<p>I'll be a freshman at Columbia in the fall and have a few questions regarding my schedule for first semester. </p>
<p>1) I'm planning to take piano lessons for credit (1 hour weekly lessons for 2 pts). Does anyone know if these lessons are "graded", or do you just receive credit simply for taking them? I'd love to continue lessons for fun, but not if they entail hours of practicing. </p>
<p>2) I got a 7 on the IB SL Math exam, but I'm not sure what level of calculus I should sign up for. I know there's no placement exam for math, but I can't find any guidelines for those who took the IB SL exam. My math teacher recommended that I begin with calc I in college because the IB syllabus didn't cover some of the material that a standard college calculus course would. Is that good advice?</p>
<p>Here is my tentative schedule for first semester:</p>
<p>-Literature Humanities
-UniWriting/Frontiers
-Freshman Orgo (Thank you C2002 for your very helpful posts about freshman orgo! I'm hoping to place into it with my 7 in IB HL Chem and <em>hopefully</em> a good score on the department exam.)
-Calculus I (II?)
-Introductory French
-Piano lessons</p>
<p>This would total 19.5 points. I'm planning to major in chem and need to take physics courses as well, but if I took Phys C1401 I would have 22.5 points. It's a tough decision for me because I really want to learn French. Will it be necessary to forgo French in order to start physics classes right away, or can I wait? </p>
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I got a 7 on the IB SL Math exam, but I'm not sure what level of calculus I should sign up for. I know there's no placement exam for math, but I can't find any guidelines for those who took the IB SL exam. My math teacher recommended that I begin with calc I in college because the IB syllabus didn't cover some of the material that a standard college calculus course would. Is that good advice?
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<p>first of all you don't get any credit for SL classes no regardless of how well you did on the exam. I think that starting at calc 1 should be fine...i'm assuming that you won't take more than two semesters of calc so doing 1 and 2 is reasonable. That being said though, I was under the impression that the IB SL math class was pretty weak (i took HL math) so i would suggest taking a very close look at the calc 1 and 2 syllabi before making a decision. </p>
<p>I think your courseload is ok. Typically 19.5 points first semester would be considered alot but since 2 pts are piano i think it would be ok. You should take french OR physics...certainly not both. I don't think there is any harm in putting off physics until later.</p>
<p>I think calc one will be extremely easy after a 7 in math SL, SL is the middle level, there's math studies which is very basic. I'd say go with calc 2 or even calc 3, what are you intending to major in? if you want to apply to med school, worry about the GPA and do calc 1. don't do 22.5 first sem, 19.5 is good with your 2 points of piano. You want to get through the foreign language requirement as early as possible, so you might want to put off the physics till soph year, but choosing either is fine.</p>
<p>I'm planning to major in chemistry, so I'll have to take the entire calc sequence. The tricky part is that I actually took the HL Math course for two years and then tested at the SL level, so I've had exposure to a lot of higher level material. Would you still recommend calc one for the GPA boost? I don't think I'm going to apply to med school, but I thought it would give me somewhat of a break first semester without taking very few points.</p>
<p>Also, French would just be for fun because I have already satisfied the language requirement with my HL Spanish score. I think I'll ultimately take physics as a sophomore.</p>
<p>Also, don't worry so much about the placement tests for chemistry. You can not place into orgo and still sign up for it and no one will stop you.</p>
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I'm planning to major in chemistry, so I'll have to take the entire calc sequence.
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<p>i don't know if this is true...you should check...i think you only need to take 2 semesters of calc</p>
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The tricky part is that I actually took the HL Math course for two years and then tested at the SL level, so I've had exposure to a lot of higher level material. Would you still recommend calc one for the GPA boost?
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<p>i don't know y you wouldnt take the IB HL Math exam after taking the class... that's really strange. But given that you took the HL class I would suggest starting with calc 2 like I did....calc 1 is a much bigger class and the little material that you haven't been exposed to already is pretty unimportant.</p>
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f you want to apply to med school, worry about the GPA and do calc 1.
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<p>This has been discussed before and i still think it's not sound advice. a lot of people will be taking this class just for the easy A and that creates a lot of competition on the curving.</p>
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This would total 19.5 points. I'm planning to major in chem and need to take physics courses as well, but if I took Phys C1401 I would have 22.5 points. It's a tough decision for me because I really want to learn French. Will it be necessary to forgo French in order to start physics classes right away, or can I wait?
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<p>I'm too lazy to actually check but I'm pretty sure french offers 1 and 2 both semesters of the year. Personally I'd rather get physics out of the way and just wait until the 2nd semester to start french 1. This <em>might</em> come back to bite you when you get to french 3 or 4 but you should check.</p>
<p>Shraf: idk if this is the case with CU2012, but sometimes you have to take a test at SL instead of HL because you need 3 SL classes for the diploma. I know at my school everyone preps for the HL foriegn language exam, but most wind up taking it SL in order to fulfill the diploma requirements.</p>
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Shraf: idk if this is the case with CU2012, but sometimes you have to take a test at SL instead of HL because you need 3 SL classes for the diploma. I know at my school everyone preps for the HL foriegn language exam, but most wind up taking it SL in order to fulfill the diploma requirements.
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<p>there were people at my school who took four HL classes and 2 SL classes and took the corresponding exams and got the diploma....it doesn't make much sense that you wouldn't be able to substitute an extra HL for a SL class.</p>
<p>Oh, true, there is an exception where you can take 4 HL classes, but its only under certain circumstances, and you couldn't take six HL classes and get the diploma, you need to have three (or sometimes only two) SL classes to get the diploma.</p>
<p>If you already have your UNI, log into Courseworks and search for calc I and II syllabi (if they're not already available on the math department website). You'll probably do fine in either class (although I'm not familiar with the IB system). Around 54% of the people in my calc II class got A-'s or above (without a curve).</p>
<p>Freshman orgo is very challenging, so I don't think you should take physics on top of that. No need to overload yourself. While Frontiers is relatively easy, don't underestimate Uni Writing. It was a ton of work for my class. And, of course, LitHum involves a lot of reading. </p>
<p>I think I read somewhere that if you take instrument lessons at Columbia, you have to perform at a recital at the end of the semester. I'm not entirely sure, though.</p>
<p>1) I took Calc 1 my first semester, and there were not very many people who were just doing it for the grade boost. It was an easy A, in fact if I had bothered to care and maybe do the practice final exam I would've had an A+ easily. That said, you may want to get the requirements out of the way and premeds usually have no problem getting to 127 credits. In my day (Said the old man), there was a 3-semester calculus sequence, though, so the equivalent would be starting at Calc 2. I would suggest not starting higher than Calc 2 as you don't yet know how you'll stack up in classes and what you're ready for (and what you'll remember), so playing it safe your first semester is highly advisable.</p>
<p>2) If you've already met your language requirement, put off the French thing until sophomore year. Take Physics instead. All your SEAS friends will be taking it freshman year and you probably want to be in study groups with friends rather than being the awkward sophomore asking to study with the freshmen. Also, consider Phys 1601 as the material is slightly more interesting but not a total ball-buster like the 2800s.</p>
<p>3) C02 and I get into arguments about this, but I would be cautious about going straight into Orgo as a freshman. For one thing, you may be premed now but you will likely be questioning that commitment, as everyone does, over the first few years. For another, Intensive G-chem is a tough but very doable course and taught very capably (it also gives you a good introduction to how Columbia-level courses are run and the competition you'll have - a good thing in your first semester). And for third, everyone I knew who took freshman Orgo was (1) Really really intense about it meaning the curve must've stank, and (2) Worked their arse off at the course. You want to avoid courses in that description freshman year, until you know what you're getting yourself into.</p>
<p>You may discover that you're on the fast-track to being valedictorian and all these high-level classes are <em>yawn</em> no problem at all. But you also may discover that you're the average Columbia student and have to put in a lot of work to get your B+ or A-. Until you know where you stand, imho the prudent thing GPA-wise is to play it safe.</p>
<p>"This has been discussed before and i still think it's not sound advice. a lot of people will be taking this class just for the easy A and that creates a lot of competition on the curving."</p>
<p>I had a friend who did math SL got a 7, and breezed through calc 1 with an A+, it was a joke for him, and he's isn't especially gifted in math. I would start with calc 2.</p>
<p>"Oh, true, there is an exception where you can take 4 HL classes, but its only under certain circumstances, and you couldn't take six HL classes and get the diploma, you need to have three (or sometimes only two) SL classes to get the diploma."</p>
<p>this is both false and illogical, the HL courses cover everything that an SL course covers, and they definitely do allow you to get the diploma with 6 HLs. I had classmates in high school who did 5HL, 1SL; the only reason they didn't take 6HL was because they weren't suicidal, taking more HLs isn't recommended just like taking 25 credits at columbia isn't recommended, but you can only be rewarded (however marginally) by taking on extra coursework and doing well. </p>
<p>Go with denz advice, intensive gen chem might make life a lot easier, friends of mine who took the class found it enjoyable with a sane workload.</p>
<p>I think the chem department is revamping intensive gen chem, though. The last time I checked, there is no C2407 class available for the fall. Instead, there is a C1604 "2ND TERM GEN CHEM (INTENSIVE)" class. I can't find the course description, but I think the approach and material covered may be slightly different. I have no idea what the change in course number indicates.</p>
<p>Just so we have a full record, at the risk of rehashing this:</p>
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Intensive G-chem is a tough but very doable course and taught very capably
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<p>IMO, this is also the case w/ frosh orgo.</p>
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And for third, everyone I knew who took freshman Orgo was (1) Really really intense about it meaning the curve must've stank, and (2) Worked their arse off at the course.
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<p>Not my experience. You're making it sound like accel physics, and it's not even close to that level. Organic chem isn't going to be easy whether you take it as a frosh or a soph.</p>
<p>"And for third, everyone I knew who took freshman Orgo was (1) Really really intense about it meaning the curve must've stank, and (2) Worked their arse off at the course."</p>
<p>I agree with this. Taking it freshman year was really tough on a few of my friends with adjusting to college and all that. Orgo isn't easy at any point, yeah, but at least by the time one's a junior or sophomore school's easier to navigate.</p>
<p>Been following the discussion of Intensive G Chem vs. Freshman Orgo both here and in searches of previous posts. Was wondering the following:</p>
<p>Yes Orgo is difficult at any point (was a Chem major years ago at Columbia) but the chemistry dept bills C3045 as a course exclusively for freshman - is there any provision in the course for the knowledge that the students are all freshman and have some academic adjustment period necessary in the beginning of the year. Is the material the same as the sophomore course (C3443) or is it taught at a different level? (More in-depth, less in-depth, etc) If freshman have a difficult time with it as far as difficulty or achieving a certain grade, is it related to the curve or the material itself? How do the class sizes differ between freshman orgo and the sophomore orgo -would imagine the standard orgo course would be much bigger.</p>
<p>As far as intensive Gchem, anyone know why the chem department changed the course for this year (change from C2407 to C1604)? Did the content change?</p>
<p>"As far as intensive Gchem, anyone know why the chem department changed the course for this year (change from C2407 to C1604)? Did the content change?"</p>
<p>I can think of a simple reason: gen physics is numbered in the 1400s, just as gen chem is, the next level is phys 1600s, these are intensive and in-depth but not exactly drinking from a fire hose, similar to intensive gen chem, and then there's accelerated phys 2800s which is like drinking from a fire hose, and orgo which might not be as much work, but close. so it might be to add some standardization, help people understand that the difficulty level is comparable.</p>
<p>"as a course exclusively for freshman - is there any provision in the course for the knowledge that the students are all freshman and have some academic adjustment period necessary in the beginning of the year"</p>
<p>Look, orgo's probably going to be intense regardless of when you take it. You're not going to be coddled in a class like that. I'd assume most lit hum profs are lenient (mine wasn't) because they're teaching freshmen and not everyone's up to speed...but I'd say that's as far as it goes unless the class is legitimately easy</p>
<p>the way I see it, the profs teaching freshman orgo are going to teach the class assuming that the students are there to challenge themselves, and are up for the challenge. so, you decide if you are or aren't. Look at culpa (culpa.info), even attend the first few classes to help you decide.</p>