Comments on: New Semester Resolutions http://survivingharvard.com/2008/08/11/new-semester-resolutions/ what Harvard taught me, what it can teach you Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:56:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Frosh http://survivingharvard.com/2008/08/11/new-semester-resolutions/comment-page-1/#comment-179 Frosh Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:21:19 +0000 http://survivingharvard.com/2008/08/11/new-semester-resolutions/#comment-179 Thanks for the advice Luyi! Thanks for the advice Luyi!

]]> By: Luyi http://survivingharvard.com/2008/08/11/new-semester-resolutions/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Luyi Wed, 13 Aug 2008 06:12:01 +0000 http://survivingharvard.com/2008/08/11/new-semester-resolutions/#comment-172 Taking 3 large introductory classes sounds pretty "standard" until you drill down to what those classes may be: Comp Sci 50 (heavy workload) Ec 10 (huge class, variable quality of section leaders, variability of economic ability) Math 21/23/25/55 (all require a more intuitive understanding of the Math, time spent increases exponentially with course number) Life Sciences 1a (huge class, variable quality of section leaders, huuuge variability of incoming students, long problem sets) Physics 15a (large class, difficult problem sets) Other humanity intro courses that I have no idea what they entail (History, English) but are sure to be reading and writing intensive. So, if you pick 3 of the above, you're looking at large class sizes, heavy workload, higher expectations than what you may have been used to AND if those courses are ACTUALLY introductions for you, you might end up having to do some catching up. Harvard students being Harvard students have generally prioritized academics. Thus, a freshmen who takes higher stress classes generally spends more time on said classes, time that could be spent getting to know your dorm mates or joining activities. Generally speaking, it's good to take a lighter course load. Obviously, if you're premed, then that's hard to get out of. The key to taking any intro. course is to, of course, form a study group, which thus allows you to make friends while studying. Obviously, if you like to study by yourself like I usually do, then this isn't the way to make friends. Also, this usually means that the friends you do make are all academically related to you (not a bad thing, but hey, I like to know people from the design/writing world even though I'm ec). From conversations I've had, I haven't heard anyone regret not taking a HEAVIER workload freshmen fall. (Although I have heard MANY regrets regarding Freshmen Seminars -- which are hit or miss, but most likely a "that was cool, but I could've done something else more productive" type of miss.) So, 2012er, moving forward, you just need to evaluate how you handle stressful academic situations, understand how relaxed you are when it comes to making new friends, and realistically project how well you will *transition* to college/dorm/not-at-home life. Taking 3 large introductory classes sounds pretty “standard” until you drill down to what those classes may be:
Comp Sci 50 (heavy workload)
Ec 10 (huge class, variable quality of section leaders, variability of economic ability)
Math 21/23/25/55 (all require a more intuitive understanding of the Math, time spent increases exponentially with course number)
Life Sciences 1a (huge class, variable quality of section leaders, huuuge variability of incoming students, long problem sets)
Physics 15a (large class, difficult problem sets)
Other humanity intro courses that I have no idea what they entail (History, English) but are sure to be reading and writing intensive.

So, if you pick 3 of the above, you’re looking at large class sizes, heavy workload, higher expectations than what you may have been used to AND if those courses are ACTUALLY introductions for you, you might end up having to do some catching up.

Harvard students being Harvard students have generally prioritized academics. Thus, a freshmen who takes higher stress classes generally spends more time on said classes, time that could be spent getting to know your dorm mates or joining activities.

Generally speaking, it’s good to take a lighter course load. Obviously, if you’re premed, then that’s hard to get out of. The key to taking any intro. course is to, of course, form a study group, which thus allows you to make friends while studying. Obviously, if you like to study by yourself like I usually do, then this isn’t the way to make friends. Also, this usually means that the friends you do make are all academically related to you (not a bad thing, but hey, I like to know people from the design/writing world even though I’m ec).

From conversations I’ve had, I haven’t heard anyone regret not taking a HEAVIER workload freshmen fall. (Although I have heard MANY regrets regarding Freshmen Seminars — which are hit or miss, but most likely a “that was cool, but I could’ve done something else more productive” type of miss.)

So, 2012er, moving forward, you just need to evaluate how you handle stressful academic situations, understand how relaxed you are when it comes to making new friends, and realistically project how well you will *transition* to college/dorm/not-at-home life.

]]> By: 2012er http://survivingharvard.com/2008/08/11/new-semester-resolutions/comment-page-1/#comment-171 2012er Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:09:21 +0000 http://survivingharvard.com/2008/08/11/new-semester-resolutions/#comment-171 Forgive my ignorance, but why does taking 3 large introductory classes inhibit your ability to make friends? Is it just because you don't engage much with other students during the class, or because of the type of work assigned or some other factor? Forgive my ignorance, but why does taking 3 large introductory classes inhibit your ability to make friends? Is it just because you don’t engage much with other students during the class, or because of the type of work assigned or some other factor?

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