<p>UVAMalex09 wrote: "Comm School is no cakewalk, but I know I can ace a few of those classes in my sleep."</p>
<p>Easy to say when you know you don't have to actually do so.</p>
<p>Try taking an advanced tax accounting course sometime and then make this statement. Note: A business week study sometime ago put on a competition for the top accountants in the US to do a tricky tax calculation based upon a real corporate example. The final solution (94 pages long) was so complicated that the judges accepted three different final solutions as acceptable (correct) solutions.</p>
<p>I personally have worked on tax form filings that were over 10,000 pages long.</p>
<p>I'm sure that some of the Comm students can ace a few of the E-comm classes in their sleep also--but that doesn't mean--as you are implying here--that the classes are easy.</p>
<p>while i don't really agree with UVAmalex, it is my understanding that it is pretty easy to ace a few of the classes. for one, no one really gets below a B in comm school (the average GPA is 3.4 or 3.5 afterall). also, most of the work is group work. as long as someone in your group is on the ball, you don't really have to do much to do really well. Now if you are or are forced to be the person on the ball, then it might not be quite so easy.</p>
<p>I did say that the school's curriculum is not easy. Every major/school/degree program has difficult classes. I made my tongue-in-cheek comment because I have a background in business. I participated in the summer executive program in Darden and worked with my cousin who graduated from Wharton and is currently working on her JD. I would have gone pre-Comm but I prefered engineering.</p>
<p>Actually, you can ace a few E-school classes in your sleep. Those classes are "hidden." It's the same in all of the schools.</p>
<p>from students in both E and Comm schools. There are courses in every major/school that will be hard as hell, as well as those that are quite passable.</p>
<p>The average to get into McIntire is 3.4--and the average (once in) at McIntire is 3.4.</p>
<p>How exactly does that imply that McIntire is easier than the other schools at the college?</p>
<p>P.S. Also, how can you say that no one gets below a B in comm school. My son is currently in a class in the comm school where the professor has stated that the average grade will be a B- (meaning half will be at that grade or below). I'll send you a copy of the syllabus where he states that if you would like to see it.</p>
<p>Also, unlike programs in the e-school or in CALS, any comm course you take in the summer cannot be dropped for any reason. So if you do poorly in the class--tough--no W (or WP or even WF) is possible.</p>
<p>while the comment about no one gets below a B was made somewhat facetiously, i'll reiterate that its hard to do poorly in comm school. Needless to say, I don't know anyone in comm school who has made a habit of getting Cs in their comm classes...</p>
<p>also...if the average is still 3.4 or 3.5 in Comm school, and half the students are getting Cs, then somehow, half the students are getting A+++'s to make that average GPA 3.4. I think the fact that to graduate with distinction in the Comm school you need a 3.8 while you need only a 3.4 in the college speaks for itself...</p>
<p>Try organic chemistry if you want a tough class--or Japanese language courses--these makes engineering (and businesss courses) look like kindergarten--seriously. Learning things like quantum physics, relativity, particle physics, and calculus are easy compared to those. </p>
<p>To learn Japanese,for example--first you need to know that the written language and the spoken language are not the same. Then you need to memorize the over 3,000 different characters in the written language. Then you need to understand how the two translate to each other. And that's not even counting their idioms and how that relates to English meanings.</p>
<p>It takes four years (state department estimate) of Japanese study before a person can be considered a "novice" ready to start studying the spoken language and performing translations (they estimate an additional seven years to be good at it). </p>
<p>And I hate to say it--but some accounting courses are kind of the same (tax, for example). </p>
<p>Look, don't get me wrong--engineering is tough, too. All I ask is that you don't automatically think one area is tougher than another unless you have taken courses in both areas.</p>
<p>Thanks very much Joanee, I was also able to find the course descriptions.<br>
I find UVa's website tough to navigate compared to other schools, so your help is appreciated. </p>
<p>The listing you provided had about 8 courses listed as pre comm prereqs, are there some courses everyone must take first years?</p>
<p>1) 40% admissions is a lie. I can confirm definitively that it ranges between about 60-75% depending upon how many people apply.</p>
<p>2) A 3.4 GPA will almost certainly get you in. Just do like 1 activity and don't mess up the essays and you're fine. A 3.7 of course is guaranteed but that's well above the threshold to essentially be guaranteed anyway.</p>
<p>3) I think the "sell your soul" comments really apply to the type of work you do in the school and once you graduate. It really does get mind-numbing at times and is not intellectually stimulating. Calcruzer, more power to your son if he actually enjoys tax accounting. I'd rather be shot than take another accounting class.</p>
<p>4) I'd like to see proof of the B- average class. It must be a fairly small advanced class that most people wouldn't take anyway. I can confirm that basically all 3rd year classes and most 4th year ones will average in the 3.3-3.5 range. It is actually kind of hard to get below a B+ or above an A-. The curve is really compressed, which if you think about it reduces motivation because no matter what you'll get a decent grade. </p>
<p>5) Sure, getting a good job isn't easy even in the comm school, but it sure beats the hell out of getting one out of the college. The system they set up gives you the greatest possible chances to collect information, meet deadlines for applications, and generally get support and advice if you need it. The rest, as always, is up to the individual. Most people get very decent jobs out of McIntire.</p>
<p>6) In terms of relative difficulty, it's hard to say, although hands-down the e-school is harder. I mean, really who will debate this? The comm school is a joke compared to the e-school academically. Maybe they're equal in the time committment they require though. The projects at the comm school are very time-consuming.</p>