<p>I am all deposited-and-t-shirt-purchased ready for Columbia, and now I've started to actually think about school in the fall.</p>
<p>I know that first years are supposed to take three Core classes (Univ. Writing, LitHum, and Frontiers), but I was wondering what a typical courseload for a first year should be? I will be taking a foreign language as well and want to get a PE credit out of the way.</p>
<p>What's a good number of courses for the first semester? I'm a possible double major in Econ and International Policy or Political Science (whichever I don't do will be a minor), and I want to study abroad during my junior or senior year.</p>
<p>Personally, I think taking 5 courses your first and second semester is not very difficult, just requires some diligence. (Some administrators tell you to take 4… frankly I think it’s unneccesssary)</p>
<p>Anyway, with regards to schedule, IF, and that’s a BIG IF, you have an idea of what major you want to pursue (let’s say in this case Econ-somethingelse), you need to crack at it starting freshmen year. </p>
<p>My classes looked like this first year, first semester:</p>
<p>Lithum
Frontiers
Calc III
Principles of Economics
Language class</p>
<p>it was something like 20 credits… sounds a lot, but Lithum and Frontiers each count as 4 and the Language class (chinese) counted as FIVE. Was not difficult at all (managed a 4.0 that semester). </p>
<p>DILIGENCE, TIME MANAGEMENT is key.</p>
<p>First years should probably take either Art Humanities or Music Humanities as well. Your freshman year should be packed, but you’ll be able to handle it.</p>
<p>What’s with being able to petition to postpone Frontiers of Science if you’re taking Physics 2800? I understand Physics 2800 is a LOT of work, but is Frontiers of Science a lot of work too? Is it a good idea to postpone this?
Do many people take 4 classes to start? </p>
<p>Thinking of:
LitHum
Calc III
Physics 2800
Language class
Frontiers?<br>
PE</p>
<p>when do we get to choose courses?
and where can I get one of these Columbia t-shirts? haha</p>
<p>
Try ivysport.com or Columbia’s bookstore.</p>
<p>I think first-years register for classes during orientation. </p>
<p>It’s really hard to get into either Art Hum or Music Hum as a first-year (and often as a sophomore as well), although people do get lucky. And it’s hard to register for a P.E. class as well (although I suppose you might show up to the first class even if you’re not registered, and sometimes the instructor will allow you to enroll without having registered first). I’d say that Art Hum, Music Hum, and P.E. classes are easy tack-on classes that you can take any semester, and it might not be a bad idea to take those later during a harder semester when you’ll have at least one relatively easy class (although, of course, the rigor of Core classes will depend much on the instructor you get). You might want to get started on Global Core/Major Cultures, though, since those classes tend to have a lot of reading, so they’re not as easy to tack on as Art/Music Hum and P.E.</p>
<p>I don’t know whether first-years more take four or five classes, but I suggest that you start with five. Frontiers and Lit Hum are both 4 credit classes, and while Lit Hum genuinely is a lot of work (reading-wise), Frontiers is cake. I have no knowledge about accelerated physics, but I think someone on this board has taken it before (Denzera, I think?) and could tell you more about the feasibility of your schedule.</p>
<p>But for the most part, I think the key to doing well freshman year is time management. If you figure out early on how to handle college classes with the new freedom you have, you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>My first semester schedule ended up being Lit Hum, Frontiers, French Comp & Grammar, Intensive Gen Chem, and Calc II. Intensive Chem was the hardest class out of all five but still relatively easy in retrospect, since it was more about memorizing equations than anything else. I still had a lot of free time on my hands.</p>
<p>As a chemistry major, what should my first semester look like? I’ll be in Calc II.</p>
<p>Also, I have a 5 in AP Chem from junior year, but I don’t remember enough to take the school’s exam…</p>
<p>can other current/former students also post their first year courses?</p>
<p>First semester:
Lit Hum
Uni Writing
Japanese II (sem 1)
Intro to Linguistics
The Digital Information Age</p>
<p>Second Semester:
Lit Hum
Frontiers
Japanese II (sem 2)
Intro to Japanese Civilization
Colloquium on Major East Asian Texts
Modern Dance 1</p>
<p>For your first semester, I agree that 5 classes would be good, particularly if you’re wanting to study abroad. In my opinion, I don’t think you should take 2 reading or writing-intensive classes first semester though. Lit Hum is a lot of work, Uni Writing is a lot of work (alternatively, Frontiers isn’t as much work but it’s a total nuisance), and languages are no cake walk. The adjustment is easier for some people than others, but there’s no reason to overdo it when you’re still getting used to things, particularly when there’s always the possibility of crises such as illness, roommate problems, etc that are beyond your control. </p>
<p>Also, don’t think PE doesn’t really count as a class because it’s only 1 credit. It does take up time and energy. Also take extracurriculars into account! God help you if you take six classes as a first-semester freshman, have outside commitments, and then have personal problems or something. o_o</p>
<p>That said you should be perfectly fine with 5 classes, particularly if you choose like an intro course from your major or something.</p>