<p>Today was the first day of shopping for classes, for those of you who don't know, and I had gone pretty much knowing all four of my classes. But that quickly, really quickly changed. There's a class that is a new course, aimed at the new concentration that has been created in human developmental and regenerative biology, and because it's relatively new and required for those concentrating in this, many sophomores who have already taken LS1a are taking it.</p>
<p>It says that this course can be taken concurrently with LS1a, but the professor made it clear that it wouldn't be easy and that only the people with high placement scores and plenty of time should attempt to take this concurrently with LS1a.</p>
<p>Now, I want to take this class, for scheduling purposes (because if I take it in my second year, I will have three science courses), and because I love this topic in general. I am also taking LS1a for sure.</p>
<p>I am looking for two other classes that will not be as demanding as the original ones I had hoped to take, but ones that are rather fulfilling.</p>
<p>Could anyone recommend me some classes such as this?</p>
<p>You must be talking about SCRB 10. D is also considering the SCRB concentration. The only comment I’ll add, and I am not sure that it fulfills what you have asked for, is what about your math classes. For the SCRB concentration, you will need one math beyond 1a, maybe continuing with your math while you haven’t completely forgotten what you studied in high school, might be a good idea.</p>
<p>Yes, I’m planning on taking either Math 1b or Math 19a next semester. But I’m not sure if I’ll have the time to take SCRB 10 next year, when I’ll be taking two other science courses for both semesters…I’m trying to decide, but I’m leaning on taking a language and a science and two electives this semester and taking SCRB 10 along with two other science courses next year.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response! What year is your daughter in?</p>
<p>While we’re talking about SCRB, can I put in a brief PSA for SCRB 180? The professors teaching it are two of my favorite people and favorite teachers on the planet, and they are really excited about the class. I think it will be great.</p>
<p>I know that’s probably not an option for a freshman, but I just wanted to plug my favorite people. :)</p>
<p>My D is also a freshman. This first semester she will be taking the LS1a, a math (still up for debate which one - she tested into 19a but really wants to drop back at least a level), SLS 20, and one other. Next will be the LS1b, more math (I expect), PS1, and Expo 20.</p>
<p>Your daughter’s schedule is somewhat similar to mine. I’m also taking LS1a, and I plan on taking a math next sememster. SCRB 10, I suppose, is also on the list, and a language course. I just need one easy, low-key elective that will balance out all of the time-consuming classes I will be taking this semester. I’m still trying to figure that one out.</p>
<p>Well, maybe I will see your daughter today, for LS1a!</p>
<p>I’m also having a little trouble picking classes:
I know I’m taking LS1a, Math 21a, and a freshman seminar, but I’m trying to figure out the last class. Right now, I am trying to decide between Ec 10, Sociology 10, Science of Living Systems 20 (psychology), and German. It’s been really hard for me to decide. I will probably major in the life sciences but I want to keep my options open and try out something new or interesting that I haven’t been exposed to before while still having a schedule that’s not overly difficult. So I know what you’re feeling.</p>
<p>Hoping to here soon from my daughter how the rest of her “shopping” went today. She checked out two more electives this AM, then LS1a and SLS20. After she was to finally meet w/ her academic advisor who’s office is in MGH (so getting there will have been another knew experience for her). D tested out of foreign language which is why that is not listed in any of her options.</p>
<p>Everybody I’ve met here so far interested in science wants to take the same four courses. Lame. Pick some gov or history class or something; that’s where the fun is.</p>
<p>Dwight- I just wanted to add a comment about why the science kids all are looking at those same courses. They pretty much have to. An number of years ago, Harvard created a new structure to it’s life sciences curriculum bring it “into the 21st century”. It was instated either last year or the year before, but basically any student interested in any of the 9 life science concentrations has to take LS1a (I think there were 480 freshman in this class last year - so pretty much 1 in 3 take it). Pretty much every one of those concentrations also requires some at Harvard math. So when you combine that with the language requirement and maybe a fall expo 20 assignment, there goes any creativity of a fall freshman science student. D tested out of the language (yeah!) and got a spring Expo 20. For D, spring is pretty much a done deal with the continued math and PS1 requirements (for her to consider neuroscience), expo 20 and the life science required LS1b. Her only really “creative” elective has to be this fall or she has to opt into 5 classes next spring.</p>
<p>What I believe is different, and I hope someone will correct me if I have this wrong, but in the “core” concentration and core classes could not double count. For gen ed, D will fulfill the Science of Living Systems, Science of the Physical Universe and Empirical and Mathematical reasoning through her freshman prep for her concentration preferences. The anthro course she is choosing to take, will count for nothing in her case but she is excited about taking it. Sounds like a good way for her to be introduced to college.</p>
<p>Well, I guess life continues to be fun. D just called. An e-mail from September 1, just popped up on her computer telling her that “her application for Fall expo has ben accepted”. She just walked over to find out if she has a choice in this since she has spent the past two days shopping all these other classes since she had received the info on the expo change. No dice. So… Now, no antropology and she has to pick out 8 expos to submit.</p>
<p>I’m not going to blame Harvard. It less complicated at my son’s college. So I guess I blame college in general. Fortunately, after the first kid, I knew that problems would crop up. The only question was where and when.</p>
<p>Ironically, getting switched to fall is what she had hoped for days ago. To bad, for whatever reason, she did not get the e-mail sooner. She would have been dancing on Sept 1, had she found the e-mail then.</p>