<p>I just completed my freshman year as an engineering major. First semester freshman engineers will take Calculus, Physics, Engineering 100, and an elective. Engineering 100 serves as the foundation seminar for engineering students. If the student is in a residential college, their elective will be a foundation seminar for that college. </p>
<p>As far as English goes, engineers are still required to take an english class, and many take it first semester. I got out of taking an english class because I got credit for AP English in high school (4 or 5 on the test) and I took a W1 class (the foundation seminar for the environmental residential college) first semester. Just getting credit for AP english or just taking a W1 class doesn’t get you out of it, but having both together does. Or at least that is what I understand. It might have changed since last year, so I’m sorry if what i’m saying is no longer true.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if what ericatbucknell said about first semester not being tough for engineers is true. Maybe if a junior engineering student took those classes, they would think that they were easy. As with all freshman, the transition into college is a challenge in itself. I did not have a strong Physics class in high school, so physics was a challenge for me, while it was less challenging for those who had had several years of AP physics in high school. I had one friend remark “We covered everything I did in a year of physics in the first lecture.” The class is fast-paced, but the professors are extremely helpful and accessible. Calculus depends a lot on the professor, but it’s a change from high school calculus. I got a 5 in both AB and BC calculus, but calc 3 was one of the most challenging classes I have ever taken. Engineering 100 is made up of several projects, most of which are group projects. You will not have homework every night, but there will be a big project due every few weeks. Many students will agree with me that group projects often present challenges of their own. Basically, a lot of the challenge has to do with your high school education. If you had to work hard in high school and had very solid physics or calculus classes in high school, you will probably have an easier time transitioning into college classes. </p>
<p>mojojojo69, Bucknell is in Lewisburg, PA, which is not a big city at all. It is not near a big city either, although the school offers frequent trips to New York, and a few trips to Philly and Washington.</p>