honors vs regular classes?(organic/linear algebra)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>I registered today and I have honors orgo and theoretical linear alg. Is the "honors" tag really worth the (i'd imagine) greater level of difficulty? I'm also taking microbio and ecology bio. Plus these honors classes are almost back-to-back. Should I downgrade to regular (but the regular orgo prof is supposed to be really hard and regular linear algebra closed already). So how are the profs for these classes vs the regular classes (easy/hard graders, dismally low class avg, etc)?</p>

<p>I've already taken both orgo and LA, but the credits didn't transfer. So if I do well in these classes, is it possible to get into honors orgo II and multi? Thanks!</p>

2

<p>bumpity bump</p>

3

<p>The honors tag is worth it in that the classes are awesome! Basically if you take honors classes you are going to learn stuff for sure. That said, the “honors” designation probably doubles the workload of the course. To counteract that all honors classes are graded more generously, so if you can keep up, you won’t really take a grade hit for challenging yourself. (Math 2230 has a class ave of an A-)</p>

<p>I took math 2230 last year. It was awesome and I loved it. I would especially recommend it because I believe that professor Hubbard (who wrote the textbook) is teaching it this year. </p>

<p>That said, expect to devote at least 10 hours out of class every week working for that class. We started out with 40 people on the first day. By the end of second semester, I think like 12 were left. </p>

<p>Also don’t worry about already taken LA, I think like at least 75% of the other people in the class did as well. Also, in two semesters you go through a 6 chapter text book. Only one of the chapters is LA, the rest are some mix of MV calc and real analysis.</p>

<p>That said, I would recommend dropping a class. If you want to take orgo as well, I would recommend dropping one of the bios, and just taking the two honors classes, bio, and your writing seminar. I guarantee you that you wont feel under-challenged, and it will give you a little more breathing room to get adjusted to college. </p>

<p>Trust me, I was just as cocky as you (and so I know you probably won’t listen to some stranger on the internet), but 15 credits would have been a lot nicer than 18 my first semester.</p>

<p>Also you might not want to rush into orgo. Chem 2150 is really fun with Davis (he blew something up basically every class), and 2160 is apparently really cool (MO theory). Also I had the prof who is teaching Physics 1116 last semester, and he is really great, so if you plan on taking that class, I would recommend it this semester (cause i think he wont be teaching it after this one). </p>

<p>As far as workload goes math was more than physics which was way more than chem.</p>

<p>Cheers</p>

4

<p>Hubbard’s not teaching 2230 this year. Ramakrishna is (who also seems to be well-liked). Also glad to hear about the Phys 1116 guy, I’m taking that this semester.</p>

<p>I’m confused @ OP. What linear algebra classes are you talking about? The ones in the 2000s or the ones in the 4000s? Either way, based on the course description there seems to be a significant difference in how the subject is approached so I think taking the honors version will be worth it.</p>

<p>EDIT: Disregard the last bit. 2230 most likely should be different than regular linear algebra, and 2240 even moreso than regular MVC.</p>

5

<p>Yeah, just be aware, 2230 and 2240 are really one class, and there is very little “linear algebra” in either one. The two classes are really one big survey class. You go into a little bit of everything, but for everything that you touch on there are one (or more) upper level classes that offer it in a fuller treatment. </p>

<p>The one thing that you should be aware of is that while you cover a lot more in the sequence, the order is a little different. So if you plan on taking physics 2217 and math 2240 concurrently, there might be some stretch of time where your physics class is assuming math that you haven’t learned yet and you’ll just have to fake it till you learn it.</p>

<p>And yeah, don’t jump straight into upper level classes without 2230. I know a guy who did it and regretted it.</p>