<p>Ok, the Hass-D lottery is due in a couple days... I'm still a tad bit confused. What kind of class should I be taking as a freshman?</p>
<p>The best choice would be a HASS-D, particularly one that is also communications intensive (CI) -- you need to take one of your two CIs by the end of freshman year, and it's a good idea to get your HASS-Ds out of the way during your first few semesters.</p>
<p>Here's my attempt to explain the (ridiculously convoluted) HASS reqt:
1. 8 HASS classes are required.
2. Of these, 3 must be HASS-D, and each must be from a different category (categories at <a href="http://web.mit.edu/shass/undergraduate/hass_distribution.shtml)%5B/url%5D">http://web.mit.edu/shass/undergraduate/hass_distribution.shtml)</a>.
3. Upper level language classes count as HASS-D.
4. You must also have a concentration (list at <a href="http://web.mit.edu/shass/undergraduate/hass_concentration.shtml#ApprovedFieldsofConcentration)%5B/url%5D">http://web.mit.edu/shass/undergraduate/hass_concentration.shtml#ApprovedFieldsofConcentration)</a>, which is either three or four classes, depending on the field. You don't necessarily need to worry about concentrations until sophomore year or so, but it can't hurt to plan ahead.
5. Only one class can be counted both toward the concentration and as a HASS-D.</p>
<p>Anything still muddy?</p>
<p>Now, do you have any suggestions?</p>
<p>I've taken 9.00, 21L.004, and 24.900. I strongly recommend 9.00, enjoyed 21L.004, and would recommend 24.900 only if Flynn isn't teaching it.</p>
<p>My boyfriend enjoyed 3.986 and loved STS.001 and STS.002 (he liked them so much that he's concentrating in STS). I think STS seems to be a good department for people who don't like HASSes -- I wish I had taken some STS classes, because all the subject descriptions sound great.</p>
<p>I'm going to be in 21A.100 this fall, if anybody wants to pick classes based on where I'll be ;)</p>