<p>Okay, I'm looking at a major in either electrical or mechanical engineering. These are the courses I'm looking at for my freshman fall semester, with credits:</p>
<p>MATH - MV Calc (4)
EE - Intro to Computing (4) < If I can get into it, otherwise a CS equivalent
PHYS - Intro Phys I (4)
Career Exploration (0/1)</p>
<p>For the last course, I'll either take Chem I (4) or a communications class (3).</p>
<p>I'm not as good at chem as math or physics, so that'll probably be kind of tough. On the other hand, chem is a necessary evil for these degrees. The COMM course is an argument class that interests me more than any non-STEM class available for freshmen. I have a lot of experience with that subject material, but it might be time consuming because of writing intensiveness.</p>
<p>Some of these will probably be honors courses, but I don't think that really means much.</p>
<p>I don't want to overload myself, but I hate wasting time too. Which course do you think I should take?</p>
<p>Don’t you need to take calc I before physics I? Maybe not in your school, I guess.</p>
<p>Get chem out of the way early. I took chem I and II in a combined course my freshman fall semester and it wasn’t that bad. Chem is just applications of linear algebra, you should do fine.</p>
<p>Saving physics is not an option, I need two semesters of physics first year as prereqs for engineering courses as a sophomore. Plus I like physics and want to take it.</p>
<p>I will definitely be reviewing all those subjects this summer.</p>
Not really. Spring my freshman year I had chem 2, physics 2, bio 1, and calc 3; all of which were required to be taken that semester (back when I was BME).
3 labs sucked, but it really wasn’t that big of a deal.</p>
<p>If chemistry is not a prerequisite for any of your major courses (but merely a graduation requirement), then you may want to delay taking it until after you have taken all of your needed physics courses, if you do not want to take together with physics due to both being lab courses. However, engineering majors may not be able to avoid having two lab, programming, or otherwise heavy workload courses every semester.</p>
<p>If you are at [url=<a href=“http://cse.umn.edu/services/advising/CSE_CONTENT_188609.php]Minnesota[/url”>http://cse.umn.edu/services/advising/CSE_CONTENT_188609.php]Minnesota[/url</a>], then it looks like the EE major lists Chemistry 1021 in your third semester, and it does not appear to be a prerequisite for anything, other than Chemistry 1022 if you choose to take that instead of Physics 2503 or 2303. The ME major lists Chemistry 1021 in your second semester as a prerequisite for Materials Science 2001 and ME 3331, taken in your third and fourth semesters respectively.</p>
<p>Both majors list Physics 1301 and 1302 in the first and second semesters; EE needs Physics 1302 as a prerequisite to EE 2001 and 2301 in third semester, while ME needs Physics 1301 for the same courses it needs Chemistry 1021 for.</p>
<p>Thank you, ucbalumnus, your analysis is right on.</p>
<p>Chem I is also necessary for admission to the major in ME. Normally that wouldn’t be an issue until after fall of sophomore year, but with AP credit I might end up moving that up a little bit.</p>
<p>Coming from high school, I’m kinda used to thinking in terms of year-long courses. But looking at the schedules, I don’t think I need more than one semester of chem.</p>
<p>Getting that out of the way immediately would leave me free to potentially take another key course like ME 2011 or EE 2001 second semester, which would be nice.</p>
<p>I feel confident about my ability to handle a busy schedule + social life, but I’ve always heard that you shouldn’t overload on work first semester.</p>
<p>Actually I think it’s the opposite. Usually you are MORE productive in your first semester… just from my experience.
Do you need “EE - Intro to Computing (4) < If I can get into it, otherwise a CS equivalent” for now? I don’t really think ME requires any programming for future classes…</p>
<p>The EE class is a prereq for other EE classes. It is normally taken spring semester, but I want a full year of computing courses and I think I would benefit much more from the EE class and then a CS class than vice versa.</p>
<p>I would say add communications since there’s really no point to having 4 of those time consuming classes in your first semester. IMO I would really see what you can do about physics and maybe start off with chem. you say you want to take physics, just be weary that it isnt exactly hs physics. Its college physics and it requires alot more work and the labs can be a pain. </p>
<p>But you seem like you know what you want. Just make sure you get the Social Life 101 in also since thats a grade booster :)</p>
<p>I’m a little surprised by all of the responses saying “take physics later.” I have never even heard of an engineering program that doesn’t require a full year of physics freshman year. Case Western certainly does.</p>
<p>I did take AP Physics (Physics B, because we don’t have C) so I should have some conceptual grounding at least.</p>
<p>There might not be all that much latitude in choosing your schedule as you think. For my S in his EE school, much of the scheduling was mandated. Somehow, he was able to get his chemistry waived, so he never took college chem (otherwise, he may have opted to take it as a summer school course). </p>
<p>I would strongly recommend you NOT overload yourself with too heavy a load for your 1st semester, as you will be adjusting to new living situation, possibly room mate and other issues. We know of people who found it too much and had their grades slip because it was more challenging than they anticipated. Some of them had their merit awards jeopardized when their 1st semester was tougher than expected.</p>
<p>Speaking as student that took physics junior year and goes to Case Western, I can tell you that they don’t require it freshman year. In fact, if you look on many of their engineering degree plans, most of them have Physics 1 in the spring semester of freshmen and Physics 2 in the fall of sophomore year. I strongly suggest you re-read carefully the rules and course requirements for freshmen year for your particular degree at your school since you may/may not be missing something</p>
Not true for the NOT-VERY-PRESTIGIOUS schools, which is the majority. Physics is usually taken in the 2nd and 3rd semester.
Many incoming freshman come in with a bunch of AP credits: AP Chemistry, AP Calculus BC, AP History, etc, so they have no choice but to take physics for the whole year. Note that some schools have 3 semesters of physics instead of 2, which and the 3rd is usually electromagnetism.</p>
<p>If you have decided what to take, then good luck :]</p>
<p>Every school is different.</p>
<p>In fact, most programs are designed in such way that the schools do not expect students come in without any AP credits for the science and math, so students generally begin with Calculus I and Chemistry. Many schools make calculus 1 a pre-requisite for Physics I. Hence, majority don’t begin Physics until the second semester of their freshman year.</p>
<p>That being said, students who start from the beginning of the curriculum can still graduate in four years. They usually move classes around to fit their scheulde. Some will take one or two summer courses.</p>
<p>Obviously you would know more than I do about Case Western, but the way I read the ME degree plan it would be very difficult to finish on time without taking physics freshman year. Perhaps I am mistaken.</p>
<p>Anyway, thank you all for the comments. I needed a reality check. I am rereviewing the suggested four year plans - ie what I’m actually supposed to be taking - and I will let you know what I decide.</p>
<p>Okay, I think I’ve got things figured out. Basically, I want to follow the standard EE curriculum, but with higher level math courses and with chem in first year to meet the requirements if I decide to switch to ME. Realistically, I don’t need a full year of computing courses. So, I can save the EE class for second semester.</p>
<p>While I find the COMM class slightly more interesting, there are some History of Science courses that sound okay too, and these meet a bunch of liberal ed requirements.</p>
<p>Here’s what I’m looking at now:</p>
<p>Calculus III
Intro Physics I
Chemical Principles I
History of Science (not sure which courses will be open)
Exploring Careers in Science and Engineering</p>
<p>Second semester will switch Chem for EE, History for a different Lib Ed, and no career course.</p>