Can't choose between two classes

<p>So i'm in the CoE for Umich, and im carrying about 25 credits over from high school (mostly humanities). My goal is to be able to get into EGL and graduate in 5 years with a masters. I know it takes a 3.6 GPA to get in.. so my question is, if I got a 5 on the AP Calculus BC test, should i go right into Calculus III at UofM, or take Calculus I over again in an attempt to pad my GPA? (So far after orientation, my class schedule is Chem 130 & 125/126, Engineering 101, Math 215, and UROP.. which is around 13 + 3 credits).</p>

<p>or… maybe even go and take the honors applied sequence, starting with calculus I? I’ve heard that the curve for those classes are much more lenient. What would you do?</p>

<p>If you got a five on the AP Calculus BC test, I would start in Calc III</p>

<p>EGL is a good program. I definitely would have tried to get in had I started at UMich as a freshman (I’m a transfer).</p>

<p>Do you know what major you’re going to choose? EGL was originally IOE only, but is open to all majors now. IOE has a lot more electives that you can take, which makes it easier to take the international and business classes you need. That would also make it easier to go back and take earlier Calc courses.</p>

<p>I would still take Calc III. A 3.6 is a very high GPA, but it can definitely be done, even with harder courses like Calc III. There is a reason it is a honors program</p>

<p>Did you take the language proficiency test at orientation? If I remember correctly, you need a two-year proficiency in a foreign language for EGL. Basically, EGL requires somewhere in the area of 24-40 extra credits as an undergrad, depending on what you choose for your humanities and what level of foreign language proficiency you enter with.</p>

<p>I’d go to calc 3, but if you do repeat calc 1, i’d probably do honors</p>

<p>If you’re just hoping to pad your GPA, you can find easier classes to ace than Calc I (homework is annoying, stupid mistakes will rape you). Unless you’ve got some scholarship that will only let you take classes towards your major or something, I’d go straight into Calc III, no question.</p>

<p>@chasely</p>

<p>I have native fluency in Japanese (i’ve attended a Japanese school simultaneously with American school), and within my 25 credits or so, i have credits from taking 400-level japanese courses at Oakland University as dual enrollment. No, I have not taken a proficiency test yet, but that’s only because the test will be offered on September 3rd for Japanese. I’m most likely going into ME or EE.</p>

<p>@QwertyKey</p>

<p>Can you enlighten me about these “easier” classes? I’ve heard horror stories about Calc II, so if possible, I’d definetly like to avoid that (although I heard Calc III isn’t much better).</p>

<p>native languages don’t count for EGL, apparently.</p>

<p>you should try taking English to a 4th semester proficiency ;)</p>

<p>My brother recently graduated from harvard and got a job at an Investment Banking firm, and he told me that employers look at GPA. GPA GPA GPA, not the classes you took.
if you can get an A in Calc I, take it. GPA padding is the way to go, he says.</p>

<p>I’m in a similar predicament as you, i got a 5 on BC and 5 on AB, but i’m gonna take Calc I this fall.</p>

<p>@OP, unfortunately, you cannot use native languages for EGL, I am not sure about using English if it is not your first language. From the EGL website:</p>

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<p>So I doubt you’d be able to use English either, because I doubt they would let you study the United States as a cultural area. I could be wrong though.</p>

<p>I think this is a stupid requirement, especially for people that are already bilingual. I think it’s more meant for people who’s only fluency is in English. </p>

<p>As far as ME vs EE, you can’t really go wrong with either one. I would think the systems component of EE could be a bit more useful in a global operations sense. But I do not know.</p>

<p>For the record, I am not part of the program, but I have studied it intensively. I do have a relative who was in the program that is now an industrial engineering manager for Intel in VietNam that I sought advice from regarding the program.</p>

<p>Qwerty: what makes Calc I so hard? Even if you did well in Calc BC in HS would it still be hard?</p>

<p>what makes calc 1 hard? well one plausible suggestion is that it’s usually taken by less math inclined people and most people who take it probably don’t have a strong calc background. And alot of people are required to take calc 1, so that makes it “hard” in general i guess.</p>

<p>charlieharper, you took a step backwards dangg so make sure u get A’s in both I and II!</p>

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<p>the thing about AP tests (that i have discovered) is that you don’t have to be particularly strong in the corresponding subject area to get a 5. that being said, i took the BC test this year after only taking the AB class and still got a 5. </p>

<p>I’m not taking calc I again just to pad my gpa, i’m taking it again because i’m not confident in my math ability (i am horrible at math)</p>

<p>“Qwerty: what makes Calc I so hard? Even if you did well in Calc BC in HS would it still be hard?”</p>

<p>I didn’t take it, but from what I heard, the homework in teams is awful, and the grading is a *****. </p>

<p>An easier class? Try Psych 111.</p>

<p>actually, i can bend that rule for “native language” because technically, i’m a US citizen and my “first” language is english. besides, the CoE advisor said it was perfectly legitimate.</p>

<p>@QwertyKey</p>

<p>what other classes are easier? i know i have to end up taking like econ 101… is that an easy class? </p>

<p>also, do you guys think holding out on a math course this year and taking something easy to get like a humanities requirement out of the way a better choice or will it bite me in the ass later?</p>

<p>“what other classes are easier? i know i have to end up taking like econ 101… is that an easy class?”</p>

<p>It’s pretty easy. It’s a “weeder,” but it’s not really hard. </p>

<p>You should definitely take math first semester, but take Calc 3, not 1.</p>

<p>Is it hard to get into EGL as a transfer? I am transferring in as a Computer Science major ( possibly dual majoring in math or Computer Engineering ) and I have all the math out the way. Even though I have the credit for EECS 280, I will probably retake that so I get an idea of Michigan programming. Should I not jump straight into EECS classes if I want to get into EGL?</p>

<p>For EGL you need a 3.6. Do what you need to in order to get that.</p>

<p>@WolfPack</p>

<p>I am also a transfer student that was interested in EGL. I ended up not following it because I would need to take 24 extra credits (12 business/12 humanities) in order to participated. I decided to go the SGUS route instead, so I’ll still be getting my MSE.</p>

<p>I don’t think it’s actually hard to get into, as long as you have the grades. There is a tough application process though, that requires interviews and letters of recommendation. It’s not as easy as filling out the application and you’re in, given that you have the grades. You could get the grades, and still be denied, from what I understand.</p>

<p>That being said, it is a very rewarding program, that leads to some great opportunities later.</p>