<p>on the MIT website, most of the departments list the recommended classes that students majoring in that field should take their spring semester (of freshman year) and fall semester (of sophomore year) but none of them mention anything about fall semester of freshman year. is there are a specific reason for this?</p>
<p>You should get your science GIRs out of the way first (8.01x, 8.02x, 18.01, 18.02, 5.11x, 7.01x), and most people don’t come in having tested out of all of those. But most people tend to have ASE’d or otherwise gotten credit such that they can get ahead.</p>
<p>If you happen to be that far ahead, just take the department recommendations for spring classes in the fall (unless they’re offered only in the spring, in which case check with your adviser when you get one and maybe get ideas from this board in the meantime).</p>
<p>Since the first term is pass/no record, it’s a good idea to pick the GIR you are least confident in (for me it was bio), and get it out of the way before grades start.</p>