Chem I + Physics I + Calculus I in the same semester?

<p>Does this sound doable for the first semester of freshmen year? I've never taken a physics class and I'm taking Pre-Calculus the summer before entry. I took AP Bio and AP Stats for my math and science courses for my senior year, so I don't feel I had the proper exposure to the engineering track. I was going for pre-med but now I've changed my mind a little bit. I never made a real effort in math (so I got average grades in non-honors math classes), but I feel like if I did, I could make a solid engineer. But the catching up sounds daunting. Does math interest me? It didn't before... but after taking AP Bio, I have a new appreciation for the logic and skill of math as opposed to the boring and tedious rote memorization of biology. I definitely took math for granted. </p>

<p>I doubt I will be able to get in anywhere directly as an engineering major, but I want to take as many as the engineering core classes to get the right feel for it. Or would taking so much of that stuff in one semester give me the wrong impression in itself? I'm thinking about holding off Chem I until second semester. This way, I'll get the exposure to Physics (the huge core of engineering) I need and I'll know if engineering is really for me by the end of the first semester. My only concern is taking Calculus based physics and my first Calculus class in the same semester. Any comments? </p>

<p>(Side note: I am pretty much certain that I'll be able to test out of an English class because I have AP credit. Any thoughts on how this could affect my schedule makeup?)</p>

<p>Yeah, don't.</p>

<p>At least have calc 1 before physics! Your professor will think that you know calc1 and will not spend ANY time on trying to explain why and how behind math. Id suggest do chem and calc 1 but then start physics NEXT semester.</p>

<p>Hold your reins, buddy. That schedule will not be kind on your GPA. I second durak1234's comment - you need to take your first course in calculus before even thinking about calculus-based physics. Have you thought about taking an algebra-based version of physics first as well? That should help you understand physics better. Don't underestimate your courses. Plan your schedule diligently with your adviser. </p>

<p>Perhaps you can work something out like this:</p>

<p>First Semester</p>

<p>Calculus I
Chemistry I // Chemistry Lab
Physics (simplified algebra based version, shouldn't be very difficult)
Writing Seminar</p>

<p>Second Semester</p>

<p>Calculus II
Chemistry II // Chem Lab
Physics (Calculus Based)
Random Class</p>

<p>I took Chem 1+lab, Calc II+lab, and Physics I+lab in one semester (with 2 other classes) and got an A and two B's in those three... if you can learn time management then you'll be fine. IMHO, Algebra based Physics would be a waste of your time/money.</p>

<p>Is calculus a pre-requisite or a co-requisite for physics? If it's a pre-req, I agree with the above posters, don't take physics in your first semester. But at my college calculus is only a co-requisite for the calc-based physics class and the professor knows that a fair number of the people in the class do not know it at the beginning of the semester and explains concepts as needed.</p>

<p>A number of people at my college take calc + calc-based physics + chemistry in their first semester and they are fine. (At my college it is also not possible to start the physics sequence in the second semester.) Finding out what's common and possible at your college will help you a lot more than generic advice from strangers.</p>

<p>NOTE that gstein took calc 2.....22222 not 1! If you took calc1 before it would be a different story...I would have then recommended taking chem, phy, and calc in one semester.</p>

<p>Yeah you might want to look into biological engineering...which is probably the most challenging major for engineering but the most rewarding because u have to really learn all of the basic sciences to a tee (physics, chemistry, biology, and math), and from what it seems like...u like biology a lot so u would like biological engineering which is what im into...look into it</p>

<p>Calc is a co-req but that's only so that they can provide a four-year schedule to potentially graduate in. Physics is a lot harder if calculus is a coreq. My son had Calc I, Calc II, Calc III, Linear Algebra and self-studied Differential Equations before taking Physics I and II and a lot of that came in handy when he took physics. A lot of kids washed out of Physics.</p>

<p>I spoke to a coworker that went to CMU and he said the same thing. A lot of engineering majors became business majors.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]

First Semester</p>

<p>Calculus I
Chemistry I // Chemistry Lab
Physics (simplified algebra based version, shouldn't be very difficult)
Writing Seminar

[/QUOTE]
</p>

<p>What exactly is a seminar? Doesn't sound like an actual class, but I really want to avoid English or writing. I had a 5 on the AP English Language exam and plan to get one on the AP Lit one too. And I've heard some people been able to avoid English until junior year. It just sounds like a waste of time - I think I've proved my proficiency. </p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
Hold your reins, buddy. That schedule will not be kind on your GPA. I second durak1234's comment - you need to take your first course in calculus before even thinking about calculus-based physics. Have you thought about taking an algebra-based version of physics first as well? That should help you understand physics better. Don't underestimate your courses. Plan your schedule diligently with your adviser.

[/QUOTE]
</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
IMHO, Algebra based Physics would be a waste of your time/money.

[/QUOTE]
</p>

<p>Yeah, I'm just sort of worried that I'd be wasting money on Algebra based Physics. But yes, I would only take Physics I and Calc I if they were co-requisites. I don't think the departments would even let take it without the perquisite, right? I kind of want to study off a book the first semester rather than take a real Algebra based physics class. But I have no idea if I'd be diligent enough to learn anything from that. </p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
Yeah you might want to look into biological engineering...which is probably the most challenging major for engineering but the most rewarding because u have to really learn all of the basic sciences to a tee (physics, chemistry, biology, and math), and from what it seems like...u like biology a lot so u would like biological engineering which is what im into...look into it

[/QUOTE]
</p>

<p>Nah. I thought I liked the health science track. But I don't. I have to come to despise it after taking AP Biology.</p>

<p>You can watch Physics I lectures from MIT Open Courseware at the link below. You can just read through anything with the title: Physics for Scientists and Engineers as a textbook. There are quizzes and exams at the site below too.</p>

<p>MIT</a> OpenCourseWare | Physics | 8.01 Physics I: Classical Mechanics, Fall 1999 | Home</p>

<p>Thanks BC. I'm going to take Chem II, Physics I and Call II next semester along with Bio I :( I need all the help I can get. Any tips for Cal II or Chem II?</p>

<p>Physics is a lot of problem solving, Biology is a massive amount of memorization, calc II is a lot of new concepts and problem solving. The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs has lectures for Calc II if you think that they would be useful.</p>

<p>3 hard sciences with labs is a pretty rough schedule. Adding Calc II if you're not a math geek could be pretty draining.</p>

<p>
[quote]
NOTE that gstein took calc 2.....22222 not 1! If you took calc1 before it would be a different story...I would have then recommended taking chem, phy, and calc in one semester.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>The amount of calculus you use in physics 1 is very minimal, and the rigor of it is pretty trivial (basic differentiation and integration). Calc 2 is much harder IMO than Calc 1.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Yeah, I'm just sort of worried that I'd be wasting money on Algebra based Physics. But yes, I would only take Physics I and Calc I if they were co-requisites. I don't think the departments would even let take it without the perquisite, right? I kind of want to study off a book the first semester rather than take a real Algebra based physics class. But I have no idea if I'd be diligent enough to learn anything from that.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes, Calc 1 is a coreq. of Physics 1... not a pre-req. You are expected to have already taken pre-cal though. If you can learn derivatives and maybe even integrals prior to taking physics, you'll be ahead of the game. Otherwise many students learn them at the same time (Heck, I learned derivatives and integrals in my HS AP Physics class before i did in my HS AP Calc. class.) And, atleast at my school... chem, calc., and physics are classes that engineers are expected to take in the same semester. I'm not trying to scare you, but eventually your schedule will get much harder than the 3 classes you listed... try mine this semester:</p>

<p>Materials Science
Intro to Aerodynamics
Statics and dynamics
Differential Equations
Technical Writing</p>

<p>Taking many tough classes in one semester is just something you'll have to get used to as an engineering major.</p>

<p>


</p>

<p>I'm aware that this schedule isn't the worst, but I'm just speaking from my academic background - that is, not particularly excellent in math or physics. Many of my classmates going into engineering are already enrolled in Calculus and at least an Algebra based Physics course. But I'm willing to make a more earnest attempt at math and science than I've ever made. But I don't want to bite off more than I can chew, so to speak. These are introductory courses and probably simple compared to higher level work, but it's all about the foundation. And I don't want to set up another crappy foundation, like I did in high school. </p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
Yes, Calc 1 is a coreq. of Physics 1... not a pre-req. You are expected to have already taken pre-cal though. If you can learn derivatives and maybe even integrals prior to taking physics, you'll be ahead of the game. Otherwise many students learn them at the same time (Heck, I learned derivatives and integrals in my HS AP Physics class before i did in my HS AP Calc. class.)

[/QUOTE]
</p>

<p>Thanks, that is reassuring. I'm just worried because like I've said, all the kids at my school on the engineering track seem so much more prepared than me. But you make it sound like many others are in my same position. But I shouldn't expect As, right?</p>

<p>What about taking Calculus I, Chem I, and Bio I? Would that be harder or easier?</p>

<p>
[quote]
Thanks, that is reassuring. I'm just worried because like I've said, all the kids at my school on the engineering track seem so much more prepared than me. But you make it sound like many others are in my same position. But I shouldn't expect As, right?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yeah, there are plenty of people who are in your situation, but there are also plenty of people who took Calc. in HS... like me. Just make sure you treat college as if it were a full-time job, especially since you'll be in engineering. And if you start taking pre-cal and struggle a little, maybe adjust your college schedule after you take that course. You are the one that knows yourself best. Plus, I'm not sure how the rigor of your prof/school is. And like I said, pretty much the only two Calc. concepts covered in physics 1 are derivatives and integrals... which are two topics that can easily be self-taught. And atleast in my Physics 1 class, those two were not expected to be known coming into the class (although I knew them.)</p>

<p>
[quote]
What about taking Calculus I, Chem I, and Bio I? Would that be harder or easier?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>From what I've heard, easier than the OP's... but not necessarily easy. But then again I don't have to take Bio.</p>

<p>The main reason why I want to get the core engineering classes out of the way so quickly is that I have two sets of colleges. One group is all technical based and the other group is liberal arts-ish. If I'm not going into engineering, I would much rather go to a liberal arts school. And none of those liberal arts schools have engineering programs. So I want to get a feel for it right away, transfer/switch as needed by the end of first semester rather than wasting my freshmen year at a college I'm not going to stay at anyways. </p>

<p>Well, I don't know what Bio is like in college. But I can say from my experience in AP Biology that it's a lot of rote memorization rather than skill based concepts. Depends on what's harder for you, I guess. I unfortunately realized it's memorization for me. </p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
Just make sure you treat college as if it were a full-time job, especially since you'll be in engineering. And if you start taking pre-cal and struggle a little, maybe adjust your college schedule after you take that course.

[/QUOTE]
</p>

<p>Mm, I could do that. I don't mean to whine, but high school has been rather like a full time job for me the last two years. But I want to have an active campus life and maybe even a part time job too. Could you tell me if that's doable from your experience?</p>

<p>
[quote]
Mm, I could do that. I don't mean to whine, but high school has been rather like a full time job for me the last two years. But I want to have an active campus life and maybe even a part time job too. Could you tell me if that's doable from your experience?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Well I was just saying that because when I was in high school, I gave minimal effort and got good grades in AP classes. Now, I devote much of my time to study and homework... but then again I also make good grades in college. It's been a complete change for me.</p>

<p>Both are doable. I know plenty of people who have jobs, lives, and maintain decent to good grades. It really depends on your classes, your profs, your major, and your college. There can/will be a lot of variation in those four. I can tell you though that as an engineer you will put in, on average, more study time than most other majors. I wouldn't recommend getting a job your first semester in college though... your first semester should be devoted to the transition, studying, and meeting new people. But to each his own, that's just my two cents.</p>

<p>Pyles, easier! I took Cal and Chem (which is what you should be worrying about) first semester and I devoted rather good time to each and it turned out to be easy. If you study, read the textbook and go over concepts. It should be okay. </p>

<p>I'm going to take Bio this semester but my friend said, it's a lot of memorization. That's the only thing to it. Go, go over concepts again and again and it'll be fine.</p>