That course (15-251) is somewhat controversial among CS students (at least it certainly was when I was there) in that its primary goal in the curriculum seemed

That course (15-251) is somewhat controversial among CS students (at least it certainly was when I was there) in that its primary goal in the curriculum seemed to be to act as the weedout course, since as you observed it covers a ton of material in little depth. It is typically taken 2nd semester freshman year, and I know at least 3 people my year who dropped out of CS from it :(