you have to start chipping away at them from the get go, and that's fine. To be truthful, the people who tell you to take whatever the hell you want freshman year aren't giving you great advice either. You should always try to have some rhyme to your reason, even if that reason is just to take a few random classes.</p>
<p>But to decide between two classes before you've even step foot on campus because of a major/minor plan that, in my humble opinion, is nigh if not impossible, is a bad idea to say the least. Choose whichever one of the classes you will fit best - and do the best - in, not whichever class fits best in your plan.</p>
<p>From what I have seen among other students, and keep in mind I haven't touched a Chemistry class since the 10th grade, 31X is for a pretty self-selecting crowd. That is, the people who do well in 31X are the people who are unwavering in their desire to take it. That's not to say the people who are wavering can't do well, but as a general rule I think the above holds pretty firmly. </p>
<p>I don't think you'll forever disrupt your future plans by taking A/B, so do whatever you think is right. Try them both out for a week and see what you think. Talk to your RA's, it's more or less their job to help you out with decisions like this in the first couple weeks, so don't be afraid to ask.</p>
<p>I somewhat disagree especially seeing as you are choosing between ChemE and EE. ChemE requires the most units and EE requires I think the 2nd or 3rd most so I think planning would be wise. A plan will definitely change during the 4 years but it gives student a guideline to follow and a chance to make sure they can finish their goals in 4 years. Since you are trying to get one of pre-req heavy degrees a 4 year plan will help in planning when a good time to take courses is. </p>
<p>No need to decide by the beginning but I would probably try and have a good idea by the end of freshman year. </p>
<p>For Chem 31X or A/b it doesn't really matter what you choose. It is hard either way from what I hear. It looks like you took Chem senior year so I might would go the 31X route. </p>
<p>Im doing EE and know some ppl in ChemE so if you have any questions feel free to ask.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! If I do EE I'd probably want to do Electrical Engineering with a concentration in computer science (similar to EECS at Berkeley) even though I haven't taken any formal courses in computer science during high school. Do you think I would be at a disadvantage compared to those that have AP Comp Sci credit? Also, I was wondering which math to take, CME or Math 50 series. I've heard that CME is more rigorous and sometimes unnecessary, but with ChemE I know I'll save a quarter in math if I go through the CME series. In addition, how hands on are the Engineering electives at Stanford? Are they filled with many design projects or is it mainly theory? It seems from the engineering handbook that you have to take nearly all the engineering electives in each major. Lastly, what would you say is the biggest difference between Stanford math and science courses versus those at the AP level in high school? Thanks again for being willing to answer my questions!</p>
<p>hmm well I'll chime in here :)</p>
<p>About whether or not to plan every class I really don't think that you need to plan all of them but if you are going to major in ChemE (that's what I'm majoring in right now) you definitely need to take quite a few Chem classes as well as math classes your freshman year. That said because you already have credit for 31X (or at least 2 years ago it did) so you could actually completely skip the whole 31 series (I did that with practically no consequences but that may be because I had a very firm grasp of chemistry in high school). </p>
<p>So definitely keep an open mind but if you are planning on potentially majoring in ChemE I would strongly suggest you take math and chem your freshman year. </p>
<p>As for whether you should take CME or Math it really depends on your preferences. The CME series is clearly more difficult and I personally took the 50 series (though I have not yet taken the required extra CME course) but I have friends who decided that toughing it up and taking the CME series was worth it. It also emphasizes different things. CME has a lot more MATLAB and is less focused on proofs (though honestly the Math 50 series doesn't have that much)</p>