Freshmen Classes for SEAS?

<p>I’m an incoming freshman at SEAS next year. I have a question about course schedules. Which combination of Calculus, Physics, and Chemistry classes is the most popular? I was thinking Calculus III (V1201), Physics: Introduction to mechanics and relativity (C1401), and General Chemistry Intensive (C1604). However, I’m not sure.</p>

<p>I’m curious as well. I’m thinking of taking Calc III, but taking easy physics/chem courses since the majors I’m looking at don’t really require any advanced physics/chem (though I am pretty good at those subjects)</p>

<p>I was a freshman last year… and this is based mostly upon my experiences and those of my friends:</p>

<p>Chemistry:
1400- Pretty easy for the most part. I had Turro who was a bit easier than the other professor, Valentini. The course is structured so that it’s easy to do well (3 midterms, drop the lowest, easy recitation quizzes, etc.) I took this first semester. Definitely the most common choice</p>

<p>1600- Not too bad from my friends who were in it. Don’t know too much about it</p>

<p>3000- Killer. I knew one person who took it and dropped. I don’t suggest it.</p>

<p>Physics:
1400- Workload-wise, a bit easier than 1600. However, the exams aren’t that much easier (or the people who I knew taking 1400 weren’t that good at physics.)</p>

<p>1600- Problemsets are extremely long. Not 2800 difficult, but the homework is pretty hard. If Zajc is still teaching it next year, he drops your lowest (of 2) midterm and lowest 2 (of about 10) homework grades. If you get cozy with certain upperclassmen/clubs, they have the answer keys to the homework. Note, many people I know did 1st semester 1600 and then drop to 1400.</p>

<p>2800- Really difficult and time consuming. I don’t suggest it.</p>

<p>It’s about 50/45/5 I’m guessing for 1st semester … and something closer to 60/39/1 for second semester if you had to ask for splits</p>

<p>Math: I see the math department as a really big crapshoot. You can get a good professor or you can get an absolutely miserable professor. For the most part, the math department is full of brilliant and talented researchers… not so much teachers. If you took BC and got a 5, I think it’s safe to start with III. Otherwise, starting with I or II isn’t all that bad. II has a reputation for being a bit harder though (I never took it).</p>