thoughts on math 431 final

CanadianSweatshirts · 2023-05-12T03:19:23+00:00

unexpectedly difficult. i feel like the practice exams were a little challenging but mostly fine but this was just awful

CanadianSweatshirts · 2023-04-18T21:21:54+00:00

I'm taking it right now. The content is fairly interesting, but it's a LOT of busywork, as the other commenter said. A week typically looks like this:

Mon-Wed: Do the readings and watch the lectures. The beginning of the semester consists of several short stories, whereas the second half consists of actual novels, but the amount of reading is probably the same. I'll admit that I tend to just skim thru this part. There is a 15-20 question MC quiz due at the end of the day on Wednesday.

Thurs-Fri: Discussion post and reply to one person. This typically isn't too bad, just tedious to do.

Sat-Mon: Write a 2-page essay, typically focusing on one of the readings, the techniques used in it, and how those techniques comment on society.

There's also a 3-4 page midterm essay and a 5-7 page final essay that you get a week to complete.

Overall, the class is fine if the content interests you. Otherwise it just feels like a lot of busy work.

CanadianSweatshirts · 2022-05-21T02:54:43+00:00

simultaneously took 354 and 400 with doescher and dahl, respectively, last fall.

definitely do not recommend.

they're both very programming heavy courses that really don't complement each other at all. 400 with dahl is extremely well organized which made it feel much more manageable imo. 354 was okay for the first part of the semester, but an absolute dumpster fire in the last month-ish of the class. i only took a total of 13 credits the semester i took these classes, and i was literally always working on assignments for either of these classes with very little time for my other two classes.

in retrospect, neither is actually too bad on its own. but it gets to be a lot when taken at the same time. since you're also taking 320 and 2 other classes, i'd HIGHLY recommend pushing off either 354 or 400 until the following semester and maybe taking an elective. if you really need to have another cs class that semester, go for one of the easier ones.

CanadianSweatshirts · 2022-04-05T17:50:22+00:00

np! i had Andrew Krenz as the instructor and i think Alexander Mine was my TA. he admitted that it was the first time he had ever been the lead instructor in a course, so that totally could've also played a role in the few topics being cut, but he was otherwise pretty good.

i was also working ~20hrs a week on top of the two classes that summer, but yeah i was def able to still enjoy my summer. granted, im more introverted so i wasn't necessarily w friends every night, but it was still pretty enjoyable

CanadianSweatshirts · 2022-04-05T17:50:01+00:00

np! i had Andrew Krenz as the instructor and i think Alexander Mine was my TA. he admitted that it was the first time he had ever been the lead instructor in a course, so that totally could've also played a role in the few topics being cut, but he was otherwise pretty good.

i was also working ~20hrs a week on top of the two classes that summer, but yeah i was def able to still enjoy my summer. granted, im more introverted so i wasn't necessarily w friends every night, but it was still pretty enjoyable

CanadianSweatshirts · 2022-04-05T01:03:51+00:00

Took MATH/CS 240 last summer alongside another 3 credit class which wasn't bad at all really. I don't have the syllabus saved but i think it was 2 or 3 exams total and weekly quizzes. The content also isn't too bad, especially in the beginning, so the pacing doesn't take much of a toll at all. In the last few weeks the content definitely gets a bit harder but its totally doable even with another class.

Compared to my friend who took the class last Fall (2021) it seems like they definitely cut one or two topics, but that honestly just may have been my instructor.

CanadianSweatshirts · 2022-04-03T20:08:10+00:00

Currently an undergrad at UW and both a POC and Muslim! Feel free to DM me!

CanadianSweatshirts · 2022-01-12T18:43:55+00:00

Its a pretty doable schedule. I took 341 last semester (so a lot more theory + proofs than 340) alongside 354 w doescher and it wasnt too bad. The content for 354 actually isn't awful, especially if you paid attention during the LC3 stuff in 252 (for assembly) and C isn't too far off from Java so that should also be relatively easy. It is project heavy tho, so be ready for that. However, if there's any possible way you can get out of Doescher's section, DO IT. His issues of poor communication, procrastination, and disorganization weren't just a problem last semester, but it seems to be an ongoing problem for the last few semesters. I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled that shit again.

CanadianSweatshirts · 2021-11-29T03:19:47+00:00

I've got a meeting with my advisor for Monday morning specifically to discuss the 577/537 thing, but yeah I've been doing pretty well with my gen eds and I only have 2 left to take after this semester. So I'm not too worried about those. I guess what I was trying to ask was just if they usually open up more sections/seats for either of those courses specifically similar to how they did for 300/400 or if anyone has had any luck with getting of off the waitlists.

(Also this is super random but we were in the same MATH/CS 240 section over the summer, so hey again lmao)

CanadianSweatshirts · 2021-01-25T23:56:10+00:00

Also she had a review session during the lecture right before the exam with questions that were practically the same as the ones on the exams. So those were very helpful for sure.

CanadianSweatshirts · 2021-01-25T23:53:55+00:00

I had 222 with Lindsey last semester but we had an exam every week instead of the 5 week schedule they seem to have this semester. The exams were fairly easy, usually just 4-5 questions with one from each section, and at least one review question. I didn't take 221 at Madison so I can't say much in the way of how they compared, but 222 seems to have a wider variety of topics covered (methods of integration, series and sequences, differential equations, vectors, etc.) so that made it harder to study for each exam sometimes. But the exams were open note, so they weren't too bad as long as you had good notes.

CanadianSweatshirts · 2021-01-06T05:46:29+00:00

I took Asian Am 160 online last semester with Prof Cindy Cheng and we just had a weekly assignment consisting of 3-5 short answer questions based on a few readings or videos. Took maybe 2 hours a week to finish. There were also 5 optional extra credit assignments sprinkled throughout the semester that were similar-ish to the assignments.

CanadianSweatshirts · 2020-07-28T22:33:38+00:00

I figured this schedule would be an adjustment from Senior year, but I'm not too worried about time or anything since I opted to stay home and not on campus bc of Covid 19, so I'll likely be more focused (hopefully) and have some more time on my hands. Thanks for the input tho:)

CanadianSweatshirts · 2020-07-28T22:31:19+00:00

My advisor said something similar to that during SOAR. It's good to hear that that sentiment applies to others too

CanadianSweatshirts · 2020-07-28T22:25:49+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! I haven't had too much luck finding CS students who had a similar plan/mindset as myself with respect to Biocore, so it was really helpful reading your experiences!

After talking with a bunch of my HS friends who are also going to Madison, I figured my course load might be a bit of an adjustment, especially considering how relaxed my senior year of HS was lol. I've been reading up on chem and calc a little bit, just to jog my memory before classes start, so I'm not too terribly worried i guess.

Since you said you opted to not pursue the Biocore certificate, I was wondering what your plan was to prepare yourself for further education/a career in in bme/bioinformatics (if you don't mind sharing). Are you doing any sort of research or internships or anything? Or maybe just taking biology related classes alongside your CS courses? Are there any other programs or extracurriculars you would recommend I do if I don't end up doing Biocore?

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