Course load for pre-med/pre-vet

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Maryland - College Park
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<p>Hello,
I will be a freshman student in LTSC in Fall 2013. I would like to go into human or veterinary medicine. I registered for classes at orientation. I have a few questions about the courses I may be taking. I am trying to become a biological sciences major. I have biology credit from Stevenson University that gets me out of BSCI105, but I also have a 4 on the AP Biology exam. I am currently signed up for 106. It looks like I need CHEM 131/132 and CHEM 231/232 to get into the biology major. I completed the english req. using AP credit. I was just confused today as to whether I should sign up for CHEM 131/132 in addition to the biology class. Do you think that would be too difficult? If I am planning to apply to medical or veterinary school, would it be better to get a higher GPA by saving the chem classes for my spring semester? This would lighten the load, and I would be able to get some of the gen ed req. out of the way in the fall since I wouldn't be in chem. On the other hand, if I took chem in the fall, I could take chem 231/232 in the spring. This would mean I would be able to declare the biology major sooner. I would also be "ahead of the game" I guess since I would be able to go into more advanced classes my sophomore year. If I waited, I would have to take chem 231/232 in my sophomore year and wait to declare my major. I guess what I'm asking is, for getting into medical school or veterinary school, would it be better for me to spread out the harder classes and potentially get a higher GPA? Or would it be better to take the harder classes as soon as possible, which would allow me to declare my major sooner and take even more advanced classes and improve my course rigor? Is chem even difficult? Would it be hard to take chem and bio at the same time? Thanks for any and all advice!!!
EDIT: Also, keep in mind, to remain eligible for the bio major, I think I can only retake a required class once. </p>

<p>Here is my course load right now...
Comm107
Math130
Univ100
BSCI106
Eng289B</p>

<p>I'm thinking of dropping comm and univ to take chem 131 and 132. Is that advisable to do in my situation?</p>

2

<p>bump, anyone? Do you guys think I can deal with both labs? Isn’t it expected of me if I want to be a bio major? I want to apply for departmental honors…</p>

3

<p>I’m no expert, but my D is going to be a Bio major so I’m a little familiar with the program. My understanding is that you need to take Chem this year so that you can progress to Organic Chem next year. You’ll be off the suggested course sequence, in other words, if you don’t take chem this year. And yes, I would say there is the expectation that you take both Bio and Chem freshman year. The Sample 4-year plan is the same as your schedule if you substitute Chem for the Comm course. </p>

<p>Have you talked to an advisor? I would be most concerned about finishing the program in 4 years, and the sequence of classes required to do so, especially as you’re interested in Departmental Honors.</p>

4

<p>Thanks, but should I take both in the fall semester? If I did that, I could take organic chem in the spring. Or should I split bio and chem between the fall and spring semester and take organic chem as a sophomore?</p>

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<p>Any more advice?</p>