<p>Hi WayOutWestMom, I’ll be a freshman at the U of R this fall. I was looking into summer research programs yesterday and came across the Amgen Scholars Progam. I saw you’re daughter will be participating, congrats to her!. Anyway, I was wondering how she prepared herself to be a competitive candidate for the program? Also, did/was she able to start working in a lab or performing research her freshman year?</p>
<p>sean-sent you a PM.</p>
<p>One thing to remember that the Amgen isn’t a monolithic program, It’s actually 10 different programs at 10 different schools. Each participating school and each researcher will have a own unique set of needs and requirements. There is no one path to successfully getting accepted into a Amgen program. D2 has a unique and desirable skill set. One that happened to be needed by one researcher at one lab. She was accepted at one Amgen program, but rejected by 6 others.</p>
<p>Hi Hollinn,
I’m part of the class of 2015 so I have a few major-based questions for you. First, I was hoping you could explain the difference between the Cognitive Sciences BS and the Cognitive Sciences BA, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of both. Additionally, I was wondering what you were planning to do after you graduate, because I’m strongly considering double-majoring in Cognitive Sciences and Linguistics, but I’m not entirely sure where that would take me career-wise.</p>
<p>courtoo – Great questions.</p>
<p>First of all, I would recommend just going for the BS in Cognitive Science. There are only a few more requirements to complete, but I was told the additional coursework for the BS is implemented to ensure that graduates will have the skills to aptly conduct research. The BA has fewer courses to complete, but is still demanding enough to require full attention for four years. Do you see my argument? … since they both require a lot of work, it’s better to just go for the BS.</p>
<p>Additional BS requirements from the BA:
BIO 110 – a pain in the ***
CSC 161/170 – difficult for some people, but very useful
LIN 110 – you’ll have this taken care of
MTH 161 – eh not too bad</p>
<p>2 classes not in the BCS department, but related (LIN goes here)
2 more classes that can be BCS or in a related department (LIN also goes here)</p>
<p>As you can see, there are only 4-5 more classes for the BS (if you assume 3 Cog Sci/LIN overlaps). And honestly, since they are intro courses, if you take them as a Sophomore or later, they will probably act as GPA-boosters…</p>
<p>Note: You will be required to take 8 more credits (two additional classes) above the typical credit requirement over your 4 years for a double degree (BS/BA) if you choose the BS. This can easily be achieved through independent studies, dance classes, music ensembles, or if you take any labs, ever.</p>
<p>Career- wise, ehh. 
I think graduate school would be the only option directly related to these degree programs. Since you are interested in Linguistics, do you like Foreign Languages? I know a lot of people who study East Asian languages, and go abroad to teach English… Of course there’s always Med School, Law School (don’t go, die alone), Business School. There are many options, but Cog Sci isn’t the most typical major to achieve these goals. The important thing, though, is that it doesn’t have to be!</p>
<p>Any other questions?</p>
<p>I know there’s worry about careers but the world changes quickly and odds are you’ll have to learn at least one, maybe two, maybe three or more different skill sets as your life and career progress. </p>
<p>I look back at the kids who took CS (compsci) when I graduated about 30 years ago. No PC’s. No personal programs at all. I learned on punchcards with a PDP-8 and 10. If you started back when Mosaic became available - and the internet was no longer text based and listservs - then the shift has almost been as large. The entire world of the OS is being reinvented now and no one knows the future of any industry.</p>
<p>Look at law. I have a law degree. When that started, you’d mail documents and move to something else for up to a week when you’d get a return. Then we switched to overnight. Then to fax (and that godforsaken telex with the long roll of hard to read print) so we went from having time to working on documents to 6:30PM and having to start all over at 10AM to arguing over the phone as the things emerged from a machine. And then it went to email and to IM based systems that allowed instant change and shared workspaces where both parties could go over a document in real time. We submitted actual written briefs that were typed and now it’s electronic. Why have a courtroom at all when you can argue remotely? Why does the judge have to be in your town? Briefs may be online for lawyers to use. Intelligent systems can now pore through data and organize and sift stuff that took years of work.</p>
<p>My dad was a radiologist. I started reading films when I was maybe 4. He often had to go in to the hospital at night for emergencies that weren’t really emergencies. I came home one day to see him using a portable CT reader that pulled data over the phone. That is now primitive; you can see everything on your phone or iPad (which is much better). Where will that go? </p>
<p>My advice: study what you want and figure the rest out later and as you go. There are no promises in life. There used to be an ad campaign for hair color: “I have one life to live so why not live it as a blonde?” Why not? You will make a million choices in your life. Try to make some of them so you’re happy. You’ll have to do plenty of things that you will regret, that you would prefer not to do.</p>
<p>Okay, that makes sense. The only problem is, I’m not a huge science person. However, I suppose that I can give Biology a second chance, haha. I may end up liking it more now that I’m more interested in some concepts. And yes, I’m also very interested in Spanish, so I may pair that with Linguistics as well.</p>
<p>I can’t think of any other specific questions, but I’m always open to any advice/suggestions that you may have.</p>
<p>And Lergnom - You definitely have a good point, that’s great advice. I really appreciate it!</p>
<p>Any suggestions for a non math/science student on how to fulfill the natural science cluster? It looks like there is an astronomy cluster that is not very mathematical. Anything else?</p>
<p>funhiface – I’ve heard some bad things about the Astronomy cluster… the Astronomy courses are offered on an irregular schedule which can be annoying and more stressful than necessary.</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, I would recommend the Cognitive Science clusters. Look for clusters with any of BCS 111/151/152/153/172. They are good classes (well, it depends on the instructor). I would avoid a cluster with BCS 110 as it’s more science-y and the curve is competitive.</p>
<p>Any cluster with CHM 131/132, BIO 110/111, PHY 113/114, MTH 16x or computer science are not worth it, period.</p>
<p>Of course, this is just my advice. There are many options-</p>
<p>People are always surprised at how much math is required in astronomy classes. There is no way to study the main theories or to understand the current findings of planets, the arguments over multiple universes (see today’s argument over shapes in the microwave background) without math. Tis a pity, but you’ll hear plenty from other students about what fits your needs and skills.</p>
<p>funhiface, I would suggest a cluster in environmental science/geology. They are not math based at all and just really require that you go to the lecture. One of my suitemates tried the astronomy cluster and had to pass/fail it because she was so bad at the math sections (she’s an archaeology/history double major). </p>
<p>Just to introduce myself, I’m also an current undergrad at U of R studying Molecular Genetics - I’ll be a senior in the fall. Any bio questions you can generally direct towards me and I can try to answer them. :)</p>
<p>UGH!! So the only natural science clusters that aren’t math heavy are the Earth Science ones??? Please tell me that isn’t so!! If so, how is Earth Science 101? It is required for all the Geology/Earth Science/Sustainablity clusters. Higgins is teaching it in the Fall.</p>
<p>The biology natural science don’t have any math. Neither does the natural science cluster called “Philosophy”. And you can even avoid Bio 110/112 by taking BIO 104 in the bio cluster. (Ecosystem Conservation)</p>
<p>My daughter graduated last year as a double humanities major. The natural science cluster requirement was a problem and it is a requirement that in my opinion makes no sense. The cluster she ended up taking was sort of a thrown together group of classes that was in transition over her four years as the cluster developed and then was re-evaluated and reworked, she got virtually nothing out of, had to work hard in those classes which cannot be taken pass/fail except in special circumstances and brought her overall GPA down. She loved her experience at UR but this aspect was a major drawback. Because she had to take that cluster, she could not have taken additional social science classes beyond that cluster in that area or any additional humanities electives in other departments. She had an double major with lots of department requirements, credit overload for many of the semesters and did study abroad which was really her only opportunity to take electives.</p>
<p>D2 is double natural science major so had to take a social science and a humanities cluster. She wasn’t able to do a study abroad, had to take several semesters of course overloads, and wasn’t able to pursue her interests in other social sciences outside of her cluster because she had humanities requirements–because she chose to have a double major. (BTW, one of D2’s majors has the most required courses of any major in Arts& Sciences so her schedule has been really packed.)</p>
<p>I think that any UR student who double majors within the same area (whether it be natural science, humanities or social science) is going to face the same issue of not having space for electives. It’s just the nature of the beast. Double majors suck up all the available space in your schedule.</p>
<p>I can certainly understand the argument for clusters/majors to encompass all three areas. One of the purposes of a college education to help young adults to become well rounded, educated thinkers who have a grounding in topics outside of their narrow specialty. It’s why so many school require general education courses.</p>
<p>I can’t say D2 enjoyed all her cluster courses, but then again I can’t say D2 has enjoyed all her major courses either. There are just some things in life you have to suck up and muddle through. In your D’s case it was her science requirements; in my D2’s case it was one too many upper level philosophy classes.</p>
<p>bookmama, what type of natural science classes were in your D’s cluster?</p>
<p>Send me a PM. It is long answer and her situation is somewhat unique and the specifics of her situation may not be relevant or valid anymore. I agree with WOWM in that I respect the overall concept of clusters and realize that every student’s situation requires that they make difficult decisions about what to study and how to allocate their limited time, the upshot was not none of the classes in this cluster really made sense to be a cluster at all, and none were really natural science related. I was more impressed with the approach taken by my older d’s university.</p>
<p>Hi, I am an incoming freshman, I was wondering if I must select residential group 1 for housing. </p>
<p>Also, I am admitted to the 5 year combined admissions program, GEAR, for biomedical engineering. But I would also like to do a pre-med track, and an finance cluster/minor. Would that be possible? Or would the work load be over bearing?</p>
<p>OK.</p>
<p>I am a scientist, and it’s time for my pet rant. Folks who are not in science think it’s perfectly OK to have a poor math/science background, yet, if I, a scientist, am not versed in the liberal arts, then I am a Neanderthal.</p>
<p>I have to understand Shakespeare and impressionist art, but non-scientists feel they do not need to have any understanding of evolution or quantum theory, two ideas that haver revolutionized science.</p>
<p>IF my right brain has to be developed, then so does your left brain!!</p>
<p>Complete your math/science cluster, and learn something out of your comfort zone!</p>
<p>(rant meant somewhat in jest, sort of)</p>
<p>MADad–I got my first 2 degrees in English Lit, and I totally agree with you. I think to be ignorant of the whole area of science & technology which has such a major impact on one’s day-to-day life is totally irresponsible and, in my view, stupid.</p>
<p>Thanks for rant.</p>
<p>rn2011–</p>
<p>Both Sue B and the Quad dorms which are where all freshmen are housed are designated Group 1. So nope. No other option.</p>
<p>Biomedical engineering overlaps most/all of the current med school pre-reqs**, so that shouldn’t be an issue. Whether or not you will be able to complete a minor in finance depends on how well you’re coping with your BME workload. Too soon to tell.</p>
<p>**There will a new MCAT which goes into effect in Jan. 2015. The new MCAT will dramatically change medical school pre-reqs. When these changes do go into effect, you will not be able to fulfill your pre-reqs without taking a significant number of additional courses outside of your BME coursework. New requirements will include: genetics, cellular and molecular bio, biochem, stats, research methodology, and human behavior [medical ethics, sociology, psychology]. The new MCAT will have 4 sections–one of the sections will devoted entirely to human behavior questions.</p>