@whyamilikethis : ranking? What ranking? These are undergraduate programs in chemistry…why would GPA at Oxford be easier? I am really confused. Can you explain that to me? Because if Oxford STEM course GPAs mirror those of ECAS, then those courses have the same or lower course GPAs than Tech equivalents, especially at the introductory level which is what you will be doing in the first two years anyway.
The only exception would be physics courses which are notorious for not only difficulty, but low grading at Tech (though in terms of rigor, the physics 151/152 sequence at Oxford can give Tech’s a run for the money, not so much at ECAS…and as a chemistry BS, you should be taking 151/152 and NOT 141/142 because the former helps prepare for pchem and pchem pre-cursors much better), but general chemistry and organic at Emory (even Oxford I believe) are different from Tech now (the curriculum changed at Emory, so the programs are actually NOT comparable curriculum wise anymore, at least not the first 2 years…Tech is still classical), and even before they were changed, Emory’s instruction added more rigor. Tech’s course sections are just so much larger that it is obvious that instructors are not writing the same kind of exams as you see at Emory. If you were at ECAS, the lab would be easier than Tech because ECAS doesn’t have reports, but at Oxford, you get enhanced intensity in lectures as well as reports and Tech like attributes for the lab component because it is smaller. IMHO, the two are not comparable experiences (before or after the curriculum changes at Emory) but do easily lead to comparable outcomes. Instead of seeing what we “say” on here, I recommend looking at this, because this is what Emory/Oxford students are getting beginning this year: http://chemistry.emory.edu/home/undergraduate/overview/index.html
Click on the light blue thing and take a look and then look at course descriptions for the first 4 semesters at Tech…not the same.
Maybe @BiffBrown can give some insight, but I will give you some examples. As far as I know, only like one instructor for general chemistry at Tech gives exams that are not multiple choice only…doubt you’ll find any instructor giving those (even ones known for “easier” reputations which are hardly none on main because most have been using the same exams). “Organic chemistry” is.was likely a different beast on both campuses vs. Tech. Tech has a lot of Chemical Engineering majors and when you look at their organic content, you can tell because it typically focuses on the very basics of reactivity and more heavily emphasizes energetics and key techniques such as NMR. Emory’s are more mechanisms and theory focused and the exams instructors give on Emory campus are not geared towards preparation for an ACS standardized exam (which is multiple choice) as a final as it is at Tech. These places run things differently for different crowds.
Let us talk about biology: All multiple choice at Tech and less genetics and methods intensive. 2nd semester at Emory is a molecular and classical genetics course with an emphasis on related research methods. Tech tries to cram a little into its first semester (with the cell and metabolism stuff) and then does ecology, organismal biology, and physiology in the 2nd semester. I’ve seen their material and generally, Emory even at its easiest is as challenging or more challenging.
I think people do not get the nuance of low Tech GPAs. Many with the low GPAs are ENGINEERING majors which have to carry an exceptionally heavy course load from year 1 compared to pre-healths majoring in biology, or basic chemistry. As a chemistry major, it is unlikely you would be taking anything resembling an engineering courseload at either school unless you like the challenge.
In addition, for pre-med, Emory chemistry may be better because there are simply more instructors who regear their teaching and curriculum knowing that people are pursuing natural sciences or pre-med. There is a lot more professor level tailoring at Emory whereas there is a lot more standardization at Tech, especially for the intermediate level and introductory courses. To get something tailored at Tech, one is better off taking honors versions if you qualify, but typically at Emory, you can find an instructor(s) teaching one of the general classes who takes the liberty to “freshen things up” and this happens on both Emory campuses.