Classes, Grades, and MCS

<p>At the risk of sounding slightly obsessed with grades, how many MCS (Biology or Math, specifically) students recieve 4.0s--is this ever done? Do you consider not having a +/- grading system good?
Also, most students with whom I've spoken say to use AP credits for Chemistry--is Gen Chem really that bad? I'd really hate to skip the course as most medical schools seem to like seeing a student take the course in college, but if it will take up time and ruin my GPA, I might as well take the credit.
Thank you! :)</p>

<p>At the risk of sounding slightly obsessed with grades, how many MCS (Biology or Math, specifically) students recieve 4.0s–is this ever done? Do you consider not having a +/- grading system good?
Also, most students with whom I’ve spoken say to use AP credits for Chemistry–is Gen Chem really that bad? I’d really hate to skip the course as most medical schools seem to like seeing a student take the course in college, but if it will take up time and ruin my GPA, I might as well take the credit.</p>

<h1>Thank you! </h1>

<p>4.0 in Bio or Math is difficult for several reasons, but its perfectly doable. I know a recent bio graduate had 3.9+ something (she only got 1 B). The “tough” freshman classes for bio majors are these:
1)Physics 1 for Science – fall sem taught Stephen Garroff is difficult
2)modern Chem 1 + 2 – yes. place out of these if you can. its not as you say “bad” but modern chem 2 i hear is too hard for its own good (i placed out of chem)
3) programming requirement – depends on if you get programming, but if you dont this will be very hard for u and very very time consuming
4) typical freshman mistakes – you know, workload diff from h.s., parties etc.</p>

<p>After your freshman year, you will start taking various lab classes, which are notoriously time consuming. The big lesson that you need to learn to get high GPA is time management. At any given semester you will probably take 50+ units. Please dont underestimate some of the classes. even fluffy classes can give you heartaches.</p>

<p>Math majors also have similar general science requirements (i think) and you do need to take physics and chem and programming. Math majors have added pressure in freshman year bc they will probably take concepts of math.</p>

<p>why is modern chem hard? is it any harder than high school AP chemistry? I got a 5 on the AP but i want to take the course again since i want to be a chem/chemE major. Should i skip modern chem then?</p>

<p>Well AP Chem, like all AP tests, doesnt mean that 5 == A in college. It merely means you passed the class with an acceptable degree of knowledge on the subject matter. I dont know why modern chem 1 and 2 are “hard” (quotes here because there are harder classes and this really shouldnt be considered “hard”) The way i see is that if you placed out of certain classes, you have more flexibility in your schedule to take interesting classes only offered in college. it really depends on you. If you did well on SAT chem and got 5 on AP, you can also try taking honors chem</p>

<p>I’m also a chem major and thinking about placing of modern chem 1 and 2 too, but doesn’t that mean you will start with orgo? Is high school AP chem sufficient to prepare you for orgo? Also, I’m thinking about retaking calc since I took AB in sophomore and BC in junior year so I don’t remember much. I see that the next class is math methods for chemists. Do you have any idea what that class involves?</p>

<p>Thanks for your help.</p>

<p>I got a 4 on the AP Chem exam and felt Chem 2 was one of the easiest classes I took at CMU. No clue if the same guy’s teaching it now as when I took it a few years ago, though.</p>

<p>Thanks for all of the thorough answers!
RacinReaver, can I ask you who you had for ChemII?<br>
Does anyone know whether Honors Chemistry is a tough class? Or whether Professor Yaron is generally liked? (There is very little information on RateMyProfessors) :)</p>

<p>i got a 4.0 this semester & A in vuocolo’s chem II class. Chem II is definitely hard, but getting an A is totally doable. just make sure you do the extra credits & be on top of homeworks. go to office hours; he’s really nice (but tends to go on & on about the history of chemistry lol) and will give you loads of help if you need it.</p>

<p>@nijaD, honors chemistry is actually reallly realllly easy. Yaron is a reallly nice man and his exams are like the practice exams he gives out before the test. in my opinion, honors chem is actually less work than general chem I. but that’s just my opinion :D</p>

<p>Yaron sounds right. If memory serves right he was balding a bit and seemed to be a pretty nice guy. Unfortunately my transcript doesn’t say who I took the class with (though if you can find it the course in the old FCE files I took (09106) Intro to Modern Chemistry II in the Spring of 2004).</p>

<p>If you are wanting to major in chem and got a 5 on the AP chem exam, I wouldn’t advise skipping straight into orgo (when you schedule, your advisers will agree to this). Instead, most kids who fell in this category took Honors Chem with Yaron. It was probably my favorite class last semester. Plus then you will take orgo with the rest of your class (you’ll get to know pretty much all of them very well). </p>

<p>Also, don’t worry so much about getting a 4.0 your first year. I know only one person who did. Your first year in mcs will be getting a lot of required courses out of the way. If you could get out of Physics I, I’d say do it. I never took it but friends were wanting to rip their hair out over it. If you have to take Calc 3D, you should totally do it in the fall with Flaherty. He’s awesome! One of my favs! Oh and If you’re taking honors bio, know it’s harder than the regular section but it made me appreciate the subject so much (I used to hate it with a passion). As for a programming class, I would suggest graphics but I don’t think it’s being offered anymore. Good luck! And welcome to mcs :)</p>