Advice for freshmen (MCS and other colleges too)

<p>The online code definitely isn’t necessary. I took it with Lanni, and even the textbook wasn’t necesary, as long as you took good notes.</p>

<p>Also, if I could qualify what the OP said about not overloading: as long as you manage your time wisely (and yes, that can take some work), it’s pretty feasible to take 54-60 units, keep a good GPA, and still have plenty of free time. Also, the strategy of starting the semester with a large number of classes (e.g. 6+), and then dropping a few (you have until almost the end of the semester to do this without any record of the class on your transcript) allows you to experience the professor and material without the stress, and then make the decision of which courses to take.</p>

<p>And, from personal experience, I agree: avoid Mihai at all costs.</p>

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<p>Sure, but give this a shot after your first semester. You should take 45-ish units your first semester so that you have plenty of time to make friends and meet people and enjoy Pittsburgh in the fall. Seriously. You have 7 more semesters to overload – do it later. </p>

<p>I can’t stress enough that some of the most angry, bitter people I know at CMU – some who even left after first semester – were the ones who overloaded and ended up not making friends because they had no time to bother talking to people. Relax, chill out, enjoy life. Then, second semester, if you’re sure you can handle more units, ramp up slowly.</p>

<p>Please note that if you are a CS freshman, you really need to be taking 49+ units your first couple semesters. If you drop a class that’s fine (I dropped one in the spring), but for CS, overloading is considered to be going above 54 units.</p>

<p>Edit: Want to make it clear that while I agree you shouldn’t overload your freshman year, CS majors have a different overload than other colleges.</p>

<p>on the overload for CS majors-- yes I agree also. You never know what’s going to happen to your units, esp with 251. Above 54 units is doable, but not suggested in fall of freshman year. Just do that on your spring semester. Like someone said, you have 7 more semesters to overload.</p>

<p>Im taking 45 units fall semester, and im even iffy on whether i should take another class. it really depends on how much time u can (and should) spend on each class</p>

Hi, I am planning to go to CMU in Biology and do Pre-med. In one of the web forums I heard that you have to qualify for the Pre-med program (they said it depends on you SAT II scores. Is that true?

Also how hard is Pre-med and the grading if you are planning on doing a Biology Major?

Hi, I also wanted to find out is it possible to get good enough grades doing Biology to qualify for medical colleges?