So, scheduling is honestly the most stressful thing right now. So, my current tentative schedule is:
ECON 101
PSYCH 111
MATH 116 (Calc 2)
ENGLISH 125
and I’m also considering ASIANLAN 204 (Chinese), PHYSICS 140 and 141, and CHEM 210 and 211 (Orgo).
So before I ask the questions here’s my rationale:
Many people including my advisor told me that ECON and PSYCH intro levels are easy, and they satisfy requirements. Calc 2 and English are my “harder” classes since, well Calculus, and college writing may need some adapting. So, I chose this schedule as a way to balance.
Questions:
How easy in reality are ECON 101 and PSYCH 111? I understand they're large lectures, but how is the workload? And any tips?
Tips for calc 2? Studying, note taking, professor-seeking?
How is English 125? Is it overwhelming writing or do profs and GSIs guide you through?
What if I decided to combine Orgo with calc 2? I heard it's tough, but is it too much for first term?
MOST IMPORTANT ONE FOR DISCUSSION:
What are you taking? (or upperclassmen: what did you take?) Any suggestions on how to balance etc?
I have taken both Psych 111 and English 125. Both are hugely dependent on the professor. There are so many English 125 professors that it is very hard to generalize them all. I can tell you I really liked mine, I thought the reading was very manageable and that the writing assignments were really interesting to do. For Psych 111 there are only a few professors, but I had Schreier when I took the class and I thought she was great. Two two-hour long lectures a week that fly by because she makes it so interesting and no discussion sections! However, I don’t think it is as easy to get a good grade as people make it out to be. You definitely need to put a decent amount of time into studying the powerpoints before the test and writing the papers. I found the papers to be harder to get a good grade in than the exams. I would also do the reading, both textbook and the book written by Hock. However, I think reading the book written by Hock is more important. Hope this helps!
Schedule looks pretty good right now. However, Econ 101 is graded harshly because it’s a weeder course for Ross. Calc 2 is the most failed class at U of M. Psych 111 is very easy, and English 125 is, like sportsfan456 said, very dependent on your professor. You may want to take English 125 pass-fail if you want to breeze through it or don’t like to write.
Calc 2 is the hardest class of that group, then physics, then chem, then Econ (easy if your are above average at Michigan), then English( mine was v easy) then psych 111 ( joke of a class).
Unless your major requires it do not take calc 2 or physics… While it is very possible to do very well in those courses, there are many more students who do not do well in them (These two courses are the 2 main engineering weeder courses which are curved to a b- average) calc 2 in particular. These courses will be 80% engineering students and yes the majority of them are smarter than you in numbers related courses, it’s just a fact.
Econ 101 is not graded that harshly… There isn’t such thing as harsh grading as all hard classes are on a curve…Maybe if you are comparing it to joke courses
FYWR is easy if you pick a good gsi tho so no point in PF… Im not the best writer but I got an A…Even with a bad gsi or proff I havent heard of less than a B+ if you actually try (you would get an A if you are good at writing)
English 125 is “curved” in the sense that a certain number of people will earn C’s, B’s, and A’s. So it is very hard to get an A in that class since only a few can “earn” it. That said, it isn’t impossible and will depend on your GSI. If you enjoy writing, then it shouldn’t be a problem.
I’m curious, are you think about doing pre-med? I wouldn’t take English pass/fail since a lot of med schools require two courses in English. There are way easier courses to take that will satisfy the SS requirement besides Econ. Psych 111 is fairly easy with Schreier. Calc 2 is the most failed class at UM supposedly. It is a weeder course for pre-med so it will be very hard to get an A. Prepare to put in a lot of work cause the exams questions are killer.
Combining orgo with calc is double, but it all depends on how much free time you want during your freshmen year. Do you want to do a lot of ECs? Maybe research? Orgo 1 will take A LOT of studying and I’m not sure if you want to study all day during your first semester of college when you are just starting to adjust to college life.
@Blacksweater Yes I am doing pre-med.It seems you are familiar with the prep work. Do you have any recommendations on which relatively easy classes to take to satisfy requirements within the LSA so I can focus on the other things related to my major (most likely science) and premed work? Plus, I heard the teacher for Orgo in winter semester (Nulta) is good, is that a reliable information?
Also, how is it finding research and volunteering? I know people say undergrads aren’t really lucky in finding a research position where it’ll teach valuable experience, but do you know of any professors who are open to undergrads and actually let freshmen/sophomores do meaningful work? And do most premeds just volunteer at UM’s hospital or elsewhere?
I find psych classes to be both fun and interesting. Plus most are relatively easy classes to satisfy the SS requirement. Most HU courses are much more tougher so I suggest you pick a course that sounds interesting to you. Are you interested in history or maybe music? Look at a range of different HU courses and select the ones that you find the most interesting.
In my opinon, I have heard Nolta is one of the best teachers to get for Orgo 1. I took Orgo 1 with Coppola and it was very hard to me. A lot of people like Coppola but his exams are very hard and tricky. I took the lab with Nolta and she was amazing. So it all depends on when you want to take Orgo 1. Do you wanna have a relaxed first semester of college to adjust to a new life and take orgo 1 in the winter? Or maybe you wanna take it now and get it over with? Btw, Nolta teaches winter semester.
Underclassman can find research relatively easy through UROP, but I’ve heard bad things about them. However, it is a good opportunity to get exposed to the lab environment. Then when you’re an upperclassman you have the experience to ask professors for more valuable research positions. Freshmen first term cannot volunteer at UMHS but can their second term so you should look into that if you’re interested next semester. If you’re looking for non-clinical volunteer, many pre-med clubs offer non-clinical volunteering. Or you can volunteer at a nursing home or maybe tutor underprivileged kids. It’s all a matter of if you’re willing to go out and look for those resources and opportunities.
