<p>Is there anyway/anywhere to get academic advise before First Days? Coz I've been looking at the course catalog and it's like a puzzle especially when combined with the elaborate AP policies.</p>
<p>whats advise</p>
<p>advice, that is</p>
<p>The most direct way would be to email the dpt chairs in areas that you're interested/confused about.</p>
<p>However, more casually, you should consider posting your questions here--there are a number of current students who read these boards who could help you (myself included--pm me if you want to email).</p>
<p>My biggest piece of advice regarding pre-registration, however, is not to worry--when you get to campus you'll have another chance to sign up for classes, and most people end up making changes to their schedule then. Then, you'll be surrounded by fellow ephs who will be able ot help you out with all of this...so really, just don't worry!</p>
<p>Are there are particularly awesome classes that you would suggest freshmen to take? Any "you have to take this!" take of classes? (I am looking to be a History major)</p>
<p>The course catalog says that language and the sciences have the heaviest workload. Is this generally true? How is Bio 101?</p>
<p>Hi, I've tentatively decided the courses for m first semester...any feedback on the courses or the profs would be really welcome:</p>
<p>PHIL 101 (Cruz)
THEA 103 Acting I (Sangare)
PHYS 109 (Aalberts)...i'm bad at science and maths...is this too tough? just looking to fulfil my divisional requirement..
PSCI 204 (Swamy) would PSCI 100 with Crane be better??</p>
<p>Thanks a million</p>
<p>ladylazarus--</p>
<p>From my experience and what I've heard about PSCI classes, I would recommend shying away from 201-205 unless you're pretty sure that you want to be a PSCI major...they're designed to be for-major intro classes. If you're looking for a fun PSCI class, possibly to figure out whether PSCI is of interest to you, take a 100 level PSCI. </p>
<p>The only other course I can comment on is Phil 101, which I think you'll really enjoy. I'm a bigger Phil 102 fan but Cruz is a very good prof, and 101's great too. </p>
<p>College06--I would recommend taking ArtH 101-102, which is probably the one class just about everyone would recommend. I would also recommend thinking about taking either Phil 101 or 102 at some point your frosh year, but I'm a phil major so I'm obviously a little biased there haha.</p>
<p>thanks a ton haon. i plan to major in PHIL and PSCI as of now...so I'm pretty sure about PSCI...really like the subject.</p>
<p>and i couldn't decide between PHIL 101 and 102...finally decided that since i have to do both anyway for my major, might as well begin with 101 and then do 102...and i'd heard good things about cruz...so i opted for his section over dudley's.</p>
<p>ladylazarus-</p>
<p>the sequence that you take 101 and 102 does not matter. I took 102 first on my JA's recommendation (he was a philo major). Despite this, I wouldn't necessarily recommend taking 102 first; I think it makes absolutely no difference whatsoever.</p>
<p>is it legit to take 5 classes? or is that not done</p>
<p>tophe- That would be a mistake for your first semester frosh year. People do it, but it's definitely out of the norm. If after first semester frosh year you find 4 class manageable enough to think that you can handle a 5th, go for it. Chances are, though, you're going to want to stick to just 4.</p>
<p>I have mixed feelings about PSCI 204. I took it fall semester my sophomore year with Swamy, and I definitely learned a lot. Much of it is theory, but there are also many case studies that help illustrate the material. However, Swamy isn't a fantastic prof. That's not to say that he doesn't know his material, but sometimes he mumbles and rambles. For the most part, though, his outlines/lectures are solid, so no worries. I just wasn't terribly impressed.</p>
<p>And though I haven't taken him yet, I've heard that Crane is amazing. If you're considering taking a course of his over Swamy's, I'd definitely go for it, especially if you're not sure whether or not you'll be concentrating in the comparative politics subfield. </p>
<p>P.S. Take PSCI 120 with McAllister in the spring. I've been advertising his course shamelessly, but for good reason.</p>
<p>Is anyone able to comment on the placement tests administered during First Days? I've done the IB diploma program and I'm definitely looking for placement in math, physics, chem and bio (my IB highers)...also I don't really see the point in these placement tests right after the summer vacations! Is it wise to take two science (chem and bio) and a math course in the fall?</p>
<p>so, I guess I'll follow the crowd. Here's my fall schedule as of right now. You should probably know that I'm trying to double major in English and Music in addition to a concentration in Legal Studies (yes, I know. I'm insane)
English 245 (Pye) or English 222 (I. Bell) If you count a gateway as both a gateway and a period requirement, do you have to take an additional elective?
Music 103 (Lawrence) unless I can test out of this
Mus 220 (Bryant) if I can get a goldenrod petition approved to take an extra class in the music department.
Math 105 (Luca or Loepp)
any suggestions?</p>
<p>crnchycereal - thanks. Thing is I was considering 100 but thats intended for people with no background in PSCI...even though it covers Int Relations and Comp. Politics subfields (the two I"m interested in)...I wasn't sure about it. Would 100 be challenging enough? And how about 202 with Lynch? Even the factrak reviews on Swamy weren't too good but I <em>really</em> liked the course description of 204...</p>
<p>oh and I also want to do politics in india in the spring..hehe...Swamy again!! bad idea?</p>
<p>Don't be thrown off by the course numbers. As a rule, the numbering is used as a way to categorize the depth and breadth of material covered, not the difficulty involved. In other words, 100 level courses won't be easier than 200 or 300 level courses; they'll just cover a broader range of topics. In fact, many would argue that there are some 100 level courses that are more difficult than the higher level courses. </p>
<p>I'm taking 202 with Lynch in the fall (yes, I know, I know, it's a bit odd for a rising junior to take an intro to IR class, but that's my subfield concentration and I just need to take this course to get it out of the way...you understand). From what I've heard, he's an excellent but demanding professor. I wouldn't be too worried about it.</p>
<p>Also, I say go ahead and take the plunge with Swamy. He's a decent professor, all in all. And if you want to take a comparative politics course about India, he's probably your best bet anyway. You might as well establish an early relationship with him, eh?</p>
<p>So I had been putting off asking for advice, but I think now it's about time that I do, especially since I can't seem to make up my mind:</p>
<p>Chinese 101
Multivariable Calculus 105 with Loepp(That is, assuming I didn't completely bomb the AP exam)
City in Africa with Mutongi
The Rise & Fall of Civilizations with Foias </p>
<p>I wanted to take "Asia and the World" with Crane, but it would entail taking Chinese, Calc, and Africa back to back, and I don't think that's such a good idea. So yea, thoughts/advice?</p>
<p>nate23, i did the ib programme as well and decided to take chem 151 (i placed into 155 -- i just couldn't stand waking up THAT early) and biol 101, my ib highers. :-) it's definately doable. you might have a problem trying to take all those placement tests because the times overlap during orientation week (if i remember correctly). i don't think you should bother trying to place out of bio because i've heard that placing out is almost impossible and i wouldn't recommend it (ib bio is nothing compared to 101). for chem, try to get into 153 or 155 (if you can place into 155, you get to skip 256), so that's a plus. 151 would be all review. for math, your ib scores would determine which course you would take so i don't think the placement test is necessary. hope this helps! :-)</p>