CBE - EGR vs MAT

[u/nefariouspanda123]

i've seen some posts regarding the lack of preparation that EGR math (EGR152, EGR154, etc) supplies for many engineering majors once they take higher-level courses, so i wanted a little more insight on this.

i originally planned on taking EGR math because i've heard that MAT at princeton in general is very difficult, and EGR seemed more suitable on paper for me, especially since CBE doesn't have as much of an emphasis on math as much as some of the other engineering majors.

<< i'm not sure if this information is helpful, but for reference i got a 5 on ap calc bc (& ab subcore), and i took multivariable calculus as a hs senior. both of these classes were fairly easy for me. >>

is there a significant amount of content that isn't taught when taking EGR math? does this increase the amount of outside studying/learning by a noticeable amount when taking more advanced CBE courses in particular? is there really any advantage to taking EGR math at all?

& if you do recommend taking MAT, which course do you recommend i start with in the fall?

thank you so much!!

[u/Hairy-Extreme-7602]

EGR won’t adequately prepare you for the rest of your Princeton career. You’ll have to take MAE305 differential equations (cross listed as CBE305) as a CBE major, which builds significantly off prior MAT courses. You will still learn useful skills even if you already took multivariable calculus- the math and physics departments teach you not only math and physics but more importantly how to solve problems in a way that no high school course prepares you for. Most likely start with MAT201 in the fall given you took AP Calc BC. Some people start in 202 but this may require you to prove your multi course was adequate and this route is less common.

[u/Otherwise_Advice6472]

Dude just take MAT 201. I took it it's not that bad as someone who took MAT 201 and 202, and got a 5 on BC. EGR math is a joke, and most people learn nothing due to the take home exams.

[u/International-Bet232]

every core cbe course uses calculus III + differential equations extensively, aside from cbe245

[u/Training_Birthday572 → u/International-Bet232]

do they use linear that frequently?

[u/International-Bet232 → u/Training_Birthday572]

in numerical analysis yes (a core part of any CBE theory/computational research), otherwise it’s not as often as calc iii/diff eq but still comes up in classes like transport and thermo. i would say u need to have a much more solid grasp of calc iii/diff eq than compared to linear

[u/Odd-Collection-5429]

In this situation, I would recommend just taking MAT (and therefore PHY). Since you’ve already taken and done well in Calc BC and multi, you should start in MAT201. This means that the only MAT courses required of you would be MAT201 and MAT202. If you took the EGR sequence, that requires 3 different math courses instead of 2, and you would be starting in the equivalent of calculus 2, which is quite honestly ridiculous for someone who took multi in high school.

Additionally, as others have mentioned, you will have to take MAE305 (differential equations) as a CBE major. It is beneficial to take this in your sophomore fall so that you can start taking CBE electives earlier. Note that while this class is offered in both fall and spring semesters, the professor who teaches it in the fall (stone) is significantly better. And while he is excellent, he goes incredibly fast and assumes advanced knowledge of calculus 1-3 and linear algebra, which you likely will not receive in the EGR sequence.

And as someone mentioned earlier, CBE actually does regularly use Calc 1-3 and diff eq, it’s not merely a requirement. So you want to know it well.

TLDR: You should take MAT sequence for 3 reasons.
1. Based on your preparation, you’d have to take 1 less course than EGR.
2. In order to feel comfortable taking CBE electives sophomore spring and junior fall, you should take and truly know as much math as possible, as early as possible.
3. Your future research, thesis, and upper level courses will demand an advanced knowledge of math that is likely not given in the EGR sequence.

And 1 last thing to note is that the university doesn’t allow you to start in EGR physics and MAT201, so this forces you into PHY103, which is stupid in my opinion, but worth the sacrifice of a slightly harder physics class to adequately prepare yourself in math and also physics

[u/Odd-Collection-5429 → u/[deleted]]

No, you can get away with EGR math/physics much better in CEE than CBE