My son is seriously considering attending ND next year. We really love most aspects of the school but are a little concerned about grading trends in science related programs. We have heard that Cs and Ds are not uncommon in early science classes and that maintaining a 3.0 grade point average is difficult. I am trying to determine if this is accurate information. My son has never gotten a B in any class. He is extremely type A and has some anxiety issues. He says he can is ok with getting lower grades but I think getting a C might freak him out. Can parents or students give me some feedback on this? Are the science classes manageable or impossible? Can you get a good grade in them? Any info would be greatly appreciated!
I truly would not worry about this. DD is a First-Year Engineering student this year with presumably similar HS science grades as your son: she worked hard, received straight A’s in her ND Chem, Phys and Math classes and was included in the Dean’s List for her first semester grades with an GPA > 3.75. For First-Year students it is important to understand that they need to study and work hard, as they are together with other very smart students at Notre Dame. Assuming this to be the case, there really is nothing you and/or your son will need to worry about!
My DD is also a first year Engineering student. She too never had a grade below an A+ or an AP score of less than a 5. My daughter has had a slightly different experience than the last poster. She received her first C+. She ended her first semester with a 3.5 but the C+ was difficult to handle. Many times the class average will be an 88 and she’ll receive a 85. She has stated that she would be happy being average! Her approach this semester is a bit different than her first. She seems to be preparing for exams much sooner, attending TA hours and tutoring sessions sooner and more frequently. ND provides all the tools the kids need to help with challenging classes and yes you can get A’s & B’s in classes.
My DD summed up her experience last week with this: ND is academically challenging but I’m thriving.
Most kids who attend ND have had few or no B’s in their high school career.
Getting a C may indeed freak him out. But everyone has to experience some adversity in order to grow.
Our son is a junior in the College of Science. He was an A student in high school and has worked very hard to maintain a 3.4 average at ND. It is more competitive than other schools, but will be very worth it in the long run.
I was a premed major at ND. In the second semester of sophomore year I got a 26% on the first organic chemistry test (mean was 34%).
Needless to say the entire class was angst ridden. I work my butt off the rest of the semester and ultimately the first test was dropped for people who had maintained a consistently higher average on the later tests. I subsequently went on to med school and did fine.
I was back at ND last week with our daughter who was at the Science open house. The one science professor I sought out to thank was the organic chemistry teacher. That class made the most impact on me even though or because it was the one in which I suffered the most adversity.
Going to ND is not a 4 year decision, it is a 40 year decision. Your son will be fine.