<p>Does anyone know if there are math requirements for the College?</p>
<p>There are no math requirements in the Core Curriculum -- just science. If you're planning to go into Fu or any science related field, however, expect to take math courses.
No math courses was a major selling point for me. :)</p>
<p>yessssssssssssssssssss!</p>
<p>Math is awesome :D</p>
<p>Off topic but relevant: Has anyone (current students) taken Honors Math III/IV? Can you offer comparisons to the regular Calculus III/IV track? What sort of math background do most successful Honors Math students have?</p>
<p>very good question, and are there many college students taking honors math? or just SEAS?</p>
<p>My son, who just finished his first year, is a CC student who took honors math III/IV. There is a very accurate description of it on Culpa, in the form of a review of Professor Wang. (He's not teaching it next year, however.) It was a ton of work. My son had taken multivariable calculus in high school and a linear algebra class at community college before entering Columbia. Even so, very little of this class was repetition for him as it is much more abstract and proof-based. Problem sets could take six hours or more (take-home exams took days) and the second semester got harder; the professor told them it would be the most difficult undergrad math class they'd have at Columbia.</p>
<p>It's a good class for those trying to decide whether or not to major in math. Some of the students in it are the real deal, in terms of theoretical math abilities -- especially some of the Russians, Hungarians, etc. Definitely do not combine this class with accelerated physics unless you have an incredible background going in.</p>
<p>you need to take 2 more semesters of science-related classes (that includes calculus and general chem, etc.) after you take C1000, the intro course to science (called Frontiers of Science).
C
<a href="http://www.xanga.com/SoHo%5B/url%5D">http://www.xanga.com/SoHo</a>
the best pictures from columbia - 2005.
<a href="http://www.CUfestival.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.CUfestival.com/</a>
Columbia National Undergraduate Film Festival.</p>
<p>So wait, then CC requires calculus and chem as part of the Core?</p>
<p>no, CC requires 2 semesters of whatever science class you want to choose. GPA booster classes such as gen chem or calculus 1 falls under that category.
C
<a href="http://www.xanga.com/SoHo%5B/url%5D">http://www.xanga.com/SoHo</a>
the best pictures from the best nights of columbia - 2005.
<a href="http://www.CUfestival.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.CUfestival.com/</a>
Columbia National Undergraduate Film Festival.</p>
<p>
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Definitely do not combine this class with accelerated physics unless you have an incredible background going in.
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</p>
<p>sac, that was going to be my second question! What would you say is an incredible background, in terms of math and physics? And what is the typical physics preparation for the Accelerated course?</p>
<p>Or rather, my uncertainty stems more from the difference between aptitude and preparation. That is, to succeed in both accelerated physics and honors math, it goes without saying that you need a strong aptitude. However, what sort of previous coursework is necessary for success?</p>
<p>It is unreasonable for a student who has completed Calculus I/II and Calculus-based Physics I/II (i.e. AP Calc BC and both AP Physics C's) to take on both of these challenging courses, assuming strong aptitude and success with those courses? Do you need the previous linear algebra and multivariate experience?</p>
<p>I guess what I'm wondering is whether not having previously focused on math (despite ability) precludes successfully doing so in college (at the same time as physics!).</p>
<p>i'm curious myself...i've taken a very rigorous high school physics course (taught by a crazy MIT guy) and did quite well..and also earned some honors on PhysicsBowl plus making USPhO. Yet i'm still scared of next year. I'm not scared of Phys C2801-2802 (my high school teacher says it will be similar to what i've already taken) as much as I am of Honors III/IV. I've taken a proof-oriented course (number theory) taught in very much the undergraduate math style and had no problem with it. But who knows...I'd like to know the math backgrounds of people who are wary of taking Honors III/IV and Phys C2801 at the same time.</p>
<p>I love the ambition you guys have! You can start both these classes and drop into another sequence if you want, so you shouldn't worry about avoiding them because you don't think you would do well. There will also be departmental meetings during orientation which will describe the classes in more detail. I'd also suggest you read the Culpa reviews to get a sense of the time commitment. No matter how much aptitude you have, they both take a LOT of hours and you might want to think about that in terms of starting college and wanting some time to make friends, explore New York, get involved with some campus groups, etc., as well as for your other classes.</p>
<p>Stcoleridge, sounds like your background prepares you well for both courses, especially the physics. If they sound like fun, go for it. Son does know someone who took both at the same time and got A+s. </p>
<p>abcd... Sorry, I don't know what both AP Physic C's means. Does it include EandM? I get the sense that you need a lot of physics to attack the accelerated physics class and get the most out of it(see below) but I don't get the sense you need the linear algebra and multivariate experience for the math (though they'd probably help), because the honors class is much more abstract than math classes most students are likely to have had. </p>
<p>My son had not taken a proof-based math class before, and so that was a revelation. (He still did fine, just moaned and groaned about it all year.) He had only done AP Physics C (mechanics), and so didn't feel well prepared for the accelerated course and is taking the three semester physics sequence instead. A physics prof advised him not to take the accelerated sequence unless he had a very strong physics background -- not because of the work -- but because it sacrifices some breadth for depth and could leave him with holes in his basic understanding of physics.</p>
<p>The other point is that not taking either accelerated physics or honors math does NOT mean you won't or can't be a math or physics major. Those sequences just give you a slight jump start on the requirements. Son is still considering both math and physics as majors among other possibilities too numerous to mention.</p>
<p>I hope this helps. Go to the departmental orientation meetings and talk to the profs. You'll be fine.</p>
<p>Thanks very much, sac. Yes, by both APs I meant AP Physics C: EM and AP Physics C: Mechanics. The Culpa reviews were very helpful: it's very encouraging to read articulate posts with a general theme of: "This class is really, really hard [...] but I also got the most out of it"</p>
<p>I understand that it's encouraged to oversubscribe to classes at first and then drop a week or two in if necessary (in addition to potential level changes in math/physics). Would you agree with that? That is, is it possibly not too insane to sign up for 22 credit hours the first semester and try to find out real quick whether it's doable along with exploring the other myriad opportunities at Columbia?</p>
<p>Is 22 hours really that bad? That's only 5.5 hours of class a day, 4 days a week...shouldn't there be plenty of time in the other 146 hours to sleep, eat, party, exercise, play music, get involved, make friends, have new experiences, and do homework?!</p>
<p>I think your advisor will tell you that 22 units is too much if you also want to have a social life, a musical life, etc. They recommend 15-16 units first semester. Don't forget that LitHum has a huge amount of reading and University Writing can also be intensive. (Frontiers of Science, on the other hand, should be a piece of cake for a science-oriented student.) Also, there are all those other details of life: laundry, stocking up on food, entertaining friends from home, that do take some time.</p>
<p>It's individual, of course, and if the physics is a lot of material you've already covered, you might find it ok. And someone new is teaching honors math next year, so you never know what his idea of a homework load will be. The idea is that if you sign up for 22 units, you will probably drop a class. My son took 19.5 units second semester and worked his tail off, but he did also play in two bands, bartend, exercise, and join a fraternity. He just didn't sleep as far as I can tell.</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses!</p>