CALS, CAS, Human Eco ----> Premed

<p>Hey all,</p>

<p>I posted my question about this before. Specifically, which school is good for a premed. Anyway, I spoke to an admissions counselor on the phone. He was very elaborate on the issues here. </p>

<p>I asked him about med school acceptance rate and he told me that they are all the same. When I asked him about CALS and Human Eco being state schools and what that meant, he said the only difference is that these school are subsidize, they are in no way SUNYs.</p>

<p>In terms of which school to attend, it all depends on your major and in addition what you want to focus on OUTSIDE of your major. Each school has their own graduation requirements, so all of these things factor in. </p>

<p>But in my mind, I can't stop affiliating CALS with SUNYs. Anyway, just figured I should throw that out to you guys.</p>

<p>CALS and HumEc are both Land Grant schools. they are NOT SUNYs.
I am in HumEc and I kno they have a really good pre-med program. The Major "Human Biology Health and society" is like 95% pre-med and it covers all required pre-med courses so u dont have to worry about anything. u can also major in nutrition there for most of the pre-med classes. Human Ecology has less distribution requirements than any other college which is DEFF a good thing. you never need to take a language again!</p>

<p>Thanks, this sounds great coming from someone there. But do you have more info on CALS?</p>

<p>I have applied to CALS early, and my sister goes there now. Initially I had the same concerns about CALS, its prestige, and requirements. After speaking with my sister and her friends, I know that CALS is just as wonderful as the other schools on campus. </p>

<p>CALS students take the same biology classes as students in CAS and Hum EC. There is one bio department that has teachers for all areas. That said, there are CALS teachers that focus on plant bio, etc., but students from other schools take those classes as well. You can be sure that your education in the premed areas will be just as strong as that of a CAS student. Also, on campus and in your classrooms, no one knows which school you go to within Cornell unless you tell them. </p>

<p>CALS offers strong programs in all focuses of biology, sociological courses, and business. These students are also alloted 60 credits (out of 120) at the other Cornell colleges. This allows you to take courses such as chemistry (needed for premed), writing, and any other elective you have time for, along with fulfilling your premed requirements.</p>

<p>I think CALS has more outside requirements than HumEc. I kno HumEc has the least outside the major requirements so u can take more electives in HumEc. If you want to minor in something or do a concentration in somethng, its easier there cause u have more extra classes than spending them on distrbution requirements that u dont wanna take. EVERYONE taking ANY KIND of science class takes the same intro bio and intro chem classes. The classes for them are huge. The past 3 weeks in a row iv had to stand for an entire chem lecture cause there was standing room only (and cause people would rather go to my 10:10 class than the 8oclock one they are signed up for) The upper level classes are where the diff b/t humec and CALS is. Im a frosh so i dont really know about that. I kno Humec tends to focus on the "human" aspect and how things infulence society more. like if ur in CALS u might have to take more like bio of plants kinda thing thats totally a waste of time...</p>

<p>good point, i'll have to check back with cornell about that.</p>

<p>For upper-level classes, you only have to take classes within your major. There are no required plant science classes required unless your concentration is in that field or a related subject. If you were to major in biology, or biology and society, you would be taking the same upper-level classes as a student undergoing the same major at CAS or HumEc. The requirements are pretty relaxed within CALS, and you can see them on the webpage. My sister has been able to take many different classes, and as a senior has classes in her biology major with students from all other schools.</p>

<p>Ok, I'm not a bio major so I wouldnt really know. I started out pre-med but I don't think I'm going to do that anymore. I'm sure whereever you take bio you will have a great time. :-) And Cornell has a really high percent of students who apply to med school that get accepted, higher than most schools. One other point about HumEc, its 70% girls, so it might be easier for a guy to get accepted there because he would be a "minority" there. LoL. Good Luck!</p>

<p>Hey Cle27, your major is Human Bio health and society...I looked at the Cornell site and I know thats what I want to do. </p>

<p>This major is part of the Human Ecology colllege? I ask this because I read somewhere that this program of study is divided among CALS and HE. So I'm a bit confused. Can you explain a lil more about this program to me? </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>No, im Nutritional Sciences. But right now I'm taking all the same classes as Human Biology Health and Society (HBHS). It's a major IN HumEc, but you deff are gonna be taking classes in both schools. None of the intro classes are in HumEc. I know HBHS covers all the requirements for med-school. Your first semester you will need to take intro bio, intro chem, intro nutritonal sciences and your writing seminar. You can prob find out more on their website.</p>

<p>Thanks! I'm applying as a transfer next fall. But thanks for the info!</p>

<p>cle27--is the nutrition sciences major you're talking about the food, nutrition and agriculture major in CALS?</p>

<p>nope, I am a Nutritional Sciences major in Human Ecology. Its different</p>