<p>How difficult are Biology or Chemistry classes at Michigan? Is it hard to maintain a high GPA if you are majoring in one of the two?</p>
<p>The subject matter is not that difficult, but the competition is ridiculous since most students taking those classes are pre-meds and Engineering students.</p>
<p>along these lines out of curiosity are there any science classes that would fufill the general requirement for a non-major that are significantly easier?</p>
<p>yes, there are many easier classes that you can take if you are not majoring in chem/bio/math. U'll know once u enroll.</p>
<p>Actually, you should be able to tell in the course guide which science courses are for non-majors. No need for trial by error.</p>
<p>KB</p>
<p>Entry chem and physics are super easy. Physcs 125/128 and Chem 125/130 are the coureses I think. Those classes are really easy from what I've heard. Going a bit further, physics 140 and 160 (calc-based) and Chem 210 (Organic chem) are a bit harder, but I've still found people that find them a breeze and there are kids that get over 98% on every test in each of those classes, so they aren't all that hard. Michigan isn't known for being insanely good in the sciences, so the classes won't be super hard. The competition isn't too hard either. Pre-meds tend to help the curve in classes with serious math/science majors. Trust me.</p>
<p>Dude what are you talkin about Chibears...THERE ALL HARD AHH!!!! hahahaha....Chem 125 was frickin ridiculously difficult last semester. Our class avg was so low. Chem 210 is so much better than Chem 130 in a way. I hate the straight up grading scale in 130. </p>
<p>Yea there are kids who get 98%...as does every class...theres always some1 who is gonna get a 98-100% no matter what class you're in.</p>
<p>You're right, they aren't super hard, but it definitely is difficult. As Alexandre said, its not the material, its the competition that makes it ridiculously hard....but then again, I dunno. I guess if you study hard you'll be fine.</p>
<p>Our orgo 1st exam class avg was a 58 this semester, compared to last term's like 64 or w/e...so it shows that it is hard but its not like everyone in the class is a genius although there were plenty who got the A's and what not</p>
<p>Oh and by the way, does anyone in here who is taking or has taken Bio 162 hate the crap out of that class??? I thought it would be an easy intro class. Instead its a stupid waste of time where i feel like theyre cramming so much down my throat I don't have time to actually sit and LEARN the material for the enjoyment of it, but rather just have to quickly memorize and spit the stupid crap back out on really hard exams</p>
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[quote]
Yea there are kids who get 98%...as does every class...theres always some1 who is gonna get a 98-100% no matter what class you're in.
[/quote]
My classes are evidence to the contrary. When we're talking about lower-level classes like Chem 130 and 210, you're right, because the tests are made fairly easy to cater to the middle of the class, and there is always the kid who takes the class for a blowoff when he/she is way too smart for it. However, in classes that are designed for the top students at the university, the tests are made to cater to the middle of a fairly homogenous group (unlike intro classes), and therefore you will very rarely find extremes in scores like 100%'s. Maybe there will be a couple on the first test because the prof underestimates the talent of the students, but he/she usually wisens up by semester's end. I know plenty of the kids who are getting the 100%'s in orgo and getting toward the middle in higher-level classes. Science classes are very easy compared to some other classes.</p>
<p>true...there has got to be SOME1 though...ONE person who does really well lol</p>
<p>That ONE person would have to be at an insanely high level academically and tends not to attend Michigan because he/she got full tuition scholarships at Harvard, MIT, etc.</p>
<p>hahaha...true</p>
<p>Science classes are pretty hard here. They tend to have very low averages and tests are very difficult. You're a math major so orgo (Chem 210) would seem like a breeze. ;-) Bio 162 is the worst by far, however. That class is awful. Take your AP Bio credit and run!</p>
<p>I guess the beauty in science tests like bio is that, with enough effort, you can know all there is to know and get a perfect score. On math tests, however, even if you know the material perfectly, you still might not see that one subtle algebra trick you need on every problem and still get a 0%. However, it can easily be argued that mastering all the material in the bio classes is just as hard as seeing a necessary disguised algebra trick in a complex proof.</p>