I'm going to major in engineering (Biochemical). Is it very challenging to get a good GPA (like a 3.6+?) at USC? Can my test scores or HS GPA "predict" how I will do at USC? (Don't criticize me please if this question sounds stupid :X I just really want to know the difficulty of USC.....)
When you choose your orientation workshop, maybe you should choose
Quote:
Is College Really that Different?
This session will provide you the opportunity to ask candid and intimate questions to current USC students. Questions such as: Do professors really care if I come to class? How much tougher is college than high school? Do teachers act differently to you in college versus high school? I’ve always had my own room - how did you adjust to living with 3 other people?
That would be a good question to ask the panel.
Is there a reason you need a 3.6? (For grad school applications... to keep a merit scholarship... something else?)
Viterbi is notoriously hard but that's not to say that people do succeed in it. I know a lot of Engineering majors who have over 3.6 GPAs and a lot of them have fairly normal social lives (many are in fraternities) but serious work ethics. Unlike other majors, I would say Engineering is less forgiving, you really need to stay on top of your material or else you're going to run into trouble. I know a lot of people who are struggling with 2.5 (which is around the average) because they just weren't ready for the workload. I would say in those cases maybe Engineering really wasn't for them.
i talked to a premed advisor and he said most premed take only 1 GE each term and that my schedule would look something like this.
Freshman Year
Fall- Chem 105A, Math 125, GE, Seminar= 14 units
Spring- Chem 105B, Phy 135A, GE, Seminar= 14 units
Sopomore Year
Fall- Bio 120, Phy 135B, GE, Seminar= 14 Units
Spring- Bio 220, Chem 322A, GE, Seminar= 14 Units
Junior Year
Fall- Chem 322B...then its very flexible from hear you can take Upper division courses or easy GE so that you can have more time to study for MCAT
From what he said the reason im taking physics starting spring of freshman year is that it the most flexible course meaning it is offered both semester unlike both sections of the Biology Series which are only offered in one semester or the other or O-Chem which requires G-Chem. Also because it is very recommended that I finish all my premed prereq. before the MCAT which is in the spring of Junior year.
Last edited by FutureENTSurgeon; 05-29-2010 at 01:31 AM.
kmzizzle, my first year is going to be something like engineering 102, EE 106L (electrical engineering), either differential equations or calc 3 (assuming I 5'd the Calc BC test which I am confident about), GE VI, and writ 140
How much homework am I looking at with those classes? Social life?
Last edited by TrojAndrew; 05-29-2010 at 02:51 AM.
Hm, how do they decide? I had calc AB junior year and calc BC senior, got straight A's in them, and got a 5 on calc AB, and assuming I get a 5 on calc BC, and I got a 38/40 on the math placement exam.
Out of all the schools at USC, incoming Viterbi students have the highest high school GPAs. And out of all the schools at USC, Viterbi graduates have the lowest GPAs. It's a tough life, no doubt about it. But the valedictorian this year was an engineer, with a 3.98 and crazy awesome involvement.
Engineering is going to be hard anywhere you go. Focus more on learning the material than worrying about grades. Grades will be fine if you know your stuff.
Re: pre med schedule, I wish I could only take 14 units a semester...
I'm definitely one to put understanding before grades. Bothers me when people cram/memorize, take the test, and then forget it a month later, but still leave with an A.
And can anyone give an idea of how much work I'll be facing with the classes I listed in post #12? Couple hours a day?
