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Duke University
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

What college courses do people tend to avoid the most?

This might be an odd question, but are there college courses that most students generally try to avoid? For instance, are there known 'hard classes' that people tend to steer clear from, or subjects that are notoriously difficult? Just curious to know what I might be up against!

a year ago

It's an interesting question! Although certain subjects or courses may have a reputation for being challenging, a lot of it is subjective and largely depends on individual strengths and interests. That said, high-level STEM courses such as Organic Chemistry, Calculus III, or Quantum Physics have a reputation for being difficult due to their rigorous mathematical and conceptual content.

We do see that some students also find language courses that emphasize in-depth grammar and require fluency difficult, such as high-level Mandarin or Arabic. Another example is high-level philosophy or critical theory courses can be challenging due to the need to grapple with complex abstract concepts and dense texts.

Remember, the difficulty of a course doesn't only depend on the course's content. It could also be closely linked to the professor's teaching style, the grading standards, and even the workload of the course. Always consider these factors, review course syllabi if available, and reach out to students who have already taken the course for their input.

Finally, it's important to also view taking difficult courses as an opportunity for growth rather than something to avoid. They can significantly contribute to your learning experience by strengthening your problem-solving skills, shaping your work ethic, and deepening your understanding of a subject. Students often find that they learn the most from some of their most challenging courses!

a year ago

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CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.