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I have a situation here that I am very worried about, and I wanted to get some advice. This is a unique one.
I am taking my pre req's at a 4 year university, and I am doing well so far. As a non trad, it is very important that I get A's in these classes. This summer I was planning on taking physics, then bio and Ochem next fall and spring. Here's the problem.
A lot of my friends in my chem II class this semester are taking Bio I (you kind of have to take Bio I after Chem I at this school). Everyday I hear EVERYONE in my class complaining about Bio. During a study group today everyone was talking about how unfair, not hard, but unfair Bio is. The tests have almost nothing to do with the material studied in class or in the book. For instance, for the first exam, the class average was a 54%! The highest grade IN THE ENTIRE CLASS was an 80%. The worst part is the professor, who they say is a huge bitch, DOES NOT CURVE! So your 80%, when the class average is a 54, is still a B-. The second exam was about the same. And this is a reputable university.
And my friends are not lazy. My buddy and this girl that I study chem II with are both very smart, hard working, and have a 4.0 so far. She's a junior, he's a 5th semester sophmore. (he transfered) They both said they studied their ass not just for the test but in general. They got a 75% on the test, which again, she will not curve. They both tell me that they have never before said that a class is "unfair" but that they absoutely do for this one. It is not a matter of difficulty, the tests are simply unfair. Everyone I talked to said they have never heard of ANYONE getting an A in this class. A girl I sit next to in class who got a perfect score on our first Chem test failed the Bio test. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, has said that this Bio class is not difficult, it is just absolutely unfair.
I am thinking about seeing if I can take BIO this summer at another school, and then go back and take Physics and OCHEM where I am now. Because of my low undergrad GPA, I cannot afford anything less than an A in my classes. If it were a matter of difficulty, I would suck it up and try my best. But no one getting an A in Bio I, THAT'S INSANE!!! I know the Physics and OCHEM profs so I know those classes, while difficult, are at least fair. But if I can take BIO at another school, which EVERYONE told me I should, where the class is at least reasonably fair, shoud I just do that? I am a pretty smart person. I was just lazy in my undergrad. But so far I have been getting A's in my pre-req's. I would hate to think of working my ass off in a class, only to get a C or at best a B. I know it is just one class, but in my situation, one bad grade in one class could make the difference.
Has anyone else ever been ina situation like this? My friend said he is writing to the head of the department because it is just totally ridiculous. (This is the kid with a 4.0. The reason I keep saying that is becuase I don't want anyone here to think that these are bad students who are just complaining about a hard class)
I gotta make a decision soon b/c registration for fall semester is a week and a half away.
BTW,
NO it does not matter what prof you have for Bio I, they all do not curve.
I am taking my pre req's at a 4 year university, and I am doing well so far. As a non trad, it is very important that I get A's in these classes. This summer I was planning on taking physics, then bio and Ochem next fall and spring. Here's the problem.
A lot of my friends in my chem II class this semester are taking Bio I (you kind of have to take Bio I after Chem I at this school). Everyday I hear EVERYONE in my class complaining about Bio. During a study group today everyone was talking about how unfair, not hard, but unfair Bio is. The tests have almost nothing to do with the material studied in class or in the book. For instance, for the first exam, the class average was a 54%! The highest grade IN THE ENTIRE CLASS was an 80%. The worst part is the professor, who they say is a huge bitch, DOES NOT CURVE! So your 80%, when the class average is a 54, is still a B-. The second exam was about the same. And this is a reputable university.
And my friends are not lazy. My buddy and this girl that I study chem II with are both very smart, hard working, and have a 4.0 so far. She's a junior, he's a 5th semester sophmore. (he transfered) They both said they studied their ass not just for the test but in general. They got a 75% on the test, which again, she will not curve. They both tell me that they have never before said that a class is "unfair" but that they absoutely do for this one. It is not a matter of difficulty, the tests are simply unfair. Everyone I talked to said they have never heard of ANYONE getting an A in this class. A girl I sit next to in class who got a perfect score on our first Chem test failed the Bio test. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, has said that this Bio class is not difficult, it is just absolutely unfair.
I am thinking about seeing if I can take BIO this summer at another school, and then go back and take Physics and OCHEM where I am now. Because of my low undergrad GPA, I cannot afford anything less than an A in my classes. If it were a matter of difficulty, I would suck it up and try my best. But no one getting an A in Bio I, THAT'S INSANE!!! I know the Physics and OCHEM profs so I know those classes, while difficult, are at least fair. But if I can take BIO at another school, which EVERYONE told me I should, where the class is at least reasonably fair, shoud I just do that? I am a pretty smart person. I was just lazy in my undergrad. But so far I have been getting A's in my pre-req's. I would hate to think of working my ass off in a class, only to get a C or at best a B. I know it is just one class, but in my situation, one bad grade in one class could make the difference.
Has anyone else ever been ina situation like this? My friend said he is writing to the head of the department because it is just totally ridiculous. (This is the kid with a 4.0. The reason I keep saying that is becuase I don't want anyone here to think that these are bad students who are just complaining about a hard class)
I gotta make a decision soon b/c registration for fall semester is a week and a half away.
BTW,
NO it does not matter what prof you have for Bio I, they all do not curve.