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

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Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Analyzing College Course Difficulty

Hello all, something's been bothering me… What is generally considered the toughest college course to take and why? Any insight would be much appreciated.

a month ago

There's much debate about what is generally considered the toughest college course, and a lot of it comes down to the individual student's strengths, weaknesses, and interests. That being said, some classes have a reputation for being particularly challenging across the board due to their complexity or the intensive study they require.

For example, Organic Chemistry is often cited as difficult because it requires a great deal of memory work, and also understanding complex concepts and patterns. It includes physical science coursework as well as grueling labs that require practical application of knowledge.

Another serious contender is Quantum Physics, largely due its heavy reliance on high-level mathematics and abstract theoretical concepts. This subject contains topics that most students haven't encountered before, making it difficult to grasp.

On the other end of the spectrum, linguistic courses like advanced levels of Chinese or Arabic are notoriously challenging due to the complex writing systems and different grammar rules, especially for students who aren't native speakers.

But it's important to remember that difficulty can be subjective. Some may find math or science classes particularly challenging while others may struggle more with language or humanities courses. Degrees and courses in Engineering, Medicine, Physics, Linguistics, or Architecture, for instance, often appear on lists of challenging fields due to their workload, the complexity of their material, or their high-demand expectations.

Knowing your own learning style and what subjects you are more naturally inclined toward can help you gauge what classes may be more or less difficult for you individually. Remember, challenges can be very beneficial for personal and academic growth, as long as they are well-managed.

a month ago

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