<p>I just got a packet in the mail from the engineering advising office. The packet asks me to choose between a CS class or an ENGRI class. i have no idea what to do. Which should I go for? Why? Which CS or ENGRI class should I choose? What about Chemistry and Physics? Am I being pre-enrolled in those classes or will this be settled at orientation?</p>
<p>You don't need to choose either Chemistry or Physics for now. All you have to do first is choose which to take in the Fall semester, CS or ENGRI. If you wish to take CS, select it, you can choose which course later. If you wish to take ENGRI, you have to select one of the ones listed that are available in Fall 2008. It doesn't really matter which one you choose, go for whatever interests you.</p>
<p>So if I choose a CS course ... will I pick one at orientation or will I be placed into one based on the academic interests I list on the info form?</p>
<p>CS is generally harder in the fall...meaning people who have experience in CS usually take it in the fall which makes it harder if you don't have much experience. You can take whatever ENGRI you want, it can be related to your major or completely different. You can also take both CS and an ENGRI in the same semester, meaning you will probably take 5 classes rather than 4. If you are planning on taking more CS, I would suggest taking the Java version, becuase the next level of CS is all java. However, intro CS has changed since I took it, so I'm not 100% on that</p>
<p>Chemistry is quite different between fall and spring--the material is exactly the same but the class sizes are quite different. Most students take chem in the fall, so it is a much larger class. In the spring there are usually less than 50 students, but this also results in less scheduling flexibility. If you need to take 2 semesters of chemistry, take chem in the fall. </p>
<p>You will get enrolled in your classes and will see your schedule on Just the Facts in late Aug. But learn to love the Add/drop period to get what you want.</p>
<p>So for the first level CS course you can take either Java or Matlab, and you have the choice of the regular or honours level for both of them. They claim all are designed for beginners, so just take whatever you're comfortable with. I've taken two years of CS with Visual Basic and a teeny bit of Java, so I'm taking the honours Java version, then the transition to Matlab (you have to take the transition to the opposite language you choose).</p>
<p>hoonose, what do you mean 'then the transition to Matlab (you have to take the transition to the opposite language you choose)'? Is it it compulsory that we change the CS course we're doing after a while and if so, after how long?
Also a lot of poeple have told me that Matlab is more useful for engineering students; is this true?</p>
<p>The transition is a self-paced one credit course one of the languages. You have to take it to gain a background in both Java and Matlab. As for which one is more useful, I don't know, I'm taking the Java course because it's used more in Computer Science.</p>
<p>My friends who are meche use matlab a lot, while I (being OR) have had to use more java...if that helps.
I think its easier to move on to other languages from java, but that's just my experience.</p>