How do you know if your class is a weed out class

[korndoctor]

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I have not heard the word "weedout" mentioned in any of the prehealth classes at uconn, including gen chem, math, physics, and ochem, so how do you know if your class is a weed out class or not?

 

[jbrice1639]

professors don't generally say "hello, and welcome to the first day of the semester...this will be a weedout course, just so you know."

in my experience, weedout courses get this name from students looking for an excuse as to why they didn't do well (because we all know it must be the course/professor's fault... 🙄 )

generally, it's organic chem...or sometimes a really intense general bio at some schools. if about halfway through the semester, you start hearing half your class talking about their new majors...it's probably a weed out class

 

[NoSoupforYou13]

I am not a big Jeff Foxworthy fan, but . . .

You know you are in a weedout class if . . .

1) there is a curve based on how people do versus an absolute curve (i.e. a 65% is automatically a B, 75% an A, etc.). Based on the first type of curve, some people must get As and others B and Cs. Consequently, those who get Cs are "weeded out."

Absolute curve = good; student directed curve = bad

2) the professor sets the average to say, a flat C, as is the case in schools without grade inflation

3) No one in the course gets good grades or the professor fails to curve even if averages are very low

etc . . .

Basically, if you are directly competing against your peers, it is a weedout class. Try to pick a class in which the professor fosters collaboration and one without student-directed curve.

 

[PariPari]

the prof says who's pre-med, raise your hands
now look to the left, & look to the right, one of you won't be here at the end of the semester

 

[NoSoupforYou13]

the prof says who's pre-med, raise your hands
now look to the left, & look to the right, one of you won't be here at the end of the semester

Very true. I forgot that one.

 

[JustBreathe]

Just wait and see if people start dropping the class 😛

My gen chem class started out with 40+ people. After the first test, it was down to 20.

 

[jebus]

The second semester will have two-thirds to half as many people as the first.
My Gen Chem class' first semester: ~800 people.
My Gen Chem class' second semester: ~500 people.

 

[psipsina]

If the class average is a 25, and the high score is a 52, then you know you are in a weed out class. At most universities everyone is curved up, but when the best anyone can do without the curve is a 52, it tends to discourage those who aren't absolutely sure that medicine is what they want to do and act as a reality check for those who are struggling for that 15.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Basically, if you are directly competing against your peers, it is a weedout class. Try to pick a class in which the professor fosters collaboration and one without student-directed curve.

That makes every science course at my school a weedout class. I didn't know some science classes had an "absolute" curve. 😱

The "10% of you get A's" thing definitely fosters competition. Both my intro chem and bio courses were weed-out classes. Most of this was due to a) competition and b) an insane amount of work...pre-labs, post-labs, lab reports, pre-lecture online quizes, post-lecture quizes, lab practicals, finals, etc. In addition, the lab manuals were written in a "lets throw this at them and see what they can take in"-kind of style, complete with contradicting statements, typos, procedural errors, etc...
Evil lab director, "Can't handle it? Then you don't get to be doctors, just like me, b!tches!"

 

[Dov]

You'll know when/if your in a weed-out class...

 

[RayhanS1282]

You'll know you're in a weed out class when after curving and adding 10 points to your exam...you still fail!!! For me that was Orgo.

 

[TheOpsonizer]

Those who recognize classes as weed out classes are those who are being weeded out.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Those who recognize classes as weed out classes are those who are being weeded out.

That's not true. I'm well aware of others being weeded out around me. I refuse to be one of them 😀

 

[TheOpsonizer]

"Recognize others being weeded out"--- this is different than looking at a syllabus.

 

[MN81]

Don't be afraid of the weed out. The weed out is good.

Its better than getting to your senior year and realizing that you have a horrible GPA and MCAT, and have no chance of getting in to medical school.

 

[BozoSparky]

Yeah, organic chemistry can feel like the weed-killing equivalent, RoundUp. General chemistry uses a standard hoe.

 

[psipsina]

Those who recognize classes as weed out classes are those who are being weeded out.

Thats not necessarily true . . . my second semester ochem class had a policy where you had to go to the proff's office to see your exam and score, I missed the class where he anounced the averages and ranges and so I just went to his office to see my test, I thought I had rocked it out and I saw a 52 staring back at me and I almost started crying, anyway he must have seen I was upset and state "Don't be upset, that was one of the highest scores in the class". In that moment I knew I was in a weedout class, and that I wasn't being weeded out.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Yeah, organic chemistry can feel like the weed-killing equivalent, RoundUp. General chemistry uses a standard hoe.

Looks like I'll be getting a good solid dose of roundup this summer. Actually, two doses And, I have to shell out 10K for it 😱

 

[JonnyG]

professors don't generally say "hello, and welcome to the first day of the semester...this will be a weedout course, just so you know."

in my experience, weedout courses get this name from students looking for an excuse as to why they didn't do well (because we all know it must be the course/professor's fault... 🙄 )

generally, it's organic chem...or sometimes a really intense general bio at some schools. if about halfway through the semester, you start hearing half your class talking about their new majors...it's probably a weed out class

Actually very first class I had at Penn, the professor said that. He went on to say it is his job to make sure that most of us did not apply to medical school. Very uplifting speech

 

[67192]

I have not heard the word "weedout" mentioned in any of the prehealth classes at uconn, including gen chem, math, physics, and ochem, so how do you know if your class is a weed out class or not?

All pre-med. required classes are "weed-out" classes, just to different a extent (and no, I am not aware of this because I was a "weed-out"). Just think that after Gen Chem, some students who were initiallly premed either failed or did poorly enough to decide to pursue other occupations. Same thing happens after Bio, after O.Chem and after Physics (since these are required for med. school). Since Gen Chem is usually taken first, this is probably the biggest weed-out class, simply because the students at the low end of the spectrum haven't yet been "weeded-out."

 

[Wickedgood]

The Biology class I'm taking now is definately a weed-out class.

*At the beginning of the course, the prof. stated that this was a Biology for Biology majors, and anyone who was not Biology or Nursing should get out now, because they wouldn't be able to handle it. He wasn't kidding.
*The lab quizzes are horrible, study for three-nights in a row, misspell anything and it's wrong, know anything he said between last lab and now or fail type wack-jobs.
*He refuses to curb. Ever. Half the class failed the last test. No curb. Nada~
*He's disdained pre-med and doctors repeatedly in his lecture, so it's pretty clear he's not "looking out" for the pre-med students.

I'd say about half the class dropped by the drop-date. Funny enough, since then he's lightened up (a little) and the labs might be a *tad* easier.

I'm hoping my courses next year won't be like this, but I'm not holding my breath. If anything, it all makes me into a better student (what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger).

 

[21JumpStreet]

If the class average is a 25, and the high score is a 52, then you know you are in a weed out class. At most universities everyone is curved up, but when the best anyone can do without the curve is a 52, it tends to discourage those who aren't absolutely sure that medicine is what they want to do and act as a reality check for those who are struggling for that 15.

I remember during my pre-med days, we had an ochem course that had averages like this. Many students complained about the instructor. The department chair in the chemistry department sat in his classes and looked at his exams. Then told the instructor to tone the class down. The instructor was told that he was expecting too much out of an ugrad course. He didn't listen and for a few semesters he didn't teach. I found out that many of these students retook the course from another instructor and did well.

 

[21JumpStreet]

I don't think that we can really determine which class is the weed out class. It depends on the individual. There may be students that do well in chem and physics and receive a C in Biology or visa versa.

You can also do really well in your pre-med req's and bomb out in your major. For instance if you are getting a degree in medical technology/engineering/social work and you ace your pre-req's and bomb classes for your major, well, it wasn't the req's that wed you out, it was your major that did. This can happen if you are not giving your other coursework as much time as the pre-req's. And this can happen because in an ugrad social work program, for example, one does a lot of writing, research, group work and practicum.

 

[karirunner]

If the professor takes pride in the fact that he weeds out pre-meds and points that out during the first few lectures (yay O Chem). Class size was reduced by 2/3 between semester one and semester two. And I went to a state school 🙂

 

[DoctorPardi]

My school starts with 2 classes of General Chemistry I in the fall and in the spring there is only one General Chemistry II lol. It is funny how it goes from 2 30-40 student classes to one 30 student class.

I really wish my school had a better pre-med program that really explains what needs to be done as a pre-med. So many kids will be talking in my class about how they ARE going to go to medical school in the same sentence as they mention the three C's they got last semester in chemistry, and their two biology courses. It isn't that it can't be done, but if you aren't making A's in bio 105/106 you're not going to make A's in the 200's and up, at least not at my college.

 

[DrBowtie]

My school starts with 2 classes of General Chemistry I in the fall and in the spring there is only one General Chemistry II lol. It is funny how it goes from 2 30-40 student classes to one 30 student class.

I really wish my school had a better pre-med program that really explains what needs to be done as a pre-med. So many kids will be talking in my class about how they ARE going to go to medical school in the same sentence as they mention the three C's they got last semester in chemistry, and their two biology courses. It isn't that it can't be done, but if you aren't making A's in bio 105/106 you're not going to make A's in the 200's and up, at least not at my college.

They are called space cadets. Let them be.

 

[21JumpStreet]

but if you aren't making A's in bio 105/106 you're not going to make A's in the 200's and up, at least not at my college.[/QUOTE]


Not really true. Some improve later by developing better study techniques and sometimes it's just maturity.

 

[21JumpStreet]

but if you aren't making A's in bio 105/106 you're not going to make A's in the 200's and up, at least not at my college.[/QUOTE]


Not really true. Some improve later by developing better study techniques and sometimes it's just maturity.

 

[DoctorPardi]

but if you aren't making A's in bio 105/106 you're not going to make A's in the 200's and up, at least not at my college.

Not really true. Some improve later by developing better study techniques and sometimes it's just maturity.[/QUOTE]

Yeh I know, but it isn't just that they aren't doing good now, they don't seem to care that they aren't doing good. It is like "yeh I made some C's but this semester I am going to try to make mostly B's, medical school is going to be great".

 

[psipsina]

but if you aren't making A's in bio 105/106 you're not going to make A's in the 200's and up, at least not at my college.

Not really true. Some improve later by developing better study techniques and sometimes it's just maturity.

I wholeheartedly agree. I got a C+ in General Bio and a D+ in Genetics, both due to the various stupidities of freshman year. Later in my career I got plenty of a's in my 300-600 level bio classes.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

professors don't generally say "hello, and welcome to the first day of the semester...this will be a weedout course, just so you know."in my experience, weedout courses get this name from students looking for an excuse as to why they didn't do well (because we all know it must be the course/professor's fault... 🙄 )

generally, it's organic chem...or sometimes a really intense general bio at some schools. if about halfway through the semester, you start hearing half your class talking about their new majors...it's probably a weed out class

i actually laughed out loud when i read that 👍

 

[yomaxpower]

I go to an engineering school so my opinion is a little biased. O-Chem is not considered a weedout class for chemical engineers or chemistry majors. The material is still very difficult and maybe 60% pass the course, but at my school the true weedout class is physics II. What sets physics II apart as a "weedout class" is that the professors intentionally do not teach the material. In order to succeed in the class you must learn the physics outside of lecture. In addition to this the tests contain more than just physics 2 problems. Usually 15% of the test is outside material that must be solved creatively. Students are graded not only on how well they learn physics, but also on how good they are at solving unfamiliar problems.

Do not use the stigma of a weedout class as an excuse for poor performance. Use the difficult reputation of the class as your chance to standout above all other students.

 

[OctoDoc]

Use the difficult reputation of the class as your chance to standout above all other students.

Isn't that a bit glib?

 

[MNsocsci]

In my Organic Chem 1 class I had this really pompous professor who lectured the first class about how it would weed out those who truly had what it takes to become doctors from those who didn't. He went on to describe how one's ability in O-Chem is correlated with success in med school, abilities as a doctor, etc.

The round-up got me the first semester (C+ eek) but I sprung back the second semester with an A- and I'm living proof that you can get a C in O-Chem and still get in med school!

 

[NCF145]

My Human Physiology class was a weed out course. Class averages were around 30-40 before the curve. In my class only 2 students out of 75 got an A.

Originally Posted by 21JumpStreet
but if you aren't making A's in bio 105/106 you're not going to make A's in the 200's and up, at least not at my college.

I don't agree. I made B's in both of my general biology for multiple reasons: #1 pledging, #2 alcohol, #3 bad study habits, and #4 not caring about gen bio. After my two general biology classes I have made As in every single one of my biology classes that I have taken since (a little more than 30 hours), all due to much better study habits and maturity.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

I don't agree. I made B's in both of my general biology for multiple reasons: #1 pledging, #2 alcohol, #3 bad study habits, and #4 not caring about gen bio. After my two general biology classes I have made As in every single one of my biology classes that I have taken since (a little more than 30 hours), all due to much better study habits and maturity.

Yeah I think everyone agrees that the statement was a bit of a generalization. Lots of people get C's in intro classes and do fine later..and lots of people ace intro classes and don't do fine later. There are many more factors involved with the grade earned in a class than the individual's intellectual ability/capacity/whatever. I think the point was that it's annoying to see pre-meds talking about med school like it's going to be as easy as getting into a college. Reminds me of a BME major in my intro chem class who told me "there's like 200 med schools! Don't even worry about it!"

 

[21JumpStreet]

My Human Physiology class was a weed out course. Class averages were around 30-40 before the curve. In my class only 2 students out of 75 got an A.



I don't agree. I made B's in both of my general biology for multiple reasons: #1 pledging, #2 alcohol, #3 bad study habits, and #4 not caring about gen bio. After my two general biology classes I have made As in every single one of my biology classes that I have taken since (a little more than 30 hours), all due to much better study habits and maturity.

I was the poster that stated that due to maturity and better study skills one can improve over time. You quoted the wrong person.