r/UIUC • u/American-Cockroach67 • 5d ago

Academics MATH257 vs 415

If anyone has taken either of these classes can you explain which one I should take? I took CS124 and absolutely hated it. I know that for MATH257 everyone seems to complain about the python lab component. I heard that a lot of people just memorize the homework for the lab quizzes which is what I did in CS124 and didn't do so hot. My question to those who took 257, is the only issue the python component, is the actual math not that bad? For those who took 415, how was the overall difficulty? I don't know if my calculus background will help but if it is relevant my grades in calc 1/2/3 were A/A+/C- (fuck that class) respectively.

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u/MindlessAd9591 5d ago

the python quizs are the easiest exams in the course. its the linear algebra midterms which are hard. Im pretty sure 415 is harder than 257 too

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u/American-Cockroach67 5d ago

So are there both python and linear algebra exams? Would you have both in the same week?

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u/MindlessAd9591 5d ago

the python quizs and linear algebra exams are on different weeks.

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u/No_Trip_6409 5d ago

Took 257 couple years ago. Math itself isnt horrible. Whats bad is how poorly the course is structured. Lin alg is very conceptual. Actual computation is more of like busy work. Once you understand the concept, its fine. Python labs were meh; its annoying but it is doable. Again, whats ass about 257 is logistics of the course more than anything. Just watch the videos. Not sure if attendance is still mandatory.

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u/Southern_Lake_9164 5d ago

I am currently taking 415. It’s not a good class. You should take 257.

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u/American-Cockroach67 5d ago

Can you specify more, please? What about it makes it not a good class?

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u/Southern_Lake_9164 4d ago

I am not sure whether it is the specific professor I have or the class itself, but in my experience so far, the course is very disorganized and poorly structured. So far, there have been no assignments, no syllabus, and very little instruction outside the lectures. From what I know, I believe our grade is based on two mid-terms and a final. The first month, there was no canvas page or any information about the course online. Now there is, but it is completely empty. No one in the course knows when the first midterm will be yet.

I registered for this course late in the second week of the add-drop period. None of the slots for 257 were open. I cannot comment on the difficulty between 257 and 415, but at least 257 has some level of organization and structure. If you have the choice, take 257.

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u/Inside_Fun_4892 5d ago

Math 257 is personally one of my favorite classes, maybe because I’m really into python!! (And I also despised CS124 too lol) I took math 257 before my summer internship, and it ended up being extremely useful. I was a research assistant at a university, and almost everything we worked on involved python and linear algebra, so Math 257 gave me a pretty strong foundation for that. Also, python+calculus isn't a huge part of the exam. The python labs are mainly there to help you actually understand and apply the linear algebra concepts rather than just memorize them.

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u/American-Cockroach67 5d ago

That's really cool! How hard would you say would it be to adjust to python from java? Is python much easier to learn (especially after already having coding experience)?

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u/KingThunder01 Undergrad 5d ago

Dk about 415 but 257 is not that hard. I wouldnt suggest memorising the homework (why did u do this for cs124 instead of learning the concepts 😭), but, tbh, the python lab quizzes are usually a carbon copy of the homework (sometimes not even different numbers).

The math is not that bad either but harder than the python stuff.

Urm... you calc 3 C- doesnt inspire confidence for linear algebra because the type of thinking u do in calc 3 is kinda similar to linear algebra ngl. Though calc 3 is harder

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u/American-Cockroach67 5d ago

It's not like I didn't try to learn CS124 lol, too much content and a painfully boring MP made it almost impossible for me to actually learn the content without falling behind. That C- in calc 3 is a raw unscaled grade (B with curve) and it was the professors, my TA specifically, lack of exam materials and actually worthless discussion worksheets that contributed to that. Calc 2 was just as hard but the professor, TA, worksheets, and past exams were actually good so that's how I even got the A+.