<p>So for my first quarter, I was thinking: </p>
<p>Studio Art 15
Math 11 (probably, if not, Math 8)
Writing 5</p>
<p>And if somehow I don't get writing in the fall, French 1. </p>
<p>Good choices, bad choices, que? I'd love you guys' opinions. I'm pretty good when it comes to math, but I'm a bit worried about studio art because I'm not all that great of an artist. Also, is it bad to start a new language in the winter as opposed to the fall? Thanks. :D</p>
<p>On Studio Art 15 - good luck getting into that class (there are only 3 spots remaining). Not like you'd want to take that anyways. SART 15 generally has high medians (A- or A...unless you get Professor Dalseth), but you'll be chilling out at the studio in the Hop a lot...if you're into that (Read: Time Consuming).</p>
<p>On Math 11 - I showed up to about...2 classes my freshman fall? Made a good grade...but this generally isn't the case. Most people found the class very time consuming, and made OK grades (as in...not A's). If you're not Math inclined* (and for God's sake...don't assume that you are just because you got into Dartmouth...most people aren't...and that's OK), I'd say, make Math 11 your "hard" course for the term. Especially if you're going to need to take a Math eventually. Don't take Math 8.</p>
<p>If you're simply just looking for a QDS, there are better ways to fulfill that.</p>
<p>French 1 - great choice. The Rassias Method - a great experience as well. Enjoy it.</p>
<p>*Indications that you are "Math inclined" - have qualified for the USAMO, USAPhO, USACO, or made a 4+ on the AIME. Or, have taken a serious higher level math class in HS. Getting a 5 on the Calc BC does not count (just telling you to be careful!)</p>
<p>^ We don't have USAMO or any of that in my high school. Yeah....</p>
<p>But maybe I'll start with French 1 instead of math. I haven't gotten my AP scores yet, so I'm not sure where I'll be placed. :D Thanks for your opinion. Anybody else?</p>
<p>I took SART 15 freshman fall. It's a really great class, but so time-consuming. Getting a B+ in a class with an A median was also pretty demoralizing. ("You're very talented, but if you hadn't been so sick, I think you could've worked harder"... never mind that I pulled an all-nighter a week for that class, or that I was practically bedridden for eight weeks of a ten-week term. Yeah, I'm bitter.)</p>
<p>For the record, my professor expected us to spend two hours in the studio seven days a week, not including class time. Again, if you're interested in art, I'd definitely recommend it -- just know what you're getting yourself into.</p>
<p>Uh... we're picking classes already?</p>
<p>You don't have to register until much later (orientation, I believe), but honestly, what do you expect from this site?</p>
<p>I think your schedule looks great. One word of advice though: don't take French 1 your freshman fall unless you plan on going on the LSA+ in sophomore fall or you don't plan to study abroad at all. However, most people prefer the LSA, and in that case, starting French in freshman winter is a better idea.</p>
<p>yo, math11's really not that hard. If you can do basic trig, remember how to differentiate and integrate basic functions (logarithms, exponentials, polynomials, trig functions), you'll be more than fine.</p>
<p>Also, remember math 11's only offered in the fall.</p>
<p>What about:</p>
<p>Chinese
Writing 5
Bio or Chem</p>
<p>Is it managable?</p>
<p>Have you been cleared for writing 5 in the fall? Remember it is the college, not you who decides when you are taking writing 5.</p>
<p>No, it's hypothetical...so if I don't get writing 5, I'll probably do a Math course. I'll be doing Premed, so I'm hoping to fill the requirements without overdoing it first term.</p>
<p>@ainsivalavie, which chem would you take? If its honors, it might not be such a great idea to have it with Chinese, which is considerably difficult to learn. (I'm not a Dartmouth student now, but to me, that seems like an overload for your first quarter.)</p>
<p>I would prob be taking Math 8 (?) once I get the AP Calc credit. For chem i'll be taking the most basic one, so chem 5?, since I've only had honors chem in highschool (which was a bad experience)</p>
<p>why is math 8 so bad?</p>
<p>MATH 8 almost usually has a B median, whereas MATH 11 usually has a B+ median (sometimes a B). Also, in terms of problem solving ability, MATH 3 and MATH 8 and whatnot tend to require more than MATH 11. Harder concepts, but easier problems, or easier concepts and harder problems (and a lower grade). Take your pick.</p>
<p>Oh premeds...how so many of them have become Economics majors...Good luck with Chem 5 and Chinese in the same term. Normally, I wouldn't recommend that combination (but every entering Dartmouth student seems to be confident in his abilities, yeah?)</p>
<p>so if we are exempt from writing 5, we take humanities 1 and 2? does anyone know how hard these classes are?</p>
<p>oo are chem and chinese notoriously hard classes? maybe i should opt for bio then...</p>
<p>if you place out of writing 5, you can either just take a seminar, or take Humanities 1 and 2 in place of your seminar.</p>
<p>These classes require a lot of reading, but are good for you if you want two terms of writing help from profs, and are genuinely interested in the generation and content within the "western tradition", from the ancient greeks through modern literature.</p>
<p>I wish I hadn't taken them, but many of my classmates said they were one of the best classes they've taken. On the other hand, the professors for HUM 1 and 2 are specially selected, and they're almost always extremely good profs ... I know my HUM 1 prof was one of my favorite profs I've had, even though I didn't particularly like the class at all.</p>
<p>As for CHEM vs BIO, Since you're premed, if you're taking bio it will be BIOL 11 ... and that's not fun really at all for anyone. Almost everyone in that class in the fall will be people who think they'll be premed ... and the low median usually causes a lot of them to reconsider. In either case, you'll need to take BIOL 11 AND CHEM 5 AND CHEM 6 your freshman year if you want to realistically be a premed student. Seeing as CHEM 6 is only offered in the spring, it might make more sense to take CHEM 3/5 in the winter, so you don't have a 3 month break in your gen chem.</p>
<p>I plan on fulfilling the Special Math Sequence for Pre-Med students which includes Math 3,4 and 10.
Would you recommend I take all the courses in one year or spread them apart?</p>
<p>Is Math 3 really a requirement because I was hoping to place out of it during orientation week?</p>