<p>say I want to take a class like Math 20A, that's offered fall, winter, and spring quarter.
If i were to take it during winter or spring quarter, would it be more likely to be easier than fall quarter? I've heard rumors that it's like that but I can't quite figure out why it would be that way.</p>
<p>Any input would be appreciated</p>
<p>Also, do you recommend taking classes out of series? LIke if I took Math 20A during Spring, I'd have a huge break during summer so I might forget some stuff. Or does it really matter?</p>
<p>I’ve always noticed that if you’re “on track” (starting the series in the fall at Math 20A), the professors are typically “the best of the department”. I started Math 20A in the fall, and EVERY student enrolled in 20A in the fall took the exact same midterms and final at the same time. In essence, staying on track is typically easier since your professor doesn’t matter for the math series because every student is tested on the exact same material. You don’t have to worry about having a really hard teacher who gives you tricky questions, while your friend who’s enrolled in the same course with a different professor gives easier exams–everyone takes the exact same one, covering the same material. (Sorry this is so redundant)</p>
<p>My friends that started Math 20B or 20C in the fall all had different exams varying from professor to professor, so some 20B students had harder exams than their colleagues with a different professor.</p>
<p>For the Chem series, the “easy/good” professors such as Johnson/Brydges only teach the on-track courses. </p>
<p>When you take courses off-track, there are typically less professors/classes to choose from, and they may or may not be considered to be very good.</p>
<p>If I were you, I wouldn’t start Math 20A in the spring, unless you’re good at retaining material, or if you’ve already taken Calculus AB. Math 20B starts out with a few overlapping sections from 20A as a refresher, but its not much, as you dive right into varying integration methods/rotation within the first week.</p>
<p>I agree with astrina. I was one quarter late with chem. I got to take chem 6c with Johnson in the fall. All my professors were good for the Chem 6 series even though I started late. It depends whose assigned to teach what, which is probably pretty random if they’ve taught more than one thing. I’ve heard rumors of classes being easier (if they are a series) the following quarter. I believe it’s because the kids that do stay on track with their major are generally smarter than the ones taking it a quarter later. The kids taking it a quarter later, either couldn’t get into the class or failed the previous quarter and retaking. Usually the kids with more units (generally smarter) will be taking classes when they are normally supposed to be taken. Because the students who take classes a quarter later are less competitive, the averages will usually be lower for tests and the curve will work more to your benefit if you are actually an “on track” student who is taking the class a quarter later.</p>
<p>be aware that if you decide to take a class out of sequence (like in the winter instead of fall) then you will more than likely be here more than the minimum 4 years as the one quarter difference will throw you off if some of your classes are only offered once a year. I got screwed over that way…</p>