kmac222

I was picking out classes for the fall semester, and I'm a bit concerned regarding the difficulty of the schedule:


Integrated Math/Physics EMP Class
Introduction to Chemical Engineering Principles
Writing Seminar


From the student course guide, the emp class and the ChemE class seem to be fairly difficult. In high school, I was pretty decent at calculus and chemistry (physics was a little tougher for me), but I'm wondering if I'm putting too much work on myself during my first semester. By the way, I'm planning to major in chemical engineering.

Could anyone offer some advice? Also, generally how much work does a writing seminar entail?

Shiraz9

EMP is work, to be sure, but it is by no means impossible. As for the writing seminar, it's definitely it's fare share of work for an incoming freshman, but that only means its a little more time consuming than most other freshman introductory classes. It's not hard, just time-consuming. To be honest, I know a good number of people that had a schedule very similar to that, and they seemed to do fine.

lemoise

I'm now a Princeton senior, the best advice I've ever gotten on picking classes was from my freshman year on my OA trip. My leader (then a senior) said to shop around. That means, sign up for more courses than you're going to take and then eliminate the ones you don't like. Try them for a week and then drop them when you know you won't continue. You're paying a bundle so you can get allowances like these. Also, my biggest mistake freshman year was taking on a huge courseload that didn't let me breathe and really enjoy Princeton. If you don't like Intro to ChemE, it may be offered with a better professor. For example, I thought I was going to love Intro to Environmental Engineering, but ended up hating the class. When I took it again the next year with a different professor, I absolutely loved it. And Shiraz9 is right, the writing seminar takes a lot of time, so you might as well find one you enjoy reading and writing about, yes?

kmac222

thanks a lot for the input. i'll definitely shop around and talk to people.

JTC007

Intro to ChemE is definitely tough. I would try it, but if you don't like it drop it (you can always take it next year, when most of the ChemE majors do anyway). I would try to sign up for like 6 classes (or the equivalent) and drop one or two. It's much easier to drop than to add, and handling a 6-course load for the first week or two shouldn't be impossible, unless they are during the same slot. In that case, go to half of each to see what you like better.

alamoksha

I'm also a Princeton senior and undoubtedly my biggest mistake freshman fall was throwing myself into a packed engineering schedule without wiggle room. It's definitely doable, but definitely shop for a 5th or 6th course (preferably a problem set-less humanities class) - as other posters have said, you can always drop. Also - don't underestimate the stress that comes with transitioning to college. While the engineering track is pretty rigid and there isn't a whole ton of room to explore, don't forget that you have 3.5 more semesters to bust your butt. Much better to transition slowly than to overfill your plate and screw up your GPA right from the get-go.