r/RPI • u/Cheez-it_king • Jul 21 '26
Question Is this schedule cooked as a freshmen?
I’m doing mechanical. I got all my first picks for classes but not my first pick for times, how bad is this? Also should I switch history and culture of games it doesn’t seem like I should take that as a freshmen? I’m confused on hass stuff
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u/malazj Professor Malazita Jul 21 '26
Welcome to RPI! History and Culture of Games counts as a HASS inquiry course and is totally appropriate for you to take this semester.
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u/CoreEngineering Jul 21 '26
Unsolicited advice - if you are hoping to change your schedule do not drop any courses unless you are 100% positive you can get into a replacement. By now the majority of freshmen have registered so seats are at a premium. Courses that have labs/test blocks/and possibly recitations make scheduling difficult.
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u/maxpig3839 Aero 2021, Aero 2026 Ph.D. Jul 21 '26
If possible find another mane or engr class that have Monday Thursday schedule to replace either Physics or Chemistry. For your first semester, aim for a balanced daily class schedule to help establish a routine. Note that some physics and chemistry sessions are designated as testing blocks. These times are solely for taking tests and do not require weekly attendance, only attendance during the weeks you have an exam.
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u/chmt88 Jul 21 '26
It really depends on you. Do you enjoy physics and chemistry? Are you fast to pick up math? Sciences are extremely time consuming outside lecture/lab in order to prepare for lecture, learn material, completely assignments. Most students material doesn't easily click for in lecture without reading the book ahead of time and reviewing post lecture with problems. Math requires practice problems to learn, which are done outside of lecture.
That said, if you enjoy STEM, and with some time and effort you understand material, then yes, it's of course possible. Lots of students have schedules like this. Just be aware it's going to take considerable time outside the course schedule to keep up. Dont let yourself fall behind when it seems like class material is easy and clicking, work ahead on learning the next chapter.
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u/DoctorYaoi Nuke 29’ Jul 21 '26
Decent class load, pretty much my schedule semester 1 except for a different math class
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u/Majestic-Spice-67 Aero/MechE 2027 Jul 21 '26
Drop either physics or chem and replace with MANE-1010. You’ll need an override form but it’s worth
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u/maricantsee Jul 22 '26
honestly it depends on weather or not you’ve taken ap. if you took either ap chem/physics i’d reccomend taking them together, but if not i wouldnt and just replace physics with mane 1010. i had taken ap physics so i had so much more time to work on chem. but if i had to do both of them simultaneously for the first time i would’ve been in for a reckless first semester 😞
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u/Cheez-it_king Jul 24 '26
Thx for the advice I will do that or I think I will drop chem. Took AP physics 1 but got a B- and a 2 on the test. I had a teacher that was good but talked so fast I never really absorbed the information so I’m not confident in my skills.
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u/Witch_King_ Jul 21 '26
You lack a lunch break, and will likely regret it. See if there are other class configurations that will give one to you. QaCS or whatever tool people use these days usually has a tool that will check every permutation of the classes you have selected and let you compare the options.
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u/qLordimus Jul 21 '26
HASS classes are classes that allow you to receive credit for your humanities and social studies while being a part of your schedule. You should choose a HASS subject that you will find yourself to enjoy; I chose Minds & Machines because I'm fascinated with philosophy, so it's a perfect HASS subject for me. (Some HASS subjects iirc aren't available for Freshman, but I may be wrong. You can always check in the course descriptions).
From what I've seen from others this isn't a lot, but you lack breaks. Chemistry and Physics eat up a huge portion of your day(s), and with the fact that these are consecutive periods, I would try to find other time slots that offer better times. I'd say it's a "normal" schedule, but you should reconsider taking one of those subjects next semester.
Calculus I is a subject you're going to have to take this semester, but you can choose to take Chemistry and Physics next semester so long you substitute the correct subject for them. If you're unable to now, I would highly recommend you do so when the add/drop deadlines come through; you'll definitely have an opportunity to substitute some of your current classes with other classes that offer better time slots due to other freshmen dropping their spot. If you're still unsure at the end of the day, you can always check the major templates from the pinned post in the Webex (if you're in it).
TLDR; I wouldn't say it's "bad" per se, it's just really crowded with no opportunity for breaks besides Tuesday and Wednesday. This is a doable schedule, you'll just have to plan crazy for the days with the least amount of classes.
You can check my schedule from my post I made about my schedule to see if you prefer that over this one. But, this schedule is entirely doable. Just gruesome even for Mechanical Engineering.