<p>Truth is, I don't have a magic website that shows the stats. However, my inference is still coming from appreciable sources. </p>
<p>I've talked to quite a few guidance counselors and some medical school adcom officers and they've told me this. I've also talked to a few doctors and they also share this opinion. I've even talked to current medical students who share this opinion; they've watched many of their fellow peers' performances and from their backgrounds, they see this pattern - the pattern being that liberal arts majors tend to do better than pre-med majors.</p>
<p>I agree with both of you (eternity and norcal) in different ways.</p>
<p>Norcal's logic is good: Science majors learn how to balance a course load that consists entirely of science courses. Medical school, which is essentially all "science courses" (with the exception of medical ethics, etc.) should be very bearable for the science major upon arrival. Dealing with 8 credits of science and 7 liberal arts credits like a non-science major does is very different from taking 15 credits of science classes. per semester.</p>
<p>A doctor on another board who did biology at Cornell mentioned that medical school was actually easier than bio at Cornell.</p>
<p>On the other hand, non-science majors do well in medical admissions. Biology majors actually do the worst! Source: Cornell pre health careers packet</p>
<p>Don't forget that biology majors in the college of arts and sciences are earning an A.B., not a B.S. We have a set of liberal arts requirements that make sure we are exposed to many fields while at Cornell.</p>
<p>There is no doubt non-bio majors do much better than bio majors in ADMISSIONS. If anyone has any stats as to how people do AFTER they get into med school, I'd appreciate it. It would be conforting to know that all of the genetics, biochem, etc. that I've had to suffer through is not all for not.</p>
<p>I am getting a good deal of work (Engineering), but as long as I do it when I get it and don't put it off, I don't see it being a problem and impeding my ability to have fun. The problem with the work load arises when a student believes they can wait until the day before it is due to do all of the problems. Time management doesn't just include doing all work, it includes having fun too.</p>
<p>yeah i'm taking 20 credits 1st semester (12 min, 14-16 average, 18 max w/o petition) and I'm still having time to have fun. I actually have the equivilant of 23 right now because i'm trying to switch writing seminars but I have to attend both until the switch finishes because it might/might not work and I need to stay current with both courses until I know which I'll be in. Back to WORK</p>
<p>That's nuts! BTW sparticus, where in NJ are you from? (I live by Princeton).</p>
<p>I'm also in add/drop limbo between two classes. Being on edge about whether or not your schedule will work out is a pain!</p>
<p>I want to take back some of what I said regarding the biology major at Cornell. The reason my opinion was so negative was because I was making the course load difficult for myself. I tried to pull off 14 credits of science classes this semester (which we are four days into). This was very much a bad idea, especially considering the fact that 5 of those 14 science credits came from BioGD 281 (the class from hell).</p>
<p>It turns out that I was able to relieve some (a great deal, actually) pressure on myself by dropping BioGD 281 and picking up a relatively benign spanish class. With some analysis and planning, I was able to craft a schedule that will allow me to take a very balanced course load this year. </p>
<p>The reason I tried to take so many classes this semester is because I was trying graduate a semester early and save my parents $22,000. It occured to me today, after six hours of Bio GD class, that it would be better for me to take a more relaxed approach and relegate Bio GD to my senior year, especially considering that a poor performance in Bio GD would destroy my med school aspirations. (I spent this last summer in class. Organic chemistry, specifically. I am very tired of school at this point, and I don't think I can handle BioGD with this exhaustion).</p>
<p>I have to say that Bio GD 281 is the most awe-striking (in a very, very bad way) class at Cornell. The first six weeks of this class are spent performing a fly lab, which requires the student to come into lab at random times for 14 hrs per week, including weekends (you read that correctly, I assure you). On top of that insane requirement is 4 hours of lecture and 2 hours of problem solving lecture. This class is really too much. Fortunately, I will spend an entire semester doing this class alone (spring semester of my senior year). </p>
<p>Here's my advice:</p>
<p>Do biology if you like it. Remember that Cornell will do its damndest to make you hate it.</p>
<p>If you're a pre med, just take the pre med sequence and earn a major in some liberal arts field. You'll have enough work as it is.</p>