<p>OK, i dont mean to be cocky about this, but im pretty sure i got a 5 on the cal bc and chem ap tests. now, when considering placement at SEAS, thatll allow me to get into calc 3, the intermediate physics track (calculus based - recommended for calc 3 freshmen), and one of the higher chemistry tracks. Im wondering, should i take all this placement, a combination of them, or just stick with the lowest classes and get As to help my gpa? Any and all advice is appreciated.</p>
<p>your best bet is usually to take the lowest level of physics and chem....as for calc...depends on how comfortable you are with the material of calc 2....if you are very comfortable with it then go for calc 3, if your not, take calc 2.</p>
<p>Got a load of 5's on AP's... I'm not cashing in ANY. </p>
<p>Cashing in = missing the intro classes = bad foundation = owned in upper level classes (eventually) = GPA sinking</p>
<p>I've yet to uncover a rational reason to skip the intro classes (unless you really are Pr0 at the material). But for some odd reason, I don't think my AP Economics/IB Economics is quite commensurate with what Columbia teaches =P. Oh and plus, I'm definitely not placing out of INtro to Econ (Principles of Economics) either because I hear it's simply an AMAZING class.</p>
<p>Well, a possible rational reason for skipping intro classes could be so you can move ahead in your major and take more of other classes, yes?</p>
<p>The only courses i can get out of are calc 1 and 2, otherwise for physics and chemistry i will still have to take the same amount of courses, just i would be taking a more advanced track. The calc 1 and 2 i kinda want to get out of b/c i think im pretty well prepared in that sector and plus i get to skip classes, its just that with the chem/physics i skip nothing, only intensify what classes i have; thats why im kinda tentative concerning whether to take the placement. Has anyone (denzera and C2002 come to mind) taken these higher tracks or know anything about them in terms of relative ease and intensity versus the normal track? Thanks.</p>
<p>Actually, if you tqake mid-level chemistry, you get out of one semester. Regular and Organic are each 3 (2 + lab), but mid-level is 2 (1 + lab)</p>
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Cashing in = missing the intro classes = bad foundation = owned in upper level classes (eventually) = GPA sinking
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<p>This isn't really true. If you're really comfortable with the material ("I know I aced the Chem AP" versus "I hope I got a 5 because I don't really know how to balance a reaction"), you won't have a bad foundation and you'll be fine. Lots of people place out of sciences and do just fine.</p>
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've yet to uncover a rational reason to skip the intro classes (unless you really are Pr0 at the material).
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<p>Getting ahead so you can have more electives / graduate early / study abroad / take a lighter load senior year / double major. Getting a head start on classes in your major. Avoiding intro classes that are known to be hard. Challenging yourself if you're the type who gets bored.</p>
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Has anyone (denzera and C2002 come to mind) taken these higher tracks or know anything about them in terms of relative ease and intensity versus the normal track? Thanks.
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<p>I started in Diff'l Equations for math, took organic chem, and took the middle physics track (was in accel physics for a day and dropped out). Taking organic chem is a great deal if you plan on (or have to) take organic chem anyway; you get out of 2 semesters of gen chem, which is a hard class, and get to take an organic class w/ freshman that is easier than the regular organic class. Accel physics is a bit** and should only be taken if you're a physics genius or like suffering. Placing out of math is a very good thing because the intro math courses often are taught by terrible profs and are artificially hard depending on how theory/proof-based your prof is.</p>
<p>I more or less support C02's reasoning. However, I'm in big favor of taking as many AP exams as you can, because with it I got granted 15 credits which helped me basically slack off senior year. I think I got credit for:</p>
<ul>
<li>Biology (3)</li>
<li>English (6 - 3 each for Language & Literature)</li>
<li>History (6 - 3 each for Euro & US)</li>
</ul>
<p>As for the placement subjects:</p>
<ul>
<li>Calc is a matter of personal preference. Back when I started, they had a sped-up "S" track, intended for engineers, which would finish what is now 4 semesters of calc in 3 semesters. So I started with Calc 1S as a GPA-boost, but essentially skipped a semester. Now, I'm not sure what I'd do - I'd probably start with Calc 2. But really, that's a call you should wait to make.</li>
<li>Chemistry: for the love of god, if you've taken HS chem, try to get into Intensive G-chem. Unless you're nuts like C02 and think you can handle Orgo, but the people I know who did that worked twice as hard. There are dozens of reasons to take Intensive, but the top 3 are:
1) You get out of a semester of chem! regular G-chem is two semesters of lectures, this is only one. And it's not that much more work.
2) Regular g-chem is a 'separate the men from the boys' course where there's actually a ton of work, but there's also 250 people in the class. it's a real pain to get personalized help, whereas George Flynn is extremely generous with his time.
3) In G-chem you have to do a research paper-type project at the end of the semester. No such thing in Intensive, just the usual tests and final.</li>
</ul>
<p>I could go on. But yeah, if you can place into Intensive, do it.</p>
<ul>
<li>Physics. Like C02 said, don't go for Accelerated / 2801 unless you have a death wish or a nobel prize. But unlike Shraf, I was glad I took the 1601/1602 track instead of the lower 1401/1402 track. We got to more interesting subjects and the class just felt more rigorous. We also had a great teacher fall semester, he totally deserved his round of applause at the end.</li>
</ul>
<p>My two cents.
-D</p>
<p>
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- Chemistry: for the love of god, if you've taken HS chem, try to get into Intensive G-chem. Unless you're nuts like C02 and think you can handle Orgo, but the people I know who did that worked twice as hard.
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<p>The lost point is that, if you're premed/bio/chem/chemE/bme/etc. you have to take organic at some time. It sucks no matter when you take it. (Actually, Turro taught 1st semester frosh orgo when I was there and was as much of a softie as an organic prof gets.) It sucks more if you take the harder class as a soph than the easier frosh class.</p>
<p>In contract, accel phys is something you'll never have to take. It doesn't get you any placement. 2 semesters of accel phys is the same number of credits as 3 semesters of regular physics, so you're no better off in the end.</p>
<p>as premed a couple of A's in gchem wouldnt hurt and as bme you are no longer required to take both semesters of orgo, only the first one and again, a couple of A's won't hurt since your gpa is gonna get punished jr yr.</p>
<p>oh wow, thanks a bunch guys. im going into chemE so my only remaining questions are for the physics, is the middle track actually harder or just different (calculus based) and for the chem, i know since im going into chemE im going to get *****ed by orgo sooner or later, but would you guys figure freshmen orgo is easier than later orgo? Thanks a bunch once again.</p>
<p>
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as premed a couple of A's in gchem wouldnt hurt and as bme you are no longer required to take both semesters of orgo, only the first one and again, a couple of A's won't hurt since your gpa is gonna get punished jr yr.
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<p>Genchem isn't an easy A; lots of people in genchem got 5's on the AP chem. If the goal is maximizing your GPA, you're better off placing out of genchem and then having the chance as an upperclassman to take more cushy classes that give you an easy A.</p>
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for the physics, is the middle track actually harder or just different (calculus based)
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<p>They're all calculus based. I think the difficulty depends on the prof, but its not significantly harder. Just different emphasis of material.</p>
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for the chem, i know since im going into chemE im going to get *****ed by orgo sooner or later, but would you guys figure freshmen orgo is easier than later orgo?
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<p>Do you need both semesters of organic for ChemE? Shraf's post for BME makes me think you might not. If not, can you take 1 semester of freshman orgo and then drop out?</p>
<p>My S goes to Columbia SEAS this fall. He is expecting 5s in AP Chem (took hons chem and AP at school), AP Physics C (took both honors and AP) and AP Calc. AB. Also AP Comp Sci. What would be ideal tracks for him in SEAS? I do not understand how APs work, cashing in, how this plays into elective choice etc. For what this is worth, both his physics teachers (hons and AP) have described him as incredibly good at physics. His current teacher says he arrives at solutions without even bothering to work out steps but when teacher goes thru steps the answer is correct. I don't know if this is normal for any bright physics student and the school has a dearth of such students or if the teacher is particularly inexperienced with smart kids (but this from 2 different teachers in 2 successive years) or if my son has a flair. For what it is worth, he got 800 on physics and found Cal AB very easy. Not being into sci/math his mother and I do not know what to make of all this. Would like comments particularly from truazn and denzera but will everyone chip in please?</p>
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Do you need both semesters of organic for ChemE?
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<p>you only need one semester of orgo for chemE as well but if you take freshman orgo you must take both semesters and either way you must take orgo lab. I would suggest two semesters of gchem and one semester of orgo for chemE. </p>
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Would like comments particularly from truazn and denzera but will everyone chip in please?
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<p>i feel so underappreciated</p>
<p>ramaswami -- </p>
<p>At orientation, the physics department will hold a meeting that discusses the various options before first year students actually sign up for classes. The key question your S should ask is whether AP Calculus AB (equivalent to one semester of college calculus) is enough preparation for what students here are calling the mid-level (1600) introductory physics track, or whether he would need to have taken AP Calculus BC (equivalent to a full year of college calculus.) In other words, he may have enough physics preparation, but need more math. There are actually more levels than have been mentioned, but either the 1600 level courses or the 1400 level courses that are less calculus based can still prepare him for a physics major if that's what he decides.</p>
<p>hope I did not mislead you, he is not trying to be a physics major. Engineering, maybe mechanical.</p>
<p>You didn't mislead me. There is an applied physics major in the engineering school. But I was just trying to reassure you that he won't close out options if he takes any of the sequences people here have mentioned, whatever major he chooses.</p>
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Quote:
Would like comments particularly from truazn and denzera but will everyone chip in please?
i feel so underappreciated
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<p>We can cry a river together about how Truazn, who hasn't even started yet, gets more props than two alums. :)</p>
<p>My apologies, that was tactless of me. Can my S take the 1600 physics whilst doing Calc 2 which I presume is the BC CAlculus? he is going into SEAS. Would appreciate advice from everyone on what would be a prudent coursework overall for the entire first year for an engineering student who is not sure if he will study engineering, applied physic, applied math, or financial engineering. For what it is worth, two diff teachers have said he is very good at physics. With this info, what would be a good strategy? thanks.</p>
<p>My advice for the OP would be my advice for everyone in this situation. If you're an incoming engineer with a strong AP background, you should try Physics 1600 and Intensive g-chem, and decide Calc based on what you've done before and how much you desire an easy A your freshman year (which makes a big difference as you ramp up to columbia-grade expectations).</p>
<p>also, ramaswami, not to put too fine a point on it - but at some point, you're going to have to stop planning his schedule for him and let him figure it out on his own. he's going to do this soon anyway, and he'll just be at a disadvantage when he arrives on campus if he can't already handle things like this himself. He ought to be the one asking questions here, not you trying to justify his skill by telling us how much his teachers love him. It just doesn't seem like a useful paradigm. Just my honest opinion.</p>