We all know one: the pompous McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science student. He thinks his coursework is the most difficult at Northwestern and argues that it is a struggle for him to keep his Grade Point Average as high as a Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences student. Next time you’re sitting around with this ass, give him an analytic piece of information that maybe his number-crunching brain can sort through.

According to 2003-2004 NU data, two schools had an average GPA lower than the university-wide average of 3.44 — Weinberg and McCormick. It may be surprising to note that it is Weinberg with the lowest average of 3.35, not McCormick, which posts a 3.39 average. It is a minor difference, so let’s just say Weinberg and McCormick students have the same average GPA for simplicity.

The first defense mechanism used by the McCormick student is that his curriculum is much more difficult. It is pointless getting into an argument about which school has the most/least difficult curriculum. I tried doing this during a recent caps game and I think we were too far into the game because we agreed to disagree. This may be the best solution.

Stick an engineer in Medill’s Editing & Writing the News class and I am sure it would be an interesting experience. Similarly, put me in a McCormick programming class and I promise a failing grade. Whatever the example, we should all accept that each school has difficult requirements.