Aspiring PreMeds- Chem or Bio?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
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<p>Molecular Biology major/Pre-Med needs advice (and maybe some other pre-Meds out there do too). </p>

<p>What science course should we begin with freshman year? </p>

<p>Should we start off first semester with Chem (General) or should we take Bio (MOL 214)? I am really strong in bio, not as much in chemistry. Should I take chemistry first to solidify my skills, or should I jump right into Bio? I could take both at the same time, but my sister who's at H says its suicide. Please keep in mind I will be taking Multivariable (MAT 201?) first semester also. </p>

<p>Thanks and looking forward to your advice. </p>

<p>--David '09--
Miami, FL</p>

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<p>MOL 214 is spring semester, so don't worry about even considering that one for the fall ;)</p>

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<p>generally ppl take chem freshman year, and math-- which I see you have covered. </p>

<p>MOL214 is only offered in the spring, and ppl usually take that along with chem in the spring. If you don't have any AP bio credit I think that you need to take EEB211 in the fall, but since you say that youre good at bio i'd assume that you already have it. It is also possible to take MOL 215 in the fall, which is I think a more intensive course geared towards bio/physics students.</p>

<p>Chem, especially first semester, is not too bad. MOL is supposedly hard, and chem second semester gets harder</p>

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<p>hmm, overlooked the fact that MOL was only spring semester.
I guess I'll stick with Chemistry then for the fall, and then MOL along with second semester chemistry in the spring. </p>

<p>That means I have two open spots in the fall semester for classes. I have no idea what to take! Picking is so difficult! Multivariable Calc, General Chem, and then what else? Anybody look at the Roman History class? Or how about the Animal Behavior class? </p>

<p>--David--
Miami, FL</p>

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<p>oh man i have no idea what i want to take. shoot me now. i THINK i want to take integrated science. i'm pretty sure. but then i wonder if by taking integrated science dealy i lose a bit of flexibility with my schedule. oh well, i figure it out sooner or later.</p>

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<p>Oh c'mon people! Engineering + Premed!!!!!</p>

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<p>Hi, Ivyboy. That interests me a lot...unless you were just joking in some sort of way. Can you really major in engineering and meet the requirements for premed? Is it realistic?</p>

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<p>It's a different degree, that's all. I think it's still feasible to satisfy premed reqs.</p>

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<p>Has anybody here actually done something like this? (major in engineering and meet premed reqs) I just wanna be a bit more sure on the feasibility part. And medical schools are ok with that?</p>

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<p>its pretty easy to do- especially if you want to do chem-e. whether you can do it and have a high gpa- is another story.</p>

<p>But engineering already requires the intro chem, intro physics, and math. so you have orgo and mol to take.</p>

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<p>Ivyboy05: ChE, yay!!! :D</p>

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<p>Although... to tell the truth, I'd rather take the pchem route than the ochem route come sophomore year. =\ We'll see...</p>

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<p>Yeah, I'm serious about the engineering + premed</p>

<p>I'm planning on doing chemE+ premed. If chemE get too difficult though, i might switch out of engineering...but I think an engineering degree would really look good (especially if i can pull off a decent GPA) for med schools. Actually, a bunch (not a lot, but some) do this.</p>

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<p>Terrific. I think I'll give it a shot. Though... electrical engineering and premed reqs would be far-fetched huh?</p>

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<p>I definitely know people doing ChemE and premed. It's one of the more work-intensive things you can do at Princeton, but still doable, evidently.</p>

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<p>the most work-intensive thing you can do at Princeton is be editor of the Prince.</p>

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<p>Actually ELE and premed wouldn't be that strange, from a careers point of view... you could work on medical instrumentation, implants, "smart" prosthetics, bionics, cybernetics, etc. (Similar to some of the things a MechE premed would be interested in.) Have no idea how the courses would work out, but probably not that badly...</p>

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<p>Yes, that is the sort of thing I'm interested in. Thank you very much litho.</p>

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<p>How would you guys rank Princeton pre-med in comparison with the other Ivies?</p>

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<p>I would think it should be pretty good since Princeton has a good ChemE program. However, Princeton does not actually have a premed major, so I don't know. I'm kinda interested in this too since I'm looking to major in an Engineering and meet premed reqs... Can anyone compare the ranks?</p>