<p>Hey, I just wanted to get some advice about the courses I plan to take. How do these classes sound?</p>
<p>MAT 101 (if I decide not to accept AP credit, MAT 104 if i will)
CHM 201
SPA 108
Writing Seminar
Possibly a freshman seminar</p>
<p>Will this be ok for the fall semester? Also, do a lot of people use advanced standing from APs?</p>
<p>I heard from the physics department that few people do advanced standing since it ends up just cramming everything into a shorter timeframe. Plus, few students want to leave Princeton early anyway :)</p>
<p>If by advanced standing you meant just taking credit (such as taking MAT 104 instead of MAT 103--which, by the way, if you're qualified for 103 why do you plan on taking 101?), the posters on this board have given me the impression that if you can advance to the next level of math, definitely do so as the intro courses aren't terribly interesting. I'm pretty sure it's the same for other departments: if you're qualified, go for it.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. I'm a premed so I was just thinking of taking calc over so I have a GPA buffer for some other tougher classes like orgo and stuff.</p>
<p>if you're premed, I think that you are supposed to take through MAT 104, so if you start over in 101 you need 4 semesters of math. if you want to retake something, got to 103, but I really don't think that its worth it. You only have 32 classes to take at princeton, they might as well be interesting</p>
<p>I strongly encourage you to use your AP credit in math. First, 104 is still an easy course. Second, 100 level math courses are boring and worthless. As ec1234 said, you have a limited amount of time at Princeton, and it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Take courses that you are genuinely interested in, courses that will challenge your preconceptions and change the way you look at the world.</p>
<p>Weasel, I saw on the HPA page that the math requirement can be filled by MAT 101+102 or MAT 103+104. What's the difference in the material covered by the two different options? Also, if advanced standing is used, do all the distribution requirements still have to be fulfilled? Or are they lessened because I'd be taking less courses (23 as opposed to 31) while at Princeton?</p>
<p>The not-so-bright people take 101 and 102, and the still-below-average through smart people take 103 and 104. I had never taken a calculus class before going to Princeton. I signed up for MAT 104 and it was demanding but very doable. </p>
<p>I understand the notion to max the GPA but find a different way to do it. You can't say "I'm a smart guy/girl" and "I already took calculus but retook MAT 101/102 to refresh" without one of the 2 statements by necessity being false. I'm not trying to be mean here, but I really do want to emphasize that MAT 101 and 102 are classes designed for people who did not have a lot of opportunity to take tough math classes at their school....i.e. low income students from bad high schools who are smart, but are behind good public school and private school peers. Not for people to pad their grades with.</p>
<p>To answer the other question, you do not get credit at Princeton for taking high school tests unless you have enough credit to place you out of a full semester (or two, or 3, etc.). This goes for AP, and also IB Diploma stuff as well. Doing well on those tests usually only determines placement into a higher level class.</p>
<p>Now I say 'only' but a lot of those intro classes are not particularly fun, so placing out is a huge help. Don't be fooled into taking over stuff that you already know. Hope that helps, and best of luck with your classes!</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice Cibbir. I'm just a little nervous about grading and stuff. MAT 103 and 104 are still single variable right?</p>
<p>Never mind my last question, I just found the answeron the course description site</p>
<p>103 and 104 are single variable.</p>
<p>However, you should know that very few advisors would let you take five classes first semester, especially with writing seminar. I know that may seem like a bit of a joke class, but with all the essays, and the revisions, it can be pretty demanding with your time. If you're thinking "possibly a freshman seminar," I'd say leave that until second semester. If you're not really interested in one of the topics, spending three hours straight in class discussing it can be less than pleasant.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. The reason I said "possibly a freshman seminar" was that I read that a lot of advisers don't allow freshman to take 5 classes in the fall semester. If my adviser lets me take 5 classes, I'll take the freshman seminar.</p>
<p>hey JoeTrumpet, how come "few people do advanced standing since it ends up just cramming everything into a shorter timeframe."? I'm playing around with courses and schedules right now, and I don't see anything being crammed. I realize that what advanced standing basically does is halve both your freshman and sophomore years, while your junior and senior years are brought forward by 1 year but basically remain intact. Also, the no. of required courses for graduation is reduced by a year's worth, which means that each semester still has the same courseload.</p>
<p>So, from my point of view, everything still seems to go at the same pace even if i'm graduating 1 year early. at least, the junior and senior years are exactly the same. the fall term of my first year would be freshman, and the spring term sophomore. Am I missing something here? I probably am, since I haven't come to Princeton :D</p>