<p>it's probably a bit early to ask, but:</p>
<p>0a) are prerequisites binding? for example, if i already know linear algebra, do i have to take an exam to take a course that has linear algebra as a prerequisite, or can i just take it regardless of what they say? i ask because i don't care about credit; i don't want to graduate in 3 years or anything, so if i can avoid wasting time on some exam, it would be nice.
0b) and if the answer to (0a) is yes, how difficult are the exams to pass out of those non-core courses?
0c) what exactly is on the biology advanced standing exam? i can't find info about it on the MIT website, whereas the content of the calculus, physics, and chemistry exams are well documented.
1a) how hard is it to win a petition to exceed the freshman credit limit? because 54 units seems really small, especially with a hass course wasting 12 of them.
1b) if it's really hard, is there a way that i can take a class, just not for credit? like i'll still do all the assignments, go to lecture, etc. they just won't give me credit so i can sidestep the stupid limit.</p>
<p>0a. Not really. Your freshman advisor might give you more trouble about it than your advisor will in your upper years, but ultimately they'll usually defer to your choices. It's still nice to have the credit -- even if you don't want to graduate early or double-major, it's nice to have as much credit as possible to give you a bit of a cushion in future terms. If, for example, you want to drop a class one semester, it's nice to have that extra credit as a backup.</p>
<p>0c. The bio ASE is new this year, which is why there's not much information about it available. It will probably be much like the 7.012/3/4 exams; some past exams and problem sets are [here[/url</a>].</p>
<p>1a. You probably won't think 54 units is too little once you get here. :) I'm not sure I've ever heard of someone taking more than 54 units first term; it's possible second term if you qualify for [url=<a href="http://web.mit.edu/uinfo/academics/programs/progress/frosh.html#early%5Dsophomore">http://web.mit.edu/uinfo/academics/programs/progress/frosh.html#early]sophomore</a> standing](<a href="http://web.mit.edu/7.01x/7.013/study.html%5Dhere%5B/url">http://web.mit.edu/7.01x/7.013/study.html).</p>
<p>1b. Yes, you can take a class as a [url=<a href="http://web.mit.edu/academic-guide/sec9.html#Auditing%5Dlistener%5B/url">http://web.mit.edu/academic-guide/sec9.html#Auditing]listener[/url</a>] (although upon reading that, I'm not sure if classes taken as a listener count toward the credit limit or not). You could also just not register for a class, but show up for lectures -- it's not like you would be kicked out for not being registered.</p>
<p>haha, i know i sound like such a whippersnapper, but i'm just exploring my options in the case that i actually am capable of handling an extra class :)</p>
<p>many thanks for the prompt response.</p>
<p>l0l, I agree with mollie on 1a there ;)</p>
<p>I doubt you can bypass the limit first semester. If you really want to second semester, sophomore standing will let you do that (but you lose ABC/no record!)</p>
<p>"1a) how hard is it to win a petition to exceed the freshman credit limit? because 54 units seems really small, especially with a hass course wasting 12 of them."</p>
<p>very very hard. I know many people who were plagued by this. But honestly, it was probably for the best. It's one semester, not the end of the world. Even if a load of 54 units is too light for you, you'll appreciate the free time to explore student groups and sports and activities. There's always something to do. Lately I've been pretty depressed about having too much work to do to get seriously involved in all the things I want to be involved in: music and maybe a sport, the lit magazine, dance groups. I might cut back to less than 60 units next semester.</p>
<p>It's true!
Being on Pass/No Record (which means you care so very very little) along with the low credit limit sure makes for a lot of free time first semester.</p>
<p>But don't let it trick you into thinking that taking over 60 units in Spring Semester will be easy to make up for it.</p>
<p>It's not. It really takes away your free time.</p>
<p>60 units second semester is very managable, but don't try it first semester. You sound like the type of person who might just find first semester easy, and trust me, that will be one fantastic semester. But you won't really know how MIT will treat you until you try it out. I know a lot of people who came thinking they were going to take 7 classes a semester, get a few majors and minors, but ended up falling in love with hacking, or some other activity which ended up puching them into the regular 4 class schedule, so getting a semester under you belt before thinking of such things is a good idea.</p>
<p>And be warned, do not try the chemistry advanced standing unless you are absolutely sure you know everything. Just because you got a 5 on the AP means nothing (nothing!). I did, and guess what, I left 5 mintues into the test, and I believe I got a 14 total (my brother did even worse when he took it). The Chem department is crazy, seriously. That being said, I don't know how the biology one is.</p>
<p>
[quote]
And be warned, do not try the chemistry advanced standing unless you are absolutely sure you know everything.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If we do not do well on it, will we be penalized?</p>
<p>nope- you're taking it on pass-no record. If you do not pass, there is no record!</p>
<p>It's just that it's during orientation, and there will be tons of other fun stuff to do, and it sucks to be cooped up in your temp room studying for the chemistry ASE unless you're pretty sure you'll do well on it. Especially because it's at 9 in the morning.</p>
<p>Yeah, I should have made that clear. It's just a huge waste of time. If you study at all (I didn't because I was hanging out with people, etc.) you'll end up going to bed early and it's just not worth missing out on orientation, which is awesome. I think out of all the people who try it on average 2 people pass that exam, so again, unless you've taken an equivalent course and actually study it'll probably end with you leaving the test early and taking one of the chem courses anyways.</p>
<p>Do it if you want, but I would also say consider just planning on it and not going if you think you have something better to do the night before, don't feel like you have an obligation to try it like I did.</p>
<p>whoah! 2 people? yikes......... :-(</p>
<p>I really hope the new biology one isnt like that......... :-(</p>
<p>Does anyone know anybody who successfully petitioned for extra credits? If so, how did they convince the committee they could handle the extra classes?</p>
<p>Would ASE's help to show this?</p>
<p>I really wanted to take these 2 hass classes in addition to science classes, but how can I show that I can handle it? I've taken a lot of ap humanities classes in high school...will that convince them?</p>
<p>If I say I really, really, really want to take another class will that work? Uhhh, any advice please? :)</p>
<p>Honestly, it's really unlikely that anybody's going to sign off on a freshman taking more than 54 units.</p>
<p>The Academic</a> Guide is pretty clear:
[quote]
A freshman may not register for, or receive, more than 54 units of credit in the fall term, or more than 57 units in the spring term. In the fall term only, freshmen may exceed the 54-unit credit limit by up to 6 units for Seminar XL, and by 3 units for 3.093 Information Exploration: Become a Savy Scholar and 12.000 Mission. The Committee on Academic Performance (CAP) will not allow freshmen to exceed the credit limit.<a href="Emphasis%20theirs,%20not%20mine.">/quote</a></p>
<p>If you want to take two HASS classes first term, you're allowed, you'll just have to not take one of the GIRs in the fall. This isn't terribly common, but it's not weird or problematic, either.</p>
<p>You will also have six terms at MIT (or seven, if you qualify for sophomore standing) to take an unlimited number of units, if you find that's what floats your boat after two semesters of limited units.</p>
<p>what's wrong with taking one of those hass classes spring semester or sophomore year or something? Really, there's plenty of time. no rush.</p>
<p>what actually defines a passing grade on an ASE?</p>
<p>It's set by the department, and probably changes every year or with every test edition. </p>
<p>There's no universal grading scale at MIT. Most tests are graded on a curve, and the grade cutoffs are determined by professors for each test.</p>
<p>Are biology and chemistry the only two ASEs that have to be taken for placement regardless of your 5s on the respective AP tests?</p>
<p>And as per the bio department info session at CPW, about a maximum of 10% was cited as people passing. So that sounds different from the "2 people per year" for chemistry, unless of course only 20 people took that last year.</p>
<p>Chem ASE > Bio ASE</p>