<p>I'm signed up for bioengineering, but after the open house, I am not totally enthusiastic for it.
I like biology, chemistry, and neuroscience a lot, and I want to major in one of them.
Would it be a hassle to change my major to one of those my first year? (I would want to give BE a chance, but... the requirements for my first year at UCLA would conflict with that of the bio major, right?) I really can't decide which life science I want to do, and I'm afraid that if I major in bio for example, then I'll take a bunch of bio classes, and then if i switch to chemistry, then my credits go to waste. Is there a core curriculum ish for just the Life Science majors?</p>
<p>there is a core curriculum for the life sciences. the LS series, physics 6 series and chem 14 series.</p>
<p>however, chem/eng require chem 20/30 series and physics 1 series. biochem allows physics 6 series, but requires chem 20/30.</p>
<p>chem 20/30 and physics 1 are “universal” in that they will count for both physical and life science majors. physical science majors will not accept chem 14 and physics 6.</p>
<p>Can you explain the difference between Chemistry 20 and 30? Is it a significant step up in difficulty? And also, which one is required for pre pharm and med?</p>
<p>The chem 20 series (20A, 20B, 20L) is general chemistry. The chem 30 series (30A, 30AL, 30B, 30BL, 30C, 30CL – though C and CL are only required for biochem and chem majors) is organic chemistry. If you choose the 20 series for chemistry, you’ll have to take up the entire 20 series and at least up to 30BL of the 30 series for pre-pharm/pre-med (depending on your major.)</p>
<p>I think you’re asking more about the difference between the chem 14 series and chem 20/30 series. Apparently, the 14 series (14A, 14B, 14BL, 14C, 14CL, 14D) is much easier. It’s geared more for biological sciences and most pre-med students take this series. The 20/30 series is for physical sciences. However, IMO, it wasn’t that bad.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t consider 20/30 to be a step up in difficulty, but rather 14 a step down in difficulty because it’s more like pure chemistry vs chemistry applied to life sciences.</p>