<p>hey guys, </p>
<p>im going to do be doing bme at wash u with a premed focus. I know the coursework for bme is pretty rigorous, and I was thinking of taking a lighter course load my first semester so that I could settle down in the college environment comfortably. If you are a current student, incoming student, parent, etc, could you give me some pointers on what courses I should take first semester?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>Gen Chem -3
Gen Chem Lab - 2
Physics - 4
Calc III - 3</p>
<p>total credits: 12</p>
<p>This should work if you are a BME major. There are a lot of pre-reqs so you can't really change those core courses.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info purpleBoople; I'm going to be doing BME/premed next year as well. What class would you recommend I add if I wanted one more? (or is this enough?)</p>
<p>If you literally wanted one more credit, I would probably just point out that Calc III is 4, not 3, units of credit at WashU (it's offered MTuThF, either from 9:00-10:00 or from 11:00-12:00 for the fall semester). Calc II is 3 units, contrastingly... I'll be taking that in the fall, but I'm a physics major so whatever. :)</p>
<p>oops, I forgot it was 4. Sorry about that.</p>
<p>And also, I forgot about BME 140. Let me revise what I said above. </p>
<p>bare minimum:
Gen Chem -3
Gen Chem Lab - 2
Physics - 4
BME 140 - 3</p>
<p>total credits: 12 - The only way this schedule will work is if you get back credit for Calc II because you NEED to have calc III finished by the end of freshman year. (If you didn't get back credit, you can take calc II during spring semester and calc iii over the summer)</p>
<p>If you wanted to add another course on top of this, I would probably add a math or take writing 1 (if I failed the writing test). But really, just take anything that interests you.</p>
<p>Sample</a> Undergraduate Schedules - Department of Biomedical Engineering - Washington University</p>
<p>^The link to the 'suggested' undergrad schedules for bme'rs based on tracks.</p>
<p>purpleboople, </p>
<p>was that course load manageable? I was thinking of substituting 1 or 2 of your courses with electives that I have anyway to take to satisfy bme requirements (writing or something else, etc) - just so that i can have an easier transition to college life and rigor. should i try this or should i stick to major-relevant courses, in your opinion?</p>
<p>@legen_dary</p>
<p>The course load is fairly challenging and you will have to spend A LOT of time studying, but it is manageable. The courses I mentioned are not really substitutable. You sort of have to take Gen chem and lab fall semester in order to take Part II in the spring and orgo sophmore year (since you are premed I assume you would). You can not delay physics to sophmore year unless you want to end up taking 19-21 credits fall/spring semester. (trust me, you don't want to) And BME 140 is only offered during the fall semester ...so you sort of have to take that. I know people who took that course sophomore year, but I really would not recommend doing so. </p>
<p>However, you can ADD an additional math AND/OR Writing 1 course for a total of 15/18 units..which is about right for a first semester bme. I am sorry, but I don't really see a way to make it any easier unless you are willing to take summer courses. </p>
<p>This is just my opinion. Maybe some other BME would want to chime in.</p>
<p>Question: S2 feels more comfortable taking AP Calc AB his upcoming senior year rather than the BC. Will that put him at a disadvantage if he gets into the WashU BME or other engineering program? Would he need to catch up over the summer before freshman year to cover material that's included in calc BC, but not in AB?</p>
<p>^jazzymom- you need to finish Calc III by the time you're done with your freshmen year. Taking AB will completely allow you to do this.
My high school only offered up to AB, so I'm in the same place your son will be - it's perfectly fine.</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply. One less worry line for me.</p>
<p>@ purpleboople</p>
<p>what's wrong with delaying bme 140 to soph year?</p>
<p>the reason i am hesitant about taking heavy coursework my first semester is because i took most of my aps (chem, calc, bio, physics B, etc) in my junior year, and i dont remember many concepts from those classes.</p>
<p>were you in a similar situation when coming to wash u? and regardless of whether you were or not, would you recommend taking some refresher courses at a local college before coming to wash u?</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>What's wrong with delaying BME to soph year? There is nothing wrong with taking it soph year, but I really don't recommend it. 1) The courseload your sophmore year is tougher than in freshman year 2) You miss out on the whole freshman BME experience of staying up till dawn doing problem sets (-: 3) I shudder of having to do those problem sets alone. </p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>I took most of my APs junior year as well. The material is sufficiently dumbed down that you can complete them with just general chemistry/physics/bio knowledge etc. If not you don't know something, I assure you that someone else will. I don't think refresher courses are necessary. </p>
<p>Don't worry too much. Your fellow students will always willing to help if you have any problems. Just don't procrastinate or play WoW your first semester and you should be fine.</p>