<p>I’m planning on a biochem major, and premed.</p>
<p>I’ll probably be taking Chem 330 in the fall, so I’m guessing it’s not a good idea to take a chem FYS as well.</p>
<p>Should I go for a bio FYS? Or is it not so important that it be in my intended major? (Should I maybe take one in the humanities in anticipation of a heavy workload from the chem and math courses I’ll probably be taking?)</p>
<p>Another question… The course FREN 0720A: From Courtly Love to Postmodern Desire is “open to students with a 5 on the AP French test.” Does this mean the readings are in original French? Is this going to involve intensive paper-writing in French? I’m a little nervous about my junior year high school French skills carrying me through.</p>
<p>You might want to choose an FYS that is totally different from what you want to study. There is a pretty big list, and one of the great things about Brown is the ability to explore. So, your hunch is a good one to branch out into the humanities. I don’t know about the French. If it suggests a 5 on the AP, I would say that, yes, it will be all in French.</p>
<p>I think the lottery includes spring semester as well, though I don’t really remember, from my D last year. You will get info when the lottery opens. I also think you list choices 1,2,3. You will not get more than one FYS.</p>
<p>I notice you are from San Jose, California. Well, welcome to four seasons! I am sure you will enjoy New England, and Brown. Congratulations!</p>
<p>I’m about 95% sure french 72 is all french reading and writing. Take whichever FYS you think you will enjoy more, keeping in mind that the odds that you will ever be able to take that class later slim to none. I dont have banner open in front of me, but if your FYS in humanities is similar to another class you could take later, maybe go with the bio one, or vice versa.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. The lottery did allow two choices; I made #1 a humanities course and #2 biology. </p>
<p>franglish, thanks, I am a little apprehensive about the freezing weather thing! I’ll need to expand my cold weather wardrobe beyond sweatshirts.</p>
<p>For the French course, you probably shouldn’t be too worried. (Tangent: I really dislike how course placement is based on 5 on the AP OR 700+ on the SAT II - the SAT II is so much easier than the AP exam!) You get back in the swing of languages fairly quickly. I know a few people who took the French FYS and loved it. For my French courses (60 and 151), I’ve only had to write papers of a few pages in length (I think four pages being the longest?), though readings were of course much longer than in high school (where we didn’t really read at all!).</p>
<p>Comisar-- it will be great! Providence in winter can be beautiful. It can also be slushy and yucky (my D reports). The most important thing is waterproof foot-wear. Layers on top is good; a warm (down, maybe) jacket WITH A HOOD (I’m a mom). Gloves, scarf, hat. It’s not that bad. Not like way north. It has been pretty mild the last few years, compared to what it used to be. But, you do need to think about it. Don’t worry if you can’t find the right stuff in your local stores, you will be able to shop once you get to Providence. Pretty good mall, and Thayer Street (just outside of campus) has Urban Outfitters and other stores that will be able to supply you well. Winter won’t start right away. You will have a gorgeous autumn first! :)</p>
<p>FWIW, FYS in the sciences never count towards your concentration. That’s true in almost any other subject as well. You should only take a FYS if you really want to engage the subject matter or the professor.</p>
<p>Prov winter last year was really mild compared to where I’m from. The close bay moderates the temperature via heat capacity of water which makes it warmer compared to more inland places like rural Mass and NH/VT. It’s much windier where I’m from (windiest city in the country) so I thought the cold wasn’t too bad since it wasn’t cutting through to my skin every day. It happened, just not often. I think the whole Cali to anywhere with seasons transition is a pretty common apprehension faced by students.</p>
<p>And I didn’t know Urban Outfitters even carried winter gear. Most people shop at City Sports and buy a ridiculously expensive North Face coat or jacket and get the 10% Brown discount.</p>
<p>I’m probably going to be in NYC and Boston for about two weeks with family before orientation starts… would it be a better idea to shop for winter clothing there? Or is there not going to be much of a selection in August?</p>
<p>modestmelody, thanks for the tip about the sciences not counting toward a bio concentration. Is that because they don’t have a lab and are just reading/discussion based? How would the workload of a science FYS compare to the workload of a humanities FYS? (Would it be difficult to have a science FYS as well as a chem course and a bio course?)</p>
<p>I’m definitely going to be hitting the Urban Outfitters, franglish, even if not for coats :)</p>
<p>poubelle, I’ve wondered about that SAT II/AP discrepancy, too. Someone I know going to Harvard needs either a 5 on the AP test or a 600 on the SAT II!</p>
<p>It’s just because they’re not courses in the sequence they want you to take or of the rigor of electives they want you to take. FYS can be challenging, but remember, they have to assume very little or no knowledge of a subject and while engaging as a way to understand how a disciplinarian may think, it is not necessarily something that fits in disciplinarian training.</p>
<p>Workloads in FYS vary tremendously and is unpredictable across disciplines.</p>
<p>If you see something you like in NY/Boston, get it. But the mall in dowtown Providence has all the major stores so don’t worry about it-GAP, Abercrombie, Hollister, Banana Republic plus many others. They might not be showing the winter stuff when you arrive in August-you might have to wait until the end of Sept/Oct for it.</p>
<p>Modestmelody, in the catalog of courses my son was mailed, it says “BIOL 0190 courses do carry concentration credit in biology programs.” (The BIOL 0190 courses are FYS.)</p>