<p>I took a lot of classes in high school, but learned everything really badly...uh...due to online/college/independent nature. Not very structured learning (MV, linear algebra, diff eq, real/complex analysis, modern algebra, three years of physics, two years of chemistry, two years of biology).</p>
<p>On paper it sounds like a lot, but really I didn't spend that much time at all. I feel as though I never really learned the subjects, so I'm thinking about re-taking all the classes, starting with MV and first year sciences in college. Is anyone else doing this? Or are y'all skipping right ahead?</p>
<p>So, I'm planning to be like most of the freshmen (not you crazy kids): MV, first year physics, writing, and maybe a history class.</p>
<p>I'll have gotten through Calc II by the time I enter MIT, and I'll probably try and take the 18.01A-18.02A pathway, and get a quick review of everything down in one semester (and IAP), and then move on from there. Everything else though, I'll be starting from scratch. Besides that it would help me ground myself better in the subjects, it's also because there's no way I could get credit for those classes. ;)</p>
<p>I'm in AP Physics right now and there's no way I'll be ready to skip 8.01... is it even worth it for me to take the AP exam?</p>
<p>Bio - I wasn't planning to take this at all, I had two years in a row in high school (honors and then ap) and by the time I got done I was sick of it, but some people have been saying that MIT intro bio is worth taking even if you've done it before, is this true?</p>
<p>Chem - I'm still undecided about this one - how hard is 5.112?</p>
<p>Math - took BC calc, now I'm not taking math at all... do most people who took BC Calc place out of 18.01 or retake it? I was planning on placing out, but I'm still thinking it over.</p>
<p>MIT bio is worth taking if you're going to be a bio/BE/etc major (you get used to how the biology department writes tests and psets), but is by no means necessary to be successful as one of those majors. Really, just take it if you feel you need to brush up on concepts -- if not, take the credit and run! :)</p>
<p>5.112 is definitely the hardest intro chemistry class. How hard it feels to you will probably depend highly on your high school background, but I think it's safe to say that no matter what your background, you'll find that it's a lot of work. 3.091 is a lot easier, but if you're going to choose a major that involves further work in chemistry, 5.112 is the way to go. (The chemistry dept has done research and found that students who take 5.111/2 do better in 5.12 (organic) than students who take 3.091.)</p>
<p>A lot of people who take BC take 18.01A/18.02A -- you get a 6-week refresher course in single-variable calc, then start multivariable and finish it by the end of IAP, enabling you to take 18.03 (differential eqns) second term. Other people jump right into 18.02 and are perfectly fine. Your choice.</p>
<p>Let me just jump in here and say that if I knew then what I know now, I would have actually tried on that AP Calc AB test so I could qualify for 18.01A/18.02A. For me, since I'm majoring in MechE...my lack of calc background really messed me up. I found that basically all course 2 classes require at least 18.02 as a prereq, which means I can't take anything in my major until next year. Now, don't freak out about it- there's really absolutely nothing wrong with that. Plenty of people fill up freshman year with the basics, and that's fine. But I tested out of 8.01 with my AP scores, so I had an extra opening in my schedule and really wanted to take 2.001. Only I didn't meet the math requirements.</p>
<p>If you're going to start out with 18.01, 8.01, chem or bio, and a HASS class, don't worry. That's fine. (You'll only run into trouble if you're like me and tested out of calc-based physics but not calc itself. This rarely happens, I'm just weird.)</p>
<p>The point is, I'm planning on taking 2 math classes next semester: 18.02 and 18.03, and this upsets me. (It's perfectly doable, lots of people do it...it just upsets me.) I don't know specifically about other majors, but I imagine it's true for a lot of them (16 comes to mind especially)- the faster you clear up your math requirements, you more options you have open.</p>
<p>Please don't think you have to push yourself- if you're not comfortable with calc, by all means, retake it. If you didn't even take calc yet, then you'll learn. But if you're on the fence, wondering if you should take the credit or not, this is just something to keep in mind.</p>
<p>My son (class of 09) ended up getting credit for a bunch of stuff and seems pretty happy about it. If you have no plans to continue in bio or chem or physics, might as well try to place out of the required intro course. If you are worried about getting over your head if you accept math placement based on AP scores or college courses, you can always take MITs advanced standing exams to see if you really know the subject or not. You'll probably have to do that anyway if you want credit for college math courses taken elsewhere. The math dept is pretty stringent about what they consider to be equivalent to their own courses. They really are not going to allow you to get in too deep w/o really knowing a subject.</p>
<p>If you are worried about taking two math classes at once, or would just rather not, there is most likely a way to take a mechE class. I am not course 2, so I am not sure but the majority of pre-reqs (especially if you already know some of the material from high school) can be taken more as co-reqs. So you could maybe take 2.001 and 18.02 at the same time. You may want to look into this.</p>
<p>On the other hand, many course 2 classes require 18.03 so you would have to see what you could take the next semester if you do decide to see about taking 2.001 and 18.02 simultaneously. Just a little advice.</p>
<p>For those of you who are unsure of whether to place out of 18.01, you might want to take a look at 18.013A on MIT's OpenCourseWare. I'm working through that class right now since my school doesn't offer anything past BC Calc, and I've found that I've learned a lot from it even though I already took BC Calc which is supposedly equivalent to 18.01. The entire textbook + problems are online, it's really cool.</p>
<p>also accepted to mit class of 2010... and also planning on retaking stuff i've done in high school because frankly our public school means well but the courses can't compare with MIT. i'll definitely retake multivariable calc and maybe even my intro physics or chem classes... i did well in them but i took them junior year and i simply don't remember it all... so yeah let's hear it for retaking classes!!</p>
<p>Can I get out of both semesters of Calc if I got a 5 on the BC exam and I took Calc 3 (multivariable) at University of CO? I'm hoping to major in linguistics...</p>
<p>amyloplast, check this for last year's AP credit information. (It occasionally changes from year to year, but this is probably similar to what you'll see for Class of '10.) You can place out of 18.01 with a 5 on the BC exam and go directly on to 18.02 or 18.022. If you want credit for your multivariable course, you can petition for transfer credit, or can take an advanced standing exam during orientation to try to skip that second semester of calculus.</p>
<p>More details on these options will be available to all of you through your "First Year" site, which will be available to you all over the summer as you prepare to matriculate.</p>
<p>If you can pass out of it, skip it. There's no need to waste time taking it again. MIT doesn't just let you pass out of things easily. If MIT lets you test out of it, you know the material well enough to move on.</p>
<p>You will have more time to take more advanced and interesting classes down the road.</p>
<p>I strongly recommend not taking any class you pass out of.</p>