<p>What's better to have:</p>
<p>a B in honors physics, or
an A in regular physics</p>
<p>I'm an engineer, undecided on which type, possibly premed. If I continue with the honors class I'll try for an A, but based on some homework I've gotten back, a B is more realistic. Also, the honors class is very time consuming.</p>
<p>Would it help you graduate with honors or otherwise stand out for grad school/employers?</p>
<p>Take the Honors class if you believe you will learn more in the long run. Take the Reg. class if you believe you cannot handle it or will struggle in the harder class.</p>
<p>Well, the math department at my school told me that a B+ in a honors math class is held in higher regard than an A- in a regular class.</p>
<p>Depends on what you'd like to do after college.</p>
<p>It's one class out of what will be many on your transcript. If you don't think you can handle the honors class then drop it. A B is not bad though and there are no guarantees you'll get an A in the regular class. Bottom line, either way you choose, you are fine. If you choose to stay, a B is acceptable (as long as you don't get too many in other classes). If you drop, then taking one regular class over an honors class isn't a big deal.</p>
<p>Both A and B are good grades. The question is rather - how much do you want to learn?</p>
<p>If grades did not matter, which would you choose? Would you really like to learn the hard material, or would you rather stick with the easy?</p>
<p>Go with the one which you think you will benefit the most in the long term - that is, the one that will provide you with the best information for years to come.</p>
<p>Basically I have heard the same thing as what CoffeeBreak said, but you have to look at your long-run goals. The point is to gain knowledge.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm an engineer, undecided on which type, possibly premed. If I continue with the honors class I'll try for an A, but based on some homework I've gotten back, a B is more realistic. Also, the honors class is very time consuming.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>(I took the class you're in.) Your grades in honors and non-honors will likely be the same. Honors is more difficult, true, but also grades easier. Exactly 10% of the class will earn As in regular. This will be more like 50% in honors. Additionally, if I'm not wrong, you haven't yet taken a midterm. You can't really tell how well you're doing until then.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm an engineer, undecided on which type, possibly premed.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Without a doubt then, the A is better than the B. </p>
<p>However, I question your assumptions, mainly because of what tetrahedr0n posted. Honors classes, in all of the places I've been to, are usually graded more generously. Non-honors classes are oftentimes easier, but that just means you have to beat everyone else on the curve.</p>
<p>Tetrahedr0n,</p>
<p>Wow, how did you know which school I go to? I think I'm going to stick with the honors class. So do you have any insider tips? (they would be greatly appreciated :)</p>
<p>rkbgt,</p>
<p>I saw you post in the Michigan forums - sorry if it seemed like I was stalking you or something like that.</p>
<p>I can tell you what I thought about my class, but of course how your class works depends on who is teaching it. My homework for 160 was pretty difficult, and I didn't always do well (especially on the web component.) The exams, however, were pretty straightforward. There would be a mixture of multiple choice and long answer problems, and this was pretty good because you would always get partial credit on the latter. The final exam was particularly easy. We also had review sessions with the professor a day or two before the test - often certain problems would be hinted at or even fully solved that would appear on the exam. At the end, a great deal of the students in the class received As. This is, in my experience with honors classes, pretty typical.</p>
<p>The following semester I took 240, the regular version of e&m. There was a strict curve in place. The exams were all multiple choice, and they were more difficult than any in class problems, such that only the people with a great deal of experience actaully did well. As a result, I did a decent bit worse in this class than in the honors class.</p>
<p>Take all of this with a grain of salt though - I'm just one guy. Maybe your prof is different, and honors really will be harder, grading and work wise. But I don't think you can be doing that bad quite yet, since there haven't been really any huge grades I'd think.</p>
<p>If you're premed/engineer I could for the highest GPA possible, my personal experience has showed me that as long as you can get that A nothing else matters.</p>