Illustration by Tom Giratikanon / North by Northwestern.

Don’t know where to start looking for classes? We’ve rounded up some solid bets for freshmen. They all have CTEC ratings above 4, the traditional standard for a decent class. They also all had 90 or more open spots as of Wednesday night.

Besides reading through the latest CTECs, we asked professors about what’s new in their class.

But these aren’t the only good picks. Comb through CAESAR for smaller classes or other big lectures to fill your distribution requirements.

Professor Gary Morson
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30 to 2 p.m., Tech Auditorium

The gist: A big class where you read big books by authors whose names you might not be able to pronounce.

Pros: This is one of NU’s most-loved courses, with students regularly calling it “life-changing.” Rich texts and dynamic teaching make the course popular every year. Morson says the class would appeal to “a student interested in coming to terms with big ideas, willing to entertain different points of view, not afraid to learn about life from literature.”

Cons: Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov and Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina are long books. Fall behind in the reading one week, and you’ve got a lot of catching-up to do for next week’s discussion. The exams are tough and based heavily in both reading and lecture.

New this quarter: Not much. Morson says the lectures vary a little from year-to-year, but otherwise it’s the same class.

Professor David Meyer
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 2 to 2:50 p.m. in Tech LR2

The gist: A pretty easy introduction to a pretty interesting subject. No prior science knowledge required.

Pros: Professor Meyer says that “anyone who has ever looked up at the night sky and wondered about the universe and what’s in it” will find the class engaging. The CTECs say the class isn’t hard and that Meyer is laid-back.

Cons: Meyer likes pop quizzes, so better not skip classes. You also have to visit Dearborn Observatory once during the quarter: not a big deal, but don’t forget about it.

New this quarter: Fresh information from the Hubble telescope, ranging from “evidence of recent water flows on Mars to the discovery of an enormous void in the distant universe,” Meyer says.

Professor Jules Law
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., Harris 107

The gist: An English class with some books you’ll actually want to read: Frankenstein, Dracula, The Maltese Falcon and Sherlock Holmes are on the list.

Pros: Professor Law is well-liked and pushes his students to think, speak up in lecture and come to office hours. The syllabus includes selections from popular films and music. Past examples range from Blade Runner to Alfred Hitchcock.

Cons: Anyone who’s taken a class where students are encouraged to “think critically” knows the problem: Lectures veer into discussions with the most vocal students dominating, even if they know nothing. Some say the papers are graded harshly.

New this quarter: Law wants more back-and-forth with his students: “Every lecture is going to end with a full, no-holds-barred question-and-answer period, so students will have a chance to interact with the professor and not just the TAs,” he says.

Professor Robert Lerner
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, noon to 12:50 p.m., Harris 107

The gist: An introductory European history course, arranged by topic and not chronology.

Pros: The CTECS say the class isn’t as dry as many other intro history courses. Lerner knows his stuff, speaking from memory instead of reading from notes or PowerPoints. Lerner adds that he has “great TAs.”

Cons: Though it could be worse, students say the course is still a little boring. No papers means you better cram for the class’s three exams.

New this quarter: Lerner says the readings and lectures will be “entirely different” from the last two years of the course.

Professor Charles Moskos
Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 3 to 3:50 p.m., Tech Auditorium

The gist: One of NU’s most popular courses, taught by its most popular professor — one of the first scholars of sociology.

Pros: Moskos is engaging, and the subject is applicable to everyday life. Moskos says, “This course should be called Society Appreciation 101. Just like an art or music appreciation course, it will offer new insights.” The class is so big that half of your friends will likely take it with you.

Cons: With 600 students, the teaching is impersonal. Many say the tests are harder than you’d expect.

New this quarter: Even though Moskos says students “will hear the same old jokes from an old professor,” they’ll also be dealing with brand-new material. One new case will be a girl who wasn’t allowed to wear a chastity ring to school.

Professor Kenneth Seeskin
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, noon to 12:50 p.m., Fisk 217

The gist: An introduction to philosophy that tackles the ancients without giving you a headache.

Pros: Seeskin regularly gets strong CTECs for making the material entertaining and understandable.

Cons: You’re reading texts that are thousands of years old about some of the thorniest issues in philosophy. For some, that’s a draw, but for most it’s a little overwhelming. “If you like cut and dried answers to big questions, this class is not for you,” Seeskin says.

New this quarter: Seeskin says this theme this time will be “the issue of love and friendship.”