<p>Hi all! I have also been accepted and was wondering…Please, how difficult/easy is the health and societies major—GPA wise(any idea of average GPA of students) …is 3.75plus feasible?How helpful and attentive are the professors? I heard its a small department and classes are really small. I’m particularly drawn to this major because of my interests in global health, my non-profit work and all that…As an incoming sophomore transfer and premed student, I would also like to know if its possible to graduate in Spring 2015 and make it to med school in fall 2015.Looking forward to some answers. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>@neorobie: </p>
<p>I would take biol 121 first semester. If anything, wait until spring to take chem 101. Biol 121 is followed by biol 124 which is a 1 cu lab. If you took biol 121 spring sem, then you’d have to wait an entire summer until you take biol 124. That may put you at a disadvantage because there’s a good chance you will have forgotten a lot of the material/background knowledge needed to excel in the lab component. On the other hand, taking chem 101 in the spring would if anything, put you at a slight advantage. Chem 101 and 102 are completely autonomous and distinct classes so you need to prior knowledge of one to take the other (despite what the prerequisites say). Also, the engineers take chem 101 in the fall and 102 in the spring so the curve is generally tougher in the fall. </p>
<p>I would start off with Calc II. Obtaining a math minor at Penn is not very difficult at all and you do not need any honors math classes to do so. Honors Calc is extremely rigorous and difficult…there are only about 15 people in the class and the material is very theoretical and proof-based. There is virtually no computation since it is so abstract. I started with math 114 while a few of my friends took math 116 (honors math). I found that I had an advantage over them in physics because they just learned so many abstract and inapplicable concepts while we were learning vector calc, which is actually applicable in physics. Therefore, unless if you plan to become a math major and go into a PhD program, I don’t see why you need to take honors math.</p>
<p>@shadglore:
I am not a health and societies major but I have heard from some prospective majors that the courses are fairly easy. In fact, on friend joked that her health and society class was the only class helping to spare her GPA! In addition, another friend in one of my pre-med clubs raved about how amazing the health and societies major was…she didn’t go into specifics but she HIGHLY recommended it!! </p>
<p>And yes, it is possible. I know that many students in my program are planning to do so. Basically, you just have to take the MCATS by the end of junior yr and start getting application material over the summer (or before preferably).</p>
<p>I am premed and have AP Calc BC credit. I know that most med schools accept AP credit for Calc and also recommend a semester of Stat. Do I need to take Calc 114 first semester then Stat 111 second, or can I just not take Calc?</p>
<p>@quasadilla: No, you do not have to take Math 114 if you don’t want to. I know most pre-meds at Penn take math 104 and then don’t take any more math. If you have AP credit, I think you should be fine. In terms of stats, you may want to also look into biol 446 (statistics for biologists). Since you’re pre-med, it might be more helpful for you (but stat 111 is also fine)</p>
<p>phys150, 5 hrs lectures and 2 hrs labs per week, why so many lectures? Also, how many classes can one take, min 4 and max 8?</p>
<p>@benzua:</p>
<p>For physics 150, there are 4 hrs worth of actual lecture. The 5th block is sort of like an optional recitation…basically the professor answers any student questions, goes over some additional hw problems, etc but no new material is covered. In fact, Prof Hollebeek explicitly told us that there would be no new material covered and that we did not have to come unless we were struggling with the material. </p>
<p>As an incoming freshmen in the college, you must take 4-4.5 cu first semester (if you’re in engineering, then it’s around 5 or 6). Since you already have a 1.5 cu physics class, you can choose 3 more classes to take.</p>
<p>Much thanks, GoldOwl! No Craft of Prose for me :0</p>
<p>wow!!Thanks Goldowl! then I guess, with hardwork and persistence, a 3.7 plus in Health and Societies is possible! and also, I took only Calculus I at my former univ… will I need to take any additional math as a premed?</p>
<p>@shadglore:</p>
<p>Calculus I should be enough to fulfill pre-med. You may want to consider taking a statistics course though, considering many top medical schools also like to see statistics. Stat 111 should suffice! Good luck with your Health & Societies major!! I have heard so many great things about the major and I’m sure you’ll love it:D</p>
<p>haha…thanks Goldowl… has anybody taken Jay Kikkawa for Physics 102? I want to take that class and looks like he’s the ONLY handling that class…any advice from anyone on handling this class? is it really hard?</p>
<p>Thanks! and just for future reference, how is Professor Topp compared to Professor Feng Gai for chem? Who would you recommend? Prof. Gai teaches a smaller class, like 95… How much of a difference is it to be in a class with 95 people vs say 180.</p>
<p>@shadglore:
I’m not very familiar with Kikkawa but according to Penn Course Review, he has around a 3.5 rating which is VERY high for a physics professor so I would assume he’s pretty exceptional. In terms of difficulty, I have heard that in terms of content, it is not very difficult. However, because there are so many pre-meds in that class, the curve can get pretty competitive.</p>
<p>@neorbie:
I would sign up for Topp if I were you. Topp teaches chem 101 almost every year so he is very familiar with the students/material. I have heard that he is not necessarily the best lecturer but he is VERY kind and considerate of his students. For example, one of his students had some other event scheduled on the midterm date and Topp let him do a make-up midterm on another day whereas many professors are very strict about no make-ups. I believe that Gai has never really taught introductory chem…she teaches mainly physical chemistry and grad level courses so I would definitely be cautious because those professors have a tendency to levy overly advanced material upon students whom are not ready (at least that’s what happened with my friend’s chem 116 prof-he had only taught grad classes before and he basically made them learn out of a p chem textbook)</p>
<p>Thanks again! =D Also I’m casually noting some classes I would like to take in my junior and senior years but on the biology dept. website, they are in their own little section of courses: COLLEGE OF LIBERAL AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES. And according the course list, the classes are only offered through that college which is apparently a subunit within the College. What does that entail? What do I need to do to be able to take those courses?</p>
<p>@neurobie:
I believe you would only need a permit from the dept in order to take it. The college of liberal arts and prof studies is basically like night school for working adults who are aiming to earn another degree through taking evening classes. I know that I have friends who are enrolled in LPS classes such as math and Latin b/c the regular sections didn’t fit into their schedule. I’m guessing you should be fine as long as you ask for a permit and explain why you want to take that class</p>
<p>What do you guys/gals think of math 202? It seems like a class I might enjoy, but unfortunately, it conflicts with another class that I want to take, so I have to choose one or the other. I’m pretty decent at math, and I’ll (hopefully) place out of math 240. I’m not planning a math major, but I might do a minor (since I’m already almost there).</p>
<p>Thank you! And also what is the max number of credits one should take in a semester in your opinion? (trying to map out my future classes)</p>
<p>I wouldn’t take more than 5.5 in a semester. I did 6 one semester, and it was a real pain. My semesters went …
Fall '07 - 4
Spring '08 - 5
Fall '08 - 5
Spring '09 - 6 (TOO MANY CLASSES!)
Fall '09 - 4
Spring '10 - 4
Fall '10 - 4 (technically… it was 3 + independent study)</p>
<p>@Cardgames: </p>
<p>Math 202 is like a light version of real analysis, somewhere in between 116 and 360. You’ll do things like counting infinite sets, sequences, convergence, basic proofs in continuity/differentiation/integration of single variables. It’s suitable for someone with no prior experience in proof-based math.</p>
<p>It differs from 116 in that it omits the theoretical linear algebra portion for more real analysis (infinite sets, sequences aren’t covered in 116). I would say the linear algebra stuff done in 116 is simple enough that one can self study it without much of a problem, so if you can do that or if you’re comfortable with linear algebra already, go ahead and take 202 (the LA stuff is quite important though so make sure you know it). If you plan on taking another real analysis course in the future (360/508), then there’s going to be significant overlap between 202 and that, so that’s another thing to consider. </p>
<p>Infinite sets are a really fun topic. Sequences and convergence can also be fun depending on how your prof teaches it. The continuity/calculus stuff can be a bit dry though, as it’s really meant to develop basic skills in real analysis in preparation for later stuff in math.</p>
<p>Thanks, fuexfollets.</p>
<p>What statistics courses count towards the Wharton core? I see three sequences for statistics: 101-102, 111-112, and 430-431. Does the 111-112 sequence count? Is it different for Huntsman students than it’s for Wharton students? Finally, does a 5 in AP statistics actually fulfill the stat 101 requirement? I have already taken AP statistics, and I was wondering whether taking math 430 is redundant (requirement wise).</p>
<p>Hello,
What are your opinions/experiences with the federal work study program? Is it bothersome to do with school work?</p>
<p>Does taking math 114 overlap with the GE requirement for science and technology in the wharton curriculum?</p>