College's Toughest Courses

In your experiences, what have been the most difficult college courses and why? I'm trying to prepare myself mentally for the rigors of college and knowing what to potentially expect would be really helpful.

That's a very subjective question as the difficulty of a college course can depend on a variety of factors such as the professor's teaching style, the student's learning style, and prior knowledge of the subject. However, some universally acknowledged challenging courses often include:

1. Organic Chemistry: It's often considered tough due to the sheer amount of information to memorize, as well as the abstract concepts and mechanisms involved.

2. Physics: Particularly courses like Quantum Mechanics and Electromagnetism can be challenging due to complex mathematical concepts and difficult problem-solving tasks.

3. Advanced Mathematics courses: This can include subjects like Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, or Real Analysis. These classes require a high level of abstract thinking and rigorous proofs.

4. Philosophy: It might come as a surprise, but upper-level Philosophy courses can be quite challenging. Not because of the amount of content, but due to the high-level thinking and argument analysis required.

5. Senior Thesis or Capstone Projects: These aren't exactly courses, but they're a major part of your academic journey and can be quite challenging. They require extensive research, excellent writing skills, and dedication to complete.

That said, it's essential to remember that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. A course that one student finds challenging might be another student's favorite.