Courses Help

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vanderbilt University
1

<p>So I'm going to vandy fall of 09, and I received my courses packet in the mail and such. I'm doing a pre-med track and considering majoring in neuroscience with a minor in economics/chinese/music, but after seeing only 6 slots for fall semester, I'm a little flustered to say the least. I've read through the packet and instructions and such, so I get I have to take a FYWS, and for my major I should take gen chem/bio/math. I went to a HS specializing in science and math, so I was exposed to the upper level math, science, and biology courses already.</p>

<p>Anyway, so far my classes are Gen chem, FYWS, Developmental Neuroscience, and a math. The chemistry stuff(lecture/recitation/lab) take up 3 slots, and the remaining three are also filled. I want to take Chinese along with that but there aren't enough spaces. How do I take more courses?</p>

<p>Should I try to test out of calculus, I didn't perform well on the AP(3, my teacher didn't teach us taylor/maclaurin/power so I had to self-learn, didn't work out =P), but I would love to retake multivariate calc; are the exams extremely difficult? If I just glance over at the basic stuff in an AP guide, will I be ok? </p>

<p>Can I take developmental neuroscience? I already took an intro class along with 3 pretty intense bio classes(genetics/embryo/endo) so I think I'm ready for it, but do I have to take intro first? I didn't see a prereq in the courses booklet, but maybe it was implied. </p>

<p>And when do I declare majors and minors and such anyway? </p>

<p>I apologize for the plethora of questions, but these have been bugging me for quite some time =D. Thanks for all your help!</p>

2

<p>As long as it totals 18 credits or less, you should be able to request the courses even if there is not enough room on the request form. Just make a note somewhere on it and discuss it with your advisor. I’ve read that some med schools will not accept placing out of calc but want to see it taken at your 4-year college. Your major must be declared before the end of your sophomore year. You should look at the pre-med recommendations at the Health Profession Advisory Office web site at Vandy (HPAO).</p>

3

<p>My advisor said that a potential bio major doesn’t have to take chem and bio both freshman year - you can take intro to bio sophomore year. That might open up a slot for your Chinese class. What do you think? </p>

<p>If you’re trying to get into med school (they’re crazy grade-conscious) you might want to retake calculus just to get your feet under you solidly. the 155 exams are supposed to be easier than the 150 level exams because they’re not all multiple choice.I don’t think a 3 on the AP exam will do to get you out of any calculus course higher than 140, you have to have a 4 or a 5 to just get out of 150a/155a.</p>

<p>Looking in the course catalog, developmental neuroscience has prerequisites of neuroscience 201 or psych 201, but maybe you could talk to your advisor about that.</p>

<p>I hope that helps!</p>