First semester classes in Princeton (CS major)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

What is the recommended set of classes during the first semester in Princeton (CS major)?

I wish to pursue CS concentration but not yet sure either AB or BES.

I would like to take as much prerequisites as possible but still balance out my workload to keep myself sane and happy during the adjustment period.

Would you recommend to take a writing seminar during the fall semester or leave it until the spring one?

What do you think about the following courseload for the first semester:

  1. Writing seminar
  2. MAT 103 Calculus I
  3. COS 126 Computer Science: An Interdisciplinary Approach
  4. Language or Humanities (distribution requirements) or any other suggestions?

I would appreciate any advice you may have. Thank you.

2

I like that class schedule. I took writing sem over the Fall and found it to be manageable with my other three classes (which were Lin algebra, molbio and 126). COS126 can get a little time consuming towards the end if you’re not totally comfortable with programming, and MAT103 is relatively (compared to 104) manageable. I’d stick with that schedule! Good luck and welcome to Princeton!!

3

The university assigns you which semester you would take writing seminar so you wouldn’t be able to choose which semester to take writing seminar. If you do the BSE route and you haven’t cleared out of engineering requirements(with AP or IB), you’re going to need to take those classes freshman fall (like Physics). If you do AB, you have more wiggle room. Overall, that schedule sounds fine and you will probably end up with a schedule very similar to that even as a BSE.

4

@changa, a great resource for you is the RealTalk-Princeton blog - google it if you haven’t been on it. You’re smart to balance your classes. And if you know any Princeton students IRL, feel free to ask for their advice on course selection. They’ll have good advice based on their experiences with MAT and COS.

@AGoodFloridian just PM’d you.

5

Do you know what level you’ll start with in your language? It might be better to wait to take a writing intensive type course (HA, SA, EM distribution types) until you’ve had the Writing Seminar. Adjusting to college level writing(especially at Princeton) is a big change plus you night end up having to read 200-300 pages a week in a Hum class so if you are not a huge reader it could be tough.

The Real Talk Princeton blog is a good choice. When you get to Princeton they’ll be Student Advisors in your RC that could recommend a less intensive course to fit with MAT and COS.