<p>I'm going to HMC for overnight stay on October 5~6 (Tues/Wed), and I'm trying to figure out the 2 freshman core classes to sit-in during my stay. What are some classes that will give me an accurate measure of HMC's rigor in the beginning of freshman year, and what are the classes are really popular among freshmen? I took AP Chemistry & Calc AB last year, and this year I'm taking AP Physics B & Calc BC. </p>
<p>Also, I want to ask, how is HMC's freshman General Chemistry compared to AP Chemistry?</p>
<p>I’d suggest CS 5 (intro computer science class), Math 25 (linear algebra/calculus), and maybe Physics 23 (recitation). If you were scheduled to come on Thursday (or if there’s anyone else wanting recommendations for other days), I would have recommended the Physics 23 lecture also.</p>
<p>I think HMC’s core chem classes cover roughly the same material as AP Chem, but in greater depth. Even though a lot of people have taken AP Chem, a couple people pass out of core chem, but not too many (so maybe that gives you an idea of the rigor of core chem).</p>
<p>Not a dumb question at all. (: Recitation is a smaller class (~15-20 students), and the professor (who may or may not be the professor giving the lectures) reviews the lecture and answers any questions. For some classes, you’ll split off into groups to do practice problems on the boards, and the professor will walk around and help groups out when they get stuck. During lecture, the professor gives a lecture (no surprise!) to everyone enrolled in the class (for Phys 23, ~100 students; for other classes, typically fewer), so it’s harder (but far from impossible) to ask questions during lecture. Not every class has a recitation (core chem, math, and CS don’t), but those classes tend to be smaller than the Physics 23 lecture is.</p>
<p>Oh, and if you sit in on general chemistry, I suggest Prof. Maloney’s class (Chem 23S, I believe).</p>
<p>Do you (or anyone else) know how the overnight stay works? What do I do in the afternoon when I’m not sitting in a class? And how many classes can I sit in, because there are just so many that I want to see :(</p>
<p>There’s lots of classes in the afternoon, so I don’t think you have to worry about finding things to do then. Since you’re staying over a Tues/Wed, your host’s dorm will probably have an innertube waterpolo game in the evening. Most dorms meet in their courtyard 10-30 minutes before the game and walk down together, so you can experience the awesomeness even if your host doesn’t go. In general, don’t feel bound to your host. If they’re too busy to leave their room, feel free to wander the campus on your own (it’s very safe). There’s generally something going on in East Dorm Lounge or West Dorm Courtyard in the evenings and they’re pretty open to prefrosh, so go visit if you can’t find anything to do where you’re staying (that said, if you get involved in an awesome Rock Band party in Case, don’t feel like you <em>need</em> to go visit East or West).</p>
I might sit in for General Chemistry and CS5. </p>