<p>Does anyone know what classes a BME major would typically take first semester freshman year? I know that I will be taking Calculus, Physics, and Chemistry, but what are the specific levels of those subjects would I be taking? And what other classes? Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Depends how smart you are :P</p>
<p>In all seriousness though: You’ll take intro to chem - 111 and 112 - with 50% of the entire freshman class. You’ll take Physics 117/118 or Physics 197/198 (Highly recommended). I believe it is possible to place out with 5s on AP Physics C exams, but not 100% on that. You’ll take Calc 1 (131), 2 (132), or 3 (233) depending on how you do on your placement exam. I’m not sure what other engineering classes there are.</p>
<p>Most people tend to take the following in their first semester (much of which was stated by Ryan):</p>
<p>-Math 131, 132, or 233 (engineers very rarely take 131)
-Physics 117 or 197 (+ lab)
-Chem 111A
-Chem 151 (Lab)
-BME 140</p>
<p>That’s a very difficult schedule, but I’m not sure if BMEs tend to deviate much from that.</p>
<p>What about Engineering Virtual Studio? I read somewhere that it is recommended for first semester, but does anyone know what exactly it is? It seems like some sort of online class. Also, would I take Writing 1 second semester (if I don’t place out)? Do most engineers place out?</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about Engineering Virtual Studio as it’s a pretty new course and I’m not a BME. The only students who have taken it are BME’s just finishing their freshman year. It doesn’t sound very time-consuming but I still feel like it shouldn’t be added on top of that difficult schedule I posted above.</p>
<p>I think you would take Writing 1 second semester. I’m not entirely sure how many engineers place out, to tell you the truth. I did, same with a couple of friends, but I know others who didn’t. Your best bet is to get a 5 on AP Lang or Lit because I think it’s harder to place out from the Wash U placement exam.</p>
<p>Hsvipers-</p>
<p>Freshmen bme’s will indeed take virtual studio. Not sure what ravn is talking about in saying in that it shouldn’t be added- it’s a requirement for freshmen bme’s… That said, it’s apparently super easy/ not time consuming. </p>
<p>All of the bme’s I know that did not test out of writing 1 took it as sophomores- the freshmen bme spring is too crammed already (unless you AP out of physics).
Of note- I know people who took writing 1 because they switched out of engineering. It may be called a freshmen class, but engineers who have to take it typically don’t as freshmen. </p>
<p>I believe the numbers typically fall along this line for engineers and writing 1:
1/3 test out through ap/sat/act.
1/3 test out through the test during orientation (so ~ half of the test takers pass)
1/3 takes the class</p>
<p>That should read “I know people who have taken writing 1 as seniors because they…”. Can’t figure out how to edit posts on my phone. Whoops.</p>
<p>What I meant was that if Virtual Studio is, in fact, required for freshmen, then I would guess most people choose to push it back until second semester because of how busy the first semester can be. That’s not to say second semester isn’t also busy or that Virtual Studio is even offered that semester. I’m speculating because I’m not a BME and I’m not familiar with this new class. Seems surprising to me that they would add yet another course, even if it’s easy and not so time-consuming, given how difficult the freshman BME schedule already is. But I guess it IS Wash U we’re talking about.</p>
<p>Sorry if I wasn’t clear about that!</p>
<p>Edit: Looks like only Virtual Studio II was offered last spring, so that answers that question: Virtual Studio I has to be taken in the fall. I should have looked into that more before posting.</p>
<p>So would the correct classes for semester 1 be:
- Chem 111A
- Chem 151
- Math 132
- BME 140
- Physics 197
- Virtual Studio 1
- Writing 1 (if I don’t place out)</p>
<p>Thanks so much everyone!</p>
<p>No, that would be 19 credits which is way too much for your first semester, especially considering how difficult and time-consuming many of those courses are. You would take Writing 1 some other semester but you would certainly take all of the other courses on that list, for a total of 16 credits.</p>
<ul>
<li>Chem 111A (3)</li>
<li>Chem 151 (2)</li>
<li>Math 132 (3)</li>
<li>BME 140 (3)</li>
<li>Physics 197 (4)</li>
<li>Virtual Studio 1 (1)</li>
</ul>
<p>As I mentioned, you would probably wait until your sophomore year to take writing 1 if you don’t test out. </p>
<p>Engineers actually aren’t allowed to take it in the fall as freshmen, if I recall correctly.
Also, you don’t find out if you tested out until halfway through your first semester anyway (I learned I passed in October way back when)- it takes them a while to grade them.</p>
<p>Also of note, assuming you stick with engineering/bme for your second semester, you’d have:</p>
<p>Physics 198 (4)
Math 133 (3)
Chem 112 (3)
Chem 151 (2)
Bio 2960 (4)
Virtual studio II (1)</p>
<p>Which is 17. That’s why you wait until sophomore year for writing 1. </p>
<p>(And yes, that is 3 labs in one semester. It’s really not that bad. Just time consuming.)</p>
<p>BME is the most demanding major at WashU.
Enjoy time off this summer because you will not have much free time your Fr. year.
My suitemate majors in BME - we never saw him.</p>