<p>Some courses i want to take are 420 and 621…
That means those are def not intro-level classes,
but what i am worried about is myself not catching up
those intellectual graduate or senior students.
So, would those courses be generally harder for a freshman?
(even though penn course review says it’s about
the average difficulty (2.5)?)</p>
<p>while im not a penn expert, generally at most colleges a higher number indicates how concentrated or specific the class is. 100 and 200 levels generally being overview or intro couses and 300 and 400 and up generally are more specific. for ex. bio 201 might be intro to biology while bio 301 might be cellular biology and bio 401 might be DNA or something.</p>
<p>higher numbers can be more difficult (in math classes where everything is compounded) but sometimes they just are more specific (like history classes).<br>
From my college experience, intro classes have the potential to be harder because you have to cover a much wider range of material (albiet in less detail, but still) in the same time frame.</p>
<p>It would be helpful if you mention exactly which classes you're considering. But in general, a class with number 420 or 621 doesn't seem right for a freshman... In some departments (maybe all?), classes with number above 500 are graduate-level courses...</p>
<p>Are you even sure that you can take these courses? 600 is definitely graduate-level, and 400 is advanced. It may only have a 2.5 rating, but that's coming from the grad students who took it, not freshmen.</p>
<p>Hmmm, no offense but you're being a bit ambitious there. Here's how it works in the engineering school at least...</p>
<p>100's: Introductory for majors/non-majors (1st year)
200's: Beginning of core for majors/electives for non majors (2nd year)
300's: Typically for majors/minors only (3rd year)
400's: Pretty much majors only (4th year)
500's: 1st year grad students/advanced undergrads (5th year)
600's: 2nd year grad students and the occasional super-undergrad (6th year)
700+: Phd students</p>
<p>As you can see, you probably don't want to be taking those courses as a freshman unless you're in the league of Einstein, Newton, etc.</p>
<p>i took biol402 my freshman year. most ppl there were juniors and seniors but i got an A. i'm not an einstein and it wasn't the hardest thing in the world. there were harder courses than that.</p>
<p>well you never know, you might have been a natural at that course.</p>
<p>there are zero level courses which are for anyone (but might be prereq for other higher courses) such as psych 001, rels 001, rels 002 etc. but 100 level courses are pretty much for ppl who are seriously considering the field (although for frosh and sophomores).</p>
<p>what are the courses that you get put into for which the college has given you credit for before you even started learning there. For example, if you took the AP in that subject?</p>
<p>the courses i am planning to take are "Introduction to Indian Philosophy"
which is SAST603 course ( though it's cross listed as RELS155 etc) and
"PSCI 415. Contemporary African Politics" which is again cross listed as PSCI 257. </p>
<p>I don't want to be overly ambitious, but courses that catch my attention
are higher numbered ones... i am ready to drop these if they are
ridiculously hard during the ADD/drop week</p>
<p>If a 6-700 level class is cross listed with an undergrad level class you have nothing to worry about. There may be grad students taking it for graduate credit, but they will be graded on a different basis. I've run across this in RELS (as you have) and also ANTH. Just register for the appropriately numbered class and you'll be fine.</p>
<p>Oddball cross-listing also happens for obscure administrative reasons. When in doubt, email the professor or call the department</p>