First year courses.

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>Even though it's still a bit early, I'm canvassing Dartmouth CC for course selection pointers, because you guys have the experience and the knowledge. So what kind of courseload would you suggest I start off on? Should I do a lab first term? Are there any classes that you would personally recommend I try placing out of? According to [url=<a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Efrstyear/work/policies/AP%20Chart%202012%5Dthis%5B/url"&gt;http://www.dartmouth.edu/~frstyear/work/policies/AP%20Chart%202012]this[/url&lt;/a&gt;], I get:</p>

<p>1 unspecified Bio credit (this is if I want to graduate early, nothing else, right?)
Math 3 and Math 5 credit; placement into Math 11 (what would you do? would it be insane to go straight into Math 11 if I'm not particularly crazy about math?)
Chemistry 5 credit; placement into Chemistry 6 (I don't remember Chem at all, I took it junior year, should I stick with Chem 5?)
Economics 1 credit; placement into intermediate or advanced courses (I heard intro econ courses were huge, should place into a higher course?)
Environmental Studies 2 credit (what's the point of this?)
1 unspecified History credit
Physics 3 credit</p>

<p>So what classes would you say have better teachers and better grades? Any thoughts?</p>

<p>Also, do you have any thoughts, comments, or ideas, for first years? Here's your chance to give all the advice for first years you've ever wanted to. Especially for DOC trips and the first month of school.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance, everyone.</p>

2

<p>i mean you get those credits whether you want to do anything with them or not.</p>

<p>i came in with all of those credits (except econ), and i can say that they've all helped me get into other classes that i wanted/needed to take.</p>

<p>what you do with them depends on what you want to study.</p>

<p>as far as MATH 11 goes, Math 11 is pretty easy, you don't really need to remember any calc except for basic integration and differentiation, Math 11 is just applying these concepts to three dimensions instead of two.</p>

<p>I also didn't remember any chem, having not taken any since soph year of HS, but honestly CHEM 6 doesn't really assume too much previous knowledge other than understanding what an element is, understanding that there are various types of interactions between and within molecules and atoms (ie ionic/covelant/intermolecular forces). so don't worry about that, definitely get out of chem5 if you can, it's supposed to be huge and not taught very well anyway.</p>

<p>don't bother taking econ 1, it's easy, hard to get into, and uninteresting.</p>

<p>ENVS 2 is the intro ENVS course, so if you wanted to take any upper level ENVS classes it might be a prereq. It's also a prereq to some other classes in other departments (ENGS, EARS, BIOL).</p>

<p>History gets you nothing, neither does PHYS3 ... if you want to take any ENGS or PHYS classes, you'll need at least PHYS 13/14.</p>

<p>As far as the DOC trip, don't go in with any preconceived notions, and get prepared to have fun. You'll meet a ton of new students, quite a few upperclassmen, and get to know 4-10 pretty well. After spending some time outside, you'll convene with the rest of your trip section (around 100 kids total) at the Lodge and have a blast. Don't worry about it, your leaders will be super capable and super enthusiastic. Feel free to ask them anything.</p>

<p>In the first month of school, do a few things. Unmarry yourself to your cell phone and marry yourself to blitz. Use a different email program if you want, but seriously, people on cell phones are annoying. Embrace the shmob. Ask questions you think are dumb. Get to know the frat scene and see if it's for you. Find a way to study effectively somewhere besides your room. Meet people. Talk to upperclassmen - they know a lot more than any of your "well-informed" shmen friends. Find things to do on campus besides study - clubs, IM sports, music ensembles, work, etc. Take a prof to lunch for free to the Hanover Inn. Meet international students, kids from places you've never been, and places you've never heard of.
DON'T
stake out a spot in the library and leave all your stuff there overnight all term
act as if you own the school
boast about your HS life ... nobody cares
NEVER MENTION YOUR SAT SCORE
and finally ... don't think that your first term is all that important.</p>

<p>also, get to know your advisor. if s/he isn't useful, find someone who is.</p>

<p>i think that's it for now. other ?s, i'll try to check periodically and answer ... and other ppl will too.</p>

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<p>Wow, rightnotleft, thanks for an amazingly helpful post. I'll definitely keep all this in mind.</p>

4

<p>rightnotleft (or anyone),
would you recommend taking an astronomy lab first term? do you happen to know if its hard for freshmen to get into?</p>

5

<p>Just don't take Humanities 1 and 2. There is no reason a freshman seminar should take two terms. Other people might disagree, but taking the Humanities sequence as my freshman seminar was one of the worst decisions I made my freshman year. As far as Math placement goes, go ahead and take Math 11. It's a pretty easy class. Other than that, the chem department is really awesome here, I think, so try your hand at chemistry if you like. Take the placement test for Chem 10 if you're so inclined, but many might disagree with me on this. I really liked Chem 10, though, and it's a great way to get introduced to the department without having to take Chem 6 or Chem 5. Smaller class and higher overall median grades, so there are advantages. </p>

<p>Other than that, don't take yourself too seriously and enjoy your freshman fall! Get out and do things, meet people, go places; there's a lot to do in Hanover, so don't spend your fall in your dorm room. Join an athletic team that you'll probably end up quitting later on. </p>

<p>Like rightnotleft said, don't ever mention high school qualifications. That got you into Dartmouth, and now that all of you are here, it doesn't matter any more.</p>

6

<p>Wassup John L.</p>

<p>Worst pong player ever.</p>

<p>Are you going to be rowing in the fall?</p>

7

<p>Fact on HUM 1 and 2, there's too much work, and really no reward. probably the worst decision of my dartmouth career. OTOH, i had friends who say it was their best experiences, because at least the first term the profs were all great.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Take the placement test for Chem 10 if you're so inclined, but many might disagree with me on this. I really liked Chem 10, though, and it's a great way to get introduced to the department without having to take Chem 6 or Chem 5. Smaller class and higher overall median grades, so there are advantages.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I understand that it may have higher overall median grades, but would you say it is self-selecting? Those who are more inclined towards Chemistry take this class, thus they have higher grades?</p>

<p>How would I go about preparing for the placement exam, by the way?</p>

<p>Also, is it wise to take a lab first term?</p>

<p>Thanks Johnny.</p>

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<p>if you want to do something with the sciences take a lab. you're going to have to take enough of them anyway, so you might as well figure out if you really want to be a sci major in the first place.</p>

<p>as far as prepping for a placement exam, it truly is an exam to see how much you konw. expect what you would for a final/midterm, except it's ~1 hr long, and not nearly as hard.</p>

<p>except, don't prep too hard, it's not worth it. either you know the material or you don't.</p>

10

<p>Thanks rightnotleft. I might check out Chem 6 then.</p>

<p>Also, for DOC, is it worth it to get hiking boots? Or can I make do with sneakers?</p>