<p>So, I got in as a bio sci major. (hurrah!) </p>
<p>Now, before I commit, what should I know that I can’t find out straight from Davis? Whatare the teachers like? What study habits have worked for you? Exactly HOW competitive is this major? What are the “weeder” classes? Anything goes. :)</p>
<p>Also, I’m being extremely spastic and having second thoughts about this major,too: I loathe math (but I can do it decently) and physics is NOT my thing. Should I contemplate switching majors? Is bio sci one of those sort of majors you cannot have second doubts about if you are going into it? Or can I survive with my utter loathing of math and ineptness at physics, hoping that my love of biology itself will balance these two out? </p>
<p>Davis is considered a Bio school, so it is extremely competitive for sure. Bio majors do not need to be particularly strong in math nor physics. You will not be taking that many math or physics classes compared to engineering majors. However, you will need to be strong in chemistry since you will be required to take tons of chemistry classes. The bio and chem desciplines complements each other and go hand in hand.</p>
<p>Bio majors = not too many math classes, not too many physics classes, but lots of chem classes</p>
<p>Engineering majors = many math classes, many physics classes, barely any chem classes</p>
<p>Here's a general summary, </p>
<p>Bio = strong in bio and chem</p>
<p>Engr = strong in math and physics</p>
<p>In other words, go for it if you really like bio. </p>
<p>I'm in the same boat as you concerning physics. I'm currently a college student taking Atomic Physics (equivalent to physics 9D at UCD), which is the 4th and final class in the physics series. It covers Einstein's theory of relativity, quantum theory, quantum mechanics, nuclear physics, etc. It is grusomely difficult. It is a raper of souls. It makes calculus look like child's play, makes it look like arithmetic.</p>
<p>This is why I have decided to switch majors in the fall. I will be an art major and will be trying to improve my drawing skills. I thought I wanted to be a mechanical engineer, but I now realize that what I truly wanted to be all along is a comic artist. nate</p>
<p>I loved chem ap in high school but I hated the brief section of o-chem we did. Bio sounds good for me. </p>
<p>Nate, do you know what it's like to transfer from college of engineering to college of biological sciences? Engineering has higher requirements so it should be easy, right?</p>
<p>I really admire physics majors, but not many of them exist. This has to be hands down one of the tougest and most frightening majors in academia. It is much more difficult to major in physics than in engineering. Physics is known as the science or foundation of Engineering. It is a science that is so much theory based.</p>
<p>I've now had 2 full years of college calculus-based physics and basically reached the limit of my capabilities in this genre of science. Those poor physics majors, on the hand, need to go even wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy deeper in phyics in their 3rd and 4th year of physics. When I was at the UCD bookstore, I flipped through some of the physics textbooks for higher level physics. I was skimming through an advanced nuclear physics book. The material looks outright gruesome.</p>
<p>For Bio majors, I believe weeder courses would be the chem series, particularly organic chemistry, which should be the 4th and 5th chem course you will need to take. </p>
<p>Also for Bio majors, you don't have to worry about physics. You will only need to take the general physics series, not the calculus-based physics series. General physics series consists of 3 classes, Phys 7A, 7B, and 7C at Davis. They are really easy. You should worry about the 2 organic chem classes, which is the 4th and 5th chem classes in the chem series. My friend said that organic chemistry is even more diffult than atomic physics. I'm just lucky I had to take only 1 class in the chem series.</p>
<p>I loved chem ap in high school but I hated the brief section of o-chem we did. Bio sounds good for me. </p>
<p>Nate, do you know what it's like to transfer from college of engineering to college of biological sciences? Engineering has higher requirements so it should be easy, right?</p>
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<p>Hmmmmm..... I'm not so sure. Anything bio related at Davis is usually impacted. If you got accepted into the school of engineering and think you want to switch to the bio school, I would try to do it before fall quarter starts because I imagine doing the switch now would be much easier than if you are already a current student.</p>
<p>I think they place some sort of gpa restriction and that you must meet it in order to switch.</p>
<p>I'm happier now that I know I don't have to take a lot of math. Does anybody happen to know the minimum amount of math to take for the major, though? (I really ought to start surfing the UCD website for these things. :P)</p>
<p>And good luck with the physics switch, nate! :)</p>
<p>Weeder classes are courses where they separate the true premeds from the people who "think" they are. This is usually the dreaded O-Chem. O yes, and theres that fun class called P-Chem that everyone loves.</p>
<p>I have a friend who goes to Sac State University. He is a chem major. Last semester he took both O-chem and Physical Chem (p-chem). I asked him which is harder, but I forgot his answer. All I remember was that he said both were extremely deadly courses. </p>
<p>Fortunately, I only took the 1st class in the General Chem series, so I never got to experience what "real" chem is like, which is a good thing.</p>