<p>Should I worry about signing up for "double-counting" classes when choosing courses for first and second semesters? On the one hand, I feel that, if I want to graduate on time while dual-degreeing, I should strategize from the get-go, but on the other hand, I feel that, in the case that I don't get accepted to dual-degree or if plans change and I decide that I don't want to dual-degree, I might as well choose courses that genuinely interest me (but are not necessarily double-counting).</p>
<p>If I sign-up for classes without regard to whether they are double-counting during my freshman year, would I have to take like 7-8 courses my soph, junior and senior years?</p>
<ol>
<li>you will never have to take 7-8 classes unless you plan really, really, really poorly. Also, can you do summer classes?</li>
<li>find classes that you’ll enjoy and double count? possibly easier said than done, but you’ll find a lot of things double count by their nature. which dual degree are you considering?</li>
</ol>
<p>If you mean a writing seminar and a freshman seminar, you’ll probably be fine. Freshman seminars are apparently a lot of reading but completely worth it.</p>
<p>I’m thinking IR+Wharton or PoliSci+Wharton as of now. So, I shouldn’t worry too much about double-counting my first year? Is there an efficient way to see if courses double count? Or do I have to manually refer to both the College’s and the Wharton’s requirements for every course?</p>
<p>You’re definitely jumping the gun. Spend one semester at Penn before you consider adding a 2nd major in Wharton. Everyone who comes to Penn considers themselves exceptional, but this place has a way of humbling everyone.</p>
<p>I came to Wharton considering a 2nd degree in math. I dropped my first math class and don’t plan on trying it again in the future.</p>
<p>@woodrowwilson, I wouldn’t be so quick to assume…math is a very different beast than IR or Polysci. Also, planning it out ahead of time is SUPER important, especially because if you don’t…well, you’re kind of screwed. I realized midway through sophomore fall I would have liked to dual with IR, and I technically could have–I just would have had to stop taking language and take 6 classes for all of junior/senior year after study abroad (also to finish my minor).</p>
<p>After looking at classes/requirements for a period of time, you’ll get pretty good at figuring out which classes count for what and what the requirements are (also, see an advisor or two when you get to Penn). IR is pretty good for dualing in that several Wharton classes can count for the International Political Economy requirements of the IR major (I know knowing about psci). Check out the IR and psci department websites and see what the ‘prerequisite classes’ are (basically what you either need or what they recommend) and take one of those (like, psci 150?)–it obviously counts for IR and/or psci and probably a sector requirement, but then it also fulfills social structures in Wharton (I’m pretty sure). Or like, if you take a science, it will count for a Wharton “science and tech” but also one of the science requirements in the college. You’ll also be able to fulfill wharton’s “globals” pretty easily if you do IR.</p>
<p>Feel free to message me if you have any more questions about this sort of thing (I don’t get notifications from the board and I come here very rarely).</p>
<p>Well, you are assuming that I’m assuming a 3.8+. By no means am I assuming a 3.8+, which is why I inquired above whether I should waste my time trying to double-count my first semester, in case I don’t get accepted.</p>
<p>Anyway, the dual-degree option is just that - an option.</p>
<p>i read your post. you briefly mentioned the possibility of a 3.8 as if it were a minor contingency. it’s more than that. i have been at wharton/penn for a decently long time…i don’t need your lecture on dual degree just being an option</p>
<p>I didn’t imply anywhere in my post that the possibility of a 3.8 was a minor contingency. Maybe it is, maybe it’s not. I’m still going to ask my questions. </p>
<p>I understand that you’re probably jaded by all the bright-eyed freshmen jumping the gun year after year asking the same questions, but I’d rather ask any questions that I have than end up having to take 7 classes.</p>
<p>Honestly, a 3.8 isn’t hard at all if you actually study and don’t take ridiculously hard classes/are smart (like, some people are just better at math and do better, but…).
I know tons of people who transferred or could transfer into Wharton. You just have to be smart about it.</p>
<p>And powerbomb, I actually thought you were in wharton…woops. Anyway, take econ 001 and 002 (unless you’ve gotten out of them…and not at the same time obviously) and math 104 or 114 if you can. Don’t take statistics until you know what you’re doing. And it’s much easier to fulfill wharton non-core stuff than college stuff, so don’t worry too much. All your classes freshman year will count for something pretty much.</p>
<p>I got a 5 on BC, so I placed out of 104…I have to take Econ 1 and 2. I’m a little hesitant about 114. I did take multivar/linear algebra in high school, but that was like 2 years ago, and the class was way too easy (not because I thought the material was easy, but because our teacher made the tests open-book every single time), so I feel like I didn’t learn much. Do a lot of people in Wharton take 114?</p>
<p>there is no need for you to take 114. it will likely result in a B(counts as 3.0) and will hurt your transfer eligibility. it’s also heavily engineering based(areas of 3d shapes), so you might be disappointed by what you learn in the class. maybe it helps engineers design widgets but i don’t think it’s necessary for a wharton guy except maybe as a stepping stone to a math minor.</p>
<p>114 is actually useful in a matter of fields, and if you’re smart and you study (if you did multivar in high school you probably are smart) you should get an A in 114 (and you can always drop it if necessary)…it depends on the class. I mean, 30% of people get A’s so it’s totally possible you can be one of those people.</p>
<p>So, why 114 is useful (for school, not in what you learn): you need it to take econ 101, 250, and 251–which aren’t necessary for wharton, but if you’re dualing you can take econ 101 instead of bpub and i’m assuming it counts for IR/psci. econ 250/251 are options for the IR major (idk anything about psci, once again) and probably pretty useful if you decide to take them (you would take econ 250 instead of econ 050 in IR, or something like that).</p>
<p>Also, you could take stat430/431, which I think also fulfill some requirements in the college that stat101/102 don’t? Don’t quote me on that, but I think it may be the case.</p>
<p>Also, 114 will count for a ‘science and tech’ for wharton and something else for the college. Basically, taking it gives you a lot more options than not taking it (I wish I had restudied BC instead of taking 104–my math sequence was weird so I did BC but didn’t take the exam/math for a year–, and taken 114 instead).</p>
<p>I really do recommend 114, but review calc this summer if you can.</p>
<p>Math 114 is very straightforward. Also, the grading is done pretty fairly and largely depends on the class. Last fall 50% of people got As on the final so over 50% of people got some form of A in the class (for all of the sections). The tests are a little stressful though because they are too easy. A lot of people get perfect scores so if you make silly mistakes it will cost you a lot.
You do a review of differential equations in the beginning then go on to multivariable calculus with some vector calculus at the end. I imagine that for econ, the differential equations and the sections involving functions of several variables are useful. However the class is terribly taught and you could definitely teach the material to yourself using the textbook.</p>
<p>Wouldn’t it be a good idea to take 114 after 2nd semester once I find out whether I’ve been accepted or not? I’ll probably end up taking it at one point or another either way, if only to fulfill the formal reasoning requirement for the College, but if I won’t need it for my first two semesters, it might be smarter for me to take it sometime further down the road just to maximize my chance for a higher GPA, no?</p>
<p>I don’t know why you are so afraid of taking math 114. You stated that you took multivariable calc/linear algebra in high school. It shouldn’t be hard for you then. The curve for math 114 is much more lenient than the curve for 104 and the material is straightforward if you understand the subject.</p>
<p>Like I said, that was 2 years ago (I’m on a gap year right now and I feel like my brain is dead), and I literally didn’t learn anything in that class. Everything was open-book, and the curve was ridiculously lenient. I guess if I wanted, I could get a tutor and actually try (and I will) but I’m just wondering if it’s necessary to do that during my first 2 semesters when I’m probably going to have a lot of other stuff going on with adjusting to college life, etc.</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, I think 114 is going to be a useful class, and I’ll probably end up taking it even if I don’t get accepted to dual-degree, if only to fulfill requirements for a econ major or whatever, but I’m just wondering if there’s any difference between taking it as soon as I get on campus, or waiting a couple more semesters.</p>
<p>Regardless of your exposure to MV calc (most people had not taken before when they went into math 114), math 114 really not as terribly difficult as people make it out to be. From the point of view of science and engineering majors, math 114 is actually easier than sciences classes like intro chem (I may be biased here). It’s definitely less work, there may not be homework, only a weekly quiz.</p>