Just curious - have any of you taken higher level classes as a freshman and how was it?
For my situation, I’m REALLY interested in a particular class for next semester. It’s a history class at the 400 level (100-200 is lower level and 300-400 is higher level at my uni). It’s on a subject that I have been extremely interested in for several years and the professor has amazing reviews. It’s a “special topic”, meaning that it is being offered exclusively next semester and there’s no guarantee that it will ever be offered again. There are no prerequisites for this class.
Would it be a bad idea to email the professor and ask him about this class (like if he’d recommend that freshman don’t take this class)? I don’t know this professor - but I’m pretty sure that like all other professors, he’s busy and has more important things to do than dealing with a freshman who isn’t in any of his classes right now.
I realize that this is more of a personal issue that I need to evaluate, but I’d like to hear about other people’s experiences taking higher level classes as a freshman and if they’d recommend it or not. Thanks!!
It’s fine to email the professor and ask about the class (if he doesn’t want to respond, then he won’t), but I think you’d be all right if the class doesn’t have any prerequisites.
Usually special topics have a high course number, but that doesn’t mean it’s an upper-level class, at least not at my school. If it’s got no prereq you’ll be fine.
Last year as a freshman, I took several mid- to upper-level courses, including a 300-level math course, of which I was the only freshman in the class. I got As in all those courses
Are you sure there are no institutional pre-reqs? Special topic courses at my school are 300-level and typically require junior standing to enroll – but if that’s the not the case, then just ignore this.
Anyways, 1/2/3/400 level distinctions are not as rigid or clear as one might believe - a lot of it depends on the professor teaching. For a lot of professors, a 400 level class just means that formal examinations administered in class are replaced with research papers or that there is a bigger emphasis on class discussion rather than lecturing. For a 400 level history course, I imagine that it’ll be grounded a lot in analysis and themes (rather than a lower level history course that might be more focused on learning the nitty-gritty of World War II or the Roman Empire w/ dates and names.)
I think you should take it - academic curiosity is something that should be cultivated, not dismissed.
Sounds as if you have some previous knowledge, so that could be helpful. Rather than emailing the prof, I’d suggest dropping by office hours and asking in person.
The freshmen who ask this question are the freshmen who’ll succeed in those classes. I’d suggest sending the email to introduce yourself and learn more about the course, but keep it somewhat brief.
First look the course up and see if their are pre-requisites.
Then look up the professor’s office hours and go talk to him/her.
Find out if they would be offering the class again soon, and if not, would they consider having a freshman in the class? If so, How have freshmen done in this class before?
Also explain your interest in the topic.
If there are no pre-requesites, you should be fine. Higher number does not always equate to higher difficulty, it’s often used for the infrequent classes.