<p>My D got Advanced Placement scores of 5 in bio (11th grade) and chem (12th), as well as several other 4s and 5s. She's thinking of being premed, possibly as a biology or biopsychology major. Here are some questions, for anyone who may have a perspective on any of this:
-- Is it too much of a stretch to take both Chem 11 and Bio 13 in her first semester (along with a Classics course and an English course)?
-- Is the Chem 11 & 12 sequence better for a premed than Chem 1 & 2 (she has no interest in being a physics major)? Are these both better than placing out of Intro Chem entirely and just taking more advanced courses?
-- A current premed student suggested that she use her AP Bio credit for Bio 14, since it is less premed-related than Bio 13. Is this the best choice?
Thanks!</p>
<p>I am a biology major (and prehealth) so I have some insight on this.
It is VERY difficult to do them both at the same time as chem 11 will have weekly problem sets and bio 13 will have weekly labs. The exams are very nitpicky for biology that will require dutiful memorization and application and the chemistry will require hardcore problem solving. Taking chem 11 will be harder than taking chem 1 as it is an "honors" version of the course and will yield 1.5 credits instead of the usual 1. I wouldn't recommend taking both simultaneously. As a premed student, I would advise against using AP credits at all (for the core sciences), but if you had to, I would AP out of bio 13 as it is the most intense weed-out course of the premed sequence. However, do be warned that APing out of bio 13 will put you at a disadvantage for upper level courses such as genetics because there is a decent amount of overlap and foundation established in the introductory course.</p>
<p>I would recommend taking organic chemistry your sophomore year as it will give you time in taking your MCATs and freeing up a possible summer should you need to withdraw from the class (and/or taking it at another university or at the Tufts summer session); therefore you should try doing chemistry your freshman year. By the time you are a sophomore you probably will have a better idea of what collegiate sciences are like and are more apt to take on double sciences. If you are interested in the early-admissions to the Tufts medical school, you'll have to double up on sciences from the beginning. I'll try to find the website with the information.
Edit: here it is <a href="http://www.tufts.edu/med/admissions/programs_ba_md.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.tufts.edu/med/admissions/programs_ba_md.html</a></p>
<p>Is there any plausibility in taking in taking Bio 13 and Chemistry 11 and doing well freshman year? Or, if for instance you do want to apply to the early medical program is it instead advisable to take organic chemistry or general chemistry over the summer instead? </p>
<p>Essentially, if you do take the two courses (bio + chem) how much of a life outside of the library can you expect with two other humanities courses (or could you even take one course if you did take the two classes)?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>If you're insanely smart and good at time management, yes it is feasible. It's just that most people don't have those study habits/built in smarts upon entering college. If you do, it's mostly offset by the fact that everyone else is just as if not smarter than you are (thus negating that clear distinction between students). It ultimately depends on the individual. I know people who don't have to work at all that get As and others that slave away only to get those highly cherished B-s. </p>
<p>For the early medical program you could do courses over the summer if you like, but if you enjoy spending your summer in hot boston humidity - be my guest.</p>
<p>So it seems that unless someone is able to micromanage those classes very well then hot Boston summers are the only alternative. That doesn't sound terribly pleasant...though having a nervous breakdown during the year seems to be definitely worse.</p>
<p>If you want medical school, some people are willing to sacrifice a lot to get it. It also revolves around redefining what one considers to be an "acceptable" social life :)</p>
<p>Well there go any hopes of getting out of the library over the next four years.</p>
<p>aw, come on. I know people who have done a bio and chem in one semester, and others who did chem and physics, and they pulled out fine, and didn't have to spend years in the library. They'd go to their room in the evening, finish the lab, whatever. On weekends we'd still go into Boston and have parties. And on top of that, their other two/three courses weren't BS either.</p>
<p>Edit: They got B's and above, too.</p>
<p>That's comforting to hear, thoughts of gloom and doom aside.</p>