To Current or Past Students: Physics 1400 or 1600?

Hey guys,

Incoming freshman to Columbia College here, prospective chemistry or physics major, possibly pre-med.

I was wondering whether I would be better off taking the physics 1400 or 1600 sequence. I like physics a lot and want to challenge myself, which makes me want to take 1600, but I am not sure that I have a strong enough physics background to do well (A-range) in the course.

I’ve taken one course of honors high school physics, based on algebra (no calculus was used in the course), and got a very good grade. I have NOT taken AP C Physics.

I’ve taken honors Geometry, Algebra II, and Precalc, and AP Calculus BC. I got a very good grade in the AP class, and probably got a 5 on the exam. If I did, I will be taking Calc III first semester.

The possible teachers for 1400 are Zelevinsky and Zajc, and the teacher for 1600 is Humensky. CULPA reviews seem to be negative for Zelevinsky, positive for Zajc, and mixed for Humensky. Does anyone have any input on these teachers, and should the quality of said teachers affect my decision?

I’d appreciate any thoughts on this dilemma. I’ve read past posts on the same question, and the answers were either inconclusive or written by people who thought any physics course that was not 2800 was a joke class.

Thanks

I took 1400 with Zajc because I was planning on doing biophysics + premed. The 1400 curve is really quite generous and it’s a gentle introduction to calculus based physics. Zajc is a very, very nice man, and the 1402 prof I had really made me appreciate him so much more. Zajc does HW once a week, 2 midterms, and a final. I think he’s a fairly engaging lecturer if you read the book in advance and go to class prepared.

Zelevinsky, I think, taught 1402 last semester. I did not take it with her, but my friends said she was pretty good at explaining stuff. The one issue is that she makes her own problems, while others don’t - they just use the textbook, and the answer keys are fairly readily available, so…

1600 - I don’t have experience with. My friends that took AP Physics C found it fairly ok, but I also spoke to a girl who is a physics major, and felt that she was cheated a bit with 1600 because she didn’t have as good preparation (no AP) and everyone else did, so the curve was not very generous.

If I were you, I’d sign up for both and attend the first few classes of each during Columbia’s ‘unofficial’ shopping week and see which you prefer. Based on what I’ve heard, 1600 gives you much better ‘intuition’ for physics - I would’ve taken it, but I had a number of hard courses that term - but I’m not sure how that will pan out gradewise. OTOH - you’ll be a freshman, so your other classes should be decently ok, but you’re also adapting to college, so…
I would consider the professor and the level of understanding, both.

Thanks so much for an extremely thorough and helpful answer!

I am also planning to take Gen Chem I first semester. The possible teachers are Parkin, McDermott, Savizky, and Beer. CULPA reviews seem to be negative for Beer, positive for Savizky, and mixed for Parkin and McDermott. Do you have any recommendation as to which teacher to take?

Savizky has really fair tests, and no homework, took him first semester and it was fine. Curve wasn’t super generous in that class, as its time slot made it the number one choice for premeds with packed schedules and GS students.