I'm going into eng I and I'm doing c03 this summer with headstart. So my question is should I take d04 first term (in which case I would have 1 more class first term) or vice-versa? What would you do?

I typically lose motivation by second term, so if I was you, I'd make the second term easier.

Originally Posted by Yogurt

I typically lose motivation by second term, so if I was you, I'd make the second term easier.

The problem is I would have 3 lab courses first term and only one second term. Is that a big deal?

Take it second term. If it goes bad first term, then they may make the labs easier second term. That was the case when i was in first year. Although, you guys will be learning python now, which is much easier than when we had to learn C#. I guess it really doesnt matter.

do they do same labs first and second term?

They do yes. But in my year, the first term classes complained that the content in the labs were too difficult to program. So second term, we did the same labs, but the math involved in the programming was dummied down a bit. Like for example, my buddy who had it first term told me they were having to program integrals, and they had just started learning about this in the math course, in second term i never saw anything like that when i did the same lab.
I doubt they need to make those changes now though since python is easier to learn

2nd term is harder. with such a short christmas break you just don't' feel like getting back into work when term 2 rolls around... I would plan to have a hard 1st term and a lighter 2nd

Doesn't matter when you take it, just make sure you have Dr. Farmer and not Dr. Smith..Dr. Farmer is a bit easier
If you want to do good in that course:
1. Read the book
2. Do the m/c and t/f questions at the end of each chapter
3. Make sure you do few of the programming questions at the end of the chapter, because that's the only way to learn programming!

Some people might disagree and say that reading in the book is useless... actually it's very useful because the book will teach you the basics of programming (i.e. variables, classes, strings...), the next step would be to roll up your sleeves and start programming

Also, it would help if you have Python open while reading in the book, that way you can pick up the little tricks and what not.
You will like Python if you give it some time...I did and I enjoyed that course.
Good luck !

You're used to how things work, and (hopefully) have overcome a lot of your pitfalls from first term, so having a heavier second term is best.. personally, I did better in second term than first, and the fact that you in particular have less labs in second term, suggests even more that it would probably be best to do d04 then. Its not even a matter of harder or easier, its just balancing it out to make it easier (most people dont do headstart).