<p>I'm having a tough time deciding between Calc 3 and Linear Algebra for my first semester this year. Any tips/suggestions on deciding between the two? Also, any suggestions on teachers (or for that matter, which teachers to NOT have?) Thanks!</p>
<p>I think it’s most common for incoming frosh to start off with Calc 3 if they have BC credit. From what I’ve heard (I didn’t take it at Tufts), it’s not that bad of a course. I looked up on SIS (where you do all your registration) and most of the blocks are listed as Staff, which usually means a grad. student will teach it. But sometimes they pull professors to teach them at the last minute if you’re lucky. The only prof. who is listed is Nitecki who I have never had but you can read for yourself: [Zbigniew</a> Nitecki - Tufts University - RateMyProfessors.com](<a href=“Zbigniew Nitecki at Tufts University | Rate My Professors”>Zbigniew Nitecki at Tufts University | Rate My Professors) </p>
<p>Ratemyprof’s is an invaluable resource to be taken with a grain of salt. But prof’s I personally know that are good: Kauffman, Borgers, Kilmer. Would stay away from Gutierrez, from my friend’s experience + his atrocious rmp review (reading it actually makes me feel bad for him: [Mauricio</a> Gutierrez - Tufts University - RateMyProfessors.com](<a href=“http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=116693]Mauricio”>Mauricio Gutierrez at Tufts University | Rate My Professors)). So anyways, I would go with Calc 3 then either Linear or Diffeq in the spring. Good luck!</p>
<p>^^That’s good advice.
I agree that, from everything I’ve heard, Gutierrez should be avoided. They are likely to list more prof. assignments before freshman registration (see <a href=“Tufts User Authentication - Stale Request”>Tufts User Authentication - Stale Request). Some of the good ones are Gonzalez, Tu, Quinto and Frumosu.
kackac- do you have any idea what academic areas you might want to concentrate in? Sometimes that will help guide you to the most appropriate math courses. For example, if economics, linear algebra or abstract linear algebra would be a good choice (but choose it by the best prof). Also, the upper level, 2-semester sequence in probability and statistics is supposed to be excellent, and I suspect would be great for people interested in everything from econ to psych.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the help. So I probably have my idea for majoring a bit too planned out, but I want to double with Quant Economics and Math with a minor in ELS (Entrepreneurial Leadership Studies). I’ll likely be taking Calc 3, but honestly any course suggestions would be great. RMP seems like a nice site- seems like the Nitecki guy should be avoided…</p>
<p>I’d start with Calc3, but it’s all about preference. LinAlg builds less off of previous material, whereas forgetting a little bit of AB/BC calc will make more of a challenge than perhaps it needs to be (or so I think). </p>
<p>Also, if you’re considering a math major, I highly recommend looking into the proof-based versions of Calc, which are math 17 and math 18. You’d end up retaking Calc I/II, but what is often two years of high school work is condensed into one semester and unless you had a heavily proof minded calc teacher in high school, you’ll be learning a very different set of skills. Plus, if you can get into the class, Todd Quinto (who teaches 17/18 this year) is awesome.</p>
<p>(Hi Dan…you may or my not remember me but we met at an admitted students Q&A and we talked about mangos for an insane amount of time)</p>
<p>The thing is that I’m trying to get a Quant Econ & Math major, as well as the ELS minor, so I feel like taking the 17/18 route would kind of hold me back a little bit… and another randomish question: how impossible would it be to do the aforementioned majors/minors while also taking enough science classes to fulfill the requirement to apply to medical schools? Thanks!</p>
<p>Mangoes! I do remember. </p>
<p>Just in case you haven’t familiarized yourself with the premed coursework: [Pre-medical</a> - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-medical]Pre-medical”>Pre-medical - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>So, you’d be taking (on average) one semester of science every semester to complete the requirements. There are, obviously, ways to alter that course. Summer work, or a year of science after graduation, or doubling up during a year at college. But, it’s doable. There is a large enough group of non-science major premed students that you’re not going to shock many people with that plan and our pre-health advisors will be apt to help you. </p>
<p>But you will want to meet with the pre-health advisors. And you’ll want to do so as early as possible. During orientation, make the effort to schedule a time so that you can map out what your options are and what makes sense given your goals. They are extremely realistically minded people, highly sensible, and can be trusted implicitly to tell you what’s helpful (even if what they tell you isn’t always happy news). </p>
<p>Go see them. You’ll be glad you did.</p>