walkyu

A note on math 51H: The attrition rate, I've heard, is something like 40%. The "honors" marking doesn't grant you special awards, and you should only take it if you are capable of the workload. Don't be afraid to drop down to math 51 if you find yourself spending too much time on psets (the math department makes this transition very easy in terms of grading). Some of my most math-oriented friends ended up dropping 51H so they could have more time for other things. On the other hand, those who love the class, really love it.

GammaGrozza

Morsmordre or walkyu or any other current students...

Would
IHUM
CME 10? (whatever is the first one)
language
introsem?

be a decent schedule for a prospective MechE major. I got 5s on AP chem and both physics, so I have some breathing room in terms of starting in those fields later, right?

walkyu

Definitely is a decent schedule, for MechE or otherwise. Probably want to make sure your introsem isn't too much work for your first quarter. For reference, I took 15 units my first quarter, 17 in the winter, then 18 in the spring. I liked easing into fall quarter.

IHUM = 4 units
CME 100 = 5 units
Language = 5 units
Introsem = Anywhere from 2-5 units

If you got a 5 on AP Chem, you may want to consider chem 31X. However it is offered only in the fall, and is a 5 unit class (could lead to a pretty stressful first quarter, combined with IHUM, CME, and a language). The advantage you gain is that you don't have to spend two quarters on chem 31 topics. But, taking chem 31X also puts you on the fast track into chem 33 (o-chem which is definitely a lot of work). Your schedule now looks fine, just something to ponder.

Also you will have in your dorms RAs and in-house academic advisers who are a good resource for these questions.

GeekNerd

05 MATH 51H, main course
09 SLE 91, starch
01 ATHLETIC 174, dressing
05 CS 106A, dessert

I want to prep for Putnam, so I want it as light as possible, but Math51H is non-negotiable, so I think I don't have a choice.

aberdeen15

I would also like some advice from current students. I'm a prospective CS major, and I was thinking of taking...

IHUM (hopefully the Art of Living or Journeys)
JAPANLNG 7
MATH 42
Introsem

Is it OK as a CS major to wait until sophomore year to take Physics or Chemistry?

I feel slightly retarded. Is it weird for a "techie" to start in the MATH 40 series? It feels as if I'm behind or something from other engineering schedules I've seen on CC and fb. I did take AP Calc BC last year and I did well grade-wise, but I'm not confident in what I learned, and I didn't take the AP exam. My plan was to take MATH 42 as a refresher of what I learned last year, see if it sinks in more... but I dunno, maybe I am ready for the 50 series, or possibly the CME track... I was also thinking of applying for ACE...

gaahh, I'm so confused =[

llpitch

Yeah, I'm confused too. =[

For the current students that took an ACE math class, was it worth it?

llpitch

hmm it looks like we might have two classes together =]

Senior0991

^That will be a very filling and rich dessert, from what I've heard.

ngolsh314

do the 40 series and 50 series in math have to be taken all in one year? i feel like i need to take 42 before i move on to the 50 series. i'm a comp-sci or EE or mechE major. i just don't want to get behind all of my peers in my major.

walkyu

Don't work yourselves up over whether it's "acceptable" to take something at this point. I am offering my opinions, but you should remember that you will have in-house advisers and a bunch of undergrad advisers in Sweet Hall at your disposable. This is what these people get paid to do, answer your questions on whether it's okay to wait until a certain time to take a class, or whether to take a class now. This should be a priority when you arrive at Stanford (August is still to come! Enjoy it!) :P.

Also, if you know you what you are going to major in, go talk to some of the profs that teach those introductory classes (generally they're more inclined to know the curriculum because they work with undergrads more). Ask them questions like, is it okay if I take a certain class next year or later down the road. They are required to have office hours, and they like students coming in engaging with them (plus it's nice to make contact with the department early if you know you want to major in something--great for research opportunities!).

Remember you have time before you have to confirm your class list. The "shopping" period is great, use it to your advantage. If something isn't a good fit, find something else.

Techie majors historically try to get rid of the requirements earlier because there are so many requirements. This isn't universal, and doesn't mean you have to be taking full loads every quarter. You're much better off doing well with 16 units than struggling in 19 units, no matter how many requirements you have.

For what it's worth, some of my CS friends took math 42 in the fall (some even started in math 41), and they seemed to be fine. Not sure on the physics or chem requirements, but physics 41 in the winter and did not seem to be as difficult a class (some basic mechanics, virtually no calculus if at all). No E&M, and comparable to a basic high school physics class.

Let me reiterate, the math department is very liberal about placement in math 41, 42, and 51. Math 51 is 95% linear algebra, and little to no multivariable calculus, so despite your worries about not having a superb BC calc background, you could be in the same boat as others. The math department encourages you to self-place yourself, and doesn't have strict requirements for whether you can be in 51, 42, or 41. Anecdotally, I've heard that 41/42 can actually be harder than 51 because they go through a more thorough approach to single variable calculus than a typical BC curriculum.

Lastly, the new bulletin isn't even out, and many classes don't even have finalized meeting times. All of this will be subject to change, and no doubt you will find many schedule conflicts in your schedules with IHUM or some other class. So don't stress yourselves out over this yet, that will come later :P.

Last, lastly. Introsems are in large part application based (some are lotteries). You can put down you want to take an introsem, but remember that there's a chance you do not get accepted to a particular one, or you don't get included in the lottery. Just remain flexible.

Take some of your questions, file them away somewhere, and wait until you actually get here before you worry.

CreamCheesey

After reading so many horror stories about the 50H series, I'm afraid to take it now.

Morsmordre

CreamCheesey, most people who drop out know after the first or second problem set know that they cannot handle the class. On the first midterm if you get below 8/20 (which isn't a low standard at all haha) you are forced to drop the class. So try it out, see what you can do, and you can move down seamlessly into math 51. That being said, I can tell you that for most techy students, math 51h and cs106x in the same quarter is a deathwish. But, I don't know how skilled you are so just try it out, but make sure you know you can take math 51 and cs106b too.

nglosh, if you got a 5 on AB you should just move on to 51. If you feel you really need the background though you can take 42 in the fall and 51 in the winter when it's easier.

aberdeen, don't worry you're all right. I knew a few cs majors who started out with the 40 series, and to be honest, I know a person who has finished his cs major (junior) and was taking physics junior year. From what I heard you only need the 20 series, which is pretty easy. You're fine as long as you don't want to do EE or ChemE.

GeekNerd, you're the guy who takes at least 6 plates at the all you can eat buffet

GammaGrozza, you may want to be careful about postponing physics or chemistry because each physics class (light/heat, mech, e&m) are offered only one quarter each and chem31x is only offered in the fall. If I were you I'd look at the meche bulletin online to make sure you have credit for all the physics and chem you need to take before passing them up for your fall quarter schedule.

Bulletin:http://ughb.stanford.edu/OSA/handboo...ngineering.pdf

It seems like you need to finish a year of physics or a year of chemistry plus one quarter in the other. I'd advise taking physics 45 and chem 31x to fulfill this requirement. Physics 45 to finish your year of physics and chem 31x to do your quarter of chemistry. You probably don't want to postpone both of them (since they are both only offered in the fall) so I'd probably remove something from your schedule-like the language course to take one of them. Otherwise you'll have to do one of them sophomore year and the other one junior year and that could hurt you when you take higher level mechE courses that rely on these principles.

Sly Si

My year, it seemed like attrition was more like 60-70%, but I've heard it's been lower the last couple of years. Also, 51H is required if you want to do the math honors program. (Actually, the requirements for honors boil down to pretty much just the H series and a senior thesis.)

Also, are they really kicking people out for low midterm scores now? That seems hard to believe.

walkyu

Whoops, forgot about the math honors thing. I stand corrected.

My roommate had a joke with 51H psets: when your psets have no numbers, you know you're in trouble.

Morsmordre

Sly Si, I guess it was because your class was smart enough to leave before the midterm. But yeah, they kicked people out if they didn't meet a certain cutoff.