<p>i'm wondering what it's like, what you cover, how hard it is (is it graded on a curve?), etc etc. also if there's any good way to prepare for it this summer. is it a lot of reading, or a lot of writing? i'm a strong english student (800 reading 800 writing) so i'm not expecting it to be terribly difficult, but i realize almost everyone here is going to be very smart--so is that a stupid assumption?</p>
<p>The seminar isn’t necessarily an English seminar. They are all writing focused, but they’re offered in many departments–history, English, linguistics, anthropology, etc. A pretty wide range of topics is available. How much reading there is depends on the course, of course, but there will be a fair amount of reading and writing. You’ll also have an upperclassmen writing tutor assigned to the course, to go over essays with you and help you with writing if you need it. (I assume they still do this, anyway.) I wouldn’t describe it as hard, exactly, but how well you do depends on how well-written and researched your essays are.</p>
<p>My son also got those 800s and they automatically waived the writing course requirement without his even asking about it. But he graduated in 2006, so of course things may have changed.</p>
<p>^^They waive the writing course, so students go directly into a freshman seminar, which is separate from writing 5.</p>
<p>sorry, i specifically meant the required WRITING class. i didn’t even realize there were also required freshmen seminars.</p>
<p>In which case, if you got two 800’s, you’re writing requirement will likely be waived. I believe Dartmouth recently acquired funding to expand the freshmen writing program, so that all freshmen will take writing 5, but I don’t think that will go into effect next year yet. I don’t really know anything about the actual content of writing 5 because I was placed out of it.</p>