<p>Is EC 10 really hard? Should I take this first semester frosh year? Is it better to take the full course or only 1 semester?</p>
<p>Hi Ivy!</p>
<p>Ec 10 is not generally considered a particularly hard course, though of course it all depends how comfortable you are with economics (no previous experience is necessary). It was the easiest of my courses when I took it, and most people I know thought the same thing.</p>
<p>Whether you want to take it first semester all depends on your plan for college. Is it possible you could want to be a economics major? In that case, you should absolutely take it your first semester- it’s a good way to get a head start on your concentration! (Though you can also take it your sophomore year and become an Ec major without much trouble.) </p>
<p>If you think it’s unlikely but possible you’ll be an Ec major, then it may or may not be a good idea, depending on whether you have space in your first semester schedule. </p>
<p>If you’re absolutely certain you don’t want to be an economics concentrator, note that the course can still fulfill a core or Gen Ed requirement. (Some concentrations, however, exempt you from the Social Analysis requirement- check the requirements). In that case, it’s up to you whether you should take it. Why not shop the course and see if you’re interested in it? (You must be at least a little interested in it to be asking about it on College Confidential).</p>
<p>As for whether you should take it the full year, the good news is that you don’t have to decide that until after the first semester is done! In January, you will have the option to “Divide With Credit,” which means that Social Analysis 10 will show up on your transcript as a half-year course (including your normal grade). There is no stigma associated with it- many people choose to divide the course- and no kind of penalty. So see if you like it before you decide whether you’ll take the second semester!</p>
<p>Let me know if you have any further questions. If you let us know more about your interests, such as concentrations you are interested in, we can certainly give more specific advice.</p>
<p>You are a godsend! I think I will either concentrate in Government, Social Studies, or Hist and Lit.</p>
<p>Right now I know I’ll be taking an Expos class and a Language class so I’m just trying to figure out what to do for my other two classes.</p>
<p>I think it really depends on your strengths. I am an incoming freshman, also considering taking EC10. My older cousin took the class and said it was really easy, but then another guy who I know said that the midterms were super hard and he had to drop out at the half year…at least you can drop out after the half year.</p>
<p>I didn’t take Ec 10, but I understand that a lot of its ease or difficulty depends on the teaching ability of your TF. People with better TFs tended to enjoy the class more. Someone told me that an unusually large crop of TFs graduated in '09, and so last year’s crop was composed largely of relatively inexperienced first-year econ grad students. I would imagine this year’s TFs to be generally better since they are generally more experienced.</p>
<p>bump 10 char</p>