<p>I'm taking Bio 1a next semester in the Fall and was wondering how hard is Bio 1a compared to ochem and general chem?</p>
<p>Last year at Calso everyone was talking about Chem 1a being a weeder class that's super competitive and really hard. After taking 1a, the class didn't seem too bad after all.</p>
<p>After 1a everyone was now talking about how 3a is even harder and more competitive than 1a. I have to say 3a was harder than 1a, but the curve and professor really helped with making the class passable + enjoyable.</p>
<p>Having survived 1a/3a with decent grades, will Bio 1a be even worse in terms of difficulty compared to chem 3a and 1a?</p>
<p>Bio1A is okay, but still challenging; I personally think Bio1A lab is more difficult than lecture because you're doing an insane amount of work for relatively few units...or, to put it another way, you're doing a lot of work PERIOD. Bio1A and 1AL are a LOT of work.</p>
<p>I have heard that Bio 1A gives more A's in the fall. I am taking 1A in fall too (3BL + two languages created 8 hours of class at least one day a week, so I decided to take 1A in fall)</p>
<p>Classes tended to be easier in their off-seasons
Fall for Bio 1A and Chem 3A
Spring for Bio 1B and Chem 3B</p>
<p>IB and MCB recommend people to take Chem 3A in their first spring, Chem 3B and Bio 1B in their second fall, and Bio 1A in their second spring. Taking a course in the semester not recommended, is taking a course on the offseason</p>
<p>when people don't usually opt to take the course.
chem 1a is much more popular in the fall than in spring b/c entering freshmen usually take it to be on the "track" for MCB major/premed/other premed majors. they then follow to take chem 3a in spring. then it splits: some take it in summer, others in fall. therefore, spring is less popular for chem 1a, fall for chem 3a, etc.</p>
<p>ex: I was an fpf student in fall, so I had to wait until spring to take chem 1a, I took chem 1a on the off-season. I had Nitsche, who was really funny and cool and the class was a lot less competitive.
I also took Biology 1B in spring, when most people take it in the fall. I had the Feldman/Slatkin/Resh combo. I benefited because I didn't have to deal with Powers and we had a better curve.</p>
<p>Material-wise, Bio 1A by itself is about as hard as Chem 3A or Chem 3B. However, having to take Bio 1AL as well makes the 1A series difficult. Furthermore, Bio 1A/1AL does not have a decent curve like Chem 3 series.</p>
<p>Ultimately, it depends on the person. I enjoyed OChem and despised Bio 1A/1AL. In the end, I did well in those classes, because I put effort into Bio 1A/1AL.</p>