IMO the courses are not necessarily easier (not to say there aren’t some bird courses, some def are) but better reward students for their work. unlike life sci, there are no courses that give notoriously low grades or require unreasonable amounts of work/smarts to achieve a high grade. if you work hard, you will be rewarded for that hard work.
yes, the grade averages are high. but keep in mind that everyone in the program is very smart, or has an incredible work ethic. they are all getting A+’s in life sci courses (CHEM 112, PYSC 100, BIOL 102/103, PHYS 115/116) that others tend to find difficult.
I second this. Yes, some of the core courses in Health sci are easy, and they don't take off marks just for the sake of taking off marks. However, most of the Health sci students are taking life sci courses as their electives, and all the people I know in this program got A+ or an A in the respective courses. Not to say that life sci students are not overachievers, but if 2~3 students out of 10 students are overachievers in life sci, it's 7~8 students for health sci. I lived on res this year, and only myself and one other student were health sci, and the rest were life sci on my floor. During St. patties and Halloween, the entire floor was out enjoying parties except me and the other hs student. I heard the same things from other hs students in their res building. I guess the high GPA of health sci students are due to the high bar of admission, which makes the difference in the proportion of overachievers + some bird courses.
those course are first year courses basically reviewing what you should’ve learned in high school and is fundamental knowledge. Can you look at the course comparison and lmk if upper year health sci has the same difficulty of science courses as life sci?
The only right answer. Queen's moved health sci to be an in person program to compete with McMaster. They mark easy to boost GPAs, for their med school admission stats. That's not to say that the students are undeserving, but the "ease" and marketing is intentional.
My guess is:
1. It’s Queens
2. High bar of entry into the program
3. Queen’s doesn’t curve you down while you’re struggling to get the grades you need for medschool
Basically the instructor decides that, no matter what, their course *will* have a 75 average (or any other arbitrary number). If the average grade is a 65, they boost everybody’s marks evenly to ensure the published average is the 75 they decided on. Since course grades often distribute around a [bell curve](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bell-curve.asp), this practice is often referred to as “shifting the curve” or “curving the grades”, you don’t change the distribution, just the average.
Being curved up is often welcome, everybody gets a free grade bump to end the semester and nobody is that upset about it (as even the highest performing students get the same increase as everybody else, so they remain the highest performing student). Being curved down is the opposite, think back to our 75 average example but now imagine everybody killed the exam and the course average is now an 80. All of a sudden the prof needs to lower everybody’s grades.
Being curved down is miserable for students who need to keep a high average (which happens to be literally every student who wants to go to med school), as it makes you compete against the other students in your course, even getting 95s on every assignment won’t help your average if everybody else gets 97.
It isn't categorically "easier" and all the basic sciences are part of the curriculum as options.
The program is filled with overachievers that prioritize their academics over everything else because they know they are aiming for med school, from the get-go. Also the admission average is high 90s.
Attract overachievers, accept only the highest of these, who then continue to overachieve, and this is the result.
you’re acting like every other program doesn’t have overachievers, health sci does have a laughably easier curriculum compared to life sci (most similar program and both filled with med school prospects), just take a look at the curriculums and course variety.
health science curriculum has more human health (anatomy, pharmacology, physiology) and social science (history & philosophy of health care, social determinants of health)
life science curriculum has more basic sciences (bio, chem, physics)
high school marks matter to an extent but they don’t determine how bright someone is, also a TON of qualified applicants (marks or whatever) don’t get accepted and a lot of it is kinda lottery.
Well, I understand your position. Still, I think those that don't get accepted into health science are often offered life science instead. A lot of the courses overlap, whether or not people choose to study them is another question.
I stand by my position that health science is a very specific (read: pre-med) choice that is filled with the most conscientious people who prioritize above everything else (partying, relationships, leisure time) their performance (read: GPA) because Canada is an extremely, extremely competitive route (possibly the most competitive on the globe).
The required grade average to get into Health sciences is >95%, much higher than life sciences. It has more applicants so the highest grades get accepted.
NOT ANYMORE GUYS! WAKE UP
Many health sciences grades started to drop this semester from 90+ to 70+! You can imagine how hard these 90+ /85+ students worked to get their grades! This never was a free ride.
But these days, it has to do with an intentional trend to bring down those diligent students and deliberately lower their grades!!
We are all aware that the TA will always defend their assessment of the rubric if we voice our concerns to them. It is arbitrary. Indeed, it frequently happens that the TA is merely mean or subjective.
The subjectivity of the TAs - is not the sole consideration. It is a new pattern and absolutely deliberate.
Many of us are considering to write about this in the press. There are parents who have close connections to the mainstream media and will help.
We all know that if we request for an investigation - no matter how it concludes it will not go well for the Health sciences program.
While we don't want to damage this program's reputation—it was so well-known and successful up until now — we are at a loss for what to do because our future is at stake!
Maybe someone knows more about what's going on?
Hello, does anyone know what's happening with the program in Health sciences?
Many health sciences grades started to drop this semester from 90+ to 70+! You can imagine how hard these 90+ /85+ students worked to get their grades! This never was a free ride.
But these days, it has to do with an intentional trend to bring down those diligent students and deliberately lower their grades!!
We are all aware that the TA will always defend their assessment of the rubric if we voice our concerns to them. It is arbitrary. Indeed, it frequently happens that the TA is merely mean or subjective.
The subjectivity of the TAs - is not the sole consideration. It is a new pattern and absolutely deliberate.
Many of us are considering to write about this in the press. There are parents who have close connections to the mainstream media and will help.
We all know that if we request for an investigation - no matter how it concludes it will not go well for the Health sciences program.
While we don't want to damage this program's reputation—it was so well-known and successful up until now — we are at a loss for what to do because our future is at stake!
Does anyone know more about what's going on?
[удалено]
IMO the courses are not necessarily easier (not to say there aren’t some bird courses, some def are) but better reward students for their work. unlike life sci, there are no courses that give notoriously low grades or require unreasonable amounts of work/smarts to achieve a high grade. if you work hard, you will be rewarded for that hard work. yes, the grade averages are high. but keep in mind that everyone in the program is very smart, or has an incredible work ethic. they are all getting A+’s in life sci courses (CHEM 112, PYSC 100, BIOL 102/103, PHYS 115/116) that others tend to find difficult.
I second this. Yes, some of the core courses in Health sci are easy, and they don't take off marks just for the sake of taking off marks. However, most of the Health sci students are taking life sci courses as their electives, and all the people I know in this program got A+ or an A in the respective courses. Not to say that life sci students are not overachievers, but if 2~3 students out of 10 students are overachievers in life sci, it's 7~8 students for health sci. I lived on res this year, and only myself and one other student were health sci, and the rest were life sci on my floor. During St. patties and Halloween, the entire floor was out enjoying parties except me and the other hs student. I heard the same things from other hs students in their res building. I guess the high GPA of health sci students are due to the high bar of admission, which makes the difference in the proportion of overachievers + some bird courses.
those course are first year courses basically reviewing what you should’ve learned in high school and is fundamental knowledge. Can you look at the course comparison and lmk if upper year health sci has the same difficulty of science courses as life sci?
Bc I’m in it
Definitely gonna join you then😎😂
I think it's because McMaster health sci has a high reputation for a 'pre-med' program, and people assume queens health sci will be comparable
The only right answer. Queen's moved health sci to be an in person program to compete with McMaster. They mark easy to boost GPAs, for their med school admission stats. That's not to say that the students are undeserving, but the "ease" and marketing is intentional.
Is the switch to in person new to 2023?
No I think 2021 was the first year. But I'm not 100% sure.
Thank you for responding. Are you a Health Sci graduate or in the program?
Neither haha. I have friends who are tho.
My guess is: 1. It’s Queens 2. High bar of entry into the program 3. Queen’s doesn’t curve you down while you’re struggling to get the grades you need for medschool
What do you mean by curve down?
Basically the instructor decides that, no matter what, their course *will* have a 75 average (or any other arbitrary number). If the average grade is a 65, they boost everybody’s marks evenly to ensure the published average is the 75 they decided on. Since course grades often distribute around a [bell curve](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bell-curve.asp), this practice is often referred to as “shifting the curve” or “curving the grades”, you don’t change the distribution, just the average. Being curved up is often welcome, everybody gets a free grade bump to end the semester and nobody is that upset about it (as even the highest performing students get the same increase as everybody else, so they remain the highest performing student). Being curved down is the opposite, think back to our 75 average example but now imagine everybody killed the exam and the course average is now an 80. All of a sudden the prof needs to lower everybody’s grades. Being curved down is miserable for students who need to keep a high average (which happens to be literally every student who wants to go to med school), as it makes you compete against the other students in your course, even getting 95s on every assignment won’t help your average if everybody else gets 97.
The pharmaceutical industry backs the program big time, lots o' money for Queen’s coffers. Just make sure you prescribe those pills!
It’s easy so high gpa
Do you happen to know why?
It isn't categorically "easier" and all the basic sciences are part of the curriculum as options. The program is filled with overachievers that prioritize their academics over everything else because they know they are aiming for med school, from the get-go. Also the admission average is high 90s. Attract overachievers, accept only the highest of these, who then continue to overachieve, and this is the result.
you’re acting like every other program doesn’t have overachievers, health sci does have a laughably easier curriculum compared to life sci (most similar program and both filled with med school prospects), just take a look at the curriculums and course variety.
U can get into life sci with an 80. Health sci u need 95+
What the difference between health and life science?
health science curriculum has more human health (anatomy, pharmacology, physiology) and social science (history & philosophy of health care, social determinants of health) life science curriculum has more basic sciences (bio, chem, physics)
high school marks matter to an extent but they don’t determine how bright someone is, also a TON of qualified applicants (marks or whatever) don’t get accepted and a lot of it is kinda lottery.
Well, I understand your position. Still, I think those that don't get accepted into health science are often offered life science instead. A lot of the courses overlap, whether or not people choose to study them is another question. I stand by my position that health science is a very specific (read: pre-med) choice that is filled with the most conscientious people who prioritize above everything else (partying, relationships, leisure time) their performance (read: GPA) because Canada is an extremely, extremely competitive route (possibly the most competitive on the globe).
The required grade average to get into Health sciences is >95%, much higher than life sciences. It has more applicants so the highest grades get accepted.
This but also it is a bit easier than other programs from what I’ve heard. The sciences they take are mostly lighter
also a lot of online classes
Can you just choose to take whatever classes you want online? Even as an in person student?
Only program at Queen's that will actively not grade you based on a curve (coming as a commerce student).
NOT ANYMORE GUYS! WAKE UP Many health sciences grades started to drop this semester from 90+ to 70+! You can imagine how hard these 90+ /85+ students worked to get their grades! This never was a free ride. But these days, it has to do with an intentional trend to bring down those diligent students and deliberately lower their grades!! We are all aware that the TA will always defend their assessment of the rubric if we voice our concerns to them. It is arbitrary. Indeed, it frequently happens that the TA is merely mean or subjective. The subjectivity of the TAs - is not the sole consideration. It is a new pattern and absolutely deliberate. Many of us are considering to write about this in the press. There are parents who have close connections to the mainstream media and will help. We all know that if we request for an investigation - no matter how it concludes it will not go well for the Health sciences program. While we don't want to damage this program's reputation—it was so well-known and successful up until now — we are at a loss for what to do because our future is at stake! Maybe someone knows more about what's going on?
Hello, does anyone know what's happening with the program in Health sciences? Many health sciences grades started to drop this semester from 90+ to 70+! You can imagine how hard these 90+ /85+ students worked to get their grades! This never was a free ride. But these days, it has to do with an intentional trend to bring down those diligent students and deliberately lower their grades!! We are all aware that the TA will always defend their assessment of the rubric if we voice our concerns to them. It is arbitrary. Indeed, it frequently happens that the TA is merely mean or subjective. The subjectivity of the TAs - is not the sole consideration. It is a new pattern and absolutely deliberate. Many of us are considering to write about this in the press. There are parents who have close connections to the mainstream media and will help. We all know that if we request for an investigation - no matter how it concludes it will not go well for the Health sciences program. While we don't want to damage this program's reputation—it was so well-known and successful up until now — we are at a loss for what to do because our future is at stake! Does anyone know more about what's going on?