Pre-Term | Sample Pre-Term Student Comments
The following are selected comments provided by Washington Pre-Term 2007 participants. Note: The DVDs referred to in the comments below are now available to students as an online course via Blackboard, all incoming SAIS M.A. students will receive access to Blackboard.
"Dean Harrington's math DVDs are awesome. They covered all the basic math skills and explained complicated math stuff, like calculus, in an easy manner. I have no problem recommending his DVDs to anyone looking to learn calculus on their own."
"Students need to become thoroughly familiar with the calculus concepts presented in the DVDs (in addition to the pre-calculus) before the program starts. Once classes start, homework requirements are such that someone without a background in calculus will not have the time to master the concepts and their applications to economics."
"It's intense, but absolutely worth it. After having done all the readings, gone to all the TA hours, spent the hours on the he problem sets with my group, participated in other group study sessions, sat through module after module of the calculus DVDs and worked out all the previous year's exams practice problems, I feel comfortable in Microeconomics! I doubt I could have done the amount of work required if I had had any extraneous claim on my time this past month."
"Taking both Micro and Macro is tiring, but definitely doable. I can't say this has been the most enjoyable way to spend the month of August, but I am delighted that I will not have to devote an entire semester to either of these courses. The freedom to take two extra electives will more than make up to for any sleep lost during Pre-Term."
"I think incoming students should be aware that even if you're smart and generally do well in quantitative course work, Micro will require a lot of work outside the classroom and will be challenging. If you want to do Macro and Micro, clear your social calendar for the month!"
"Taking both econ courses is near impossible and taking just one is challenging (especially if it's been some time since you've taken mathematics or don't have a solid grasp of calculus)."
"Pre-Term Micro was a fast-paced, challenging course. There are many topics and not much time. However, both the professor and the TA did a great job of explaining concepts and providing assistance as needed."
"Accelerated Microeconomics is a lot of material to cover in a short amount of time, and the professor was well-prepared to ensure we got the most out of it. If you have a strong math background, you'll do well in this course. If not, you'll have to work harder."
"Macro was a great course with someone with little to no background in economics. I feel like I can actually understand most of the articles from The Economist - and I was an English major."
"The TA did an exceptional job reviewing material from the lecture and providing additional insights. TA sessions were extremely helpful, as the TA did an outstanding job explaining concepts in novel and interesting manners."
"I came to feel it was really worth taking part in the ESL course no matter how much you know about the language. I found that there are certain areas I need to improve and I did it. Thanks."
"I learned so much in this course -- and the way it's structured it means we turn to each other to get through it. We developed our own teams and strategies beyond just our own individual study groups. It showed me, more than anything, how remarkable the SAIS student body really is. I got much more out of this experience than just learning economics."
"I definitely found this class helpful, not only in knocking out an econ requirement but in transitioning back to the life of a student."
"The happy hours are a fantastic event - not just because of the food and beverages but because it serves almost like a reward after a busy Pre-Term week. Very easy to meet new people."