<p>I got a 5 on the AP exam, and I can skip the intro Bio courses and take the intermediate courses, or I can take the intro bio courses.Can you give me some advice on what to do? Do you guys have any experience with people skipping intro bio.</p>
<p>Here ya go: <a href=“Advanced Placement in Biology | William & Mary”>https://www.wm.edu/as/biology/undergraduate/apbiology/index.php</a></p>
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<p>Bio 220/221 is “Introduction to Organisms, Ecology, Evolution” and lab, and 225/226 is “Introduction to Molecules, Cells, Development” and associated lab.</p>
<p>DD took the exemptions, and did fine (iirc, she thought she wasn’t even allowed to take those course, since she already had been given credit.) But this also meant she missed the “Freshman” research solicitations, since she enrolled in “sophomore” classes (this isn’t by design, just what happened.) She eventually found some research programs to get involved with, though not in bio until the 2nd year. </p>
<p>So, hard to say - some people struggle with the freshman workload expectations, others don’t. If you’re at all concerned about dealing with the workload as a freshman, then taking the intro courses might provide an easier transition from high school, and is the “safer” road. But if you really want to get to more advanced courses quickly, and are willing to do some extra work to remediate any gaps in your knowledge, it’s definitely possible to do it, and to maintain your GPA (which matters if grad/medical school is in your plans.) </p>
<p>I’d say I’d take the Bio department’s caution to heart - if you’re at all uncertain about it, I’d take the intro courses, and take the credits towards electives. </p>
<p>Shouldn’t it be easier to get Biology research if you are a freshman in sophomore level classes?
I would love to take the “sophomore” classes, but only if I have a chance at getting some research Freshman year. </p>
<p>Regarding research oppurtunities,The REU program is one option for undergraduate research positions. <a href=“REU - For Students | NSF - National Science Foundation”>www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/</a>
Our S ,as a freshman and sophmore, was awared research positions through REU at W&M. Another program, if interested in research abroad is DAAD RISE program . An exchange with Germany.Also, students can jump on a professor’s project.Talk to your prof about this option. Our S did skip the into classes in Physics and Chem. He was able to get throught he 200 level classes but it was challenging .</p>
<p>Thank you for all the help you are providing me. When I search for Biology on the REU site, William and Mary doesn’t come up as one of the colleges offering REU Biology. Maybe William and Mary only has it for physics. Doesn’t William and Mary Biology have a partnership with HHMI? And, I would assume that it would be easier to get into that program if you are in advanced courses. But, Squiddy said that his DD didn’t get research until sophomore year when some Freshman ( who are in a less challenging course) got research their Freshman year. I just think that is a bit weird</p>
<p>@bobby12344, bear in mind a couple of things - one, this was awhile ago, and I know there have been some changes and more freshman research programs (including the HHMI funding) added since then. </p>
<p>I think what DD encountered was, by enrolling in sophomore-level classes, she probably missed the announcements of “freshman-targeted” research (presumably) made in freshman-level classes - and so by the time she actually asked professors to get involved, the available bio programs were full-up. They did, however, hook her up with a research project in the Chem department that she enjoyed a great deal and stayed with quite awhile. </p>
<p>Don’t get hung up on it - it was just one person’s experience, and likely, had she been more assertive in seeking out research projects, it would have been fine. I guess that’s the two take-aways I want to leave you with:</p>
<ol>
<li> There are <em>lots</em> of research projects for freshman, and</li>
<li> If you want to get involved, don’t wait for the opportunity to find you, instead, seek out the opportunity yourself - that is, ask, and people will point you in the right direction.<br></li>
</ol>
<p>Ok. Thank you for the advice!!! I was getting worried for a bit. But, thanks for the confirmation. BTW, do you know what the BIOL 302 class covered specifically? I looked online at the course description, and it is very broad. It would be nice if anyone can help out. </p>
<p>Hey! Incoming freshman at W&M here. From what I understand from talking to other students, and my overnight host, who was in fact a bio major, there are plenty of opportunities for research even as a freshman if you look for them. One program he recommended was the PLUS-S program, which he is coincidentally the ambassador of this year. Be on the lookout for it and definitely take advantage of it if you can. Essentially it is a free program where you can shadow researchers, take a one credit course, which can definitely lead to opportunities for research during your first year on campus. There is also the relationship between the HHMI, as you mentioned, which offers a program specifically to get freshmen in the lab. W&M definitely has many opportunities for its students, even as first years, and another one you should be looking out for is the Sharpe Community Scholars program, which essentially you take a seminar class, develop research skills, and you have the opportunity to submit a proposal for a community based research and conduct it with funding. Really amazing experience.</p>
<p>Check this link out for more information on research and the biology programs:
<a href=“http://www.theprospect.net/how-to-get-a-research-position-as-a-college-freshman-21433”>http://www.theprospect.net/how-to-get-a-research-position-as-a-college-freshman-21433</a></p>
<p>Good luck, and I hope to see you part of the tribe!</p>
<p>Hey! Shawnspencer. Can’t believe I just met an incoming freshman on this forum. It says online that the deadline for the PLUS application was due June 12th or something. But, I am definitely on the lookout for the HHMI program. Are you a Bio major? Do you know some of the topics that are covered in “Integrative Biology: Animals?”
I am planning on getting back to the basics and reading a bio book in the next 10 days to freshen up, so it would be great if you guys could tell me about some of the main topics in it ( It doesn’t mention much in the course description online).</p>
<p>I know, it’s pretty rare! Perhaps we’ll even meet on campus. I actually thought you were a prospective student, which is why I mentioned the PLUS-S program earlier haha. It might be going on as we speak. I am not a bio major, but I can give you the link to the aforementioned friend if you’d like!</p>
<p>If the person would be okay with it, that would be awesome! But, don’t post it on the thread, though. You can message me the link if he/she would be fine with it. I know its weird to give information out over a college thread. I can prove that I am an incoming freshman if you want me to.</p>
<p>BTW, what hall are you going to be in? I am in Botetourt (Nicholson).</p>
<p>And, do any of you guys @squiddy and @berliner and @shawnspencer how hard it might be to get Animal Biology class? Squiddy, did your DD register in the first round quickly? Or, did she register later on as there were still seats left?</p>
<p>I know there are only 5 seats left. And, there will be 1400 freshman registering for classes the same time I will be. So, I am a bit worried. Although, I know that it is a “sophomore” class.</p>
<p>I do recommend taking an Ethernet cable w you. While the dorms all have wireless, everyone is using it during registration and the wired is faster </p>
<p>Thanks, tjmom. I am a little confused. Do you register in your dorms by yourself or with your peer adviser? I called the advising office, and they said your peer adviser will be there to help you, but I have no clue if that is correct.</p>
<p>I am pretty sure that the adviser helps you pick them out but I have no idea if they are there when you do it or not- but either way, you are doing it on your own laptop and dependent on the internet connection you have. And Ethernet is faster and more reliable than the wireless.</p>
<p>DD is a fairly recent grad, neuro major (interdiciplinary). Entered with a 5 on AP Bio, took freshman research and upper level science classes. Was premed. Some prerequisites have changed, but she reached out to profs during summer before freshman year to express interest. Didn’t get into classes during registration, but attended at start of semester and got in. Do not just rely on online registration. Advocate for yourself if you are really interested in a specific path of study. Yes, do try for upper level classes if you can, since you get more bang for your tuition bucks if you’ve already covered some basic science credits during high school. Keep in mind that upper level science is challenging and will impact your science and overall GPA. </p>
<p>Thanks.But, I don’t know how the teacher would react if I, a freshman who “should” be taking the intro classes, go up to him/her and ask for an override. Won’t he/she become really mad? Or, at least a bit annoyed? </p>
<p>And, what does it mean if a class is taught by “staff?”</p>
<p>A professor will never get angry at someone wanting to take their class. They will get angry if you disrupt their class, or if you sit in the class without engaging (reading the school paper, playing on your computer or phone, coming unprepared and unable to discuss subject matter or answer questions, etc.), and maybe if you cut class (some might just shrug off the cutting and give you whatever grade you earn without worrying about it).</p>
<p>What professors want is students who are really interested in what the professor is trying to teach. They might apologize if they cannot feasibly oversubscribe you, but they will never be angry at anyone for wanting to be in the class. </p>
<p>A word of advice: get to know your professors. Visit them in their office hours. Discuss both the classes you’re taking with them and classes you’d be interested in seeing offered in the future. Short term, you might be asking the same professor to oversubscribe you next semester. Long term, you want someone who knows you to be able to give a good recommendation.</p>
<p>Ok, thanks. I will try to ask for the override if i don’t get in. And, there is only one lab section that works with my current schedule plan. Will I be able to get overrides on a lab section?</p>
<p>And, an unrelated question: During orientation days (friday-sunday) , will I be able to stay with my parents at night? Or, is that not allowed? Do some students do it?</p>
<p>Definitely would NOT recommend staying with your parents at nights during orientation. This is your opportunity to bond with your hall mates. The “is that not allowed” question- it is not forbidden, you don’t ever check in or out of your dorm- you can sleep where ever you want (and that they want you). But you only have one opportunity to experience orientation and you should really make the most of it. You won’t have classes yet, but you will have learning- both on the formal and informal rules of college. And separating from parents is a big learning that is needed…</p>
<p>I will say, that I think your hall mates would think it extremely odd that you were sleeping at your parents hotel instead of participating in all the activities. The college, while not forbidding it, certainly doesn’t think it is a good idea for the parents to hang around the students. They have many activities for the parents during orientation- the primary objective of them being (IMO) - to keep them away from the kids so the kids are making friends and being independent…</p>