Taking easy classes during college-how closely is transcript scrutinized?

Hey there, as I organize my schedule for my last semester, I'm very tempted to choose as many easy classes as possible to not stress too much and party. As a non-quant, social science major, would this be a poor reflection for B school?

I will have about a 3.7-3.8 GPA by the time I graduate, will be entering a relatively analytical role at a reputable firm, and will hopefully do well on my GMAT.

Can I go ahead and enjoy my senior year or should I try taking something more rigorous?

 

You're a non quant social science major. It sounds like you've never taken any rigorous classes before and you're afraid to do so. A 3.8 history/philosophy/politic science major means absolutely nothing. I'd count your lucky stars that you landed a role and I'd also suggest just avoiding business school if you don't want to take any rigorous courses.

 

Great first troll post. I really do hope you get better though.

Ntmi:

You're a non quant social science major. It sounds like you've never taken any rigorous classes before and you're afraid to do so. A 3.8 history/philosophy/politic science major means absolutely nothing. I'd count your lucky stars that you landed a role and I'd also suggest just avoiding business school if you don't want to take any rigorous courses.

If the glove don't fit, you must acquit!
 

I have friends who majored in history, government, and a bunch of other social sciences. They never took a quant class, finished with a 3.7+ GPA, and works in IBD at the BBs. The majority of stuff you think you need for the job, you will learn when you start.

 

Nobody will ever want to see your transcript. All that anyone cares about is your major, gpa, and school, the latter of which they can verify via a background check.

"There's nothing you can do if you're too scared to try." - Nickel Creek
 

Banks rarely ask for transcripts before giving out an offer, and even if they do, I've never heard of them vetting potential candidates for how easy or hard their classes were - it's simply impossible to tell for most

 

Thank you all very much for the replies, I feel a bit more assured about my academic performance now lol. In regards to quant classes, I have taken intro to micro and macro, and plan on taking Calc online with UCLA extension, so hopefully a good grade in all of those will slightly make up for a lack of quant classes.

And Griezmann, yes, I would assume the analytical portion of learning on the job is what B schools prioritize over quant classes in college.

 

I have classes for Yoga, Leisure Studies, and Ceramics on my transcript. All guaranteed A's.

Enjoy senior year, no one is honestly going to care about what classes you take in college ever again. (Or else I'm screwed too). You have a good gpa and have worked hard for a job offer. Why not enjoy your final year of relative freedom.

Btw I highly recommend Yoga....

 
Best Response

Well, the devil is in the details. I mean, you should use this to improve any skills you wish to have in the future, maybe something that puts you in a position you would find interesting, or confortable, or anything like that.

I'm a very determinist person when it comes to my wishes. Matter of fact, I've actually done a lot of things I wished to do and respected when I was just a child...I'm really not used to fail at making myself proud of my stupidly arrogant ego...So I also got, how do I say this...like tired of partying... I don't know, I used to wish just every interesting thing in my life, then I feel like I can tell you that.

So, get to the parties you wish more, pick the girls you desire more, pick the classes you think will make you better than the other guys, and for the rest take the easiest classes you could find, just to fill-up the space left...Get it all, do it all and left nothing good to anybody other than you.

 

Low intense courses, keep gpa high, enjoy your last semester of drinking heavily since you already landed a FT offer. also last time you can go to a kegger+bar without looking like one of those super seniors or creeps.

 

Hey, I don't think one class could hurt should you choose to take it solely for your own purpose to learn something new. That being said, if you choose to take easy classes your last semester (we all do it!), then go for it. You'll learn a lot in your analytical role so that will be sufficient enough for getting into B school. But, that's just my opinion, asking around other social science B-school candidates is the best way to gauge the overarching thought.

 

you already have a job offer? then you're golden. spend your senior year knee deep in drugs and neck deep in college ass. this will help you build a tolerance for when you start work and need the drugs to stop yourself from jumping off a building and build up tolerance from STDs when your only real dating option you have time for is an escort "a la carte" service. good luck.

"I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing. " -GG
 

The real world cares about people that jump through all the hoops and not about the intellectually curious among us. Nobody will scrutinize your transcript. Go ahead and game the system, people won't realize what you're doing.

The exception is if you want to truly make a difference in the world outside of the corporate / finance world. Then, yes, challenge yourself. However, if you want to get a job in banking or get into a great MBA program, there's not all that much evidence that says that transcripts will be examined.

The only people in the job world that read transcripts are at MBB consulting firms and even then they seem to prefer to hire the 4.0s that studied an easy subject.

Life is full of trade-offs that you're going to have to make. There are fear-mongerers who will say your transcript will be scrutinized but think carefully about the cost of taking the truly tough courses versus everything else you want out of life.

 

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