Class to boost GPA: Easy A? or difficult science?

[Canesmed]

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I am currently in GPA boost mode but I have a question as to which class to take and would like some suggestions.

My main question is would it be better to take a non-science (musicology) class in which I am 98% guaranteed an A b/c it is notoriously known as an easy A class. My other alternatives would be to take ecology/neurobio/ or comparative physiology in which I am not ensured an A. While going into my senior year, would it be better to increase the overall GPA or BCMP? (I plan to delay applying until after graduation) In the fall, I am already enrolled in 3 higher-level science courses, with 1 of them being research (got an A+ last semester). Either way, I will be taking 19 credit hours but I don't want to get too overwhelmed and end up doing poorly. Do you guys have any suggestions?

As of now, my schedule looks like the following. Should I replace another biology class instead of the musicology class?

Art History 342 (required for my minor - 3 credits)





Biology 365 (Endocrinology - 3 credits)





Biochemistry 509 (Lecture - 3 credits)
Biochemistry 545 (Research - 3 credits)





Musicology (Evolution of Rock - 3 credit)





Physics 106 (Lab - "easy A" - 1 credit)





Sociology 303 (required for graduation - 3 credits)

Total credits for fall 2011: 19 credit hours

What should I do?



It's all about the []__[]! Welcome to the Golden Era!

 

[JESSFALLING]

Take whatever you think is the most interesting. You also might want to take it easy with extra classes and focus on your research and ECs...don't leave home without them! If you're worried about GPA, you do realize that DO schools allow for grade replacement right? If you earned a C in any prereqs you might consider retaking one or two of them. What are your stats and where are you planning to apply?

 

[JESSFALLING]

Physics 106 (Lab - "easy A" - 1 credit)

The year-long "General Physics" series (standard prereq at most schools) should have included a lab component for each class. I don't know what this "106" course is, but the General Physics series (with labs) is all that you need to make sure you've completed. If you are going to take an additional physics course, then it should be something that builds upon the introductory coursework. You should also not be taking a 100-level courses as a junior/senior unless it's something non-science...adcoms aren't stupid.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

if you're boosting, best to go with UL science. It proves far more than getting an A in musicology

 

[willen101383]

if you're boosting, best to go with UL science. It proves far more than getting an A in musicology

Agreed...yeah its going to boost your GPA..but nobody is going to take that seriously at all. However college isnt all about getting into med school. Its about growing up and becoming a more rounded individual. If the class is something you will enjoy..take it!!! But know it wont really look very impressive to anyone.

So glad I wasnt a premed undergrad lol.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

you are lucky. i just got done with "american pop music" which was basically the evolution of rock. I thought it would be an easy and interesting A. It effing sucked and I was happy with my B-.

 

[Colbare]

Are you working during that semester? If you're working on GPA you need to plan on getting a 4.0 so hopefully with a 19 hr semester you've planned to have enough time to study. Also if you made C's in any pre-reqs, retake for the A. Take advantage of grade replacement. A few 4 hour science classes you made C's in will do a lot if replaced with A's.

Musicology while maybe interesting will only average in with your overall GPA so I wouldn't bother.

 

[klm84]

I've always heard ppl say its better to go the honorable route and take the challenge, but to be honest when i was in undergrad I signed up for one easy A every semester and my gpa never went below a 3.6, so I kinda made it a rule. You already look like you're taking tons of science, so go for the easy A. No matter what you want to buckle down and aim for an A in all subjects, but there's no shame in taking just one where you dont need to study except for the day before the test. Especially if you need the boost in GPA

 

[Canesmed]

Take whatever you think is the most interesting. You also might want to take it easy with extra classes and focus on your research and ECs...don't leave home without them! If you're worried about GPA, you do realize that DO schools allow for grade replacement right? If you earned a C in any prereqs you might consider retaking one or two of them. What are your stats and where are you planning to apply?

My only c's have been orgo2 and biology160 (evolution). While I've considered retaking Otto for an A, orgo really isn't my strongest subject and the professor is notoriously known to be extremely hard. I could retake it but would probably end up with a B at best. And I had a difficult time learning about evolution due to my personal beliefs and don't really care to take that miserable class again. And the same deal with orgo, all of the convoluted and useless facts would probably only get me to a B.

As of now, my cum GPA is 3.38 and haven't figured out the sciGPA yet but it should b around 3.1-3.2. while I know these are low, that's why I'm in gpa repair mode.

 

[Canesmed]

you are lucky. i just got done with "american pop music" which was basically the evolution of rock. I thought it would be an easy and interesting A. It effing sucked and I was happy with my B-.

Sorry to hear that. I've heard the exams for our musicology class is identifying the artist and title of rock songs that we listen to in class.

 

[Canesmed]

The year-long "General Physics" series (standard prereq at most schools) should have included a lab component for each class. I don't know what this "106" course is, but the General Physics series (with labs) is all that you need to make sure you've completed. If you are going to take an additional physics course, then it should be something that builds upon the introductory coursework. You should also not be taking a 100-level courses as a junior/senior unless it's something non-science...adcoms aren't stupid.

The phy106 course is the lab that corresponds with college physics 1 (introductory) when I took my physics classes, I took a relatively new physics series called "honors university physics with applied life sciences" which involved calculus as well as applying it to the body (for example the spring constant, k, of a strand of DNA) it was different from both the college and university physics (w and w/o calc). It was the same material that is taught in 3 semesters of university physics but since it was an honors course, it was also scrunched into 2 semesters. but when I took the first course, my academic advisor told me I didn't need to take the lab because i was already taking a full course load, but then a semester later when I talked to my premed advisor, she told me then that I needed 2 semesters of phy lab...so far I've only taken phy2 lab so now I got to go back and finish phy1 lab. This won't look "bad" will it?

 

[Canesmed]

Are you working during that semester? If you're working on GPA you need to plan on getting a 4.0 so hopefully with a 19 hr semester you've planned to have enough time to study. Also if you made C's in any pre-reqs, retake for the A. Take advantage of grade replacement. A few 4 hour science classes you made C's in will do a lot if replaced with A's.

Musicology while maybe interesting will only average in with your overall GPA so I wouldn't bother.

I'm not working now, but if financial aide pulls through, I may have some work study money that I could work for...

And as my schedule is now, my lecture classes will only be Tuesday's and Thursday's (it's just how the departments scheduled these classes). On those days, I have 2 UL science, 2 UL humanities required for graduation and then the easy musicology. My MWF's will b dedicated to research, phy lab, and studying for the other classes. If I were to take another UL bio course instead of musicology, it would take it's time slot on Tuesday's and Thursday's. Do you think adding another UL science would make the semester too overwhelming and thus be burnt out come winter?