<p>Firstly, I will be a freshman in MCS for the fall '06, so with that being said:</p>
<p>In the case that I receive credit for both semesters of calculus, I believe I have the choice to take Analysis or perhaps Statistics (feel free to correct me on this!) How is Analysis as a course? What goes on here?</p>
<p>I also signed up to take "Revolution of Circulatory". Is this a difficult class? To my understanding, it's a class that outlines the importance and history of the circle throughout the ages.</p>
<p>How is "How Children Learn Mathematics"? I picked that course as a potential freshman seminar (2nd choice after "Revolution of Circulatory").</p>
<p>My last freshman seminar choice is "Mysticism". Any insights on this course?</p>
<p>Also, the three science courses that I chose to potentially have for my first semester were "A Modern Biology", "Intro to Chem II", and "Physics for Science Students I" (1st, 2nd, 3rd choice in that order). I took the AP Physics: Mechanics exam, but I doubt I got a 5, so I'll be taking it at CMU. I heard the "Physics for Science Students I" is a tough, tough class. I'm going to use AP credit to opt out of "Intro to Chem I". Do you advise against this?</p>
<p>Thanks for your time and any input you may have. I understand that today is actually the last day to register for courses, but there is still room to change things around if necessary!</p>
<p>I took physics for science students (I and II), and I didn't think it was hard, so much as a different way of looking at things, which makes it very hard for some people. It's not a plug-and-chug equations class, acceleration is never discussed... it's a weird class.</p>
<p>I already said alot about analysis on another thread- it's hard and proof based, and you should only take it if you really want to know why calculus works. Use search to find it in the other threads.</p>
<p>What do you think I should take instead of Analysis? Am I allowed to take Statistics in my first semester? If yes, would you advise against taking Stat for my first semester?</p>
<p>There's about 8 intro statistics courses, but from my understanding, none are crazy-hard. I've had some people say they're easy, some that they're difficult; it depends on your mindset. I think that would be a logical replacement.</p>
<p>You could take another one of your core classes (bio/physics/chem) or 21-259, calculus in 3D. I suggest looking through the course catalog at classes in your major and seeing if there is anything you will need as a prerequisite for a course you want to take later. If you plan on taking programming classes through 15-211 (3rd semester), you might want to get 21-127 (concepts of mathematics) out of the way; that course is intended for freshmen.</p>
<p>Is it reasonable to take 21-127 in my first semester? Also, do you know where I can find this course catalog? One was not mailed to me, and I couldn't find one on the CMU website, but it's probable that I just missed it, since there are so many links! Thanks</p>
<p>Also, do you think it would be overkill to take "A Modern Biology" and "Intro to Chem II", if it happens to work out that way? I'm fairly confident in my understanding of chemistry, but I don't want to overwhelm myself!</p>
<p>All computer science majors are required to take 21-127 their first semester (if they haven't taken it before). :) Some people find the class hard, but I don't think it's something that gets easier with time/experience, it's just a mindset.</p>
<p>I don't know much about bio and chem classes. My friends who took Modern Biology had mixed feelings about it- they said it was easy but they had bad grades in it. I don't really get that, but I think it had something to do with them spending too much time on CS homework and procrastinating. I also think it was easier second semester than first, but I don't know if that just had something to do with who I knew that was taking it. Also, there's quizzes online on Blackboard with due dates like 6PM on Friday, and my roommate always forgot to do them. I know nothing about chem.</p>
<p>Any experiences with Matter and Interactions? Oh, and why did you choose physics for science students rather than physics for engineers, is there a difference?</p>
<p>If you think you like physics, take Matter and Interactions. The professors are amazing (so I've heard). I didn't take the sequence and dearly regret it. Physics for engineering students is generally portrayed as being harder among the students.</p>
<p>I don't particularly like physics (I only took AP Physics in high school in hopes of getting credit to get out of it in college, but I don't think that'll happen.. ahhh!), but I believe Physics for Science Students I & II is required for my prospective major (chem)--and I think it's a required course for all MCS students?</p>
<p>I don't want to sidetrack, but a current CMU student told me that even with a very high score on the placement test, I will most likely not be able to opt out of the 2nd semester of calculus.</p>
<p>I took physics for science students because that is the 'default' for computer science students, though we can take physics for engineers or matter and interactions or any number of other courses for our science/engineering requirement.</p>
<p>Physics for scientists involves a conceptual, molecular look at matter (modeled with balls and springs in mechanics, talking about what electrons do in electricity/magnetism). Physics for engineers is, as far as I understand, a more calculus based class (physics 1 just assumes that you know what differentiate and integrate mean, not that you can do them) that is more plug-and-chug and equationy. Supposedly physics for scientists 1 is harder than physics for engineers 1, and physics for engineers 2 is harder than physics for scientists 2.</p>
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Physics for engineers is, as far as I understand, a more calculus based class (physics 1 just assumes that you know what differentiate and integrate mean, not that you can do them) that is more plug-and-chug and equationy
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<p>That's not true. We were required to do entire problems using only variables and the last step was to plug in the numbers and explain what the answer meant (in terms of its value). I don't think you guys did any more theory than we did.... but it's true that without calculus you would have a rough time in this course. There were, however, students without calc experience in my course.</p>
<p>For either of you, how would you compare it to AP Physics (Mechanics & Electromagnetism), if you took the course in high school? About 75% of the problems that we did in AP Physics did not involve calculus (directly), but the remaining 25% required calculus--in that the non-numerical answer would be the integral of several constants and a variable. Anyway, I'm going to e-mail my advisor and request that I not be placed in Analysis, and that I'd rather take Calculus in 3D or Differential Equations.</p>
<p>However, is it true that very few students are granted credit to opt out of both semesters of calculus? I actually don't mind relearning some of the later topics (and some more indepth topics) discussed in high school. But I'd rather not relearn how to integrate and differentiate simple expressions, etc.</p>
<p>P.S.- I've been told by a current CMU student that Stats is not required for chem majors, although the course is useful for lab courses and write-ups.</p>
<p>I think that last year about half of the CS majors who had 4/5 on Calc BC didn't get credit for both semesters. Plenty of people do get credit, but many don't. Don't stress so much about it!</p>
<p>I took AP Physics in high school, but my teacher wasn't very good. I found AP Physics to be a bit plug-and-chug-y, while I found physics for scientists to be much more conceptual. There was definitely less calculus in physics for scientists, partially because there was none the first semester. Second semester there wasn't that much. On tests, pretty much everything is variables, since you don't get to use a calculator.</p>
<p>Calculus in 3D is easier than differential equations (if you'd like to consider that), and the professor for calc in 3D is good in the fall (I know nothing about the diff eq profs).</p>