<p>Shopping the courses once you get to Brown is probably the best way to get a sense of which one is right for you. I know people who took 15/16 and are doing quite well in the higher level courses, so it’s certainly not something that’d provide you with a poor background. I believe the major difference is that 17 uses Scheme, while 15/16 don’t, and 15/16 are more likely to help you along by setting up the structure of your code (give you method headers, etc.). Scheme’s not vital (when I took 19, we used Java, so I don’t know Scheme), but it is nice to learn. So it depends on what you want…if you want a 1 term Java course, take 15. If you want a 1 term Scheme course, take 17. If you plan to take the full year, 15/16 should be a bit less time than 17/18, covering more or less the same theoretical concepts, just in a different way.</p>
<p>From what I know of the people who took both CS15 and 17, 15 was more of a “feeler” course, whereas 17 was more likely to have people who knew they wanted to continue in CS. 15 is great because you’ll learn enough to be able to really program using Java (the most common language used). However, 17 is thought of as more of a “CS” type course: the goal isn’t to teach you a language you’ll actually use, but rather to train you to think like a computer scientist. So 17 teaches using Scheme and OCaML, despite neither really being used for anything much outside of theoretical/teaching CS. Furthermore, in the 15/16 track you’ll learn two languages, Java and Python, which are used in the corporate world often. In 17/18 (at least this year), you learn 4: Scheme and OCaML in 17, your functional languages, and in 18 you learn Scala, an object-oriented language that supports functional programming, and Java. Only one of these 4 is used very much outside academia.</p>
<p>When you get to Brown, the day before classes, Freshmen will be able to, at 8 AM, log on to Banner and attempt to register for classes. At this point, all other students will have completed preliminary registration, as older students have priority. If when you log on and submit your course requests [you used to have to look up and type in the course ID number (different for each section), but it appears that the new course schedule feature allows you to bypass this step if you fill out the schedule in advance - I’ll know for sure when I register this week]. If you’re fast enough (that is, if the course hasn’t reached its limit by the time you make this request), you’re in. Otherwise, you’ll get a message saying it’s full (and you’d need to check and see if anyone drops in the weeks to come and/or show up to the class anyways and talk with the professor and hope they’ll let you in anyways).</p>
<p>Intro to Fiction has been one of the few classes at Brown that I think is a bit tough to get into. That being said, I took it my first semester by signing up as early as I could and just showing up day one. So many people “hedge bets” on courses like these that people move in and out of them pretty quickly so it’s often not challenging to get in, just stressful and requires a little persistence.</p>
<p>Ok i cant decide what to take. As an engineering major they recommend:
1.) Engn 0030
2.) Math 0170
3.) Chem 0330
4.) Elective</p>
<p>I definitely want to take the first 2. I dot really want to take chemistry, especially the first semester so i can make sure i wanna do engineering first. Do you recommend postponing chemistry? And what about an elective. I was thinking some kind of intro to Econ or a writing course, just to change it up. Any thoughts? What about 5 courses? I dont think its a good idea because of the Into to Engineering course but any recommendations would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>You should be taking Math 19, not 17. I do not recommend postponing chem. Especially if you have had AP chem and choose your section wisely, 33 shouldn’t be super challenging and you’re not going to want to take it along far more challenging classes later in engineering (or have to postpone something like EN41 later).</p>
<p>I never recommend taking five courses your first semester and rarely recommend it in your first year. This is especially true for science students-- you have no idea how challenging the work will or won’t be for you so don’t start off overloaded. For some people 5 courses is not a big deal, for others, it seems impossible. With two lab sciences you probably will not have serious time to dedicate to a fifth class while still getting your bearings and attempting to make a couple of friends.</p>
<p>I’d recommend an elective that involves non-technical writing and a subject you’re very interested in.</p>
<p>Yeah math 19 is what i meant sorry lol. Thanks for the quick feedback. I am definitely sure i dont want to take 5 courses. I wanna actually enjoy my first semester and play sports and other stuff so i want some time to just hang out and get to know people. </p>
<p>Im taking AP Chem now so thats a relief to hear that at least one course wont be so challenging lol.</p>
<p>Im kinda interesting in Econ, but i didnt take AP in high shcool because it wouldnt fit into my schedule. So what do you recommend as an intro to Economics? Or a good freshmen writing course?</p>
<p>EC11 is a fine freshman course, but I think it’ll be a bit too much of the same (homeworks/problem sets, mostly looking at and interpreting some really simple graphs, etc). I really would recommend something that involves much more writing to balance everything out.</p>
<p>Alright thanks both of you. Since you mentioned history, is there any specific American History Seminars or courses that might appeal to first years? and do they accept 5s on APUSH in placement?</p>
<p>So for all intents and purposes, the AP score won’t help with placement; there don’t, however, appear to be any prerequisites on history courses.</p>
<p>Mocha would be worth checking out for such courses; I don’t know enough about the department to know what would be a good course.</p>
<p>Im deciding between 2 classes:
1.) Principles of Economics 0110 (drawback-only class offered in 9am MWF)
2.) An Empire and Republic: The Dutch Golden Age (FYS)</p>
<p>Has anyone ever taken these courses and if so how were they? Were the profs good? </p>
<p>I know i can and will shop them but im just curious about any input.</p>
<p>I haven’t taken either of them, but from what I’ve been hearing around campus, it seems like Econ would be such a valuable class to take sometime at Brown. It’ll definitely come down to your own personal preference, but it seems like a lot of my friends have been very happy with taking Econ (it’s a requirement for many different concentrations and also just a fitting class to take, especially now).</p>
<p>I know i definitely want to tak it but i dont think i will first semester. i think ill end up taking the FYS. it seems like more fun and less stressful. getting used to life at Brown is going to be a huge adjustment in itself.</p>
<p>Yea, you have to register for all of that. Though I could have sworn there was a fourth. (the common meeting, lecture, lab and conference) You have the lecture, pre-lab, and lab as actual things you have to show up to.</p>
<p>I’m fond of the teacher for the Greek Tragedy course. She’s not the easiest grader, but she’ll of course be incredibly knowledgeable, fairly entertaining, and you’ll improve your writing a lot.</p>
<p>There are 4 different parts you need to register for, as AmbitiousMind07 said. There’s an M, S, C, and L section, all of which are required. S should be the lecture, M (whose time is not yet determined and of whose function I am unaware) the common meeting, L the lab, and C the conference. Lab sciences tend to take up a good amount of time.</p>