Suggestions for easy classes this fall

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

My schedule is filled up with high-level courses that are perceived to be challenging, and I want to mitigate the adverse effects these courses will most likely bear on my gpa with a course that isn’t difficult. If anyone has any suggested courses ,that would be great. Suggestions don’t have to be restricted to any particular college within Cornell.Thanks

2

There are a number of one-credit courses that are interesting and don’t require a ton of outside work. While one credit won’t boost your GPA that much, it can help. If you’re interested in music at all, there are some music performance courses that are fairly easy to get As in.

3

I hear that Astro 1101 and Oceanography are very easy, although I’ve also heard that Oceanography is more difficult than many initially believe it to be.

4

What college are you in (Engineering, Arts and Sciences, etc?)

I’m speaking from the perspective of an Engineering student. For each semester your freshman year, atleast 3-4 of your classes will be requirements for your major that all Engineering students have to get out of the way. Additionally, most freshmen take 4 classes their first semester and then 4 or 5 their second; this leaves little to no wiggle room for extra classes. However, you can squeeze in a liberal studies elective here and there to give a boost to your GPA (they’re usually 3 credits) and to wipe out your liberal studies requirement.

For example, all engineers more or less have the following general requirements:

Math:

  1. MATH 1910
  2. MATH 1920 (Need to take 1910 before)
  3. MATH 2940 (Need to take 1920 before)

Sciences:
4. CHEM 2090
5. PHYS 1112
6. PHYS 2213 (need to take PHYS 1112 before)

Writing Seminar:
7. FWS 1
8. FWS 2

CS/Engineering classes:
9. CS 111x
10. ENGRI (Intro to Engineering)
11. ENGRD (Engineering Distribution (level above ENGRI))

Therefore, a freshman might have the following schedule for two semesters (typically, getting the majority of the reqs out of the way as soon as possible)

Fall:

  1. MATH 1910
  2. CHEM 2090
  3. FWS 1
  4. CS 111x
  5. (if you want, a liberal studies class)

Spring:

  1. MATH 1920
  2. PHYS 1112
  3. FWS 2
  4. ENGRI
  5. (if you want, a liberal studies class)

(With AP Credit, you can skip classes like MATH 1910 and PHYS 1112 and probably finish most of if not all your gen reqs before your sophomore year)

5

I have a few general electives left. I’m leaning towards Astro 1101:From New Worlds to Black Holes. Anyone have any insight on the course?

6

I took astro 1101 when it was taught by Prof. Lloyd. It’s a different course now, taught by Prof. Kaltenegger. She’s guest lectured in a couple of my classes, and she’s a truly remarkable person. However, she calls people out randomly in class to answer questions, which is pretty intimidating. She’ll make you pay attention and learn the material, which is certainly a good thing, but you’ll have to be comfortable being forced to answer questions in a large class (which some people are fine with and others would rather not do). The topics when I took the class were really interesting, and I personally am a big fan of Cornell’s astronomy department.