jaked3194

Well, hi. I am an A&S incoming freshman with a prospective neuroscience major (pre-med) and vocal performance minor. I just last month registered for my fall classes, and I wanted to check in with this forum and see if I have a workable schedule that I should be able to do well in. My classes are as follows:

MATH-150A-10 Single-Variable Calculus I
Stevenson Center 1308
MWF
11:10a - 12:00p

CHEM-102A-03 General Chemistry
Stevenson Center 4309
MWF
09:10a - 10:00a

CHEM-104A-09 General Chemistry Laboratory
Stevenson Center 5203
W
05:10p - 08:00p

SPAN-103-04 Intensive Elementary Spanish
Sutherland House 106
MTWRF
10:05a - 10:55a

MUSP-120-26 Private Instruction TBA
Blair TBA
TBA
12:00a - 12:00a

ANTH-115F-07 First-Year Writing Seminar
Hank Ingram House 208
TR
01:10p - 02:25p


Any and all input would be appreciated.

Vandy3023

I mean it kinda depends on what type of student you are but that looks kind of rough. MATH 150 is more difficult than you would expect because the test are department run and not made by the teacher (I've heard many horror stories about how bad 150A&B is). Chem can also be a shock for some kids. If you've taken AP Calc and AP chem and your an A student than this schedule will probably not be that bad, if not I'd lighten the load and try to enjoy your first semester and just get settled into things.

jaked3194

Thanks for responding. I've heard about 150 as well, but I've been thinking about it, and it seems like the better choice due to the slower curriculum. I feel as though the 150 horror stories and the consensus that 155 is easier comes from the fact that the people who are worse in Math would pick 150 thinking it would be easy, while those who are good at math pick 155, like engineers. This would lead to a severe difference in test scores, emphasized by the standardized test in 150. Those who do bad in 150 would most likely do just as bad or worse in 155. Oh, as to my chem and calc background, I took IB Math SL, which is probably just as hard or worse than AP Calc, and Pre-IB chemistry, which is much more difficult than honors chem from what I've heard but not as quite as hard as AP Chem.

Pancaked

Chem-Calc-Language is pretty common. Not sure how much of a commitment that Blair course is though. Courses are by no means easy but you can certainly handle them with good grades if you stay on top of studying.

Vandy3023

If your at all decent with math I would take 155 for the sole reason of avoiding a departmental test. Interacting with teachers in office hours is one of the most beneficial things you can do to prepare for any test (since they make it). But if a teacher doesn't make the test they can't help as much aside from hw help.

But as long as you go in ready (ie knowing that most people are as smart if not smarter than you and every test will reflect this) than you should be fine. Chem-Calc is almost like a rite of passage because its so common. You can always spot the freshman coming in waves through stevenson @ 8pm getting ready to take the chem exam. (like sheep going to the slaughter lol). But in all seriousness, go in with the right attitude and remember what your at vandy for and it will go smoothly.

LHSCary

If I'm reading this correctly, my only comment would be that you'd better be a fast walker on MWF getting from Stevenson Center to Southerland House in 5 minutes. (Of course, I'm a parent, so students, please chip in ...will profs mind if you walk in late every day to class?)

mysonsmom

My son is planning to major in molecular biology (pre-med) and minor in Spanish. He has registered for Math 155A, Bio 110A/111A, Chem 102A/104A and Intermediate Spanish Writing 201W for a total of 15 hours. He will take the first-year writing seminar in the spring. He graduated from a full IB high school where he had Pre-IB/Honors chemistry as a sophomore and two years of IB Physics, IB Bio and HL Math. Calc 155A will be a review for him, but he is hoping that starting there instead of in the higher level math will allow him more time to spend on chemistry. I hope the additional input is helpful!