Any issues with not having "easy" classes?

[ichor]

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I'm an econ and math major, and pre-med. This major doesn't have the number of requirements as a full double major, but it's still a lot in addition with pre-med classes, of which there is no overlap (except calc I lol)

Because of this, my course selection is very rigid: I basically can't take anything else besides my major courses, pre-med courses, and gen ed courses.

What kind of non-pre-med and non-major requirement courses are you guys taking?

I'm just wondering if this would hurt me too much; I have no room to take easy introductory courses to help my GPA.

First semester I finished with a cGPA of 3.6 and sGPA of 3.7--but I don't know where I'll be after econometrics, mathematical economics, linear algebra, differential equations, game theory, and the like...without buffer classes.

 

[jeghaber]

It's not going to hurt you as long as you keep your GPA up. But to answer your question, one of my courses freshman year was Introduction to Sleep. That was pretty nice. It had its own "sleep section" in the classroom.

 

[Aerus]

Choose a major in which you will be successful in. If you are passionate about econ and math, you will be successful in it. I know a few people who major in math because math classes were "easy As" for them.

For me, I have a social sciences minor and am taking two years of a language and an extra year of math. Not for GPA reasons, but for breadth.

 

[Zelda840]

Agree with poster above. If you love it, it'll come easy to you. My Neuroscience classes are the ones I actually WANT to get up and go to, and I do my best in them. That being said, here are the easiest classes I've taken so far:

Music of the People: Rock & Pop
Intro to Sociology
Intro to Psychology
Marriage and the Family
Human Growth & Development
Human Relations

 

[HelpPleaseMD]

personally I'd never touch anything above calc 2, but that is just me 🙂. I can't see much use of all that crap your taking unless you really enjoy it. don't expect adcoms to bump up your grade just cause you took advanced mathematics and imo they shouldn't. different people have different strengths.

tldr. take courses you enjoy. its college for god's sake. explore... but don't fuk up gpa

 

[vagabondrunning]

Difficult for me to answer since I'm currently getting my master's degree in theology, so my courses next semester are in philosophical theology, liberation theology, and the advent of modernity around the Reformation 🙂.

With that being said, the easies courses I took during my undergrad were probably music appreciation courses and intro anthropology courses. Honestly, take courses that you enjoy. That's the most important, I think.

 

[farnk20]

Take a major/classes you enjoy. I majored in Liberal Studies and took pre-med classes on the side, and had no room for electives as a result, but loved every minute of my humanities classes. It didn't hurt my chances when I applied either. Do what you love in undergrad and the grades will come.

 

[911 Turbo]

Take a major/classes you enjoy. I majored in Liberal Studies and took pre-med classes on the side, and had no room for electives as a result, but loved every minute of my humanities classes. It didn't hurt my chances when I applied either. Do what you love in undergrad and the grades will come.

lol


ok man

 

[487806]

I'm an econ and math major, and pre-med. This major doesn't have the number of requirements as a full double major, but it's still a lot in addition with pre-med classes, of which there is no overlap (except calc I lol)

Because of this, my course selection is very rigid: I basically can't take anything else besides my major courses, pre-med courses, and gen ed courses.

What kind of non-pre-med and non-major requirement courses are you guys taking?

I'm just wondering if this would hurt me too much; I have no room to take easy introductory courses to help my GPA.

First semester I finished with a cGPA of 3.6 and sGPA of 3.7--but I don't know where I'll be after econometrics, mathematical economics, linear algebra, differential equations, game theory, and the like...without buffer classes.

Yeah good luck man. Advanced econ courses can be rough (especially game theory...). An easy class is an introductory class. My suggestion is to take something like intro to psychology or sociology, since those classes are basically cake classes that you can use to fulfill the requirements. Also, you should have some flexibility in your schedule. Otherwise, get rid of the math major. It's useless.

 

[turayza]

@ichor Your "Econ and Math" is one single major right? Just clarifying since I think some of us are confusing it with two separate majors.

I'm a Public Health / Biochemistry double major and I also have almost no flexibility in course selection. However, I love both my majors and they cover a wide variety of topics (electives covering from medical ethics to psychology of sexuality to physical chemistry). Your pre-med and major courses are probably really science-heavy, right? Use your electives and gen ed for social sciences (using a different part of your brain). At my school, psych, sociology and nutrition are easy 4.0s.
And it's totally possible to succeed, GPA-wise with hard classes-- sounds like you're doing fine so far! Usually the curve relaxes as you hit upper level classes (that is, the bottom x percentage of students drop out with each successive course, but the median GPA is set slightly higher and higher with increasing course difficulty) so the GPA you have now is probably what you can expect to be continue earning if you keep up good study habits and make use of resources (professor's hours, etc).

 

[ichor]

Yeah good luck man. Advanced econ courses can be rough (especially game theory...). An easy class is an introductory class. My suggestion is to take something like intro to psychology or sociology, since those classes are basically cake classes that you can use to fulfill the requirements. Also, you should have some flexibility in your schedule. Otherwise, get rid of the math major. It's useless.

Useless? 🙁

I love math though. And an econ and math degree would put me ahead of many econ majors who are, quite frankly, not that good at math. And this is a back-up plan in case I don't get into med school.

@ichor Your "Econ and Math" is one single major right? Just clarifying since I think some of us are confusing it with two separate majors.

I'm a Public Health / Biochemistry double major and I also have almost no flexibility in course selection. However, I love both my majors and they cover a wide variety of topics (electives covering from medical ethics to psychology of sexuality to physical chemistry). Your pre-med and major courses are probably really science-heavy, right? Use your electives and gen ed for social sciences (using a different part of your brain). At my school, psych, sociology and nutrition are easy 4.0s.
And it's totally possible to succeed, GPA-wise with hard classes-- sounds like you're doing fine so far! Usually the curve relaxes as you hit upper level classes (that is, the bottom x percentage of students drop out with each successive course, but the median GPA is set slightly higher and higher with increasing course difficulty) so the GPA you have now is probably what you can expect to be continue earning if you keep up good study habits and make use of resources (professor's hours, etc).

Well, econ & math is a joint major. Not exactly a single major, but definitely not a complete double major. What you said sounds good! I really do want to major in both and not have to drop one.

 

[487806]

Useless? 🙁

I love math though. And an econ and math degree would put me ahead of many econ majors who are, quite frankly, not that good at math. And this is a back-up plan in case I don't get into med school.



Well, econ & math is a joint major. Not exactly a single major, but definitely not a complete double major. What you said sounds good! I really do want to major in both and not have to drop one.

It's just a suggestion when you said your schedule is tight. Tbh, upper-level math is very much useless (like abstract algebra and real analysis). If these types of proof-based courses aren't required, you can use that time to fill in easy courses and prereqs. You'll learn math through sciences and even in economics (like math econ, game theory and econometrics).

Since it isn't a "double major", Econ/Math major wouldn't seem to be stressful, so you should have time regardless to intersperse easy courses with major requirements.

 

[turayza]

Useless? 🙁

I love math though. And an econ and math degree would put me ahead of many econ majors who are, quite frankly, not that good at math. And this is a back-up plan in case I don't get into med school.

Well, econ & math is a joint major. Not exactly a single major, but definitely not a complete double major. What you said sounds good! I really do want to major in both and not have to drop one.

Oh got it. In all likelihood since you enjoy math you'll probably do well in these classes anyways. Nothing is more useless than a bio degree (...maybe English) when you're looking for jobs, so you'll be keeping your options open and taking classes you like!
It's a little idealistic but honestly since you're paying for undergrad, don't waste your money on "easy" classes (unless those are topics you really like / you're learning a lot from them) and take courses you enjoy, even if they might be more work. Good luck!! And it's not like you have to decide right away...junior year if you find that the upper level math courses are killing you, you could switch to pure econ.

 

[ichor]

Well, it turns out that my econ and math major isn't that bad. I drew up a mock schedule and would love your inputs.

"Transfer" is just the AP credit I transferred from high school. I had twice as many transfer classes possible, but this is the cap. 😛

Here are some issues I'd love input on.

1. Span = Spanish. I took 4 years of Spanish in middle and high school (straight A's), but I want an easy A in Spanish, so I might try to get into the intro level Spanish. But I've also heard that 200 level Spanish might be easier because Spanish 100 might have a ton of memorization.

2. Does it seem like I'm taking my math and econ courses at the proper times? I made it so I'd get all my pre-med courses in before I'd take the MCAT. I've also stuffed a bunch of math and econ courses in my first 3 years, so there's not really room for easy courses.

3. Some med schools want 2 writing classes, right? I thought a good time to take one of the classes is junior year, second semester. Any idea for when to take the other one?

EDIT: I'm switching physics, orgo, and bio. SOPH: physics+bio. JR: orgo
I'm good at physics, so it should definitely be in my sci double-up year. And I'm choosing orgo as a standalone because I've never taken it before.

 

[farnk20]

Why not push biochem to senior year and pad GPA with an elective first semester junior year? You'll just need to indicate that you will be taking it on your AMCAS, you won't need to have it done.

 

[Flashfan]

Since your taking the new MCAT you will need that Biochem before the exam. I think it looks like a good schedule. Senior year you might want to add an upper-level bio class.

 

[farnk20]

Since your taking the new MCAT you will need that Biochem before the exam. I think it looks like a good schedule. Senior year you might want to add an upper-level bio class.

Won't OP need an anthro/psych class somewhere in there too then?

 

[Flashfan]

I see Psych 101 as a credit and he has Soc 101 in there are well.

 

[farnk20]

Did not see that, my bad.

What about moving S1 Junior Math to senior year? If it were me, I would try to spread out those courses and add some fluff.

 

[ichor]

Did not see that, my bad.

What about moving S1 Junior Math to senior year? If it were me, I would try to spread out those courses and add some fluff.

Okay, yeah that sounds good.

2. Communication skills. Required course work will include at least two writing-intensive courses, which can be in the humanities or the social/behavioral sciences and may be counted as part of the 24-semester hour requirement for the humanities and social sciences. It is expected that the student will have demonstrated precise and fluent communication in spoken and written English. It is strongly recommended that the student achieve basic conversational skills in a foreign language.

That's from JHU's med school reqs page. Does that mean 2 semesters of foreign language can count as writing-intensive courses?

 

[farnk20]

I always understood that writing intensive courses did not include foreign language courses. Writing and Rhetoric or some variation of that is what they're looking for, basically just to see that you can communicate effectively in English academic writing. Contact the admissions office to find out what counts, but my guess would be that nearly any ENGL course or literature course would satisfy that requirement, provided there's a significant writing component.