<p>Correct me if I'm wrong, but the impression I'm getting from "Physics (self-tutorial) is that it is a course in which you don't really take any classes, instead everything is done independently. There are no lectures and materials are retrieved from the internet. </p>
<p>Is that true?</p>
<p>so i hear..but isnt that how most of the work is goinna be now?? llol, in high school, taechers dont really teach...unless the topic isnt int he textbook, so everyday i come home and work through my math, chem and physics problems and teach myself everything..ok not everyday lol, but u get the point</p>
<p>I heard that the physics department is quite good. . .one of the best in the country.</p>
<p>I don't know about how much independent work is done.</p>
<p>However, the facilities for physics at cornell are incredible. . . . they have a particle accelerator under the main campus, and for astronomy (closely related to physics), they operate a great observatory on campus and operate the largest radio telescope in the world located in Puerto Rico.</p>
<p>ye but for phsyics..dont you learn the stuff form a book or something?? i mean its like math, to really learn u got to do examples and problems...iunoo thats just the way its done in my school</p>
<p>What you are referring to is "autotutorial" phyiscs (ie phyiscs 101/102). Although there are no formal lectures, you will still spend probably an average of around 3-4 hours per week at the "Learning Center" doing labs, getting tutoring from the TA's, and taking tests. There are no midterms per se but you will have to take a test roughly every 2 weeks.</p>
<p>I heard that there is a calc based physics course as well. But do most premeds take this "autotutorial" version?</p>
<p>if only Feynman was still there...</p>
<p>Which one you take depends on your physics background and your own personality. You have to be a super motivated and organized individual to take the autotutorial physics class. Some regard it as "easier" so it might be ideal for someone with a weak physics background. Calc. based physics is probably slightly more impressive (and they've changed the curve so that it is as easy as the autotutorial class) but won't help you with the MCAT since the MCAT does not test calc-based physics. There are plenty of premeds in either class.</p>
<p>no way, feynman taaught at cornell?????????? i thought he was just at cal tech</p>
<p>There are 4 intro physics tracks at Cornell.</p>
<p>101-102 (and 103 in the summer) is the "autotutorial" class. I don't know much about it, though it doesn't use calculus and there aren't lectures or anything, and tests are every few weeks.</p>
<p>207-208 is the main non-calculus sequence, and I believe most premeds take this.</p>
<p>112-213-214 is the main calc-based sequence, geared more for engineers.</p>
<p>116-217-218 is the honors calc-based sequence, a more rigorous version of 112-213-214.</p>
<p>I know the honors version is quite a bit more work, but the curve is more lenient. I believe 217 was curved to an A-, while 213 was curved to a B-. However, getting an A- in 217 is going to be as hard as getting one in 213 because of the makeup of the class (more motivated people in the honors track) and the difficulty of the material.</p>
<p>I thought 207-208 was calc based???</p>
<p>it is. especially 208</p>
<p>207-208 is cal-based. Just not as much as the engineering or honor calc.</p>