Sophomoric Wisdom

by Isabella Chow

Major declaration time. Argh! For us lazy sophomores, the worst part --answering the question, "So, what are you studying?" with a "Uh, don't ask!"; thumbing through the Bulletin a few zillion times, circling in all the courses you've already completed and seeing which major can get you out in the quickest, least painful way; settling on biophysics and then realizing that you haven't taken C1005--is over. For the brainy sophomores, like my suitemate Bob (no relation to the new software pacakge), you're halfway into your major already and have forgotten what subject-verb structure is or what "yoke" means.

But, because of our sincere dedication to facilitate things for the Class of 1998 (those lucky bums who get MULTIPLE-CHOICE general chemistry exams instead of the 20-page variety we got last year), we sophs have teamed up to give you a taste--albeit a small one--of what our lives are like this year. This is what popular opinion says about certain "pre-major" classes (the ones that brainy ones take in their soph year and lazy ones end up taking over the summer or in junior year):

Computer Science C1003

"Why are you asking a guy who never went to class?"

"It sucks because I had to take it in Scheme."

Computer Science C1007

"The book sucks, but the class is good--it teaches you what you need for more advanced programming courses."

Data Structures W3131

"The course stresses practical programming implementation over theory--you learn stuff like the basics of how fast certain algorithms run."

"The book is not helpful but the lectures are important, so GO TO CLASS!"

Data Structures W3139

"Actually, I'm dropping it on Thursday..."

"Aho is swell."

"There's 5 programming assignments, 5 homeworks. The material is kinda hard, but you have to read the book and go to class. Aho is a nice guy and a good teacher. Not much else to say. It's a course you have to take, and what you get out of it all depends on how much work you put into it."

*please note: all of the students interviewed refused to allow their names or initials to be used, as they are currently enrolled in these classes.


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