Taking intro classes for fun/GPA boosting

[Abagnale]

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I have a non-urgent question about course choices. Chemical engineering major. Got lucky with my course choices freshman year and came in with a ton of credit, so I'm looking at some semesters with only two classes (including all major requirements and pre-reqs).

I don't want to go abroad, as I'd rather stay here and devote time to research or volunteering at home. But, obviously I can't and I don't want to just take two or three classes. I also want to have the ability to nurse my GPA in case it takes a beating from upcoming engineering core courses.

I love languages and I always wanted to learn several at least enough to have a conversation. I took seven years of French in high school, and then an upper-level my first semester. Then I took a semester of intro spanish. If I use my free electives to take intro to italian, intro to german, possibly intermediate spanish, would that be unadvisable? They are easy A's, I know that, and undoubtedly the adcom does too. So, is it fine to take a bunch of intro-level courses, or should I avoid doing it?

 

[kpcrew]

Do whatever you want but they won't affect your science gpa and that's important as well.

 

[NickNaylor]

I agree with the above - it won't matter one way or another. Take classes that most interest you.

 

[Barcu]

Definitely take them if you are interested. Languages are important (especially Spanish), and I don't think any adcoms would look at it as gpa padding.

 

[Noah Capurso]

Taking the language classes would be a great option and it certainly doesn't look like GPA padding. GPA padding is taking a scattershot of intro classes that clearly just for grade. By taking a bunch of language classes, you both demonstrate a consistent interest in foreign language, and as long as you get a decent grade, a talent for them as well. So go for it.

In general, Adcomms like seeing sustained interest in particular areas. Going by that logic, intermediate Spanish (and maybe an advanced Spanish class later on) would probably do better for you than a 3rd intro level course. I would venture to say that it would be more useful for you as well. Good luck!

 

[Abagnale]

Thank you all for your advice! I was worried that it would be seen as GPA padding. Although it will help my GPA, I would be taking those courses out of interest.

 

[GetThePointe77]

Padding classes: Rocks for Jocks, Bugs and People, Mans Food, Age of Dinosaurs, Media and Society...

Something to talk about during an interview/make you stand out: being able to take classes you are interested in/oh i have basic communication skills in 4+ languages!

This sounds like an awesome thing to do. Ive taken about 8 english classes for my own kicks and giggles (considering them to be easy in comparison due to the ones I chose to take - not saying anything againts english classes) and every single interviewer has LOVED it, wanted to know my favorite Blake poem ect. ect. Just make sure that if you say you are fluent, if you get someone who knows your language that you can follow a basic conversation
GOOD LUCK and have fun with it!!

 

[kduck]

I took a couple random classes for fun, like intro to linguistics. I'm not sure if it looked like gpa padding, but I learned some interesting things and I would do it again.

 

[Abagnale]

Padding classes: Rocks for Jocks, Bugs and People, Mans Food, Age of Dinosaurs, Media and Society...

Something to talk about during an interview/make you stand out: being able to take classes you are interested in/oh i have basic communication skills in 4+ languages!

This sounds like an awesome thing to do. Ive taken about 8 english classes for my own kicks and giggles (considering them to be easy in comparison due to the ones I chose to take - not saying anything againts english classes) and every single interviewer has LOVED it, wanted to know my favorite Blake poem ect. ect. Just make sure that if you say you are fluent, if you get someone who knows your language that you can follow a basic conversation
GOOD LUCK and have fun with it!!

Thanks! That gives me more confidence with respect to this idea.

 

[mednem]

I don't want to go abroad, as I'd rather stay here and devote time to research or volunteering at home. But, obviously I can't and I don't want to just take two or three classes. I also want to have the ability to nurse my GPA in case it takes a beating from upcoming engineering core courses.

Fellow ChemE here. Took a springboard diving class my senior year and had a blast. You need to show up and at least try to get an A. It's only 1 credit but fun nonetheless.

I'm interested in why you say you can't do volunteering? I had a rejection because of no volunteering. It's definitely something I would have made fit into my college schedule looking back and knowing how important it is to some schools.

 

[Abagnale]

Fellow ChemE here. Took a springboard diving class my senior year and had a blast. You need to show up and at least try to get an A. It's only 1 credit but fun nonetheless.

I'm interested in why you say you can't do volunteering? I had a rejection because of no volunteering. It's definitely something I would have made fit into my college schedule looking back and knowing how important it is to some schools.

No, I said that I don't want to go abroad and I want to stay home to do research and to volunteer. So the opposite 🙂

 

[DocGodfather]

How are extension classes at schools like Harvard and Berkeley looked at by adcoms? I was thinking about taking a couple courses to build up my course load. Are they just as difficult?