<p>My question is the following:</p>
<p>I hate sciences and I cant stand them!</p>
<p>If I go to Wharton will I still have to take them under liberal arts in the core curriculum?</p>
<p>Can it be like computer science instead of physics, chemistry or biology?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Yes, you do have to take science, but computer science is probably OK: <a href="http://undergrad.wharton.upenn.edu/curriculum/curriculum.cfm%5B/url%5D">http://undergrad.wharton.upenn.edu/curriculum/curriculum.cfm</a></p>
<p>ETA: Apparently you can also take them pass/fail, if you like.</p>
<p>So this means Physics, Biology or Chemistry wont be compulsory? I just have to attend the class! No problem if I fail?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Bio/Chem/Phys are definitely not compulsory...
If you take a class pass/fail then you have to complete all the required work for the course (take the tests, write the papers etc.) Showing up may or may not be compulsory but it's always advisable! You also have to get a passing grade, but don't worry, it's pretty hard to fail classes at Penn. Whatever grade you get won't show up on your transcript, you just get a P. And if you eventually decide that you would like your grade to be on your transcript you can petition the registrar to get it changed to a letter grade...AFAIK the instructor doesn't know if you take the class P/F or not and assigns you a letter grade, then the P/F part is taken care of by the registrar.</p>
<p>You're right, lauraanne. As rigorous as some classes are here at Penn, as long as you go to class and show you are making an effort, it's pretty hard to fail.</p>
<p>Is the pass/fail policy only for the first semester of freshman year? I understand that is how it works at other schools and I knew Penn had a similar thing, but in which semester(s) does it apply?</p>
<p>P.S.- Also, are there any limitations of which classes you can take advantage of this opportunity. For example, if a certain class is a requirement for my major but I take it during the first semester of freshman year, is it still a pass/fail basis? How do they calculate the GPA this way? Thanks!</p>
<p>Is Psychology considered a science?</p>
<p>No, you can take up to four classes as pass/fail.
Psychology is a Social Science</p>
<p>I might be reading your question wrong, but you cannot take anything P/F first semester Freshman year.</p>
<p>Pass/Fail policies vary by SCHOOL so you need to check with your respective school.</p>
<p>Wharton students can only take THREE classes pass/fail. Wharton students cannot take any classes pass/fail first semester. You can't take any business classes, Globals, or Wharton fundamental requirements pass/fail. You CAN take General Ed requirements pass/fail, which includes Science. You can take no more than 1 class pass/fail in a semester, except the last semester of your senior year when you can take 2 pass/fail. If you take classes pass/fail they do not get computed into your GPA (unless you fail, actually).</p>
<p>Wharton students can count Psychology as a Science & Technology requirement as well as anything from SEAS (including computer science) and anythign from NURS.</p>
<p>If most students pass, then how do weeder classes operate? If I have the privledge of going to Penn, I'm going to major in chemistry (perhaps chemical engineering if possible), but I understand that classes like orgo are very hard and many people drop out of it after only a few classes. If I stick with it, will I be able to pass as long as I put in the right effort, etc?</p>
<p>I'm also under the impression that students who were hardworking in high school get lazy in college by not going to class, etc. How prevalent is this at Penn? I don't want to have the mind set "I'm going to each and every one of my classes" and then find myself barely being able to get out of bed. Do the students (who do not go to classes avidly) always tell themselves that they'll work hard, etc. and then find themselves being lazy? I don't want to be nieve by telling myself right now that I'm going to be a super duper hardworker and find myself not going to classes. I've procrastinated before but I don't find myself to be a slacker. I think I'll be mature enough to understand that I need to go to classes, etc., but wouldn't everyone be telling him or herself this (even those that just laze around!)?! Thanks!</p>
<p>No, you have to go to class at Penn (for the most part). Almost every class I have had, part of the grade is attendance. Of course, I am only speaking of the classes I have taken and my own experiences...others may have a different experience. There are weeder classes, but most of the challenge is just sticking with it. The ones who get weeded out drop the class is usually based on fear and they don't realize that if they had just stayed in and gave it their best effort, they would have been ok.</p>
<p>Most students take their foreign languages for P/F</p>
<p>Are the foreign languages usually tough at Penn? What is their requirement (how many semesters)? What are the usual weeder classes when it comes to pre-med?</p>
<p>can people as SEAS take required science classes pass/fail, especially intro science classes where its tough to get a A? i assume not but just wanted to throw it out there anywya</p>
<p>You are required to take four courses of foreign language. No, classes in your major have to be taken for a grade (i.e., SEAS- science).</p>
<p>How do weeder classes work? People get Cs (I presume some people must anyway!). So they pass, but not well. Chemistry is tough, so maybe some people do fail Chem classes. SEAS is also tough. Well, tough is probably not the right word - they don't have the same rampant grade inflation that the College does. I, however, tend more towards the "wussy" end of the science spectrum, where if you get a B, well, you aint doing so good.
Foreign languages...I took Kiswahili and found it really easy to get decent grades, but I'm generally good at languages. For College kids, you have to complete Intermediate classes in a language. If you start from scratch that's 4 CU's, which you can do over four semesters or (for some languages) you can take accelerated classes and do it in two or three. Many of the more common languages will have placement tests for people who took them in high school, so you can place into higher classes or test out of the requirement completely. You can also place out using SAT II and AP scores (or you used to be able to.)</p>
<p>I still have to take my foreign language courses. They say not to wait until you are ready to graduate, but I have to. I would lose all confidence if I were to take them right now. And yes, people do fail some classes. I guess as long as you overall GPA doesn't fall below a 2.00, you'll be fine. But, again, I've never met a single person who didn't pass Penn classes, as long as they tried and showed effort.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses! I understand that Penn has a unique way of bringing foreign language studies to their studies. My tour guide told me that if you can get a few more people to join you, you can request that the school bring a speaker of any language (if the language is not already available at Penn) to the school in order to learn the language. Do you have any idea of whether or not other private universities do this too? I think this is an amazing service that truly shows how far Penn will go to teach their students. What kind of grade inflation is there? Does the majority of the class (for most courses) receive an A or B? Thanks so far for the info!</p>
<p>From what I've seen, B to B+ is the majority...That's the regular students who aren't attempting to be the "Super-Students" of the class.</p>