quick random questions

[atomicfusion]

<p>Is there a store within walking distance of HMC where I can buy things like a light, tv, blankets, etc etc? I’m flying out there and I’m starting to get worried.</p>

<p>Is there a bank within walking distance?</p>

<p>Is the internet firewalled to torrents? (please… I hope it’s not)</p>

<p>How big are the dorm rooms? How much space do we get to put clothes? How much desk space?</p>

<p>Uhh when do we get to pick what classes we are taking? It seems like there hasn’t been any mention to me of that yet… maybe I missed the memo</p>

<p>Is there a grocery store within walking distance?</p>

<p>Is there a chipotle close around?</p>

<p>That’s all for now, i’ll think of some more to ask later.</p>

[rocketDA]

<p>okay, i’m going to do my best…</p>

<p>//Is there a store within walking distance of HMC where I can buy things like a light, tv, blankets, etc etc? I’m flying out there and I’m starting to get worried.</p>

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<p>walking distance…not if you’re carrying a tv. it is roughly a 10-15 minute walk otherwise. you can probably buy tv off some students when you arrive. i’ve seen relatively new 28" CRT’s go for $20. worst case: you grab a ride from a friend into the village.</p>

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<p>//Is there a bank within walking distance?</p>

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<p>i think there is some type of atm near mudd on one of the colleges. i don’t know which bank though. again, however, there are a bunch of full-on banks in the village.</p>

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<p>//Is the internet firewalled to torrents? (please… I hope it’s not)</p>

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<p>umm, i don’t think so. i think i recall some people from my dorm doing a torrent for some not so appropriate media… hmm… i’m not exactly sure.
//How big are the dorm rooms? How much space do we get to put clothes? How much desk space?
it really depends where you live. many of the inner dorm (quad dorms) have a floor space of about 199 sq ft for two people. you get your own closet that will probably be about 4 ft wide x 2.5 ft deep x 7 ft tall. in addition, a set of dressers that total about 30 cubic ft. that brings your total clothes space to the nice round number of 100 sq ft, or ~12.5% of your room.</p>

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<p>//Uhh when do we get to pick what classes we are taking? It seems like there hasn’t been any mention to me of that yet… maybe I missed the memo</p>

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<p>all you really have say over (besides attempting to test out of math, etc) first semester is your hum1 class. you should have gotten something in the mail that lists out your 10 or so options for this class.</p>

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<p>//Is there a grocery store within walking distance?</p>

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<p>yes, there are a few. you can also get small stuff at various campus stores.</p>

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<p>//Is there a chipotle close around?</p>

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<p>yes. there is one about 2 miles east of hmc on foothill, the main road.</p>

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[atomicfusion]

<p>Is it recommended to place out of classes?
I got 5s on BC and Stats, but I am definitely retaking calc because I didn’t know anything and took it junior year. I looked at the classes and it looks like stats is not needed to take any other class, so it wouldn’t really set me behind if I placed out of it, right? I don’t get credit for the course, though. Is there an advantage to being one math class ahead?</p>

<p>Also I think I might be placed out of the first physics class, but I never took calculus-based physics, even though I was pretty good at Physics B. Should I request to take the intro to phyics class? Is it calculus based?</p>

[tiyusufaly]

<p>I recommend placing out of stats, but not Math 11, so you are on the right track there. As for Physics 23, I don’t think you should pass out. Particularly, the second half of the class teaches you optics, but does it from a weird twisted sort of conceptual quantum way (you use Feynman’s QED as the textbook). There is a lot to learn.</p>

<p>So yea, just place out of stats.</p>

[rocketDA]

<p>Yeah. I took Physics B as well (5) and Calc BC (5) and I did not try to pass out of Physics 23. I passed out of Math 11 but perhaps I should not have done that.</p>

<p>Pass out of Stats if you can. First semester physics is important as they make you think in different ways in SR and QED.</p>

[atomicfusion]

<p>Thanks. I’m really confused about scheduling right now. Exactly what classes am I going to be taking freshman year? HMC is really terrible with information right now and it’s starting to get me frustrated.</p>

[tiyusufaly]

<p>First semester frosh year, you will be taking:</p>

<p>Humanities 1 - I believe you have filled out a form selecting your preferences for a Hum 1 class, and you will find out when you get to HMC what class you will be taking.</p>

<p>Chem 21, 25 - First semester of General Chemistry with lab component.</p>

<p>Physics 23 - Intro to special relativity and the weird quantum conceptual optics class that we talked about.</p>

<p>CS 5 - Intro to Computer Programming and Science.</p>

<p>Math 11, 12 - Calculus of One Real and Complex Variable (BC except more analytical and proof based), and Intro to Linear Algebra and Discrete Dynamical Systems. But, if you choose to pass out of Math 11, you’ll take instead Math 13 - Differential Equations I.</p>

<p>Second semester goes like this:</p>

<p>Chem 22, 26 - Second semester of General Chem and lab.</p>

<p>Physics 24, 28 - Mechanics and Wave Motion with lab.</p>

<p>Math 13, 14 - Differential Equations I, Multivariable Calculus I (if you took DE’s I first semester, you only take Multi-V).</p>

<p>A humanities elective</p>

<p>Another elective, the most common choices of which are Bio 52 (the core Intro to Bio class), Math 55 (Discrete Math), CS 60 (Principles of Computer Science), and Engineering 4 (Intro to Engineering Design).</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

[loriwass]

<p>Is it possible/advisable to accelerate placement for comp sci classes if one has a 5 on Comp Sci AB as a soph, has heavy, heavy math and has been doing USACO competitions for several years?</p>

[tiyusufaly]

<p>If you have that kind of experience, yea you could get placed out. I suggest you email the chair of the CS department, Mike Erlinger, at <a href=“mailto:mike@cs.hmc.edu”>mike@cs.hmc.edu</a> and explain your situation. He will tell you who to talk to and what to do to determine advanced placement.</p>