The Hierarchy of Class Difficulty

[ToomuchLes]

I've heard many a times how adcoms weigh in undergraduate gpa with the classes the individual took; therefore, Im curious what constitutes the difficulty of a class? The obvious would be A+ in (idk .. ) Underwater Basket Weaving < B+ Upper Div German. Im more curious concerning traditional lecture classes (history to be precise) vs. seminars.   

 

Reason I ask : I've fulfilled all (but one) of my undergrad graduation requirements in the summer between Junior and Senior year. Last Fall quarter I took 2 history seminars (none pertinent to my interest), presently Im taking an additional two seminars, and I aspire to finish in my last subsequent quarter with 2 more. By graduation, of this year, I should have 7-9 seminars completed. Overall, my lowest seminar grade was one B+, while a majority were A-, and two A. Im just curious if I should take, in my final quarter, 2 more seminars, rather than a traditional lecture class of 100+ students that'll yield me a better grade. 

 

Before anyone asks why I've taken so many seminars, I must confess I have a deep love for smaller classes, intense conversations with my peers/professor, and I find research papers to be more engaging compared to the typical analytically essays we do in lecture.  

[Guest |||]

Most schools I considered give the advise that strong grades were more important than actual class taken - as long as all pre-reqs were done.

[Queen of Kale]

Take the classes that excite you the most and which have the greatest overlap with your interests.  

 

I think for many of us, we will end up with a higher grade in the harder but more rewarding (for us personally) course than an easier but less substantial course.  Plus, I don't think most POIs nitpick your grades so much as they want to see that you have some breadth in your field and some depth of coursework in your chosen research area. Or, if your undergrad institution doesn't offer courses in your research area, that you took as many complimentary classes as possible.

[juilletmercredi]

Most schools I considered give the advise that strong grades were more important than actual class taken - as long as all pre-reqs were done.

 

This is probably different per field, but has not been my experience.  At least in my field, grad committees want to see good grades but also reasonably difficult/rigorous upper-level classes, particularly in the junior and senior years, that indicate that the applicant has gotten some depth as well as breadth.  You're also expected to take them in your area of interest - so for example, an applicant for a social psychology PhD program would look strange if they didn't take social psychology in undergrad (which is usually a mid-level 200-level class, sophomore/junior level).  There are also certain classes that are definitely looked on favorably - history and systems of psychology (usually a 400-level senior class), psychology classes with labs (typically 200- or 300-level), advanced statistics (often 400-level), those kinds of things.

 

Also, in my experience, professors are not very impressed with a bunch of As in introductory-level classes.  The expectation is that you take a course that challenges you, because then you'll be better prepared for graduate school classwork.

 

So I'd argue that in your own major and related classes to what you want to go to grad school for, smaller upper-level seminars are way better than big 100-level intros.  So I would suggest the extra seminar classes (even if you'll get a slightly lower grade) than the lower-level lecture class.

[ToomuchLes]

As always, enlightening responses; therefore many thanks guys/girls =)

 

Unfortunately, my university offers limited courses pertinent to my topic-of-interest, and so, I try to take branching seminars. For example, I'd like to study the economical transformations of a slave economy in Antebellum America during the late 18th to early 19th century. We have 2-3 traditional lecture 19th c. US classes (which I've already taken), and only 2 (or at least in the time Ive been here. Im a transfer student) seminars concerning my disciplinary. Nonetheless, currently Im taking a history of capitalism seminar, which may not specifically relate to me, but still paints a larger picture that may be useful. Then my other seminar is Hist 101, a History on Historiography, which is required for graduation. 

[Guest |||]

Most schools I considered give the advise that strong grades were more important than actual class taken - as long as all pre-reqs were done.

 

This is probably different per field, but has not been my experience.  At least in my field, grad committees want to see good grades but also reasonably difficult/rigorous upper-level classes, particularly in the junior and senior years, that indicate that the applicant has gotten some depth as well as breadth.  You're also expected to take them in your area of interest - so for example, an applicant for a social psychology PhD program would look strange if they didn't take social psychology in undergrad (which is usually a mid-level 200-level class, sophomore/junior level).  There are also certain classes that are definitely looked on favorably - history and systems of psychology (usually a 400-level senior class), psychology classes with labs (typically 200- or 300-level), advanced statistics (often 400-level), those kinds of things.

 

Also, in my experience, professors are not very impressed with a bunch of As in introductory-level classes.  The expectation is that you take a course that challenges you, because then you'll be better prepared for graduate school classwork.

 

So I'd argue that in your own major and related classes to what you want to go to grad school for, smaller upper-level seminars are way better than big 100-level intros.  So I would suggest the extra seminar classes (even if you'll get a slightly lower grade) than the lower-level lecture class.

 

Good points.

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

I would say it's hardest to be black. White's probably easiest. Then I'd probably go Asian, Hispanic and Native American.