<p>This page:</p>
<p>Course</a> Details « Office of the Registrar</p>
<p>is really confusing to me with the long list of times for different sections. If I wanted to attend PHY 105, how many of those sections would I actually be attending? And will I be in both sections C03 and C04?</p>
<p>No just one of them. To take 105 sign up for C03 or C04.</p>
<p>wat are we supposed to sign up for classes already</p>
<p>No. Not until like the 14th, when you meet with your academic adviser.</p>
<p>For physics 105, you sign up for one lab (it doesn’t matter which one - there aren’t separate labs for 105 and 103), a class (this is where 105 and 103 differ - sign up for C03 or C04), and a lecture (it doesn’t matter which one). In case you’re confused, lectures are the ones that start with L, labs start with B, and classes start with C.
In my experience, going to lecture is a complete waste of time if you’re in 105. It’s really a 103 lecture that won’t correspond to what you’re covering in class. The 103 students get clickers which they use to answer questions and get participation points, but 105 students don’t. The only reason the professors suggest that you go is because of the demonstrations, but it’s really not worth it. Also, I’d stress that you shouldn’t schedule anything for wednesday evening because that’s when the problem sessions are and they are extremely helpful, as it’s when basically the entire class gets together to work on the problem set, check their work, and get help on anything they’re stuck on.</p>
<p>In addition to above, after 2 1/2 weeks the faculty will review your work and your physics background and interview you. On the basis of these criteria, you will be invited to 105 or advised to stay in 103.</p>
<p>I took Phy 105 last year, and they don’t interview you or anything - it’s completely up to you whether you want to stay in 105 or switch to 103. Maybe they discuss your options with you if you really bombed the quizzes they given in the first few weeks, but you don’t have to be invited to take 105. If you want to take it and you think you can handle it, then you can take it - even if you only had a year of non-AP highschool physics.
However, they’re really flexible about switching to 103 pretty much anytime in the first half of the semester (and there certainly are people who do switch) and are there to talk to you if you’re unsure which class would be best for you. But 103 and 105 really are as separate as they’re going to get at the beginning - if you’re unsure which you’ll end up in, you’ll need to be keeping up with the work in both classes.</p>
<p>My son is a HS senior applying as a prospective physics major, and I’ve been encouraging him to consider the “Integrated Sciences” program, mostly because as a Princeton undergrad 25 years ago, I was completely overwhelmed by 105/106 and ended up majoring in chemistry. Do any current Princeton physics majors start out with the double-science course for Integrated Sciences, or are they all taking 105/106 or 205/206 combined with math?</p>
<p>The Integrated Science class consists of at least 30% prospective physics majors. Particularly for the first year (second year is all biology, so pure physicists probably wouldn’t have as much interest). That’s not to say it’s any better or worse (and, relatedly, harder or easier) than the traditional preparation. It’s just different.</p>
<p>Btw there is no longer a 206. Quantum I is PHY 208 now. PHY 205 is Classical Mechanics hard version; PHY 207 relatively easier version.</p>
<p>More info regarding Integrated Science available upon request, but it might not be useful for this thread.</p>
<p>Thanks! That helps a lot. Sounds like both options are worth looking into if he ends up at Princeton.</p>
<p>I heard there were freshmen who took 205. Is this true?</p>
<p>I’ve heard of that, but I can’t say I recommend it–it’s called “Death Mech” for a reason…</p>
<p>These were people who were gold medalists in IPhO.</p>
<p>I’m sure you could convince you advisors to to let you do it, but it may not be the wisest choice you ever make. Then again you might be awesome at classical mechanics.</p>
<p>Yah no death mech for me. I’m going to take math 215 because they’re both at the same time. </p>
<p>But math215 is probably no easier than death mech</p>
<p>Also, what textbook do they use for 105?</p>
<p>Kleppner and Kolenkow.</p>
<p>So do people end up taking 105/106 then sophomore year take 205?</p>
<p>That sounds about right, but I’m not a physics major so I don’t know for sure. 105/106 are HARD though… I got 5’s on Physics C and I was lucky to grab a B in 105–took 104 in the spring and got an easy A… sucks that there wasn’t one that was the right amount of challenge, but c’est la vie.</p>