<p>I was recently accepted to CAS chemistry as a transfer student. I just have a couple of general questions about Cornell( I would prefer if the answers came from current students, specifically chemistry majors):</p>
<li><p>How is the grading done at Cornell. At my current university, grades are assigned based on a set scale( A:93+, A-:90+, etc). Are all Cornell classes curved?</p></li>
<li><p>How big are the upper-level classes. For example, how big should I expect a p-chem or experimental chemistry class to be?</p></li>
<li><p>What are the Gen-Ed requirements for CAS? I have been looking for a document that shows “graduation requirements” but have not been able to find one. </p></li>
<li><p>How easy is it to start a research project? Are the resources plentiful?</p></li>
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<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
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<li><p>Most science courses are curved. That's a good thing. Because if we were graded on a set scale, no one would ever get A's or B's.</p></li>
<li><p>Chemistry is a very small major. The introductory chemistry sequence for chem majors (Chem 215-216) has around 100 students and it only gets smaller from there. Most upper div chem classes have around 10-50 students, exception being P-chem which is still relatively large at around 100 students.</p></li>
<li><p>Courses</a> of Study 2008-2009: College of Arts and Sciences
The above link has the graduation requirements. They're extensive and somewhat complicated.</p></li>
<li><p>Getting research at Cornell is a piece of cake, one of the advantages of attending a premiere research institution.</p></li>
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<p>Thanks man!</p>
<p>Wow, those are some pretty complicated requirements. I'll have to look them over. </p>
<p>I didn't know that CAS only gives out BA's. That makes me feel kind of unsettled. I would prefer if it if they give out BSc.'s. Hah, a bachelor of arts in chemistry. Oh well...</p>
<p>It is a BA because its in the college of Arts and sciences. Isn't it the same for CAS at pretty much every University? I don't think it should really matter, and that would be a terrible reason to not attend.</p>
<p>I am a part of CLAS(college of liberal arts and sciences) at my current school, and they give out BAs and BSc's. </p>
<p>I'm not saying I'm not going to attend, I'm just worried that this might have a negative affect when it's time to apply for med school.</p>
<p>Having a BA instead of a BS will not affect your chances of getting to med school. I believe Norcalguy was a CAS student and I think he mentioned somewhere he is now in a top 20 med school.</p>
<p>You will receive a BA because you are receiving a liberal arts education. At my old college...anybody who had 90 or more credits automatically received a BA...regardless of the major. Just do well in your coursework and rock the MCAT.</p>
<p>Med schools won't care about BA/BS. They don't even care if you major in English so why would they care if you have a BA for chem. If anything, the liberal arts education you get at CAS will help you since med schools prefer to see a well-rounded education.</p>