<p>Hello, I am considering going to Yale University and would like to know, from current students of from people who know current students, how difficult it is to get into classes one wants to take. All responses are appreciated! Thanks.</p>
<p>I’m only a freshman, but based on my experience and on what I’ve heard, there’s pretty much no competition to get into classes. The only ones you might not get are seminar courses, but I don’t think they’re first-come-first-serve (at least not from my experience, and I’m taking 2 this semester); you simply pre-register in a very comfortable time window and they’re handed out by lottery (I just had good luck!). A lot of them (e.g. econ classes) also have lecture courses that teach pretty much the same things, just not in a seminar environment.</p>
<p>You also have to pre-register for math up to multivariable calculus, but that’s only to get certain professors and not to actually get into the class. Plus, I got there at the end of the pre-registration period and signed up for the supposed second best multivariable professor, who ended up being by far the best in terms of test averages (10-20% ahead of the second best class on all midterms/final).</p>
<p>The only problem you might face is conflicting section times, but that happens at every school and it’s not difficult to work around it.</p>
<p>what’s this professors name? haha, i’m going to try to get this professor.</p>
<p>How hard is MV if you have already taken it (and obviously Calc I and II) in HS? Sometimes I have trouble with (advanced) math, but I have been getting a lot better since middle school, partially because of being in the highest track with excellent teachers…what is the actual full course name? What is the workload like? If I skip MV and go up one level, what should I take?</p>
<p>I applied to the econ seminar and got in. I missed the deadline for the English classes, so I didn’t get into any freshman writing courses (that was my mistake), thus I can’t say how likely it is to get into those classes via a lottery system. But I did hear a lot of friends complaining that they didn’t get into any of the freshman seminars or writing classes they applied for. Also, most of the great classes are seminars (capped at 20 people), and the professor gets to choose his students. It’s significantly more difficult for freshman to get into those classes, simply because upper class men have been around longer and are usually better candidates by default (or they are studying in the department that certain professor teaches under and are given preference).</p>
<p>Bottom line, it’s not that hard, and certainly not harder than at any other school. You might not get into the Leadership seminar taught by McChrystal your freshman year, but that doesn’t mean Yale doesn’t do a good job of providing its freshman with unique opportunities. You just have to be passionate and take advantage of them. Also from personal experience, if you show genuine interest, professors will usually let you in their seminar. They’re just initially hesitant with freshman because they don’t know if you’re used to the workload yet.</p>
<p>As a senior, I have only gotten cut from a class once, and it was only because it was an extremely popular seminar not in my major. I was put on a waiting list and should have no problem getting in this year.</p>
<p>Lectures are almost never capped; I’ve only heard of one or two (out of hundreds) that have ever had to cut students. So for these, you’re always fine.</p>
<p>There are only a handful of courses it’s difficult to get into as an upperclassman, like McChrystal’s seminar, or one with, say, John Gaddis. Most other seminars are pretty open, and the vast majority actually end up with fewer than the maximum number of students.</p>
<p>In fact, it’s not difficult to get into most graduate or professional seminars as an upperclassman provided you have appropriate background.</p>
<p>As a freshman, you’re not going to get into the more popular upper-level seminars, simply because the professors have to decide who to take somehow, and the easiest way to cut down on a too-big seminar is to say “no freshmen.” Plus, most upper-level seminars are waaay more work than most freshmen can reasonably handle. That said, there are a ton of seminars reserved exclusively for freshmen, that are taught by awesome, senior faculty. I took one and as a senior I can look back and say it’s still one of my favorite classes at Yale.</p>
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<p>I took multivariable and linear algebra through my local university during my junior year of high school, and I decided to retake multi my first semester at Yale. The class was certainly not difficult from someone who’s taken it before: both of the midterms were very straightforward, and the final was a little harder but still not too bad. Workload is very light: one pset a week, and a pset only has like 10 problems.</p>
<p>On that note, I still learned a LOT from retaking it. College math is very different in approach and I understood everything much, much better the second time through.</p>
<p>The course code is MATH 120, you can look it up on OCI for the full class name. If you skip multi, you can take a variety of classes: linear algebra, diff eq, real analysis, etc. are all options I believe.</p>
<p>Also, the professor I mentioned is actually not teaching the class next semester, sorry :(</p>
<p>“On that note, I still learned a LOT from retaking it. College math is very different in approach and I understood everything much, much better the second time through.”</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! Sounds like I will probably retake MV :)</p>
<p>On a different note, would any Yalies be willing to make a list of the “must-take” classes? I’m sure every class is great, but you must have favorites ;)</p>
<p>That list will morph year to year. That’s why “shopping period” is so valuable. Gems will rise to the surface and become wildly popular overnight. These can be either great subject matter, super lecturers or frankly, very easy classes that attract people who are looking for a simpler class (nicknamed “Gut” classes)</p>
<p>I recall during my senior year, a visiting Polisci prof was teaching a class entitled “Govt and Politics of Canada” – pretty bland sounding title, right? I think the first class had about 15 in attendance. When word got out about how easy the class was, the second class had about 60 students – including tons of hockey players (who were recruited from Canadian high schools – this class was basically a simple Civics class for them!!!)</p>
<p>It was really a simple A for practically anyone – it got the nickname “Ice Gut” </p>
<p>hahaha</p>
<p>(as opposed to another very simple class that year: Economy of China which was nicknamed “Rice Gut”)</p>
<p>funny memories…</p>
<p>^Yale is awesome</p>
<p>With one semester of experience I can say that seminars can pose a problem for freshman. Like many students, I didn’t get a seat in English 120. I dutifully showed up to petition for a spot in a section, along with a hundred other students. I attended the class all through shopping period, but I failed to get a spot. Friends spoke of similar problems with econ seminars.</p>