<p>Don't think there's a thread for this, so i thought it would be a good idea to have one as a place to ask about course choices/scheduling for next year. </p>
<p>My question is in regards to the bio classes. I really want to take eric lander's class (7.012) which i believe is only in the fall. I've heard that taking chemistry in the spring is not a good idea for whatever reason (is this true-i've heard some strong opinions about this). Is it possible to take chem/physics/math/bio in the fall, and then make up for it by taking two Hass in the spring? Also, if I get a 5 on both parts of the physics c test, is it a good idea to skip 8.01 and take 8.02 (that's another way i could take 7.012 in the fall).</p>
<p>I want Toy Design too!!!
If you got 5 on both parts, then it will be okay, go a head and skip it.
Or i guess if you pass out of 18.01 you can always take 18.02 in the spring and take bio in the fall.</p>
<p>I took mechanics at CC so I am going to try the ASE for 8.01. It's too late for me to sign up for any more AP test now.</p>
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Is it possible to take chem/physics/math/bio in the fall, and then make up for it by taking two Hass in the spring?
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It's absolutely possible, but 4 science classes and no HASS can be rough academically. Of course, you'll be on pass/no record, so it probably doesn't matter.</p>
<p>Which calculus class will you be starting in? 8.02 requires 18.01 as a prerequisite, so if you want to take 8.02 first term, you'll also have to take 18.02. If you will take 18.02, I wouldn't hesitate to skip 8.01, unless you really feel like you don't know the material.</p>
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I've heard that taking chemistry in the spring is not a good idea for whatever reason (is this true-i've heard some strong opinions about this).
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Yes, although it looks like the professors who are teaching this spring are different from the ones who used to teach it. So maybe it won't be as dreadful anymore.</p>
<p>Still, basically everybody takes chemistry in the fall, so it will be much easier to find pset buddies if you take it in the fall. This is not an insignificant consideration.</p>
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It's absolutely possible, but 4 science classes and no HASS can be rough academically. Of course, you'll be on pass/no record, so it probably doesn't matter.
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</p>
<p>Mollie: you made it sound like HASS classes are easier. Well, are they?</p>
<p>Re: HASS classes being easier. YES. I mean, it's basically "read this complex physical situation, figure out how to model it, then do the really complex math" vs "read these 2 chapters in a book and be ready to have an open-ended 'there is no right answer' discussion about it with your classmates." Which do you think is easier?</p>
<p>Re: Bio: Take it with Lander. This is a decision you will in no way regret.</p>
<p>Re: Physics: I got double 5s on the AP and skipped 8.01 and was still bored out of my mind in 8.02, and wish I had the foresight to take the ASE for it. 8.01/8.02 follows the AP curriculum <em>exactly</em>.</p>
<p>Re: Chem: I think the reason for taking it in the fall is that the professors are supposedly cooler than the ones from the spring semester. I personally think a lot of this is hype- Sadoway, the famous 3.091 prof, for example, is highly entertaining but not actually a good teacher in my humble opinion. The point about psets is relevant though. No matter where you live you will probably be able to find 3 people in any of the chem classes within 50 feet of your bedroom door in the fall semester. This is highly convenient.</p>
<p>Hi Laura!
I want to test out of 8.01 (no 8.02). We didn't have Physics AP at my hs, so I took Physics Honors (which was a joke) and Physics:Mechanics at CC (not so much of a joke, considering all the other smart hs kids that took it got B's)
You mentioned that it is very similar to AP, so should I just get a Barron's book and start reading it? Along side of psets from OCW, of course.
The test for 8.01 is just the 8.01 material right? no E & M?</p>
<p>So I skipped 8.01 by virtue of AP credit. MIT got my AP score report, and it was automatic- credit for 8.01 appeared on my transcript. (I could have still taken it if I wanted to.) So, I never actually took the exam, and don't know for sure what it's like. I am sure that it would only be mechanics, but I'm not sure how difficult it would be. But if you really wanted my opinion, my uninformed advice would be to study an AP book- the <em>material only</em>- I doubt the problems in an AP prep book would be at all similar to those you would find on the ASE. But you may want to try to find someone who's actually taken the exam and ask their opinion. =)</p>
I think they are, for basically the same reasons Laura mentioned.</p>
<p>In another sense, though, I think HASS classes and science classes involve different ways of thinking, and I enjoyed having at least one HASS per term to keep my brain from overloading on biology. It also tends to break up your work schedule more -- if you're taking four science classes, you're likely to have at least two problem sets due on the same day or have a three- or four-test week or something horrendous like that. HASS classes often have reading for each section, but papers and other major assignments are much less regular.</p>
<p>I took a term of four science classes and no HASS, and I took two terms of three science classes and two HASSes. Even though I was taking more units during the 3/2 semesters, I enjoyed them more -- if I needed a break from thinking about molecular mechanisms and rate constants, I could read a little about biomedical ethics.</p>
<p>I took four science classes my first term, and it was pretty tough. Granted, two of these classes were the "tougher" versions of the basic classes (5.112 and 8.012 - 8.012 in particular was, uh, tough</a>), but it's definitely doable. I certainly survived, although I probably could have learned a lot more in 7.012, for instance, if I hadn't been dealing with three other science classes at the same time.</p>
<p>And yes, I'll be taking two HASS's at some point. This is not atypical; plenty of people miss a HASS at some point, if not necessarily during their freshman year.</p>
<p>Speaking to the OP specifically: In your situation - assuming you do indeed pass out of 8.01 - you should consider taking 18.02, 7.012, 3.091/5.111/5.112, and a HASS during first semester, and postponing 8.02 until second semester. This is a slightly more "typical" option that taking four science classes semester.</p>
<p>Do you -want- to take 7.012 with Lander because you feel you have no possible chance of passing out of the class, so you'd rather take it with him than with the spring professors?</p>
<p>That's what it sounds like. But if it's not the case, then the option of trying to pass out (with an ASE) is still open! For some people, that's a good choice.</p>
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Mollie: you made it sound like HASS classes are easier. Well, are they?
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</p>
<p>It does depend on the classes, and what you want to get out of them. And how they're graded. I didn't have any HASSes that were harder than <em>all</em> of my technical classes, but I definitely had a couple of HASSes that I thought were harder than <em>many</em> of my technical classes. I seemed to largely miss out on those mythical easy HASSes that people talk about.*</p>
<p>I had a couple of terms where I took all technical classes. I had a couple of terms where I took multiple HASSes.</p>
<p>*I remember that on the first day of 21W.735 with Manning, he told us that a solid paper without serious problems would get a C, a very good one with no more than a few minor problems would get a B, and one that he was glad to have had the opportunity to read/thought that he was better off for having read would get an A. He also told us that he had no problem giving the whole class As, but that he also had no problem giving the whole class Fs, and that he had given people Fs before. Half the class left in terror after that first day - this wasn't the easy HASS that they wanted. The rest of us thought it was one of our best classes at MIT.</p>
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In general, I tell people to take whatever credit they can get and run with it- it might help take some pressure off later.</p>
<p>Lander's class is AMAZING, so it's totally acceptable to give up the credit just to take his class, in my opinion. =)</p>
<p>Only if that's what you want to do, obviously.
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<p>I agree 100%. If you're considering anything in the life sciences, the chance to get your intro biology with Lander (not to mention Weinberg, who is also amazing, although his lectures are generally more advanced and harder to fllow than Lander's) is not to be overlooked. And even if you're not, there's a reason Biology is still a GIR...why not take it with someone who is one of the most highly-regarded researchers and teachers in his field?</p>
<p>That's exactly why I decided not to test out of bio, even though that was the one thing I probably could've tested out of. As someone who's going into biology-related fields, I wanted to have Lander - HUMAN GENOME PROJECT! He's a fascinating lecturer and a good guy (and Weinberg was a nice surprise).</p>
<p>Is 8.02 offered in the fall? If I take the placement test and get out of 8.01, I'd kind of like to take advantage of pass/fail and not have anyone ever see my grade in that class. =P</p>
<p>Most freshman classes are offered in either semester, including 8.02. (The sort-of exception is biology- 7.012 is offered in the fall, and 7.013 and 7.014, slight variations on the theme of intro bio, are offered in the spring.)</p>
