<p>I'm a premed bio major. Does anyone know which biochemistry course(s) is recommended? How is the autotutorial course? Which is easier? I took some autotuorial courses in the past and found them tolerable. Anyone have any advice?</p>
<p>I did the lecture courses. I took 331 last year and am current taking 332. 331 was amazing...the prof is one of the best I've ever had. A lot of people complain about 332 but I'm not finding it to be that bad.</p>
<p>I don't know about the autotutorial course but I found both 331 and 332 to be pretty easy. 331 is an excellent course as dewdrop said and 332...well at least it's easy.</p>
<p>most definitely autotutorial. You'll be done with biochem in one semester and it's retardedly easy.</p>
<p>lecture all the way... i've had friends get F's in the autotutorial b/c they got behind on the work... i'm not saying that you would get behind on it, but at least in 331/332 there was no work.</p>
<p>I did the lectures because I had a bad experience with autotutorial physics 101/102...I ended up dropping 102. Autotutorial works if you are self-motivated and comfortable with the material.</p>
<p>331/332 have less work, although you have weekly quizzes in 331. They were a pain but forced you to stay on top of the work and were a huge help when it came time for the midterm and final. 332 has 3 prelims and a final, with the lowest prelim grade dropped at the end of the semester. </p>
<p>I went with the lectures because I heard great things about the class and professor (who ended up writing me a letter of rec for med school). I'm taking 332 because I'm insane :-)</p>
<p>I think it depends on your learning style. If you're not self-disciplined about doing your work DEFINITELY take the lectures. If you are and want to get done with Biochem in one semester then take 330. Most people who have taken 330 liked it and most people who have taken 331/332 liked it too. I wouldn't say 331/332 have less work, it's the same amount of work spread over a year so it may feel less. Taking 330 also depends what other classes you're taking that semester, you don't want to take to autotutorials together. If you want to know more just go talk to Dr. Blankenship, a very nice professor, willing to talk to students anytime.</p>
<p>great advice! thank you.</p>
<p>i'm leaning toward autotutorial. but i'm worried i won't be able to get a good letter of recommendation from a science professor for med schools because i didn't get to know any that well. anyone know how important recommendations are and how the HCEC operates in terms of them?</p>
<p>HCEC has very lenient requirements towards LOR's. Basically, they require at least 2 recs (but would prefer 3; they refuse to take more than 3) from any source. I'm sure they'd at least like 1-2 professors in there but it's not a requirement.</p>
<p>Even though HCEC requires 2, almost everyone sends 3 recommendation so if you send 2, you will be at a disadvantage with other cornell students. And individual recommedation really matter so make sure you ask professors/others who know you very well.</p>
<p>As for Biochem, i took 331 and loved it beause i learned a lot from it. 332 was boring but not hard! Extra advantage for 331 and 332 is that you really don't have to read the book. The book is boring and almost useless.</p>
<p>For me, the book was more helpful than 332 professor, we should probably start calling it 3320, such a pain. </p>
<p>Speaking of HCEC LORs, my understand is that HCEC sends the composit AND the two or three original letters, is that correct?</p>
<p>Yes (10 char)</p>
<p>dewdrop what was so bad about physics101/102? I'm planning on taking it next semester over 207/208</p>
<p>It's fine and preps well for the MCAT. But, it's a sink-or-swim type course depending on how well you handle flexibility/lack of structure. If you can't self-motivate, you will have trouble. There were times when I'd go in to do a notebook check for Unit 15 only to see someone else get their notebook check for Unit 10 (meaning they were like 2 months behind and had missed a bunch of deadlines). When you give people flexibility and freedom, they sometimes do stupid things like electing to take the Physics 102 final on Slope Day after a few beers (won't disclose who was the genius that did that ;))</p>
<p>I just have always had difficulty with physics and I wanted to avoid the calc based 207/208. However...taking an autotutorial class when I was already not comfortable with the material to begin with was a big mistake :-)</p>