<p>Does MIT allow flexibility in choosing classes?
I also want to know, if during freshman yr, you can allow for changing of classes, etc?
Ive seen the GIR's, but Im wondering If I can get in and handle the First yr classes
My schedule is
AP Eng Lit
AP Bio
AP Gov
AP Chem
Precal Honors
AP Art Hist
Im a senior, and will apply early, and even though they offer AP Calc ab, bc in my school I couldnt take it since freshman year I started with Alg I Regular.</p>
<p>So there are really a few different answers to this question.</p>
<p>Generally speaking, there's some, but not total, flexibility in class choice. Beyond freshman year, it depends on your major; some majors are very free-form and just ask that you take a certain number of classes in the department, while other majors require a standard set of classes.</p>
<p>As far as the GIRs go, there are several options available to fulfill each requirement. For example, the single-variable calc requirement can be fulfilled by taking 18.01 (regular differential/integral calculus), 18.01A (for people who took AP Calc AB in HS; 6-week review of differential/integral calc, then on to multivariable), or 18.014 (differential/integral calc with theory). I do think most people have at least seen calculus before coming to MIT, so it might be a little tougher for you, but certainly not impossible if you're willing to work hard.</p>
<p>(I'm not sure if this is what you mean--) There's also a pretty extended period of time where you can add or drop classes without penalty. This year, school started Sept 7, but we're allowed to add classes to our schedules until Oct 7, and we're allowed to drop classes from our schedules until Nov 23. That way, if you sign up for a class which you quickly realize is too difficult, you're free to switch it for a class which suits you better.</p>
<p>However -- there's not, ideally, a huge amount of adding and dropping classes first term freshman year, since there's not much you can take if you don't have the basic GIR classes under your belt.</p>
<p>How about if I take Calculus I before coming into MIT during the Summer?
Maybe I can pull it off since this upcoming summer I can take the class at my local uni and the class is from June 29-Aug 13. Or do I have other options? Maybe self study might be another option or online class?</p>
<p>Information about transfer credit is here[/url</a>]. If you were to self-study, you could take an [url=<a href="http://web.mit.edu/firstyear/2009/rightnow/asexams.html%5Dadvanced">http://web.mit.edu/firstyear/2009/rightnow/asexams.html]advanced</a> standing exam, and if you passed, you would get credit for calc; if you didn't pass, you could take 18.01A (which I described above).</p>
<p>I guess I would advise at least serious self-study of calculus (and perhaps physics too) -- people who come here without ever having seen calculus or physics are often pretty freaked out in the first few weeks. (I was one of those who came here with no physics. Trust me, you don't want to be one of the few in the lecture hall who's never heard the concepts before -- it does not do nice things to your test grades.)</p>
<p>Thats if I get in of course, although I will apply early next month. :)
So my plan for summer is to take Calc I and Physics w/ calc or Physics wo/ calc, which one?
Ive never been exposed to either, so Im guessing calc and physics is important for MIT freshman yr. Does the same apply to Georgia Tech, if I get into that school and not MIT? I should do it anyways?</p>
<p>The calculus required for most elementary physics (mechanics/E&M) courses is comparatively very easy. Concurrent enrollment in calculus and a physics with calculus class should work out just fine.</p>
<p>No doubt the MIT intro physics and calc must be the most advanced compared to that of most other community colleges and low tier schools lol.
Im wondering, do you think that in 8 weeks I can learn calc and physics concurrently over the summer? I might be burnt out with school probably once I get to uni.</p>
<p>Yeah, it wouldn't be good to be burnt out before you even got to MIT. </p>
<p>I still think it's good to have exposure to both physics and calc before coming to MIT, but if you have to pick one, I'd pick calc.</p>
<p>Mollie makes a good point: It's easy to learn Calculus without knowing physics, it's rather difficult to learn physics with calculus without learning calculus (as obvious as that sounds).</p>
<p>However, I feel I should probably add something: You may want to rethink your college options if a bit of self-study is going to wear you out. I know nobody wants to hear this, and I don't want to try and shake you away from your dreams, but as far as I can tell (hopefully the actual students can add to this), your professors don't hold your hand through the lesson. I'd expect a great deal of self-study, and if two courses over the summer would wear you out, MIT might not be the school for you.</p>
<p>As surprising as it sounds, I do know people at MIT who think it likely wasn't the best school choice for them. Don't let that be you.</p>