<p>Stuckinthesand, another note on Math 09 is that it’s mandatory S/NC (pass/fail), which might make it less intimidating.</p>
<p>i haven’t read the entire thread, but for those who were asking about FYS, i never took a FYS (mine was second semester and i decided i didn’t want to take it during shopping period) and fared fine. i made sure to take a seminar course first semester (engl180 – strongly recommend it if you’re interested in non-fiction writing like memoirs and literary journalism; depends on the prof though). </p>
<p>also, litr0310 is offered second semester, but i’d STRONGLY encourage it. it’s called poetry in service to the schools and community, and it’s taught by a practicing poet. wonderful prof, and the service component is time consuming but very worth it.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for helping me with my schedule ^_^</p>
<p>Ok here are the classes I was thinking of taking. Are they too hard or are they ok?</p>
<p>**Chem 0330<a href=“took%20AP%20Chem%20and%20got%20a%205,%20but%20it%20was%20Soph%20year%20so%20I’ve%20forgotten%20a%20lot”>/B</a>
**Econ 0110<a href=“took%20AP%20Econ,%20would%20this%20be%20redundant?%20Was%20thinking%20of%20taking%20%22Intermediate%20Microeconomics%22%20(1110”>/B</a> if I got 5’s on my exams, or would that would challenging without 0110?)
APMA 0330/0350 “Methods of Applied Mathematics” I figured I’d try out something with Applied Math because I heard it’s a great department.
**Math 0350<a href=“Multivariable%20Calculus%20Honors…I%20realize%20this%20will%20be%20difficult%20but%20our%20school%20has%20a%20heavy%20focus%20on%20proofs.%20Also,%20I%20intend%20to%20major%20in%20math%20so%20I%20feel%20this%20will%20be%20a%20good%20start%20to%20see%20if%20I%20can%20survive!”>/B</a></p>
<p>Thanks! I’m still figuring this out so any advice is appreciated.</p>
<p>From a difficulty standpoint, it doesn’t look like it would be a problem. MATH0350 is likely the hardest course there, but having a background in proofs should help. With the AP exam, one gets credit for ECON0110; my roommate had credit and started in ECON1110, which he didn’t find to be overly challenging without the prerequisite.</p>
<p>What you probably should consider, however, is that all of your courses are large lectures (or a small lecture, in the case of MATH0350). You’d be doing no writing and not having discussion within class; it’s generally good, especially freshman year, to mix things up a bit. I took no writing course freshman fall and struggled in the spring as a result.</p>
<p>Say I too wanted to be an Econ major. We’re required to take at least a little Calculus. Say I get a 4 or 5 on the AP, will I still have to take Calculus? </p>
<p>I hated that class so much…</p>
<p>A 4 or a 5 on either AP exam gives one credit for MATH0090, which is the only math requirement for an Econ major. However, one would have to take Econometrics, which is essentially a probability and statistics course and makes (minimal) use of calculus.</p>
<p>So no, you would not have to take calculus.</p>
<p>Those are words I am thankful to read. THANKS!</p>
<p>rob22, I have a friend who’s doing COE, business track, and she too got a 5 on both econ APs. She took Micro first semester and macro the second one, and got As in both. Pretty easily, might I add, but I should also add that she was a hard worker.</p>
<p>@Shady Lane (sorry for the double post!)</p>
<p>Sign Language is a GOOD choice. The professor is deaf and immerses his students completely. Although he’s not a native signer (Russian-born), he’s very good at bringing in (American) deaf culture and bringing kids into that community. However, be fair warned! He signs more English/pidgin (mix of English and ASL) than just straight ASL.
And it’s a small class that meets everyday for 2 whole semesters. It’s a GREAT way to get to know people. :)</p>
<p>I took (strict) ASL for 3 years in high school, and kids who took I and II were definitely better signers than I by the end of the year (particularly in the sense that they knew A LOT more vocab). And in regards to my qualm with Prof. Arkady teaching pidgin (which is way more colloquial and common), I had no problem understanding his students’ signing and they had no problem understanding mine. There’s my 2 cents on ASL at Brown.</p>
<p>@cantpausetoast</p>
<p>Let me add to what was already said. The French placement teach is similar to any other online placement test at another university. I remember taking BC’s and JHU’s while still in high school for *****s and giggles without any restrictions, so try those out to get a feel for the test. If you score high enough on the first part, there’s a 2nd part. It’s just a dictee (done on the computer). I don’t remember how times the passage was read or how quickly… And I have no clue how it’s scored… Unless you’re the placement test placed you in exactly where you thought you would be, I recommend shopping a level below what you were placed in. And for languages in general, shop different sections to pick your favorite instructor.</p>
<p>After getting the catalog in the mail today, I pored through it and revised my plans:</p>
<p>ANTH0066J So You Want to Change the World
ECON0110 Principles of Economics
ITAL1010 Dante in English Translation</p>
<p>I feel like this course load feels like it’s missing something scientific or technical and impressive…</p>
<p>Suggestions?
I was wondering if PHYS0270 Introduction to Astronomy would be too tough of an addition to my schedule.</p>
<p>As far as diversity, a variety of perspectives, and the different class types (writing, reading, lecture, discussion, etc.), it looks like a good schedule. Another course to consider for the fourth one (assuming that the calc AP you took is the BC one) is APMA0330 - Econ has a strong basis in applied math, particularly linear algebra and statistics, both of which would be covered in the course. Of course, there are also differential and partial differential equations, which might not interest you, especially since they’re more calculus based than anything. So it may be useful, but I don’t know how much you’d like it. (Also, I’ve never taken the course, so I don’t know how good it is.)</p>
<p>As far as difficulty, it depends on a variety of things. What are you thinking for extracurriculars? Are you expecting straight As? It looks reasonable, certainly, but one must also handle the adjustment to living away from home and the responsibilities of college, which can be almost like a 5th class if one isn’t totally prepared for it. I think it’d be fine (and your adviser will look it over and talk with you about it before you sign up), but you should also keep that in mind.</p>
<p>P.S. The Dante class looked interesting - I have a thing where I refuse to read things in English first, myself, but the Italian department struck me as being good, based on my 2 term masquerade in intro to Italian.</p>
<p>Thank you for the APMA suggestion, but I hate math. Hate it. I understand it, I’m OK at it, but I can’t stand it. Hehe! That’s why I’m thinking more COE than Econ in terms of concentrations, but knowing myself, I’ll pick 3 other concentrations before I’m through.</p>
<p>Mentioning COE, do you think it wouldn’t be liberal-ed-y enough to take ENGN0090?</p>
<p>I can understand that - I’ve already changed my mind on concentrations a couple times myself, so nothing wrong with doing so.</p>
<p>In the end, it’s up to you what constitutes a broad education. I have qualms with where mine is going, thus the flip-flopping on my concentration…I want more depth in my areas, but it’s coming at the expense of breath. I won’t be taking a science course here (unless you count cognitive science), no English and no social sciences because I’m doing a lot of computer science, math, and foreign languages. I want to take physics and chemistry, but I lack the time. So I guess the question is…do you want to take the physics course? Is it only for the sake of a liberal education, or is it for some other reason? Are you doing it out of guilt, or is it for yourself? ENGN0090 would be more related to either Econ or COE than astronomy would be, at the cost of a less “liberal” education (at least, as far as you seem to be defining it). Which do you think you’d gain more from?</p>
<p>My roommate, a COE concentrator, took ENGN0900 this spring (obviously not the same course, but…) and it involved a lot of time writing. With two other potentially writing-intensive classes, you should probably think about that a little, as having several large essays at once can get overwhelming (and lower performance on them).</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I thought APMA 350 would be a regular class? Maybe I’m confused, but are you sure? It didn’t have any conferences, etc. so I assume it can’t be that big (or is it?). If it is a big class setting, what is a good math/science/econ course that has a smaller class size?</p>
<p>@rob22</p>
<p>74 people are currently signed up, before freshman registration. Even in a regular math class, though, there’s seldom discussion - APMA1660 had 17 people and it was run the same as APMA1650, which had 116. That is, the professor came and lectured. If one has trouble, the TA(s) hold recitation and office hours, which are optional, and somewhat like a section. But it’s not like a high school math class.</p>
<p>Thanks! That is news to me and I would be unhappy with 4 big lectures…I’ll try to find a FYS or something smaller.</p>
<p>Engin 9 is an institution at Brown – it’s been taught by Prof. Hazeltine for decades. I didn’t take it, but everyone I know who did liked it. I’m not sure what you mean by “liberal-ed-y” – but if you are interested in Econ and COE, you eventually should take Engin 9. It might even be a requirement for COE.</p>
<p>If you truly hate math, then you probably shouldn’t major in economics. My understanding is that the deeper you get into economics, the more calculus you need. I might be wrong, so don’t hold me to that. But you seem to have your mind open to the possibility that you will change your concentration several times, so I’m sure you’ll find your niche.</p>
<p>And everyone – remember that Brown has a “shopping period” for the first couple weeks, so you can try out classes and professors. While I don’t think it’s a good idea to go too crazy first semester (if you go to too many classes, you can quickly fall behind in work due), don’t get attached to a class until you check it out. Many students change their entire schedule by the time shopping is over.</p>
<p>Econometrics is a requirement for a major in economics, and it is mostly statistics based on calculus. I think you should think twice about majoring in economics.</p>
<p>Any of the COE concentrations require a statistics course too, however. Econometrics satisfies this requirement for any of the tracks, though it’s not the only course that does.</p>