<p>I went to Cornell Days so I have a good understanding of the basics ( maybe someone wants to elaborate on it for those that don't know much about it) but I wanted to know a few other things.
1) How difficult are these classes? How hard will I have to work to get As?
2) Any recommended classes or professors? I really want to improve my writing so having an enjoyable class would be great.</p>
<p>The difficulty of the class largely depends on your TA/professor…obviously, some will make you work harder for an A than others. I’ve heard that the writing seminars in the English Department are more difficult, but they’re taught by professors and will probably help you achieve a greater improvement in your writing. </p>
<p>In general, you should mainly base your decision on the FWS topics and which ones seem intriguing to you. You’ll do better if you’re genuinely interested in the subject. When you have a list of about 5 or so that you like, you can post them on CC and see if anyone can tell you about the TAs or professors.</p>
<p>Is there somewhere I can get a list of classes that qualify as freshman writing classes?</p>
<p>[Knight</a> Institute for Writing in the Disciplines](<a href=“http://www.arts.cornell.edu/knight_institute/fws/]Knight”>http://www.arts.cornell.edu/knight_institute/fws/)</p>
<p>According to the website, the list of Fall 2010 writing seminars will be available on July 23, and you can fill out your ballot with your preferences on July 26. So you have a little while to go :)</p>
<p>But if you click here: <a href=“http://www.arts.cornell.edu/knight_institute/fws/fws.htm[/url]”>http://www.arts.cornell.edu/knight_institute/fws/fws.htm</a>, you can view past seminars to get a feel for the types of classes that are offered. Just be aware that most of the topics vary per semester.</p>
<p>you should definitely check on the instructor - visit the person’s website, and see if you can find anything else about them from CC or elsewhere. I had a very boring FWS and I think it was because the instructor was relatively passive and just boring. if I had created a ballot with only people who looked like they would care, it might have gone better. my grade was excellent though.</p>
<p>also, you should choose something that you will actually care about, if possible. when I came into Cornell I had the CALS “demonstrate your specific passion” concept so ingrained I felt like if I took something random I would be cheating on science. now that I’ve been at school a while I have more diverse interests, and I would welcome the opportunity to learn about something kind of unusual through writing. (I instead am embarking on a slight journey into CAS, which I’ve previously eschewed except for major requirements…I’m excited though.)</p>
<p>Okay, thanks for the input guys!</p>
<p>And really random, but what will I have to do to get season tickets for hockey?</p>
<p>Show up on the day they are being sold.</p>
<p>It used to be much more intense, not so much anymore.
“No line in '09”</p>
<p>Bruno, I am pumped about season tix too!!</p>
<p>bumping this up on FWS to answer a freshman’s #2</p>