Dean's List or 4.0 GPA?

[jcshen97]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I posted this in r/premed but I wanted to get as many people's opinions as possible. I want to drop a writing intensive class, Intro to Bioethics, that's outside my major right now. I'm majoring in Biology, and thinking about a minor in Psychology. I don't know what's going on in this class, I don't think I have the skills needed to do well, and I don't think I will like the class. It's a lot of finding nuances in philosophical argumentation, and I just don't think this is for me. Should I drop it, I will be down to 13 credits this semester, which is 1 below the bar for Dean's List. I have been on the Dean's List every semester in college, and I'm a junior right now. Which is more important, Dean's List or a 4.0 semester GPA? The drop period ends this Sunday.

In addition, do you think a Bio major/Psych minor is too "typical premed?"

 

[xochitl]

4.0 GPA no doubt in my mind

 

[Blanky]

What is the Bioethics grade? Its likely a bad idea to withdraw.

 

[Goro]

I posted this in r/premed but I wanted to get as many people's opinions as possible. I want to drop a writing intensive class, Intro to Bioethics, that's outside my major right now. I'm majoring in Biology, and thinking about a minor in Psychology. I don't know what's going on in this class, I don't think I have the skills needed to do well, and I don't think I will like the class. It's a lot of finding nuances in philosophical argumentation, and I just don't think this is for me. Should I drop it, I will be down to 13 credits this semester, which is 1 below the bar for Dean's List. I have been on the Dean's List every semester in college, and I'm a junior right now. Which is more important, Dean's List or a 4.0 semester GPA? The drop period ends this Sunday.

In addition, do you think a Bio major/Psych minor is too "typical premed?"

4.0 GPA.

I've seen people get onto the Dean's List for being able to breathe.

 

[jcshen97]

The only reason I would question that in this case is the OP has been on the dean's list every term except 1. So which potential interview question is worse, why did you make a single B in your entire time in school, or why didnt you make the dean's list one term when you did every other. Personally, I think the 3.97 or whatever with the EC making dean's list every term is more note worthy.

Well, my overall/cumulative GPA is certainly not a 4.0, but as of now it is pretty close. I'm talking about semester GPA: our transcript system shows both cumulative GPA and semester GPA. However, I am anticipating harder classes next semester, since lots of students in my major told me about the challenges they faced. What prompted me to ask this question is that today I visited my TA about a paper that's due soon. From listening to his analysis and what he said, I had this gut feeling through most of my time with him that this class probably does not suit me, that it's not as I had expected when I signed up. I feel that if this were to continue, I will not be happy with what this course has to offer. I am taking a similar course, called Practical Ethics for Future Leaders, which is much more grounded in examples I can relate to, and I like that one better.

What is the Bioethics grade? Its likely a bad idea to withdraw.

I'm trying to drop before drop period ends, after which I can only withdraw. We don't have a ton of grades yet but I have a feeling I won't do well in this class.

One of my friends told me that many people can get Dean's List, since all you need is a 3.5 semester GPA or above. So I'm not sure if this will truly separate me. I've been 4.0'ing my last 2 semesters.

 

[MCATISEZ]

Can you add another class to get back to 14 credits?

I would probably just tough it out. I took the same course and learned a lot.. although it was not my favorite class.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[mcloaf]

The only reason I would question that in this case is the OP has been on the dean's list every term except 1. So which potential interview question is worse, why did you make a single B in your entire time in school, or why didnt you make the dean's list one term when you did every other. Personally, I think the 3.97 or whatever with the EC making dean's list every term is more note worthy.

OP can just write they made Dean's List every semester they were eligible.

 

[allantois]

The only reason I would question that in this case is the OP has been on the dean's list every term except 1. So which potential interview question is worse, why did you make a single B in your entire time in school, or why didnt you make the dean's list one term when you did every other. Personally, I think the 3.97 or whatever with the EC making dean's list every term is more note worthy.

Meh, I had 2 Bs on my transcript and no one ever questioned it.

 

[Dox4lyfe]

GPA in the vicinity of a 4.0 already implies dean's list, so it's kind of redundant. I'd go for whatever will keep your gpa highest in this situation.

 

[calivianya]

That skill that you're saying you're not good at is 100% necessary to do well in the CARS section of the MCAT. There are lots of questions in CARS that ask you which of the following options the author of the passage would be most likely to agree with, which requires you to pick apart the nuances of the arguments in the passages to know exactly where the author stands. It sounds like it would likely benefit you in the long run to stay in the class and work hard to develop this skill.

On topic, nobody cares about Dean's List. If you feel the need to drop, don't let that deter you.

 

[jcshen97]

That skill that you're saying you're not good at is 100% necessary to do well in the CARS section of the MCAT. There are lots of questions in CARS that ask you which of the following options the author of the passage would be most likely to agree with, which requires you to pick apart the nuances of the arguments in the passages to know exactly where the author stands. It sounds like it would likely benefit you in the long run to stay in the class and work hard to develop this skill.

On topic, nobody cares about Dean's List. If you feel the need to drop, don't let that deter you.

I took the MCAT and I got a 518 and 126 on CARS ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ If no one cares about Dean's List, then dropping here I come!

 

[Coltuna]

Any metric that's largely based on your classmates intellect as well isn't a great measure of academic performance. 4.0 x100.

Edit: Assuming your dean's list is the same as at my school which is top 15% of class in major.