<p>We are going to register for the spring semester in just a few weeks...To fulfill AXLE requirements, I need to take a Lab Science....Even though I have taken lots of science classes in high school, I am not fond of science at all. So, what are some good lab science classes to take at Vandy? I know NOTHING is an easy A, but what are some of the easier lab sciences at Vandy? </p>
<p>I was thinking of oceanography but apparently it's hard. I have heard the same thing about Geology. I was thinking about Baby Bio but I haven't studied biology since the 10th grade and I don't remember it all...is that a good option?</p>
<p>Any suggestions for such classes? Something that won't kill your GPA?</p>
<p>Baby bio is a good option. Having little to no background in biology is not an issue at all. Other common classes are oceanography, geology, astronomy. Even baby physics. Oceanography and geology both have evidently become a little more difficult, perhaps because they gained a reputation for being unusually easy. Regardless, they still should not be particularly intensive courses. </p>
<p>Overall I feel that Baby Bio is the best option, it’s actually interesting and useful material. I’m not sure if it has changed, but the textbook is basically read like a comic book or graphic novel… Astronomy is pretty good too. Oceanography and geology both strike me as incredibly dull – that probably makes those course a little more difficult.</p>
<p>Vandy son had extensive science lab sciences in high school. even so, he’s not very visual, labs required a great deal of effort on his part in high school. Identifying rocks it seems perplexed him as he dropped the Geology class and underloaded and was on probation till he made up for this. He did well in Biology in summer school. The money to pay for one summer school session was a $ sacrifice-- but son graduated with a 3.8 overall. He contributed to campus programs throughout his four years, and learned how to perform at a relatively high level without being the best. I don’t regret the stress he experienced at Vanderbilt. He is liberal politically and was in class with highly articulate people who had alternative outlooks…and could state them well orally and in writing…kind of like the real world clash of ideas and the real workplace and marketplace. He had a couple unpleasant low points at Vandy. The rigor at Duke in Economics only strengthened our B-minus 3.4 GPA son for the difficult workplace. Finding out your talents and limits is a difficult process that takes longer than one semester–it takes years. Even so, I am not arguing with the original poster as 2% of the Vandy class will leave and I am sure they do very well elsewhere. In this economy, I wouldn’t spend a lot of money to get an education at a campus where I didn’t feel a pretty good fit. A good enough fit like the “good enough parent” is …achievable. </p>
<p>LBowie, you may be correct…Duke son’s all over GPA was average at Duke and he had a B-minus overall in his major Economics, and even that B minus was by the skin of his teeth. Because he did another major in an area where he was talented his overall GPA I guess really was a B. His Econ and Calc grades were middling and he did not get past step one of any of the interviews he sought on campus recruitment days. Summer job offers went to the A students. However, he was “good enough” to win the only merit money offered in his evening MBA program now based on his GMAT and GPA from Duke. It’s just 20%-25% off tuition but it’s the only discount they offer. For the long run in his world, he has a good job in the business sector and good quantitative skills. It can be unsettling to attend a place like Duke/Vandy and to have the top talent shaken out in quantitative/graded test and quiz terms but there are other places ahead of you to shine if you are dogged.</p>
<p>Yes, geology is EES 101: The Dynamic Earth: Introduction to Geological Sciences . The course was once known as “Rocks for jocks” for being unusually easy. My understanding is that this course is no longer easy, now intended to be a true intro class for the Earth and Environmental Sciences program rather than an easy lab course for people in random majors.</p>
<p>I recommend you have your D log into VoiceView and look up professors/courses to get a better idea of how difficult courses are. </p>