<p>So, my question is pretty simple. Should I take chem, bio, calculus, and physics classes my freshman year (knock out some GIRs), or take a HASS or two? Any advice welcome (especially since I would like to figure out whether to enter the HASS-D lottery soon).</p>
<p>Most people do all of the above.</p>
<p>A standard schedule first semester freshman year would be chem, calculus, physics, and a HASS, and second semester would be bio (or not, if you’re not doing a major that requires further biology), physics, calculus, and another HASS. </p>
<p>If there’s any chance you want to take a HASS-D first semester, you should enter the lottery. It’s not binding, so you can change your mind later.</p>
<p>You for sure need to take at least one HASS class (specifically a CI-H - communication intensive HASS class) during your freshman year. This is pretty non-negotiable. Whether or not you take a second HASS is up to you, although it is recommended that you take one HASS class each semester (as you are required to take 8 total, and you’ll probably be here for 8 semesters).</p>
<p>A typical freshman schedule goes something like calc, physics, chem, HASS first semester, and then calc / diff EQ, bio, physics, HASS second semester (knocking out all the GIRs plus two HASS classes). There is room to play around with this, though. For instance, if you wanted to take both bio and chem first semester, some people would skip the HASS and then just double up on HASS classes another semester.</p>
<p>One thing to keep in mind is that a HASS tends to lighten your workload, and taking 4 science classes in one semester might be a little tough for you. Also, if you’re looking to get early sophomore standing you need to take a CI-H class first semester.</p>
<p>Edit - posted at the same time as Mollie. Also, its possible to take a HASS-D without entering the lottery, just show up to the class on the first day with an Add form. The prof will probably sign it for you as long as the class isn’t full.</p>
<p>Very helpful. :)</p>
<p>Edit: I am very interested in taking 7.012 with Lander; can I take that class in the spring?</p>
<p>Nope, Lander only teaches in the fall. That’s the main reason somebody would take both bio and chem in the fall instead of a HASS (its not recommended to take chem in the spring, for various reasons). Another popular option is to leave bio until your sophomore fall.</p>
<p>
Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to imply that it was hard to get into a HASS-D without lotterying in – Star* is quite right, for most courses it just involves showing up on the first day with an add form. I just meant that there’s no downside to entering the HASS-D lottery, and it will guarantee you a spot if you want a popular HASS-D.</p>
<p>My husband never entered the HASS-D lottery and had no problem completing the HASS-D requirement with classes he wanted to take. Some people don’t fly by the seat of their pants like my husband, though. :)</p>
<p>Even if you’re going into 7 or 20, you can easily push bio off until first term sophomore year (it’s useful to take 5.12 freshman year, I kind of wish I had done this). If you’re not doing anything biology related, then no rush at all :)</p>
<p>As far as HASS-D’s go, I’d enter the lottery anyway - no reason not to since it’s not binding :D</p>
<p>what about skipping physics first semester if we passed out with the AP tests and waiting to take 8.02 in the spring?</p>
<p>schedule for fall would be 18.02, 7.012, 5.11, and hass
spring 18.03, 8.02, 5.12, hass</p>
<p>Is it advisable (or not advisable) to try and test out of 8.02 if majoring in course 10 or 20?
For these two majors is it better to take 8.01 and 8.02 even if we tested out?</p>
<p>^ I think that’s an optimal schedule if you can pass out of things 
Also, I think passing out of 8.01/8.02 going into those two courses is absolutely fine. Have you looked into 10B?</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply!</p>
<p>Yes 10B is what I am leaning towards. </p>
<p>I can skip 8.01 because of AP test scores and am planning on taking the test at MIT and seeing if I can test out of 8.02 since the passing rate seems pretty high.</p>
<p>I passed out of 8.01 with my AP scores, and was bored to tears by 8.02. 8.01/8.02 follow the AP curriculum to the letter. I think we covered some material I hadn’t seen before in the very last week of 8.02. If I could do it over, I absolutely would test out of 8.02. Of course, if you feel less comfortable with physics, take that into account. I’m just giving you my side of things for comparison.</p>
<p>Alright, so at the moment, I am pretty sure I want to major in brain and cognitive sciences (course 9), and I am thinking of doing a double major in math (course 18).</p>
<p>Would the following fall schedule be good?</p>
<p>18.01, 5.111, 8.01 (or 8.01L), HASS</p>
<p>And what would be a reasonable schedule for the spring semester?</p>
<p>Also, couldn’t I take 5.111 during my third semester (and take 7.012 my first semester)? Or would it somehow be better to take 5.111 during freshman year? Gah. So confused.</p>
<p>
You could, but most people don’t, so you’ll know more people in the class and have more pset buddies if you take it first semester freshman year. Personally, I’d rather have 5.111 on P/NR than 7.012, as well.</p>
<p>A standard spring schedule would be 18.02, 8.02, a HASS, and some other course of your choosing. Depending on how bio-oriented a course 9 major you want to be, you might want to take 5.12 in that spot, or 7.013, or perhaps 18.03 if it helps you advance in course 18. For course 9, 9.01 is only offered in the fall; however, you should consider taking 9.00 as your HASS, as it’s required for the major and a prereq for some cognitive science classes.</p>
<p>Also, you’d be fine taking 7.012 first semester sophomore year in course 9 (if you really want to take 7.012 instead of 7.013/4), so don’t worry about that. I’d also recommend taking 5.111 freshman year. As for second semester, Mollie’s suggestion looks good, I’d go with that.</p>
<p>So 18.01 is a one-semester class (and 8.01)?</p>
<p>Also, would I be alright with taking 9.01 second semester as opposed to 5.112 or 7.013?</p>
<p>All classes at MIT are one semester, actually, at least technically speaking. There are some courses that are designed to be taken in a one-year sequence, but they all have different course numbers. And there are a few freshman courses (8.01L and 18.02A) that spill over into IAP.</p>
<p>9.01 is only offered in the fall, so you can’t take it second semester. And there’s no urgent need to take it first semester freshman year. And 5.12 (organic chem) is different from 5.112 (intro chem). :)</p>
<p>Why wouldn’t you take chem in the Spring? I was considering doing this because I wanted to take intro to bio with Lander (he has a good reputation in the biology world, but I don’t know about as a teacher). I’m not even positive that he teaches it, but I thought I saw it somewhere (I cannot find it now). Where would I look?</p>
<p>Yes, Lander teaches [url=<a href=“MIT Subject Listing & Schedule Fall 2024 Search Results”>MIT Subject Listing & Schedule Fall 2024 Search Results]7.012[/url</a>] in the Fall.</p>
<p>Chem in the Spring is not suggested because most people take it in the Fall (therefore, you have more peers to do psets together with), and a good portion of the students taking the class in the Spring do so because they failed chem in the Fall.</p>
<p>Oh okay. So that mixes up my schedule a bit. Now I don’t know what to leave out! I might go for the no HASS option. Thanks for the info!</p>
<p>By the way, how do you know about who teaches what class? I want to look up the professors for 8.012 (and other classes).</p>