Hi…any current Penn students have some suggestions on some easy classes that can pad GPA?
Why are you worried about your GPA? What are you trying to achieve by keeping it high? As long as your GPA is within a reasonable range, I would recommend that you focus on experiences, and opportunities. Get involved in activities, and clubs. Go listen to some speakers. Get involved in research. Learn as much as you can.
If you spend all of your time defending your GPA, you will miss out on a lot.
Thanks for the advice, but focusing on experiences, clubs, opportunities, etc obviously goes without saying and is also something I have been doing. As a pre-med science major, GPA is probably the least impressive factor in my penn profile when looking at my clubs, research, activities, etc and at this point, I have to work on my GPA for med school applications.
So, if any current penn students have suggestions about easy gen-ed classes, fun classes, etc that would be helpful.
CIS 380
FNCE 207
MATH 508
Since you’re pre-med, Infectious Diseases (BFMD 073 - you have to be a junior or senior), Victimology (NURS 333), or Forensic Mental Health (NURS 331) are all good options.
@Penn18 thanks for the info. I read it as a post from an incoming freshman who hadn’t started yet, and was already worried about GPA. Pre-med is a different animal. You are doing the right thing!
A summer class could allow you to focus on one subject in the summer, which should help your grade. It could also allow you to take one few courses fall term, which would also help.
Here are what my friends have said about some classes. I haven’t taken any of these so I can’t say much.
"Music 050: This class double counts for a global and I’m not sure what else. It’s a pretty easy A, fairly interesting, and counts twice (with global). I know there is an online version for this, so this may be a good one if you can motivate yourself without going to a classroom.
Math 170: Easy math class (mostly algebra and geometry). Please look to penncouresereview.com for the professors you prefer to take it with. Recently, I’ve heard, it’s been getting tougher depending on the semester and professor.
Math 122/123: You basically tutor local high school kids in either algebra or geometry. I’m in this class right now, so I can’t really speak to the grading, but I’ve heard that it’s been pretty easy to get an A in the past. Some of the work can be a nuisance in the beginning, but it’s pretty fun to work with the kids.
Italian Food and Culture or Italian Family and Cinema: These classes are 50% participation and 50% final project. In family and cinema and you basically just watch movies and then discuss them. This class also double counts with the global requirement, pretty easy to get an A. Make sure you take it with Fabio Finotti, he’s a pretty cool professor.
Law and Social Change or Law and Society: I haven’t taken this class, but most of my friends say that everyone is guaranteed an A. I’ve also heard that this class is really interesting and you actually learn some useful information outside of your Wharton curriculum. Make sure you take it from Hocine Fetni.
Forensic Mental Health/Forensic Science/Victimology: These classes are really good to fulfill your science requirements. You have to write essays each week, usually based on class slides, usually pretty easy. Fairly easy to get an A. The professor also buys you food (pizza twice already!) and is very lenient.
URBS 178: On the first day of class the professor tells everyone that they get an A or an A-. Class and a blog once a week. Tutor in West Philadelphia and talk about urban education issues in the U.S. It is a VERY liberal course (politically speaking), so if you’re more conservative, sometimes you might have to hold your tongue. He loves Wharton students interested in the cause because in his mind, Wharton kids don’t care about helping out- so when they do, he loves it.
Japanese Pop Culture (EALC 069): Only in the fall, don’t know a lot about it, but it was highly recommended to me by a good friend. You learn about “japanese pop culture” and it’s one day a week.
Criminology (CRIM100): Teacher is kind of scatter brained but a very easy class. I haven’t taken it yet, but a lot of athletes and students take this class for the easy grade.
Philosophy of Space and Time: I haven’t taken this, but I heard it is a very easy course to fulfill your S&T requirement. A bunch of my friends are in it.
Intro to Bible (JWST 150): At first, I took this class because I heard it was very easy and had limited amounts of work (two papers - drop one, and two tests - multiple choice, 10 questions). However, now I can say that I take this class because the material is actually quite fascinating and the professor is AWESOME. He is extremely knowledgeable, engaging, and supportive. Nicole is currently in this class and I’m sure she’d have to good things to say as well! This fulfills a SS/global requirement.
Russian Film (CINE 164, CINE 165): Limited amounts of work and although the professor is a bit “off-the-wall”, he actually quite interesting to learn from. There is no homework, so as long as you come to class, pay attention, and take notes you should be fine. This fulfills a SS/global requirement (double check this)!"