<p>Hi I am a entering freshmen at amherst and I was just wondering…what is the grading curve like in general? Bell curve? Is it hard to maintain a A-/A average?</p>
<p>Also, I am probably going to be a Chem major and I was looking at the course catalog for Chem 11 vs Chem 15. Do any of the Amherst students have any opinions on which is better suited? I have a strong background in Chem, but the only thing is that I took AP Chem sophomore year in high school.</p>
<p>There is a curve. Depending on courses, an A/A- average (~3.8) in chemistry would take some work. As for Chem 11 vs Chem 15, it depends on your background. They both funnel into Chem 12, and the class average grade is generally higher in chem 15 (as it should be). Talk with your advisor about it. If in doubt take Chem 11 (adjusting freshman year is tough enough without the stress of being in over your head academically.)</p>
<p>Most students, especially science majors with labs, do take four courses per semester. Credit is given per course, rather than per credit hour. This makes it somewhat "unfair" for science majors with labs, as opposed to students who major in humanities.</p>
<p>Why are limits so strict in regard to the number of courses one can take per semester? As in, why do I need special permission from the Dean if I want to take an additional full credit course? Do many people elect to take five full credit courses a semester, and what would the workload be like?</p>
<p>Permission from the dean is not very difficult to get if you can give a cogent reason for wanting to take 5 classes. Generally at Amherst, these sort of rules are written in such a way that they prevent people from accidentally screwing themselves, but the administration is willing to make exceptions if you show that you know what you're getting into.</p>
<p>For most people, 5 classes is a ton of work that will sometimes require you to make painful sacrifices. 4 classes is generally enough to give you a good work-life balance. You still have a plenty of work to do, but you never feel like it dominates your life. Except at finals time of course. The people I know who can take 5 classes and maintain that balance are literally some of the most intelligent people I've ever met. 4 classes is just about right for those of us with more human abilities.</p>
<p>thanks guys! ya...I thought it was kind of weird that amherst doesn't count by credit, rather by number of courses. I think haha I will stick with 4, especially since I am going to be a science major</p>
<p>I totally understand that to pull of a 3.8 takes effort, but I wanted to get a feel of the grade curve going in</p>
<p>I have been looking at course catalog lately and I was wondering if you guys can also give me some suggestions on picking classes for freshmen year....I am kind of looking a head here and choose for both semsters. any advice would be great. thanks again :)</p>
<p>Semster 1:
Calc 12 OR 13 (probably 12)
Chem 11 OR 15 ( probably 15 at this point)
Freshmen seminar
Psychology 12</p>
<p>Semster 2:
Chem 12
Physics 16
Psychology 33? (the intro statistics one)
Maybe some thing like Anthropology or Art History</p>
<p>oh and by curve, do you mean just curve? or bell curve?</p>
<p>BTW, D is a humanities major, and even though she does NOT have labs per se, she has required language labs, tutorials with native speakers, dinner meetings to speak the target language, and movie nights in the target language which require an additional paper/review, so even though you may not have science labs, many of the classes have outside hour requirements. She found that the additional required hours was like taking that 5th class, and most of her friends who did take 5 classes in a semester, did it once, and decided not to do so again. Remember: those humanities classes have LOTS of reading and writing (papers) requirements.</p>
<p>I used Zumdhal for intro chem, same as my high school one. I forget the name of the calculus book, but it had a string instrument and integral looking things on it.</p>
<p>Is it true that the same text book is used for both Chem 11 and chem 15. Does anyone remember name of the text book and the author for chem and math 11</p>
<p>zumdhal is chem. it's the same book for chem 11, 15, and 12. 11 and 15 just focus on different things. 11 does more of the basics, 15 focuses more on atomic and molecular models and wat not.</p>
<p>We are the best of the best. Average here is okay! Do your best and you will be fine. All that positioning and grade-grubbing you did in high school...leave it there.</p>
<p>I don't know anyone who takes five courses. At this point you should be more focused on having a balanced life. Social skills are important too. And life is short.</p>