Physical Chemistry. Of course, it didn't help that the prof was blind and would write new stuff over the stuff already on the board so that it was all illegible.
He walked into a door coming into class one day...he was pretty mad that the class laughed at it, but everyone was mad he didn't just retire.
"Subtraction: Additions Tricky Friend"
For me, Business Sadistics
Journalism 150. One word under the word count on a paper, F. Spell a proper noun wrong, F. Make a factual error of any kind no matter how minute, F. The prof made us get the phone numbers of all sources, and he checked. He counted the words in our papers by hand. The university made him resign eventually because of all the complaints. Personally, I thought his class was a bear, but it was an excellent teaching tool. More universities need tough teachers like him. Our newspapers would be better if they did.
Differential Equations for me as well. Dropped it the first time, flunked it the second and finally got a D the 3rd time. Electrical Engineering was tough as well. Got a 36 on one mid term. Prof graded on the curve and it was a C.
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linear algebra was one of the easier math classes i have taken.
boothie wrote:
linear algebra was one of the easier math classes i have taken.
You obviously took "baby" linear where you weren't dealing with invariant subspaces and Jordan canonical forms.
That or all your other classes were something like group representation theory, which I very much doubt.
Systems Analysis & Design
biophysics
Abstract Algebra. Also, Analysis I(bascially theoretical calculus) was insane as well.
Abstract Algebra. I thought, "It's algebra, how hard can it be?" I was so naive.
Statistics--argh!
funny how a lot of classes we mentioned here are math...
MAYEROFF wrote:
Abstract Algebra. Also, Analysis I(bascially theoretical calculus) was insane as well.
how the hell can algebra be "Abstract", you math geeks!!
Molls wrote:
Statistics--argh!
Statistics. I agree.
Stats II: Not because the class itself would have been so bad, but because the prof was straight off the plane from India and I couldn't understand a word he said.
What is it with math? The two most conceptually difficult classes I've ever taken were number theory (I honestly couldn't tell you what it was about, I have a vague memory of mods and theories regarding prime numbers) and advanced geometry. Such misleadingly simple names, too!
But the class with the most challenging homework is one I'm taking now (grad level) - cellular and molecular biology/pathology. Loads of experimental design. Good class, but super hard.
Theoretical Physical Organic Chem. gave me a really hard time in grad school. I blew through two undergrad and one grad course of organic with no problems; this one was interesting during lecture, but when I would go over my notes or try to do homework problems, it was like reading an alien language.
Well, I think it really makes a difference if you're trying to pass a class or to get an A in it. From all the math/science selections, I'm guessing most people were just trying to pass. Most humanities/social science courses are easy to pass but getting an A can be nearly impossible.
I don't think anyone can judge the selections of other posters because unless the curriculum and teaching are standardized throughout all universities, one student's experience might have almost nothing to do with another's.
Writing 100 is the freshman seminar everyone took here. But depending on the books you studied and your instructor, it could be either extremely easy or extremely hard. A couple that made my head spin were Psychology of Learning and Honors Calc (Calc I and II compressed into a single semester and taught at the honors level). I had to work my tail off for a course on the history of European cities. But loved it - never has anything been so worthwhile. When I combine the amount of work + grading + other stressors...I'd say my hardest course was Composition (music) II. When you spend hours upon hours at the piano needing to get a composition out the next morning and the muse just isn't there...that's about the worst I've ever felt.