<p>What is the typical schedule for an undecided freshman engineering major? I have taken AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, and AP Physics B.
Also when do most engineering students declare their major?</p>
<p>I have found typical schedules in other places. However, I feel I should get a chem book from my teacher and a higher level physics textbook from my old hs physics teacher. Does anyone prepare for freshman courses over the summer or should I just relax?</p>
<p>Engineering students declare their majors at the end of freshman year. If you got a 5 on the AP chem, then you don’t need to take chem, so in your first year you would take PHY103/104, MAT201/202, a writing seminar, maybe an engineering class (ie thermo if you’re interested in chem-e or ORF245 if you are interested in ORFE), and whatever else you would like.</p>
<p>relax over the summer!</p>
<p>You don’t need to prepare for freshman courses. That is a waste of your well-deserved summer. It’s not like it’s THAT hard here 
</p>
<p>Engineers need 36 courses, so this averages out to 9 courses a year (4 in one sem, 5 in the other is the usual way to go). For freshman year, you have to complete all your engineer requirements, which is MAT 201/202 (or 203/204 or 217/218 if you’re really mathematically inclied), PHY 103/104 (or PHY 105/106 which is harder), COS 126, and a semester of chemistry. So typically, most freshman are taking some variation of these courses to finish up the requirement. If you got a 5 on AP Calc BC, you can jump straight to MAT 201/203 instead of having to repeat calculus again. If you got 5 on AP Chem, you don’t need to take a chem class. I don’t thing AP Physics B allows you to place out of physics.</p>
<p>Also, the semester you have to take writing seminar will be randomly assigned to you, so some take it in the fall and others in the spring. I think most engineers find this class to be one of their least favorites…</p>
<p>I was an engineer freshman year, so here’s the scoop:</p>
<p>1) You will be exempt from MAT 103-4 and intro chem if you get 5s on your APs (or maybe 4s + good SAT II scores).
2) You will still have to take intro physics (PHY 103-4 or PHY 105-6…the split happens during the course so don’t worry about which until you get here. Basically a few weeks in some students apply for the “honors” section, which is much harder and mostly physics majors. 103-4 was plenty hard enough for most of us haha).
3) You could decide to do COS 126 (intro programming, required for all engineers) in the fall. It was probably my favorite course in the semester I took it, but it was a lot of work, especially for someone with no prior experience.
4)Other courses you could take are a writing seminar (you’ll be assigned fall or spring), a distribution requirement (I recommend it), an intro language (recommended even though you don’t need it), or possibly an intro engineering class like CHE 245 (I took this). </p>
<p>And if you’re curious, you can poke around on the Registrar’s web site to see what kind of schedule you might have. Look for “Timetable of Courses.” (Writing seminars will not be included). I remember what it was like to wait around to come to Princeton (for months more, back in the ancient days of ED), so I get where you are coming from. Hope this helps!</p>
<p>The “timetable of courses” JTC007 mentioned can be found here:</p>
<p>[Timetable</a> of Courses « Office of the Registrar](<a href=“http://registrar.princeton.edu/timetable/]Timetable”>Course Offerings | Office of the Registrar)</p>
<p>So if I qualify for advanced standing as an engineering major (BSE?), then is the next math I’m expected to take Linear Algebra or multivariable?</p>
<p>So if this is my schedule, how hard would you say it would be to cope?
- Linear Algebra OR multivariable (whichever comes after BC Calculus)
- Computer Science (since I didn’t get a 5 on the AP exam)
- Advanced Gen Chem (or do I have to take this since I got a 5 on AP Exam for Chem?) OR Organic Chemistry
- Advanced Economics
- Political Economy</p>
<p>Second Semester
- Lin. Alg/Multivariable
- Integrated Intro to Engineering: Physics
- Seminar in Political Philosophy
- Organic Chemistry???
- Neurobiology</p>
<p>@t-san</p>
<p>I assume you qualify for one semester of advanced standing since you didn’t get a 5 on AP Compsci AB, which you need for a full year of advanced standing. In your situation, you should complete multivar and linear algebra in your freshman year. If you got a 5 on the AP Chemistry exam, it means you can fulfill the 1 semester chemistry requirement with AP credit. Hence, you don’t actually need to take Advanced Gen Chem/any other chemistry classes (unless you want to). </p>
<p>Usually people take multivariable first and then linear algebra. In reality, you really don’t need to take it in that order, as the two are actually quite unrelated. However, if you decide to do linear algebra in the fall or multivariable in the spring, keep in mind you will have significantly less people in your class, which may be bad because the curve can be much harder or much easier depending on what kind of people you get. (I think they give like 30% A’s, so being the top 4 out of 13 people will be harder/easier than being the top 21/70 people). In terms of getting an A, I guess you can say it’s “less stable” to be taking them out of order. Note the stuff I said in this paragraph applies to MAT 203/204, but I’m not sure if it applies to MAT 201/202 since generally there are more people in those courses. As for MAT 217/218, I have no idea if it applies to them or not. I’m pretty sure nobody takes MAT 217/218 out of order.</p>
<p>As for the schedule you listed, can you say which course numbers they are (i.e. are you doing MAT 201/202 or 203/204 or 215/217/218? what is advanced economics? Is that ECO 200? What course is integrated into to engineering: physics? Is that the EMP one EGR 191/192/193/194? These courses are actually a 2-semester sequenced course that covers multivar/linear alg/phys mech/phys E&M. Each counts as 2 courses so you do EGR 191/192 in fall and EGR 193/194 in spring and you don’t take any MAT/PHY classes.) See <a href=“McGraw Commons – Online Platform for Course Blogs, Course Websites, and Course Projects”>McGraw Commons – Online Platform for Course Blogs, Course Websites, and Course Projects; for more info on EMP.</p>
<p>Also, I believe you forgot a writing seminar class all freshmen must take. Seminar in Political Philosophy is a Freshman Seminar class right?</p>
<p>Another thing I’ll mention is that if you have credit for ECO 100 and ECO 101, you can choose to take ECO 310/311 instead of the ECO 200/202. But multivar is a prerequisite for ECO 310/311 (note all you actually need is Lagrange and partial derivatives, which isn’t too difficult to learn from the actual econ course itself), so you probably want to take multivar in the fall if you decide to do ECO 310/311 in the fall.</p>
<p>Aside from figuring out the course names + number, feel free to follow up with additional questions.</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>i think that Princeton’s AP website says you can qualify for a year of advanced standing as long as you have 2 physics, 2 math, 1 chem/compsci, and 3 anything else. I have 2 math and 1 chem, and 3 other stuff, but I don’t have the physics (although I hope to after this school year). So I think that the compsci isn’t necessary anymore. I just want to take it b/c I think it’s needed for my major.</p>
<p>You’re right, I did forget the writing seminar as well.
I guess I’ll go back and rethink the classes. Just to clarify, multi and lin alg are both semester courses, right?
thanks again!</p>
<p>So first semester you are going to have a hard time convincing your advisor to let you take 5 classes. I wouldn’t do it-- use the fall of freshman year to make friends and get active in some ecs. Multi usually comes before linear. THe integrated engineering course is two semesters, and as opqpop says covers math as well. You do not need to take turbo chem if you have a 5 on the AP test. </p>
<p>Also, depending on your background, COS126, MAT 201/203, ECON310 and orgo seems like a really really rough semester, especially for fall of freshman year.</p>
<p>“Also, depending on your background, COS126, MAT 201/203, ECON310 and orgo seems like a really really rough semester, especially for fall of freshman year.”</p>
<p>this is what I wanted to know.</p>
<p>How about Math, CompSci and Eco, then. Because of the mandatory writing seminar. Is that more doable?</p>
<p>@t-san</p>
<p>Hope some more info helps:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>All engineering majors must take one semester of COS 126.</p></li>
<li><p>Indeed, multivar and linear algebra are both semester classes. Engineering majors must complete both. Multivariable can be satisfied by MAT 201 (regular), MAT 203 (advanced), or MAT 218 (hardest + most rigorous). Linear Algebra can be satisfied by MAT 202 (regular), MAT 204 (advanced), or MAT 217 (hardest + most rigorous). Note if you want to do MAT 218, you must do MAT 215 or have done proof based single variable calculus. MAT 217 and MAT 218 are both proof-based. </p></li>
<li><p>The difficulty of convincing your adviser to let you take 5 classes depends on the adviser. For instance, my adviser just let me take 5 classes in the fall without any trouble. If you want to do so, it may be best to emphasize to your adviser that you will drop one if it gets too difficult to handle.</p></li>
<li><p>You don’t get to pick which semester you take the writing seminar. Princeton will automatically assign you a semester and notify you I think sometime in the summer.</p></li>
<li><p>Regarding which combination of classes are “doable,” a lot of it depends on you and how well your high school prepared you. COS 126, MAT 201/203, ECO 310, + orgo does seem difficult, but certainly not impossible. However, it will probably require a lot of work, so keep that in mind if you want to do that. Some other factors you want to consider will be: which math class? which econ class? will you be taking writing seminar that semester?</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I’ll just give some details of the classes I’ve taken so far that are similar to the ones you’re interested in:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>MAT 201/202/203/204: The difficulty really depends on how good at math you are. Some people will find it difficult while others will find it easy. I’m taking MAT 204 currently (Class of '12). The weekly homework takes me ~3-5 hours. Spring 2009 MAT 204 is sort of special in that the lead instructor is kind of stupid (i.e. easy) and he is deviating a lot from the theoretical side of linear algebra. He’s a visiting prof by the way. Hence, Spring 2009 MAT 204 is probably the easiest it has been. Currently, there is hardly any theory/proofs involved. I have no idea if Spring 2010 MAT 204 will continue to make the class easier, but it’s nice to keep this in mind when you get advice from class of '10 and '11 regarding MAT 204, as they had to take a harder MAT 204 class I believe.
For MAT 203, my roommate took it and he says the weekly homework takes ~3hr - 6hr. He’s pretty decent at math. </p></li>
<li><p>MAT 217/218 is significantly harder. I didn’t take them, but it’s well known these two are difficult courses. Everything is proof-based, so you probably should only take it if you’re interested in majoring in math/physics. </p></li>
<li><p>ECO 310’s weekly homework takes me ~2-5 hours depending on if I get the material or not. It’s really not that bad if you’re good at math. If you’re not, you might struggle a bit with keeping up with the lecture. It’s a very interesting class if you want to see how microeconomics can be done with all math. </p></li>
<li><p>I’m pretty sure all writing seminars take up a lot of work. You’ll have readings due like every class, which take up at least 1.5+ hours for me because I am a bad reader. You also have to write 3 huge papers (1st one is like 5 pages, 2nd one is like 7 pages, 3rd one is like 10 pages) that pretty much make up your entire grade in the class. When rough drafts and final drafts of these papers are due, it can take up a ton of time. When they tell you which semester your writing seminar is, you should plan accordingly to make your other classes slightly easier for that semester. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>I would say MAT, COS, ECO is not hard at all w/o writing seminar. Certainly doable, and can also be easy if you’re good at math! I am referring to both MAT 201/COS 126/ECO 310 and MAT 203/COS 126/ECO 310. If you decide to do MAT 203, make sure you drop to MAT 201 if you can’t handle it. It really doesn’t make a difference if you take MAT 201 or 203. In my opinion, MAT 203 is for people who’ve already taken multivariable calc in high school, and just don’t want to be bored in MAT 201. </p>
<p>On the other hand, if you do those classes with a writing seminar, it may be challenging but is still certainly doable. Keep in mind you can always drop courses easily, so there’s nothing wrong with signing up for more classes than you can handle.</p>
<p>Finally, you’ll want to find out how difficult ECO 200/202 is compared to ECO 310/311, as there are many options for econ courses to take by placing out of 100 and 101.</p>
<p>opqpop- wow. sososo helpful O_O thank you muchos</p>
<p>I wouldn’t take ECO 310/311 unless you want to be a econ major, or are really interested in Econ. In any case, you’re going to have a really hard time convincing your adviser that you are qualified to take them freshman year…I have a friend who did, and he regretted taking them freshman year because they are really hard classes. He’s an econ major now and he wished he did better in them so his departmental gpa would be better. I feel like a lot of the course advise on CC is really geared towards the super-ambitious kids who can place out of everything, so if there are other 2013’ers reading this advice and feeling insecure about not being able to place out of every prerequisite ever, don’t worry! You’re the normal ones. There’s nothing wrong with taking MAT 103-4, PHY 103-4, or waiting a bit to take upper-level classes. Princeton is really hard, and you shouldn’t spend your freshman year fretting about zooming ahead on prerequisites, especially if you’re not even sure what you want to major in.</p>
<p>^^ I agree with that totally-- you’re only at princeton for 4 years, so take some interesting classes with those prereqs! Also I think the best advice I got was to mix up class sizes a bit every semester. It sucks having 4 large lecture class, and it is also a bit rough having 4 discussion classes that you have to always participate in.</p>