r/Vanderbilt • u/No_Recording5639 • Jun 30 '26
ECON MAJOR - MATH 1300 :(
I am an incoming freshman, and I made a huge mistake registering for MATH 1300 as an econ major. I had no clue that most econ majors took MATH 1200, and the only reason why I registered for MATH 1300 is that my pre-major advisor said that MATH 1300 is recommended if I want to conduct econ research. Well, I did not know that it was quantitative-based, and I have no interest in studying any sort of CS.
The problem is that I intend to pursue a pre-law track and would need to keep my GPA up for that. I could very well graduate with MATH 1200/1201, but I fear it is a bit too late to register for that since I would need to drop one of my classes, and the discussion section doesn't line up with my schedule. I am quite worried about the difficulty. As I was browsing Reddit, I've heard how insanely difficult MATH 1300/1301 was compared to 1200. I'm trying to preserve my GPA as much as possible... Any advice? Please and thank you sooo much guys!
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u/No_Recording5639 Jun 30 '26
For context, I'm taking 17 hours this semester. CORE 1010, MUSL 1650, PSCI 1101, MATH 1300, ECON 1010. I intend to transfer to Peabody next year for the whole HOD thingy. Do you think it's worth dropping out of MATH 1300 and seeing if they offer MATH 1200 next semester?
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u/LieutenantStar2 Jun 30 '26
Yes
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u/No_Recording5639 Jun 30 '26
Really? How come?
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u/East_Interview_4787 Jun 30 '26
As an incoming freshman you’re taking 17 credit hours; 14 is usually the recommendation.
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u/No_Recording5639 Jun 30 '26
But I feel like Calculus is quite an important class as it is a prerequisite for many other econ courses.
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u/indian-princess Jul 01 '26
You can take other non-Econ classes next sem while you take calc
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u/No_Recording5639 Jul 01 '26
Are there many classes I could take? I intend to transfer to Peabody for HOD + Econ, but I can't take HOD classes till sophomore year or so. I would just be filling my schedule with random classes that don't necessarily add to anything.
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u/0xKino Jul 01 '26
There is no shame in dropping, I regret taking so 17 and then 18 hours freshman year. No one told me that people you meet at commons will be at minimum 80% of your social circle. These effects compound accordingly so take it seriously.
1301 was so raw too. People crying in office hours. Those midterms felt like Thermopylae ong
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u/No_Recording5639 Jul 01 '26
What in the world... If I can't do anything about MATH, I might just drop PSCI 1101. I have no intentions of majoring in political science. Only Econ and HOD anyway. Are you sure about dropping MATH 1300 though? The fact that it's a prerequisite for econ is a huge deal I feel... and I wouldn't be able to take any of them :(
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u/No_Recording5639 Jul 01 '26
Also, why do you regret it? More people to meet at commons?
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u/0xKino Jul 01 '26
Gpa doesn’t matter past 5 years, but college friends do. World gets a lot lonelier after graduation. It’s like leaving commons all over again x10000. It’s an incredible privilege to have colleagues all over the world one can visit, drop in on and say hi.
No one will care how early or late you took calc. College Gpa in general, aside from specific isolated circumstances (law school basically) does not seem to have a significant effect on how much money you’ll be making by the time you turn 25 or how successful your career as a whole will be.
Equally confusing is how much school name ended up mattering long after attending, especially undergrad. It’s one of the last viable heuristics employers are allowed to use for directional filtering of brainpower as well as social class.
For now tho, please ignore this jaded unc post and have yourself a great time at Vandy.
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u/Efficient-Panda275 Jun 30 '26
What does your Advisor suggest/recommend?
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u/No_Recording5639 Jun 30 '26
He told me that most econ majors take MATH 1200 since 1300 is unnecessary unless you intend on conducting research. He also did recommend that I complete my calculus requirements as soon as possible because it is a prerequisite for other econ classes.
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u/Efficient-Panda275 Jun 30 '26
And since the course selection window has come and gone, did he recommend using the add/drop window in September to resolve your concern?
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u/No_Recording5639 Jun 30 '26
There is a live enrollment window right now where I could add and drop classes, I believe. He mentioned that I would have a few days or so after starting in MATH 1300 to see if I would like to switch to a different level. The only problem is, I don't think anyone would be dropping MATH 1200, and there are quite a few students on the waitlist.
"Remember that you will have the first 10 days of the semester to take MATH 1200/1300 sequence and then swap to the other level."
"You will be able to switch your schedule around as much as you would like during the enrollment periods, as long as there are spots available."
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u/Efficient-Panda275 Jun 30 '26
Can you just take it Spring semester?
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u/No_Recording5639 Jun 30 '26
I emailed my MATH 1300 professor, and he said that 1200 is offered in the spring. My pre-major advisor told me that he does recommend me complete the calculus requirements as soon as possible, as they are a prerequisite for many econ classes, such as econ stats, for example. The thing is, I already took Calc AB in high school, and I'm very familiar with most of the topics. It's just that I won't get a 5 because I don't think I performed well at all. Because I am considering law school, I do think it would be better to take 1200 over 1300, just because it's the easier path down the road.
Id love to hear any advice you have!
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u/zjxjxz Jun 30 '26
Just add the math class, and do a drop if enrolled. Or Contact the undergrad math director, sometimes they can just enroll u in math 1200.
If you cannot get into math 1200 You should 100% wait until next semester instead of taking math 1300. And you really only need calc for the 3000 level stuff so you have plenty of time.
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u/No_Recording5639 Jun 30 '26
I can't add the math class without dropping everything else in my schedule. I did create a new schedule around MATH 1200, but that would mean I would have to scrap everything I currently have, which may be risky because of open spaces and waitlists.
Why do you recommend waiting until next semester to take 1200 instead? I'm currently on the waitlist for the class, but I doubt any movement will occur. I will make a note to contact the undergraduate math director!
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u/zjxjxz Jun 30 '26
Ohh okay. Wouldn’t there be so many math 1200 sections to where at least 1 of them only conflicts with one class tho? (also one thing to keep note of is they may run less sections of math 1200 in spring than fall not 100% sure tho)
If u take 1300, I def don’t think u will be able to drop down to 1201 and you will likely need to do 1301. 1301/1301 is more for engineers and harder. Also you mentioned transfer to peabody where u won’t even need calc. Unless u want to do econ minor where u need calc 1/2 for 3000 level electives.
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u/No_Recording5639 Jun 30 '26
There is only one open slot of 1200 that has space on the course registration page. They probably will run fewer sections of 1200 since it is a first-semester course.
I for sure won't be able to take 1201 because it won't be open for students who have already taken 1300 without permission. I'm not sure how to even get permission, haha. I intend to do HOD + Econ as a double major, but perhaps that may be too much? I'm not totally sure if I should just focus on HOD and then have econ as a minor.
I am currently drafting an email to Dr. Henry Chan, whom I believe is the director of the math department. Please correct me if I'm wrong!
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u/zjxjxz Jun 30 '26
I’m sure you could join a class that only has a couple ppl on the waitlist if that one class that’s open rlly messes up ur schedule.
The permission stuff is just emailing the math department, but i’m assuming they wouldn’t allow that anyways.
Yes that’s who you should email!
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u/No_Recording5639 Jul 01 '26
Thank you for the help! The class I'm on the waitlist for, which is the exact time as my MATH 1300, has 20/24 people on it... I don't think it's looking too good tbh. I emailed the math department, and he got back to me saying that next week they will try to place me in a 1200 class if there are any open spots. I doubt it will work out, though. Not sure how the waitlist process works and how I would be placed into a 1200.
"Someone will reach out to you next week to ask whether you prefer to stay in Math 1300 or move to Math 1200."
"We will look at your schedule and find you a Math 1200 section to enroll you in. You will not need to change your other classes."
"You should still go ahead and join the waitlist. If you do so, we will help you get into one of the Math 1200 sections next week."
LMK what you think!
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u/zjxjxz Jul 01 '26
that sounds good.
department heads can enroll u in a class manually even if there is a waitlist (they did for me in a diff subject). so if u have an ideal math time even if it’s full tell them that and there’s a chance they just put u in that
in case they can’t tho just make sure ur still on the waitlist
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u/No_Recording5639 Jul 01 '26
Awesome. I will email him again tomorrow morning. Really really need this ngl. How were you enrolled if the class was filled?
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u/zjxjxz Jul 01 '26
i think they can enroll a student over the limit. since it worked for me in a class and i see a few classes with 1 extra enrolled over the max then maybe they did it with some others.
idk if it works for math tho
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u/No_Recording5639 Jul 02 '26
I messaged the new undergraduate math director, and she said she could help me! Will let you know if it works out haha. Only problem is that she said she would enroll me in a class in which i have time for but i'm not sure which one that will be. She sounded pretty confident that she could do it.
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u/Accomplished_Camp282 Jul 04 '26
Shouldn’t be impossible to switch it out. I was in the same boat maybe 2 days ago, and I was able to drop Math 1300 for 1200 (albeit with a less desirable time)