"Blowoff Sciences Classes"

[Kochanie]

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I am looking for an easy class next quarter and found Astronomy 100 something.

Would this count count for Science GPA even though it's much easier than most science classes?
I know it fits into the Astronomy category, but are there any other specifications?

 

[NuttyEngDude]

Yes, Check this:

https://www.aamc.org/students/download/181694/data/amcas_course_classification_guide.pdf

 

[487806]

I am looking for an easy class next quarter and found Astronomy 100 something.

Would this count count for Science GPA even though it's much easier than most science classes?
I know it fits into the Astronomy category, but are there any other specifications?

Well yeah. Astronomy is science AFAIK

 

[happyfeet1292]

Well yeah. Astronomy is science AFAIK

Technically it is designated as "physics" by the AAMC, so yes, it will count towards your science GPA.

 

[Kochanie]

But, apparently a lot of my natural science courses here don't count as AMCAS courses. But thank you, I will take it.

 

[Remy LeBeau]

Adcoms are wise to those who take a lot of lower level science classes to pad their sGPA. Be careful not to take too many intro-level sciences just for the sake of having an easy schedule.

 

[mariambaby3]

Adcoms are wise to those who take a lot of lower level science classes to pad their sGPA. Be careful not to take too many intro-level sciences just for the sake of having an easy schedule.

Strongly disagree. While I believe that adcoms do have the right to ask to see your transcript, I would imagine many do not take the time to bother with this.

As a result, when they see your gpa, it's in the same format as you listed on your AMCAS primary. It's broken down by cGPA, sGPA, and AO for each year and then an avg of all 4 years. No where in there is an indication of whether the sci classes you took were easy or not.

 

[Remy LeBeau]

Strongly disagree. While I believe that adcoms do have the right to ask to see your transcript, I would imagine many do not take the time to bother with this.

As a result, when they see your gpa, it's in the same format as you listed on your AMCAS primary. It's broken down by cGPA, sGPA, and AO for each year and then an avg of all 4 years. No where in there is an indication of whether the sci classes you took were easy or not.

Based on my experience, that's not exactly true. In multiple interviews, I noticed that my interviewers had my entire AMCAS printout, including the transcript (with class title, designation, and level). They can see it all.

The reason I commented as I did is because one of my interviewers specifically asked about an easy class I took my senior year. It was something like, "Underwater Basket Weaving 101 sounds like an interesting class. What was that class all about? What was the most interesting thing you learned?" They won't scrutinize every credit hour you've ever taken, but they will see a pattern of easy science classes. @LizzyM @Goro

 

[alpinism]

AMCAS contains every course listed on your college transcript including course number and subject.

 

[487806]

Based on my experience, that's not exactly true. In multiple interviews, I noticed that my interviewers had my entire AMCAS printout, including the transcript (with class title, designation, and level). They can see it all.

The reason I commented as I did is because one of my interviewers specifically asked about an easy class I took my senior year. It was something like, "Underwater Basket Weaving 101 sounds like an interesting class. What was that class all about? What was the most interesting thing you learned?" They won't scrutinize every credit hour you've ever taken, but they will see a pattern of easy science classes. @LizzyM @Goro

Adcoms can't identify what's easy and what's not. It's incredibly subjective. Sure if you take some random class and did well, they may be interested, but I doubt they'll bother to discern the difficulty of the class.

 

[WillburCobb]

I was asked specifically about certain classes I had taken and a student on one of my interview committees had gone to my undergrad and was asking who I had for certain classes and if some classes still had certain elements/were taught the same as when she was there. So yes adcoms will look at specific grades and classes, and the potential does exists for adcoms to be well aware of the difficulty of classes you've taken.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LizzyM]

Another thing to consider is that some committee letters will point out which courses are difficult or more challenging, e.g. if your school has a calculus based physis sequence and an easier sequence, it might mention that a student took the harder sequence. Later, when I see someone who took the other sequence, a lightbulb goes off because as an adcom member I become familar with the course offerings at our feeder schools.

 

[CollegeGirl94]

I do realize it's better to take a harder course, but as I am a sophomore who stopped taking Orgo (therefore can't take higher level Chem/Bio which I would love to take) I don't have many options until next year. It's just for next quarter. I was planning to take Calc-based Physics + Biology but they are given at the same time... Just my luck.

 

[Goro]

Someone who takes "DNA Methods", "Seminars in Neuroscience", "Chemistry for Non-Science Majors", and anything Ecology-related will not be taken as seriously as the classic medical school-mimicking courses like Micro, Anatomy, Pharm, etc.

I also concur with the sage LizzyM. We have four, maybe five schools in particular that yield talented undergrads, so we see the same rigorous courses over and over in their transcripts. Our Admissions Dean also keeps a close watch on schools know as having good pre-med programs and those that don't.

I have a lot of respect for, and interest in anything to do with Astronomy, so I don't consider it a fluff course. I mean, Hubble constants? Dark matter keeping the Universe from contracting? Curved space? Mind blowing stuff!

Adcoms can't identify what's easy and what's not. It's incredibly subjective. Sure if you take some random class and did well, they may be interested, but I doubt they'll bother to discern the difficulty of the class.

 

[487806]

Someone who takes "DNA Methods", "Seminars in Neuroscience", "Chemistry for Non-Science Majors", and anything Ecology-related will not be taken as seriously as the classic medical school-mimicking courses like Micro, Anatomy, Pharm, etc.

I also concur with the sage LizzyM. We have four, maybe five schools in particular that yield talented undergrads, so we see the same rigorous courses over and over in their transcripts. Our Admissions Dean also keeps a close watch on schools know as having good pre-med programs and those that don't.

I have a lot of respect for, and interest in anything to do with Astronomy, so I don't consider it a fluff course. I mean, Hubble constants? Dark matter keeping the Universe from contracting? Curved space? Mind blowing stuff!

@bolded. lol. I don't think an intro course will dive that far. It sounds more like an upper-level astrophysics class 😛

I mean (and this is from very limited experience but from what I found before, so forgive me for my naivete), I realize there are some subtle hints in identifying intro courses, but I find it difficult to reasonably compare the difficulty of, say a literature course with an engineering course. Who knows? Maybe ecology can be difficult in some colleges. Though I think as @LizzyM mentions, the committee letter will probably state the rigor of the academic schedule.

Personally, for me, having a well-balanced schedule (mix of sciences and social sciences/humanities) with a strong GPA and MCAT is the key to academic success in the future (and arguably more important than course rigor, although academic well-roundedness inherently includes course rigor).

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

My astronomy counted as physics. As long as you don't overload your transcript with stupid classes, you should be fine.

 

[Kochanie]

Should I take Calculus (Differential of Multivariable Functions) with Calculus-based Physics next quarter? Do they go hand-in-hand?

 

[487806]

Should I take Calculus (Differential of Multivariable Functions) with Calculus-based Physics next quarter? Do they go hand-in-hand?

Yes they go hand-in-hand and you'll definitely enjoy it if you put effort and interest.

 

[alpinism]

Depends, sometimes its pretty obvious.

Spring semester junior year: Astronomy 100 vs. Virology 399 or Embryology 419

Its not that you can't take astronomy, in fact its great to branch out and explore other fields. The problem comes into play when you only take lower division science classes outside your major and don't challenge yourself with more advanced classes.

 

[Kochanie]

This is probably the only lower-div class I will take. all my other sciences are pre-reqs for premed and 300-400 level courses. Besides Astronomy 100's we don't have any other lower-div science classes.

 

[CW 2010]

I think you could take a couple of "easier" science courses (and just say you had a genuine interest in Astronomy, for example). But not too many. That would look suspicious. And for Calculus (which is probably required for your degree), I think your school also offers algebra-based Physics. Perhaps, it's easier to take that instead.

 

[Kochanie]

I'm thinking about taking the algebra-based Physics, but Calculus is not an issue for me at all (Physics...is) and it is not offered in the spring.

 

[487806]

I think you could take a couple of "easier" science courses (and just say you had a genuine interest in Astronomy, for example). But not too many. That would look suspicious. And for Calculus (which is probably required for your degree), I think your school also offers algebra-based Physics. Perhaps, it's easier to take that instead.

It isn't.

I'm thinking about taking the algebra-based Physics, but Calculus is not an issue for me at all (Physics...is) and it is not offered in the spring.

Go for calculus-based physics. You'll actually learn physics in the calc-based class compared to pointless rote memorization in algebra-based physics. This will help you significantly in your MCAT prep.

 

[Kochanie]

It isn't.



Go for calculus-based physics. You'll actually learn physics in the calc-based class compared to pointless rote memorization in algebra-based physics. This will help you significantly in your MCAT prep.

Will do.

Also, there's this class (100 level Classics) that is no longer going to be offered anymore. It is a relatively easy course and I am debating if I should take it. I will either take 4 courses or 4 courses + this class. Will this seem as if I'm just going for easy A's (kind of am... to be honest). I heard this class helps a lot in medical school.

 

[487806]

Will do.

Also, there's this class (100 level Classics) that is no longer going to be offered anymore. It is a relatively easy course and I am debating if I should take it. I will either take 4 courses or 4 courses + this class. Will this seem as if I'm just going for easy A's (kind of am... to be honest). I heard this class helps a lot in medical school.

I don't think anyone would care