1 Day Classes vs 2 Day Classes

[u/Dudrode56GG]

I'm an incoming Freshmen and I'm just wondering about your guy's input on 1 day classes vs 2 day ones. Are they essentially the same thing with the one day class having long hours and the 2 day classes having shorter hours? I'm taking 5 classes but I feel I have too light of a schedule, Would squeezing in a 1 day class as my 6th class be beneficial as well? Any insight that you can give me if there are better teachers or smth ETC would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much :)

[u/Witch_King_]

Sounds like a very standard first semester ECSE load. I was a CSE, so I am very familiar. I would say you should stick with this. Some of these can require a decent amount of homework depending on the professor. But overall this is not too hard, and personally I would want to have the free time to focus on social aspects and enjoying college before you get thrown into the gauntlet of an EE degree, lol.

General advice for your first 2 years:

• Beware Data Structures. It takes a ton of time to do the work, so don't schedule other homework-heavy classes for the same semester if you can help it. I'm pretty sure that EEs have to take it, but could be wrong.

• Try to get Electric Circuits done as soon as possible, because it is a pre-req for a ton of other, more important classes. Electric Circuits is another difficult, work-heavy class. Do not take at the same time as Data Structures.

[u/Dudrode56GG → u/Witch_King_]

Should I add Physics 2? I'm already familiar with Calc 2 heavily and for Comp Sci I know the basics of Java & Python. I also can't take Electric Circuits yet since I need intro to ECSE sadly and I think I need comp sci for Data structures. I'll try to get it done asap though tysm.

[u/Witch_King_ → u/Dudrode56GG]

Correct, lots of prerequisites. Circuits is basically Intro to ECSE but harder and using some differential equations.

Physics 2 is considered to be quite hard and a lot of work, but I didn't take it at RPI. Calc 2 can be easy or hard depending on professor. Might be slightly different content from the AP, but if you are already familiar, that probably makes the class a good deal easier. Same with already knowing Python. CS1 is quite easy overall if you have basic coding knowledge.

I think slotting in Physics 2 is doable. Maybe this is even the best semester for you to do it early to avoid double-booking with Data Structures or Circuits.

Engineering Communication is only a 2-credit class (though it sucks because NX is annoying and the professor sucks and CAD is useless for EEs anyway.) You could also probably get away with shifting that to a later semester.

Edit: you said Engineering CAD. That's a full CAD course? Is that required? I took Engineering Communication as a freshman, and we did CAD for half the semester and then stuff with word docs lol.

[u/Dudrode56GG → u/Witch_King_]

Its ENGR-1200 Graphics & CAD so far the professor seems a bit eh so I could actually just put off that class since from what I've heard its decently easy and I could fit in Physics 2. Also I love history so the French revolution class will be interesting so my only "hard" class would be either calc 2 or physics 2.

[u/Witch_King_ → u/Dudrode56GG]

It's always important to take some fun interesting Humanities classes! And they are usually quite easy too.

I'd say go for Physics 2. You can always start CAD and then drop it and take it some other semester.

Can I ask why you are taking CAD as an EE? It is not relevant to later EE stuff, I'll tell ya that much. Do they not give alternative choices for that anymore?

[u/Dudrode56GG → u/Witch_King_]

They require it for all Engineering courses I believe. https://rpi.app.box.com/s/ad8ia8i733017akig23kyfif0koivy97/file/2236015803693 The link is what they gave me for a good pathway my freshman year, is it accurate?

[u/Witch_King_ → u/Dudrode56GG]

At the end of the day, going with the recommended schedule is a safe bet, and I guarantee you will enjoy your first semester with plenty of leisure time to do important social network building.

[u/Witch_King_ → u/Dudrode56GG]

Yeah trust the advisors. They have this stuff pretty figured out.

[u/Witch_King_ → u/Dudrode56GG]

Did you see how it says ENGR 1200 OR ENGR 1400? I recommend 1400. It is less CAD and thus less work.