<p>I've already taken the corresponding AP classes and did well in them, but I want to take them again as a review for the MCAT. With this in mind, can someone tell me if taking biology, chemistry, and physics together along with one other class is too intensive?</p>
<p>Probably. You should take two out of those your freshman year (usually bio and gen chem).</p>
<p>What's the rush? Spread it out and maximize your odds for getting good grades in those classes and thus your science GPA. Btw, even though you've taken the APs you still have to take those intro courses or higher level courses in those departments for medical school.</p>
<p>ummm i do not suggest norcalguy's advice AT ALL.</p>
<p>There are 3 MAIN things u need to worry about in pre med. Im sure u know this already, but they r GPA, EC's, and MCATs. Since uve taken your AP's, RETAKE the classes. You definatly have the right idea to take them again as a review. You will have such an advantage, there wont be any excuse for a grade below an A-.</p>
<p>Now, your question was will it be too intensive. It probably will be hard, but the classes u asked if you should take are the ones required as pre-reqs for medical schools. They expect you have them done in college, so if you want it bad enough, you can do it, even if its too intensive. (i really hope im understanding your question btw).</p>
<p>Now in response to norcalguy. Ya DO NOT take 2 science your freshman year unless you love sciences and stuff. Freshman year is not the time to do this. You have sooo much other stuff going on that could be distracting and hurt you. You are adjusting to a new way of life, new freedoms, new everything. Many people allow their grades to slip, and you dont want that. Take your easiest science course freshman year, bang out an A, and once your settled, take 2 sciences soph, junior year.</p>
<p>Unless your a science major, i dont see a reason to take higher level courses in science. I mean unless you lvoe it, all its gonna do to you is add more stress, and possibly bring down ur grades. If you are gonna major in it, thats a different story.</p>
<p>But i HIGHLY suggest you take those basic courses over so you end up with a high GPA. They will prepare you for your MCATs as long as you study hard too, you dont necessarily need the higher level courses.</p>
<p>You don't have to take two sciences your freshman year but most people will. Every premed I know at my school took intro bio and gen chem their freshman year. Frankly, I think two sciences your freshman year is more than manageable.</p>
<p>noo way am i doin that. It probably is if ur a science major. Im going to be a business major while taking pre-made courses. So its too much.</p>
<p>I don't see what the big deal is. You're going to take 4-5 classes a semster. So what if two of them are <em>GASP</em> science?</p>
<p>because if your a science major, thats not a problem. I have other classes i need to take as a finance and accounting major in pre-med. in addition to the core curric.</p>
<p>That plus im in a program where my GPA needs to be over 3.75 by soph year so i can have an interview for a program where i automatically go to medical school with no MCAT, so im doin wut i need to do to have a 4.0</p>
<p>It has nothing to do with your major. Just about everyone who's premed takes gen chem and bio their freshman year regardless of what their major is. Gen chem and intro bio are classes everyone has to take. If you take these early on, you can spend your later years completing your finance/business requirements. You have to finish your med school requirements by the time you apply and preferably way before you apply so you can take the MCAT. That's not flexible. What is flexible are the requirements for your major. My upper level bio classes or your finance classes should not take precedance over premed courses.</p>
<p>Edit: Just read your last post. Again, your advice to the OP should not be specific to YOUR circumstances unless he is in the exact same program as you are. Just because I took biochem, physics, and orgo together last semester at Cornell and got a 4.07 GPA (true story) does not mean I'm going to recommend everyone do that. Just because you are in a program that inclines you to omit your science classes doesn't mean you recommend that to everyone.</p>
<p>ok but you are doing the same thing, just because you did well in it doesnt mean he will.</p>
<p>A sure thing to keep your GPA up is to take the easiest science course freshman year as you adapt. Im sure you can agree with this. And if not, id love to hear your argument.</p>
<p>If you want to take more then 1 be my guest, but the easiest way to keep a high GPA is to follow my advice. </p>
<p>Now, as for you saying it has nothing to do with your major. Not true, i dont have the room/time in my schedule to take more then 1 science. I take pre-med as electives while i complete my major courses. So because of this, my major takes precedance over pre-med. Which is fine because i know i will finish with a high GPA, a major I love, prepared for the MCAT (if i still have to take them ;)), and on my way to medical school</p>
<p>And where did i say im in a program that allows me to omit my science classes. I still have to take them, i just take them whenever I want. You just need to work your schedule so you will have the easiest time in your earlier years with the pre-med course load and establish a strong foundation for your GPA. I have done this already, ive spoken to numerous pre-med advisors, and medical school admissions reps who all agree that the program I am following is HIGHLY reccomended because it will be easy to obtain a high GPA in both my pre-med classes and major.</p>
<p>For all we know this guy thinks he NEEDS to major in science, which is 1. no longer the case with medical school and 2. will probably (most likely) give u a better chance at admissions if u dont.</p>
<p>So my road makes a bit more sense then yours if he chooses to have a major that isnt a science.</p>
<p>Taking 2 lab classes is no fun. Especially bio and chem. I'm taking both right now, in my first week I have been slammed with about 200 pages worth of reading and homework for both. The professors give you the reading expect you to know it, and move on to the next topic. Take your time. In college you have plenty of time to finish everything. Getting good grades in any pre-med course is never easy either. If anyone says it is they are full of it. There is tons of material to learn, and little time. Its not like high school at all. There is also no easy program to follow, once you are in college you will learn this when after your first day of classes you have enough homework to keep you up for the whole week.</p>
<p>There are 4 lab sciences that are pre-med requirements, and you have to spread it out over three years, so most all people will have one year where they're taking two lab sciences at the same time. You can take one during the summer but med schools generally like to see you complete the lab sciences during the course of the regular school year to make sure you can keep up with it rather than summer where you can devote all your time to it. </p>
<p>Usually sophomore year is when you'll take 2 sciences, probably organic chem and bio, or organic chem and physics. Some schools like Northwestern, where i am, have majors take the intro bio sequence sophomore year since its 200-level. </p>
<p>Lots of people also take like bio and chem freshmen, orgo and phys sophomore, but thats because it gives you more chances to try the mcat. If you take all 3 years to complete the 4 sciences, you'll only get one shot at the MCAT if you want to submit your apps early. You will not be able to handle any more than 2 at a time though.</p>
<p>Have many people done this? yes.
Is it hard to do? Yes
Can you still get good marks? Oh course
You really just need to plan wisely. I suggest spreading them out if it is possible, if its not take them all together. You said you already took them in AP did you get the credit? If you are taking them over shoouldn't it be easier?</p>
<p>definatly should. Id take them over if i took the AP! thats like a sure thing A. medical schools dont see wut HS courses you took, so why not take them again</p>
<p>First of all, let's differentiate between AP courses and college courses. For example, AP Physics was a joke. I didn't take a course and got a 5 on Physics B. AP Biology credit isn't even counted as the pre-med requirement at my school. Yet, if you want to take two sciences right away, be my guest. All I can say is that when I got to college, I didn't want to start diving into sciences even though I was hellbent on going to medical school. I am still premed, and I didn't take two sciences my freshman year. It allowed me to make friends, go to fraternity parties, get involved around campus. Take my advice, take one science freshman year, get involved in extracurricular activities, and plan on knocking out the rest of your requirements in the next two years.</p>