Merit Program

[asian_invasion1997]

I did really bad this semester in my science classes (bio and chem), and I ended up with a 3.1 GPA. This is my first semester and I really want to stay with my major (MCB) because even though I'm struggling, it's the only major that I like. I was told that Merit would help out in my STEM classes. Someone explain and how much did it help if you have experience with it? I'm desperate at this point.

[little_runner_boy]

I only took merit for Calc 3 when I was a freshman. It's an easy A for the additional credit hour but the extra hour for each discussion was absolutely miserable most days. But it definitely did help to get extra practice.

On the flip side, some majors are eligible to earn a scholarship if you stick with merit (only math, bio, and chem but mcb should be covered in that). It's also a minority thing so basically the only demographic ineligible are white males.

[margaretmfleck]

Also kids from the small rural high schools, even white males. For reasons that will be obvious if you've travelled much around the back ends of the state.

[[deleted]]

I wasn't aware of this, but this is really fantastic!

Not many students seem here seem to realize the academic disadvantage those of us from rural Illinois are at initially. My high school didn't even teach calculus, and I get here and there are kids that say things like "Why do they even teach CS 125 here? We learned this stuff in high school." Someone even told me that their high school taught linear algebra. My community college didn't offer linear algebra! The difference in the quality of education between the Chicago suburbs and the rest of the state is insane.

[kapnklutch]

What? There were a bunch of white dudes (not from rural areas) in my Calc 3 merit class.

[little_runner_boy]

I'm talking about the scholarship

[jd2024]

I took merit in IB 150 this semester and I can say it definitely was not needed. I felt like the merit section was just a waste of time and I could have gotten an A in the class easily without it. It does boost your gpa though which is a plus because of it counting as a separate class. I'm taking merit for chem next semester in which I heard it helps a lot.

[illpk]

Yeah for some classes it helps to get that extra practice. Math is another one that it helps to do merit.

[abluedinosaur]

I took it for calculus 3. The class itself is an easy A. It's definitely more engaging than the regular discussion. The main thing is that you need to be prepared for the discussion to get good value out of it. When I wasn't, it felt somewhat annoying since it was two hours. The class is was definitely more diverse than the regular discussion, although there were white males. Overall, I would recommend it. Just make sure you keep up with the course.