<p>So now my first year is over, and I have a decent gpa, but when I read about applicants to grad schools, it seems like they all have somewhere above a 3.8. I'm just wondering if, in the business or engineering schools, as you progress to the upper level courses, do they get any more manageable? i.e., less focused on weeding kids out and having a curve, and more focused on everyone learning the material? Also, are the classes going to get any smaller/will the professors become more accessible?</p>
<p>I'm just feeling a little disheartened, because it seems like there's such a big focus on the curves here and most people just figure out a way to maximize their grades, not their knowledge. I've gone to office hours, but the professors seem very distant, as well as the TAs. I guess I'm just hoping for some reassurance that, as I go through the classes, it'll start to feel more like a smaller school, with smaller class sizes, more interaction, more actual learning, etc etc. Thanks!</p>
<p>It will feel smaller and smaller because your class size will decrease with each upper level course. Profs will teach the class and you go from being a number to a name. The only thing to remember is the courses will remain as difficult if you do not have the principles under your belt from the prior class. Each prior class is a foundation for the next level.</p>
<p>Keep going to office hours, ask for help if you don’t understand the homework, or in preparation for tests. The best way you can make it a smaller school is to get to know professors, join study groups for your tougher classes, etc. Seek out those who “set” the curves in your class and see if you can get any tips on how they study that is different from how you are studying.</p>
<p>Sorry, but don’t count on the classes getting any easier. The “weed-out” process gets rid of students that aren’t expected to handle the tougher course-load. </p>
<p>Older D found her 2nd year(this past year) much more difficult than freshman year… sorry! She kept her GPA intact, but not without a lot of teeth gnashing and weekends spent studying. She’s expecting this coming year to be better—she knows (and likes) several of the profs she will have, and will be getting into some much more focused course material (in areas she’s interested). The curves are D’s friends… In one of her classes (can’t remember which one), the class average on one of the exams was 52% (and others not much higher). The extra things she was involved with and her friend group last year made being at UMD continue to be a great experience, though. </p>
<p>Looking at the courses she’s got scheduled in the fall, I don’t expect this next year to be any picnic. (She’s just thrilled to be “done” with math classes!!!) This will be a key year for her, before she starts applying to grad schools, so I know she’ll probably put more pressure on herself than ever.</p>