What does 'weed out class' mean?

I've been hearing this term 'weed out class' thrown around a lot and I'm not quite sure what it means. Can anyone shed some light on it for me and give me a few examples of what classes might be considered 'weed out' classes in college?

The term "weed out class" generally refers to particularly challenging undergraduate courses designed to trim student populations within certain programs. Usually seen in demanding fields like pre-med, engineering, and computer science, these courses can have rigorous workload, swift teaching pace, and high attrition rates. Often, they are introductory or prerequisite classes that students must pass to proceed in their major.

Among the reasons schools employ 'weed out' classes is to ensure students have the requisite skills and commitment for the upper-level coursework in their chosen fields. Basically, it's a test of academic rigor and stamina to see who can handle advanced studies in those disciplines.

Examples of such classes can vary by college and major, but typically they are foundational science and math courses. For pre-med students, for instance, Organic Chemistry (often referred to as "Orgo") is known to be one. For Computer Science, it might be the fundamental programming or calculus class. In engineering degrees, Physics might serve this purpose. These will be the classes where students have to show thorough understanding and ability to apply complex concepts early on in their studies.

One key takeaway is that 'weed out' classes, while challenging, are doable if you are truly interested and dedicated in the field. Use resources like professor office hours, tutoring centers, and study groups to help you get through these tough courses.