<p>^ thanks for the explanation. I thought/assumed that it would be binding.</p>
<p>Hi smoda,</p>
<p>Yup, like he said it’s not binding.</p>
<p>Also, though the system might have changed a little in the three years since I took the test, my understanding is that the placement test’s recommendations are not even fully specific. For example, 21a/23a/25a/55a are a single recommendation (it would be silly to divide among them based on a single placement test score).</p>
<p>What do admissions officers like best in essays? (as in, particular style, theme etc.)</p>
<p>Synth and thirstylemonade and anyone else interested in courses-</p>
<p>If you haven’t already, I recommend you bookmark this page:</p>
<p>[Harvard</a> University FAS Registrar’s Office: 2008-2009 FAS Courses of Instruction](<a href=“http://www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/fasro/courses/index.jsp?cat=ugrad&subcat=courses]Harvard”>http://www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/fasro/courses/index.jsp?cat=ugrad&subcat=courses)</p>
<p>It’s the list of Harvard courses. (I should mention it is still actually last year’s list of courses, so it’s not perfect. Pay attention to any note that says "Expected to be omitted in 2009-2010). If you have your Harvard ID and PIN, you can even sign in and look at last year’s courses. So if you’re wondering what different math courses are, or are hoping to pick out a core, this is the place!</p>
<p>Thirstylemonade- while your advisors are crucial in answering questions about courses and school requirements, remember that unlike high school, you yourself choose the courses you take. You can start picking them out right now, from basically any course accessible to you in the guide! Please let us on the forum know if you have questions about them.</p>
<p>There are a few rules you do need to follow:
-They need to sign your study card after you choose the courses. 98% of the time, they’re happy with the courses you picked. The main reason they wouldn’t be is if you broke one of the other rules I listed.
-You can’t take more than 4 courses in the fall semester of your freshman year. This is a great rule anyway: I’ve never taken more than 4 courses in any semester. You also can’t take fewer than 3 courses in any semester. If you take 6 courses in a later semester, you’ll need to get permission from an appropriate administrator (freshman or resident dean). Generally 6 courses is somewhat suicidal.
-In your freshman year, as I’m sure you know, you are required to take Expository Writing for one semester (or, if you are placed into Expos 10, for two semesters). You also don’t have a choice on which semester it is.
-You also have to fulfill a language requirement in your freshman year. You can place out of this with an SAT II (as I did) or with a Harvard placement test.</p>
<p>These are just some general rules on course selection for your freshman year. Good luck and let us know if you have any questions!</p>
<p>so im thinking about courses…from past students’ experience, would this be too hard for spring semester of freshman year?</p>
<p>Life Sci 1b, Math 21b, Econ 1010b, Stat 104, Lit/Gov/Hist/Art elective</p>
<p>That would be a pretty brutal spring/finals period. But of course it is doable. I took five last spring as a freshman and was alright. And I worked part-time as well. That said, the first 4 classes can be really tough for alot of students, LS 1b and econ 1010b especially.</p>
<p>The 19 series is tied to social studies, mainly Econ. I believe it is offered every year.</p>
<p>Admiral - BTW, thanks for your response above. I did not see it before.</p>
<p>Question? When will the results of the placement tests come back. D tells me that she understands that she will find out at the send on August. I would have been really nice to find things out sooner while she has free time over the summer and could be looking at the course catalog (could only get a part time job).</p>
<p>How much flexibility do you have in meeting the “required courses” for concentrations? Can you take way more advanced level courses (even graduate level) and substitute them for the more basic course requirements? Does it vary by department?</p>
<p>What about special concentrations? I keep reading they’re a pain but what are the pros/cons?</p>
<p>You get your test results back freshman week I believe.</p>
<p>^ That’s too bad. I wonder why it takes so long for the subjects that have no essays. I would have thought that the computer could have scored, graded and even advised in real time for the multiple choice tests.</p>
<p>There is usually no need to “wait” on the Math L1,2,3 or Bio or Chem placement
scores.</p>
<p>Someone who has scored an easy 5 on AP Calc BC could skip Math 1A/B and move on to
taking 21/23/25 or in case they will not be in engineering or math take math19/20.
Someone who has had trouble with scoring a 5 on Calc BC should plan on 1A/1B.
If one has only done Calc AB or lower taking Math X should be something to consider.</p>
<p>Similarly, someone who has aced Phy C Mech and E&M whould have no issues
doing Phy 11. The more ambitious can start with 15. The suicidal and the 3 others
who represented the US in the IPO can take the Phy 16. 
The score of 5 lets you skip PS2 though.</p>
<p>Unless you have a GPA-deathwish or have done well at the USNCO camp
do not attempt Chem 17/20 or MCB 52 in Fall as a freshman. An AP Chem
score of 5 is meaningless in terms of background for your chemistry studies
at Harvard. The score of 5, i think lets you skip PS1 (I am not sure). Similarly
an AP Bio score of 5 is meaningless as is being on the IBO team in terms of a
background for biology.</p>
<p>If you are doing a foreign language test and want to place out, review grammar
thoroughly- take the equivalent Barrons version of the SAT exam to prep. Language
placement is complex and your results will help you maximize your enjoyment of these
courses at Harvard. Language is very intense at Harvard. Do not take these courses
lightly unelss you genuinely want to learn the language.</p>
<p>Declaring a special concentration implies you can name the “concentration”
appearing on your degree. A dozen or so students do this every year. One has
to find an advisor/mentor who will be amenable to supporting their stated plan
of study.</p>
<p>ANB, usually an entering student’s self estimate of how well they are prepared and
how many years of studying they are going to skip decreases dramatically after their
first midterm grades are posted in some of the introductory courses. Regarding
your question about the substitution of courses the ugrad handbook provides the
course requirements by concentration. There is significant latitude in selection. However
if you are a premed you will find that medical schools have requirements that force you
to take certain courses and will fill your first 3 years prior to your MCAT in a certain
order.</p>
<p>thirstylemon, if you are a premed you could check out [this link](<a href=“http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~premed/misc/hpspub2008.pdf”>http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~premed/misc/hpspub2008.pdf</a>).</p>
<p>Premed advising is very good at Harvard with some of the best advice coming from
the upperclassmen.</p>
<p>Thoughts for a life sciences major who just got a 5 on Calc AB? I was just looking at the list of '08-'09 courses and it is really not very clear on what is a prerequisite for what. Your comments above would imply that D would start with Xa, Xb but how does that get her to the 19a and/or 19b that it sounds like she will need for her concentration.</p>
<p>Rising junior, math concentrator at the moment. What do you all think about this schedule for next fall? Too harsh?</p>
<p>Math 122 (Concentration)
Stat 210 (Concentration)
Earth and Planetary Sciences 7 (Secondary)
Foreign Cultures 46 (Core)</p>
<p>and then, for a fifth class, either
Magic Of Numbers (Elective…I want an easy A class)
or
Slavic Ea (I want to learn Croatian)</p>
<p>All feedback is appreciated.</p>
<p>And no, I’m not ■■■■■■■■.</p>
<p>@smoda - I don’t think Xa/Xb would be appropriate. A 5 on Calc AB typically leads to Math 1b. If your daughter feels ambitious, she could probably take 19a/19b (or even 21a) but there might be a bit of material where she really needs to catch up.</p>
<p>just forget me - Thanks, I’ll pass it on. Is 1b a prereq for the 19a/19b? So a 5 usually means to skip 1a? </p>
<p>warped - What I can’t understand is why most of your posts are SAT prep questions. If you are a Harvard student, rising junior, why would you post in a thread geared towards incoming freshman.</p>
<p>Just curious. </p>
<p>Are there many parents that are as involved/knowledgeable as Smoda61? Mine sure are not so hands on, but maybe it would be helpful…or maybe not…</p>
<p>Yeah, smoda, a lot of times, my younger sister was posting SAT questions under my username. That’s why most of my posts were SAT prep.</p>
<p>And I probably should have posted my schedule somewhere else, but I don’t know where else I should ask.</p>