Beyond the Blue Book: the skinny on intro classes

It's two in the morning and you're staring at your Blue Book. You know you want to take chemistry, but your parents are on your case to take English since you are at a liberal arts university. What classes should you sign up for? Many popular freshman classes come in various levels that depend on your skill and prior experience, and taking the wrong one can put a damper on your first year. Read on for an overview of the classes that most frosh consider taking.

English: You have to pre-register for English classes during the summer by sending in a response card. A variety of Intro English classes are offered, but AP and SAT II scores may limit your choice. Level I classes, English 114, 115, and 118, are for students without extensive experience, but these classes aren't easy. English 114 tackles intensive analysis and writing and has a reputation for difficulty. English 115 introduces students to advanced analysis. English 118, a seminar focusing on non-traditional subjects, is only offered second semester.

If you racked up high enough SAT or AP scores, you are eligible for Level II classes: English 120, 125, 127, and 129. New to the upcoming year, English 127 will be the only intro English class to focus solely on American literature. Rumors place Thoreau and Toni Morrison among the readings. In English 120, you'll spend most of your time penning personal prose while studying sample essays by professional writers. If you love poetry, English 125 may be the perfect class for you. This class, required for the English major, features works such as The Canterbury Tales and Paradise Lost. English 129 covers much of the Western canon—be prepared to do 400 pages of reading a week for this one.

Mathematics: Your first semester course is determined by how much math you took back in high school. Math 112 covers basic integral calculus. Even though Math 115 covers Calculus BC material, many frosh who took the BC exam in high school choose Math 115 as a refresher. Math 120 covers multivariable calculus and is known for massive problem sets, TAs who don't speak English, and tough exams. If you love theoretical math, consider Math 230. This year-long class covers multivariable calculus and linear algebra in an abstract, proof-driven manner.

Physics: The physics class you take depends not on your experience but on how hard you're willing to work. Physics 110 is designed for non-science majors. Physics 150 is an intermediate course with a light work-load, while Physics 180 is an advanced course with a lot of work, focusing on the mathematical basis of physics. Physics 200 is ideal for frosh with prior experience. The hardest and most theoretical among introductory physics is Physics 260; be prepared for exam questions like, "Disprove Einstein's theory of relativity."

Chemistry: Choosing chemistry classes depends on past experience and degree of willingness to kill your social life. Like English, you have to pre-register for chem classes. However, you'll have to take a placement exam if you wish to take something higher than general chemistry.

Chemistry 113, 114, and 118 are general chemistry classes. Chemistry 113 is a problem-solving class designed for students without much chemistry background, and is an easy way to fulfill a medical school chemistry requirement. Chemistry 114 moves faster than 113 and focuses more on theory. Chemistry 118 is a single-semester class that covers all of the 114 material in half the time, but doesn't go deeply into any subject. If you think general chemistry is a waste of your time, take the departmental exam to place into Freshman Organic Chemistry. Chem 125 requires serious dedication and memorization skills. Tests are killers and lab reports are long, but the curve is generous. While it is possible to place into Physical Chemistry (Chem 130) as a freshman, the department discourages most freshmen from taking the extremely challenging, math-intensive course.

Economics: Introductory economics is limited to micro and macroeconomics. Economics 110 is a special freshman-only microeconomics course taught in small sections by TAs. If this format isn't for you, you can take traditional introductory micro or macroeconomics classes, Econ 115 and 116, respectively. These courses cram several hundred students into lectures administered by dry speakers. The courses break into TA-led discussion sections once a week, and upperclassmen in the class add a bit of the flavor and experience lacking in the frosh-only Econ 110. 

Graphic by Sara Edward-Corbett.

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