I was originally intending to major in biology and pursuing the pre-med path, but recently decided not to go through. Thus, now I’m an intended data science major planning on doing an emphasis in human biology (chem 1a is actually not a pre-req!)
Pros:
I’m actually doing well in chem 1A right now (averaged above a 96%), but I’m not sure how difficult midterm 3 and the final exam will be.
Taking it for letter grade just makes everything more flexible, if I were to switch back to bio for whatever reason hah.
Cons:
So. freaking. stressful.
Actually don’t need this class, except that it fulfills the physical science breadth, which can be taken for p/np.
Also, just a note that I believe it is only worth taking this class for a letter grade if I can get an A. And I didn’t just drop this class because I believe having some chem knowledge might potentially be useful, and it fulfills a breadth too.
Any serious advice/comment is appreciated. Please do not post anything condescending.
I also believe it is only worth taking the class for a letter grade if you can get a high grade.
One of the worst feelings is when you were doing so fine in the class and because the class gives out so few A’s, you end up with an A- or even B+. Thankfully Chem 1A doesn’t seem to be that kind of class, but it is still a constant upkeep work to stay on top.
My opinion is keep it at letter grade for your reason #1 that you are already doing well and the signs are looking good.
It depends how you’re doing in other classes - if you’re spending too much time on Chem 1A and there’s little time left for others, then the decision is obvious.
my kid made a strategic mistake last semester. He decided to P/NP a Philosophy breadth 2 days before getting his midterm paper back. He got a 97 on the paper and most likely would have gotten an A.
If you’re all set with DS then P/NP probably would be ok since it sounds like it will be a pure elective. But I would only do it if it frees up a bunch of time for your other classes. In my kid’s case, it probably did help him a little bit since the Philo class was really time-consuming in the amount of reading required.
I got good scores for midterm one and two bc I studied a bunch for them. I also go to tutoring services but I’m just stressed about the upcoming midterm and final because by then I’ll have more papers and finals. It’s mainly the stress but if I put in a lot of work I think I can do well. Or at least a b+.
Also what are people’s general opinion on chem 1al’s final exam ?
I’d take it P/NP but that’s just because I enjoy dedicating time to my programming classes which require a whole different set of skills.
Hey @ProfessorPlum168 is your kid taking Data Sci. C100 this semester? A friend mentioned it’s quite challenging, doable, but not easy, and that opinion comes from who aced all the CS axis courses. I was planning to take it, but now I’m not sure it’s going to be a good idea.
@smsk he was going to take C100 this semester especially since Prof DeNero is teaching it, but he had to switch (to Cog Sci 1) when the final exam date was switched from May 17 to May 16 inexplicably. (My kid already had 2 finals on May 16). I think he’s going to take it in the Fall, I think Hug is teaching the class in the Fall.