If you find yourself in a class that's intentionally designed to be a "weed out" class, you'll have your work cut out for you. Weed out classes are introductory classes that are intentionally made exceptionally challenging. Often these classes are graded on a curve and set up so that a certain percentage of students must fail. These classes are more common in large universities, but you'll find them in liberal arts colleges as well.
Weed out classes vary by school, so your best bet is to ask around to identify them. These are some typical intro classes that fall into the category:
- General Psychology
- General Biology
- Organic Chemistry
- General Chemistry
- General Physics
- Calculus
- Introduction to Accounting
The Point of Weed Out Classes
So why in the world would a department create a class that's intentionally designed to make students fail? Isn't that the opposite of what school is supposed to be about?
Well, think of it from the perspective of the department. Some departments are overwhelmed with too many majors, like psychology, biology, and accounting. Since many incoming freshmen intend to add these majors, weed out classes are created in part to scare some of them away and to keep the number of majors more manageable.
Weed out classes are also designed to keep students out of the major who are not serious or hardworking. Face it -- professors like hardworking, serious students better than slackers, so if the department is in a position to get rid of some slackers, they will.
In addition, weed out classes are designed to get rid of students who aren't a good match for the major, even if they're good students. Some majors, like psychology, attract lots of potential majors because students don't know much about other areas of study. By making the class extra tough, students who don't love the subject will look elsewhere for a more appropriate major.
How to Survive a Weed Out Class
If you find yourself in a weed out class, here are some strategies to help get you through:
- No slacking! This should be obvious. If you're going to get through this class, you'd better be willing to work. Be sure to come to class every day and take it seriously.
- Keep your class schedule as light as possible. If you know a class is a weed out course, try to take one fewer classes that semester -- or at least make sure your other classes aren't too tough. Whatever you do, avoid taking more than one weed out class per semester.
- Keep your activity schedule as light as possible. For example, try to avoid pledging a fraternity or sorority during the same semester as your weed out class.
- Try to avoid a weed out class your first semester. Unfortunately, this may be impossible, as that's when many students take General Psychology and other classes that are notoriously difficult. However, do your best to avoid nightmare courses during the semester that you're getting accustomed to life in college.
- Ask for help! Don't be shy about going to the TA and the professor for help, and take advantage of any resources that are provided to you to help you with the class, like practice exams or study sessions. This can earn you some brownie points with the prof, as a student who actively seeks out help is not the kind of student the department wants to weed out.
- Consider getting weeded out. It's possible this major really isn't for you. Give it your all, and don't let them scare you away -- but don't rule out finding another potential major.
It's sad that colleges and universities see the need to create classes that make students miserable -- but that's a reality you may need to accept. Take your weed out classes seriously, work hard, and get help, and you just might find they aren't as horrible as you anticipated.
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