<p>Hello everyone.</p>
<p>I have recieved such novel and useful advice from the members on this board that I wish to pose an additional question that is quite significant to me.</p>
<p>Simply put, I want to know what I have to do to finish in 2 years (+/- 1 semester).</p>
<p>I am a transfer student who will be start transfer edge on the 20th.</p>
<p>I want to be a MCB-Biochemistry major.</p>
<p>I have completed IGETC. However, I still need to complete my lower division courses and requirements for medical school. Chem 3A/B, Physics 8B, Bio 1A/B. </p>
<p>Essentially, what I am curious to hear is whether or not I can put together a reasonable schedule to complete all of my graduation and major requirements to finish in my idealized two year time period.</p>
<p>What is everyone's opinion of trying to do so?</p>
<p>Thank you all.</p>
<p>According to [this[/url</a>], the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) option requires MCB C100A, 100B, 110, 110L, 140/C148, and a BMB elective.</p>
<p>However, this requires the following prerequisite chain:</p>
<p>Chemistry 3A or 112A
Biology 1A and Chemistry 3B or 112B
MCB C100A
MCB 100B
MCB 110 and MCB 110L
MCB 140 (allowed to be taken concurrently with MCB 110)</p>
<p>This is five or six semesters long. [url=<a href=“http://mcb.berkeley.edu/undergrad/major/major-requirements/bmb-sequence/]This”>http://mcb.berkeley.edu/undergrad/major/major-requirements/bmb-sequence/]This</a> page](<a href=“http://sis.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=MCELLBI]this[/url”>http://sis.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=MCELLBI) says that BMB option majors are not allowed to take MCB 110 before completing MCB 100B, and recommends not taking MCB 140 concurrently with MCB 110.</p>
<p>If you are able to convince them to allow taking MCB 110 concurrently with MCB 100B, your schedule might look like this:</p>
<p>Semester 1: Chemistry 3A/3AL or 112A, Biology 1B, Physics 8B, free/breadth elective
Semester 2: Chemistry 3B/3BL or 112B, Biology 1A, 2 free/breadth electives
Semester 3: MCB C100A, Statistics 131A (BMB elective), 2 free/breadth electives
Semester 4: MCB 100B, MCB 110/110L, MCB 140 or C148, free/breadth elective</p>
<p>Semester 4 would appear to be a lot of work, according to the page linked above. The labs in semesters 1 and 2 would also mean a high workload.</p>
<p>Some of the [other</a> MCB options](<a href=“http://mcb.berkeley.edu/undergrad/major/major-requirements/requirements/]other”>MCB Major Requirements - At a Glance | Molecular and Cell Biology) may have shorter prerequisite chains and be more doable in four semesters starting from Chemistry 3A.</p>
<p>Very bad idea. You have 11 pre-med/MCB classes to complete, which works out to 3-4 difficult classes per semester (assuming you take some over summer). </p>
<p>Truth is the large majority of students cannot handle more than 2 pre-med or MCB classes per semester.</p>
<p>You may want to consider switching to the CDB - physio track. It should be more manageable.</p>
<p>Note that medical schools do not require any particular major. You could take the remaining needed pre-med courses while declaring any major that requires no more than about 10 or 11 courses that do not overlap with the pre-med courses (many majors require only about 12-15 courses, some of which you probably have taken equivalents of at your community college; Linguistics requires only 9 courses total for the major, and Rhetoric requires only 10 courses total for the major).</p>
<p>Luckily, you’re not on a pre-med board because everyone would tell you to go for it and say such words as “You can do it!” with a hell lot more exclamation marks.</p>
<p>Great information whosthat and ucbalumnus.</p>
<p>I should figure out if I am going to take labs for Bio 1B and Chem 3B. </p>
<p>Berkeley’s career center website states 1 year of Bio with lab, yet lists Bio 1A/L and Bio 1B. </p>
<p>I noticed that they have a typical track premedical students tend to follow. </p>
<p>In general, do premeds take the above labs I mentioned? </p>
<p>If so, then perhaps this proposed schedule for the fall is not too reasonable for an entering student,</p>
<p>Chem 3B/L
Biology 1B/L
Physics 8B/L</p>
<p>Thanks again for any additional contributions.</p>
<p>you take lab with Bio 1b. It’s not separate.</p>
<p>I would recommend taking Chem 3B/L + Bio 1B in the fall. Taking the three classes together may be doable [though still a lot of class time, about 22hrs/week, and hard to fit in all the labs into your schedule even if you do get into all the classes] but probably not a good idea your first semester. You could take Bio 1A/L + Physics 8B in spring 2012.</p>
<p>*For Physics 8A, 8B, and Bio 1B, lab is not a separate class. Lab grade is just a component of your total grade.</p>
<p>If you are set on MCB, you could switch to the CDB: physio track and graduate in 4 semesters without killing your GPA. If you REALLY want to do biochem though, you will most likely have to take extra semesters.</p>
<p>Possible CDB schedule-</p>
<p>Summer 2011: Chem 3A/L
Semester 1: Bio 1B + Chem 3B/L
Semester 2: Bio 1A/L + Physics 8B
Semester 3: MCB 102 + MCB 136 + non-MCB elective (ex: IB 131)
Semester 4: MCB 104 + MCB 133L + non-MCB elective (ex: IB 140 or PH 150a)</p>
<p>Whosthat,</p>
<p>I am definitely interested in pursing the CDB track. I was really interested in biochemistry, but the CDB focus does not seem to exclude it entirely and I am honestly more dedicated to finishing in two years rather than what I major in as an undergraduate student.</p>
<p>Also, should the upper division/major requirements be taken as soon as the prerequisites are fulfilled? </p>
<p>For example, if chem 3A/L is a prerequisite for any of the MCB courses listed, should I try to take one of those in semester 2 or the summer?</p>
<p>If not, and I have fulfilled the other general education (via IGETC) and lower division requirements, what else am I expected to take during semester 1 and 2? </p>
<p>I will be transferring with the maximum units so I am curious to hear some input.</p>
<p>Thanks again.</p>
<p>You should definitely take Chem 3A/L this summer or it will be even more difficult for you to graduate in 4 semesters. Note that it starts 6/20 so sign up ASAP.</p>
<p>And yes, upper divs should be taken as soon as you are done with the prereqs. If you have AP credit (5 in Bio AP) or CC credit then you can be more flexible with when you take Bio 1A/L.</p>
<p>Also note that switching to the CDB track will not impact your /major/. You will graduate in MCB either way.</p>
<p>Aim for minimal (13-14) units each semester. Since you’re premed, try to fit in a stats class somewhere if you haven’t taken that yet. Also, taking a language could be good for med school. But it’s really up to you. You can always take decals for easy credit.</p>