<p>A plug for FRS 139, 20th-Century Poems and Poets: Politics, War, Religion, and Art, with Professor Rudenstine (former Princeton provost, Harvard president). He's probably the best professor I have had. Even though we were freshmen trying to discuss poets like Eliot, Auden, and Yeats, he can always come up with a question or insight to keep the discussion going without forcing it. Being a freshman seminar on modern poets, the discussions can often lead to not only poetry, but also philosophy, history, aesthetics, to name a few, and you'll get to know your classmates in this seminar much better than in any other class I can think of. Plus, you probably won't be assigned all of the advertised 4 short papers. Last year, we had a dinner discussion instead of the long essay. Professor Rudenstine doesn't teach regular courses any more, so this is your only chance, really. Oh, and join the facebook group called Neil L. Rudenstine Aficionados.</p>
<p>And a plug too for FRS 173, Dying For God: Origins of Martyrdom, with Professor Shaw.</p>
<p>is he a good enough professor to make the class interesting even for those who are not fans of poetry and are not especially privy to poem analysis?</p>
<p>That's my problem- People are making all these recommendations for topics that I'm not interested in, but then you think that the prof makes the course and idk I'm all conflicted.</p>
<p>But if the Ocean Environment fulfills a lab science I'd gladly take it. </p>
<p>What's the application like? How many choices do you list?</p>
<p>I suppose the only thing I can say is that poetry is an art like any other, and if you're willing to be interested, it will reward you. Of course, having someone like NLR for a guide is an invaluable advantage.</p>
<p>You get 4 choices, in order of preference, but you only write essays (500 words or so) for the first 2. You don't have to fill all the choices, nor write both (or any, if you're brave) of the essays.</p>
<p>I'm fairly certain it is (according to an '08 friend I talked to several months ago). She said you can take two total: 1 in the fall and 1 in the spring. Kind of like how you usually don't take two classes in the same department in any semester your freshman year (except in special cases). Besides, there are so many other great courses out there. Don't want to limit ourselves, do we? ;)</p>
<p>I took The Natural History of Food and it was awesome. Covers the biology through the sociology, and further. Don't know if it still exists... I assume so... but the professor (Prof. Altmann, EEB) was great. Also, three-hour seminars are much more appealing when there's a snack break (and accompanying presentation) every hour. :-)</p>
<p>If you think you might major in geosciences, DEFINITELY take the geoscience freshman seminar. Don't know its name, but it should be obvious. I think it's the second one Tunanfish mentioned.</p>
<p>I actually wasn't planning on taking a Freshman seminar if I got into HUM, but seeing the choices, I had to reconsider. Anyone else up for the spring James/Fauklner seminar?</p>
<p>I just got the mailing today. You don't have to take them at all, they can't accomodate everyone. You should write essays if you really want to get in.</p>