<p>So during orientation, placement tests are given. If I want to take Intensive General Chem and Calc 3 and have made the AP scores, do I still have to take placement tests? I'm in SEAS by the way, i'm just a bit confused about how the process works.</p>
<p>calc 3 does not have a placement test, just sign up for it....not sure about intensive chem though (i took GChem) but i dont think you will have to take a test for that either.</p>
<p>You do need to take the placement test for Intensive General Chem, or at least you used to have to do so when I was there. Definitely no placement test for math.</p>
<p>thanks a lot guys. Another question: on the bulletin, intensive chem says tests for "physics, trig, etc." are needed as well as a 5 on AP chem. So that means I have to take those physics and trig placement tests instead of chem?</p>
<p>Yeah, I second the question. Should I bust out the old textbooks now or is the chem placement test wing-able?</p>
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on the bulletin, intensive chem says tests for "physics, trig, etc." are needed as well as a 5 on AP chem.
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<p>Where does it say that? There's just a chemistry test.</p>
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Should I bust out the old textbooks now or is the chem placement test wing-able?
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<p>I took AP Chem my junior year, so I definitely needed to brush up before the test. I bought (or I assume my parents bought) one of those Cliffsnotes-type study guides, and I spent a good chunk of time getting back up to speed. The amount you needed to know to get a passing turned out to be really low, so I don't think they were looking to make sure you could still get a 5 on the AP chem during orientation. How much you want to study is your call; you know how much you remember.</p>
<p>my opinion.....</p>
<p>if you cant wing the placement test and pass then you should stick with the lower level class...</p>
<p>what they dont tell you is that noone will care what level of chem you took etc....this is not HS where you had to take Honors and AP and IB....the only diff bet intensive chem and Gchem is that it saves you a semester but in the end you come out having learned the same amount....and if you think that intensive will prepare you better for the MCAT or something or prepare you better for later classes thats not true.</p>
<p>Also, specifically for ppl in SEAS, I strongly suggest GChem and 1400 physics....you will need to build up that GPA before getting into engineering classes. No grad school or med school will be able to tell the difference between Physics 1601 and physics 1401 but your grade will be VERY different.</p>
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if you cant wing the placement test and pass then you should stick with the lower level class...
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<p>If you haven't studied the course in a year-and-a-half, why should you attempt to wing the test? You don't know how much you need to know to pass. In hindsight, I could probably have winged it and passed (b/c my score was much higher than it needed to be).</p>
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what they dont tell you is that noone will care what level of chem you took etc
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<p>Some people want to get ahead and save 1 semester of chem (taking intensive g-chem) or 2 semesters (taking intensive o-chem) because they want to have more room to take other classes to do a double major/minor, to graduate in three years, because they're intellectually curious, because they wantto be challenged. We're not all grade-grubbing premeds just attempting to get the highest GPA possible to keep up our place in the rat race.</p>
<p>Well the prob is that most people dont do it for any of the reasons you listed....they usually do it because they think that it will look better and so they could be doing a harder course load than the norm because they think that will be looked upon favorably later on....I was just pointing out that that's not a good reason to do it.</p>
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Well the prob is that most people dont do it for any of the reasons you listed....they usually do it because they think that it will look better and so they could be doing a harder course load than the norm because they think that will be looked upon favorably later on....I was just pointing out that that's not a good reason to do it.
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<p>I don't know who hang around, but it seems like most of the people you know are cut-throat premeds who do not represent the norm of Columbia. You seriously need to branch out and get away from these people.</p>
<p>Wait a sec... so if I did not fulfill the AP Calc requirement (AP score of 4) to take Calc 2, then can I still just sign up for it?</p>
<p>And honestly, do you get better grades in Gen Chem than Intensive, if you choose to take Gen Chem even though you passed the placement exam?</p>
<p>Would any of you suggest I spend the rest of my summer studying for this chem placement exam? Is it worth it?</p>
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And honestly, do you get better grades in Gen Chem than Intensive, if you choose to take Gen Chem even though you passed the placement exam?
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<p>Why would you take the placement exam if you have no intention of taking intensive? You don't need to take it unless you want to take intensive. It's impossible to say that intensive gchem is easier or harder than regular gchem without knowing how hard the profs are going to be for each class and how they'll set the curves.</p>
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Would any of you suggest I spend the rest of my summer studying for this chem placement exam? Is it worth it?
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<p>What are your goals? Worth it for what? "The rest of my summer" is a bit much, as studying for a few hours is probably good enough if you're fresh on it.</p>
<p>You are talking about cut throat premeds and the need to branch out.</p>
<p>Amazing.</p>
<p>Let us knwo wyo you are so we can be sure to avoid you like the plague.</p>
<p>CHEM C2407x Intensive General Chemistry (Lecture) 4 pts. Prerequisites: Entrance physics, chemistry, and trigonometry, and a grade of 5 on the chemistry Advanced Placement Examination and/or the qualifying examination given during orientation week.</p>
<p>^is what I meant. What does that presrequisite mean?</p>
<p>Thanks guys for your response.</p>
<p>Another question: how good is Environmental Engineering? If I'm considering law/business school is that a good major to choose?</p>
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Junior Member</p>
<p>Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 74</p>
<p>CHEM C2407x Intensive General Chemistry (Lecture) 4 pts. Prerequisites: Entrance physics, chemistry, and trigonometry, and a grade of 5 on the chemistry Advanced Placement Examination and/or the qualifying examination given during orientation week.</p>
<p>^is what I meant. What does that presrequisite mean?
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<p>There's no test for trig/physics/etc. It's just telling you that you'll need to be able to know those subjects to get the class. Don't worry about it. No test or anything.</p>
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Another question: how good is Environmental Engineering? If I'm considering law/business school is that a good major to choose?
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<p>It's a niche major, but Columbia's really good at it. There's the Biosphere in Arizona, too, that you can study "abroad" at.</p>
<p>If you're considering law/business, it doesn't matter what you major in. A good major is one you like.</p>
<p>C2002, I'm sorry to tell you that the Biosphere was cut loose by Columbia a couple years ago, and may be dismantled now due to lack of funding.</p>
<p>Wow, I'm out of it. Interesting.</p>
<p>Taking intensive general chem was the best decision I made freshman year. G-Chem was a miserable experience for most people who took it - exams in the evenings, huge sections, unhelpful professors (Leonard Fine loves students but never has enough time for them), etc. The professor for Intensive was one of the best I had, George Flynn. He spent so much time with me, 1 on 1, that he probably is personally responsible for me going from a B to the A- that I got.</p>
<p>The other main advantage is that Intensive is only one semester. You do G-Chem, you do it for the whole year. The workload difference isn't that spectacular, you just have to be smart.</p>
<p>Other than that, definitely take the tests if you have the background, but accept whatever class you get put into, because it's probably where you ought to be. Physics 2800 is pure insanity, however.</p>
<p>I can be more detailed if you decide it's important.</p>
<p>-Steve</p>
<p>I don't think George Flynn teaches that anymore. I think it's Berne now. And, how hard is it to pass the entrance test? Should I cram chem in because I haven't looked at it for months? Or just skim through?</p>
<p>And how hard is it to get an A?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>(SEAS student) what material will be on the chem placement exam? about how high would I have to score to get into intensive organic if I already got a 5 on the AP? do we get to choose the order in which we take univ writing and gateway? Is there a placement exam for calculus,physics, computer science, or other classes? do you get to choose your professional-level class or are you assigned to one based on the intended major you selected on your Columbia application? If so, is it difficult to change your intended major? Any help is deeply appreciated.</p>