For a student with somewhat lopsided strengths versus weaknesses in certain types of subject areas, I am wondering how hard required courses in my weaker areas that I might have to take might be for me. Are there usually some relatively easy courses that can fill the distributional requirements? And does grading at Haverford tend to be tough or is there some grade inflation like there happens to be a lot of at certain otherwise top colleges ?
I’m only a freshman at Haverford, but from what I’ve heard from upperclassmen the average GPA is around a 3.1 or 3.2, so not really a ton of grade inflation (probably less than you’d find at a school like Penn). The grading is pretty fair (I should be ending with anywhere from a 3.3-3.6 this semester and I didn’t kill myself with work; if I put more effort in I’m confident I could have gotten a solid 3.7 at least). The workload is pretty fair, though definitely heavy (no all-nighters yet, but a fair amount of nights working until 1 or 2 am). There are plenty of easier classes that can fill distributional requirements (especially if you want easy classes for the quantitative and natural sciences distributional requirements). People who want to just get their credits for quant. or science requirements will generally take their classes at Bryn Mawr, which apparently has less rigorous STEM classes than Haverford.
The average GPA is a 3.4
@zorloth, phew!..because it does so happen that the quantitative and lab-type sciences and anything that involves calculations and graphs etc. are my very weak points that I’m very worried about potentially struggling with (at the level I have been imagining those courses would all be at, at a rigorous school like Haverford). I became only recently aware that Bryn Mawr students can take up to 4 of their distibutional requirements pass/fail, but at Haverford if you want a course to count toward your distributional requirements it HAS to be taken for a grade (is that correct)? I’m a female and could choose to go to Bryn Mawr over Haverford as my home school that I matriculate at as a student (if I get accepted into both) for that reason, but (even though I know they are similar) I really like the feel at Haverford a lot more, so…
"at Haverford if you want a course to count toward your distributional requirements it HAS to be taken for a grade (is that correct)? "
Yes, it is true. For someone not remotely math-inclined, even the “easy” classes are no cake walk.
@doschicos, ok, you are scaring me, but I assume you are still talking about those classes at Haverford. If I go to Haverford, and take the “hardest” (for me) of those classes at Bryn Mawr, is it your impression I could find ones that aren’t that tough? (Concepts aren’t difficult for me but complex calculations and graphs etc. are.) Alternatively, @zorloth, do you know if it is permissible to get any of those distributional requirements done in the summer at (for example) my home state public 4-year college – where I’m pretty sure it would be easier to get through them ok than it would be at Haverford’s rigorous level?
It looks like the requirements are different than they used to be and that pass/fail might now be allowed? Read through the handbook:
https://www.haverford.edu/sites/default/files/Office/Catalog/2016-17/2016-17-Haverford-College-Catalog-Academic-Regulations.pdf
@doschicos, yes, I saw and read those pages before but it was unclear to me. My interpretation was that up to four courses at Haverford could be taken pass/fail as long as they were taken just as electives only toward the total number of course credits required to graduate, BUT if a course was taken pass/fail and then the student wanted to count it toward a distributional requirement, the grade would need to be uncovered to count the course toward any distributional requirement. @zorloth , do you know ?
If you take a class pass fail you can’t count it towards a distribution req unless you uncover your grade. Its only 3 semesters of natural science classes (one of which has to be quantitative, but not necessarily a strict math class). There are health studies and psych class (neuroscience focused) that will fulfill natural science credits. None of these classes have labs. Also, there are science classes specifically designed for non-majors that you can take (like perspectives in biology - they usually have some pretty interesting topics).
Also geology at Bryn Mawr is said to be an easy way to do your science classes, though there is a lab. Generally BMC science classes are said to be a bit less rigorous than Haverford’s classes (except for the ones specifically designed for non majors as those are not very difficult in general).
Usually the quantitative req is trickier to fulfill with an easy course. You can take calc, stats or there are also some non-majors physics/astronomy classes that involve enough math to count it to fulfill the quantitative req.
Also, if you have any interest in coding and computers, you can take computer science.
Don’t let the distribution req scare you away! Part of an LAC is taking a wide array of classes and its really not a huge deal. Honestly, I’ve discovered some amazing fields and learned some really cool things taking classes outside of my comfort zone.