<p>My son's plan was to take Bio, Chem, and Calc his freshman year (coming up), but tells me people have been telling him not to take all three at once and suggest dropping Calc. Our thoughts are that Calc will be easier now since he just had it his senior year (opted not to take the AP test due to knowing he'd retake it anyway at U). Therefore, we're thinking Calc now will be an easy class vs a challenging one. Are we incorrect?</p>
<p>Or, is Calc on the MCAT where a review later would be better rather than having it all earlier?</p>
<p>He's planning on a neuroscience major, so Bio and Chem are definites, but Calc could shift. His other class is likely to be a freshman writing class required by the college (U Rochester if it makes a difference). If the writing class gets pushed to spring, then he's thinking of adding a Brain and Cognitive intro class. He'll get credit for Psych 101 (or whatever number) from his AP.</p>
<p>We're mainly wondering about the advice he's getting from other students about Calc. Thoughts?</p>
<p>He’d be taking Calc, Chem, and Bio all first semester? (I ask because my school only offers Bio in the spring, after taking Gen Chem). If I were your son I would drop bio… Taking Bio closer to the MCAT would be very helpful (I took a while ago and I forgot a lot of it!). If it isn’t an option then taking those three together wouldn’t be impossible… I took Orgo, Genetics (Bio 2), and Calc 3 in one semester and it was doable. Lots of work, but doable. (Actually I took Gen Chem 2, Bio 1, and Calc 2 in one semester as well… so it is very doable!)</p>
<p>First Bio is NOT on MCAT at all, neither is Calc. Calc is easy “A” for those who have easy time with math. Take genetics / physiology closer to MCAT. What has worked for my D., she took MCAT few days after her spring finals in Physics and Physiology (or Genentics, do not remember), as Physics is not her favorite. She was fresh in both and did well. She took Bio and Chem freshman year. First Bio was weekd out killer who made many fall out of pre-med track (I believe it was designed that way). Chem was very easy (but it is D’s favorite). D. never took college Calc, she took Stats instead as Stats are more useful for pre-meds and again it is an easy “A”.</p>
<p>Chem, bio, calc is quite a do-able combination. (D2 took exactly that combo as a freshman, plus an upper level philosophy class which was way harder than the calc, bio and chem put together.)</p>
<p>D2 just graduated as a neuroscience major and she found calc (and stats and additional advanced math in particular differential equations) critically useful. She did 3 years of research in cognitive neuro (where she needed math to do high level regression analysis of data and data modeling) and 1 year of research in computational neuro (which is ALL math) and now just started a full time job working at Top 10 med school in a molecular neuro research lab (where she was specifically hired for her math skills).</p>
<p>[D2 will be applying to med school next summer because she wanted a break from full time academics.]</p>
<p>Unless your son is more interested in the psych side of neuro (instead of the bio side), he will find calc 1 & 2 and differential equations extremely useful.</p>
<p>Is calc on the MCAT? Not specifically. Will it be useful on the MCAT? Possibly*</p>
<p>Will calc be useful in his undergrad career in neuro? Absolutely, but especially so if he wants to do research.</p>
<p>*D1 (who finished her first year in med school in May) said she thought her math courses were very useful because they taught her how to think analytically and reason her way through unfamiliar material on the MCAT. But she graduated with a double BS in physics and applied mathematics–so she may be biased.</p>
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<p>Huh? How many times have you taken the mcat, miami? (And for the record, did your D even take Gen Bio? If I recall, her undergrad course offers Zoology instead.)</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.aamc.org/students/download/85566/data/bstopics.pdf[/url]”>https://www.aamc.org/students/download/85566/data/bstopics.pdf</a></p>
<p>Thanks all. That was quite helpful (esp WOWM). We’re thinking he’ll stick with Plan A and now he has reasons to back up his plan. Research is as big of a possibility for his future as going to med school right now and he wants to leave all options open.</p>
<p>I completely missed that your son is going to U Roch. (D2 just graduated from U Roch 3.5 weeks ago.)</p>
<p>Since he will be at UR, your son definitely needs to take calc.** UR requires all neuro majors to complete 2 semester of calculus** as part of the major’s requirements.</p>
<p>[Undergraduate</a> Neuroscience Course Requirements](<a href=“http://www.bcs.rochester.edu/neuro/course_req.html]Undergraduate”>Neuroscience : Undergraduate Programs : Brain and Cognitive Sciences : University of Rochester)</p>
<p>UR also requires ALL science majors (yes, even bio majors) to take 2 semesters of calculus-based physics: PHYS 113-144.</p>
<p>MTH 141-142-143 OR MTH 161-162 OR MTH 171-172 are pre-reqs for the physics class and are required for graduation.</p>
<p>Thanks again! Glad to hear your D did well there!</p>
<p>He was planning on the Calc anyway - just wasn’t sure which year it was best. We’re definitely going with our Plan A and having him sign up freshman year. I still think it will end up being an “easy” class for him even if there are more challenges than what he’s already done.</p>
<p>I’m guessing Physics will be next year or junior year. At that point, he’s making all of his decisions as he’ll know more what he needs and when. I’m mainly interested in getting my guys off on the right foot for their desired plans. ;)</p>