Forming a schedule

<p>Hello, I'm in need some advice. This fall I'm going to be a freshman at Brandies. I'm signed up as a physics major, and pre-med. I've been trying to put together a practical schedule, but I'm not sure how I can work in the pre-med courses. Here's what I have so far:</p>

<p>Freshman year</p>

<p>Adv. intro physics + lab
Linear algebra / multi-var calc
Freshman writing seminar
Intro Chem + lab</p>

<p>Sophmore year</p>

<p>Modern physics
Organic Chem + lab
Some math courses / or biology
Humanities</p>

<p>Then I would take bio during my Junior year. My question is if I should take bio second year with physics and organic chem, or is OK to take it Junior year?</p>

<p>If someone wants to post what their schedule is/was, that would be great! Thanks!</p>

<p>My schedule:</p>

<p>Freshman year
Multivariable calc/linear algebra
Intro bio
Honors gen chem
Misc. other courses</p>

<p>Sophomore year
Orgo
Orgo lab
Physics
Biochem
Evol bio
Misc. other courses</p>

<p>Done w/ prereqs after 2 years. So essentially 3 science courses/semester through my first two years. About what you would expect for a science major.</p>

<p>I'd actually say so far so good. Keep in mind that you need to be thinking semesters and not just whole years.</p>

<p>Also keep in mind that what's "normal" at your school may be different than what was common at my school or anyone else's. For example, at some places many people take physics and organic together as sophomores, but at my school physics was a junior year class, usually taken with biochem.</p>

<p>Here's my general outline for freshman year:</p>

<p>1st semester:
Gen Chem 1 and Lab
Math (hopefully at least calc 1)
Intro course in Major
English writing course or other humanities course (psych is a good, useful class - lot of psych stuff on Step 1 of USMLE - defense mechanisms, ego/id/superego, theories of development, etc)
<strong>many schools have specific freshmen seminar requirements which depending on the credit load may take the place of the English course or simply be another class tacked on</strong></p>

<p>Second semester
Gen Chem 2 + lab
Course in Major
Intro Bio (hopefully cell bio if you can get past intro)
Humanities or English if unable to take previous semester</p>

<p>Taking bio as a freshman is just what I'm most common with. Given that you are a science major who's not chem or bio, you have a little bit different circumstance. You also likely have a lot heavier math burden, and those are probably dictated by your major so they could count as "courses in the major".</p>

<p>It's okay to take bio junior year if you're willing to wait to take the MCAT later (some people aren't, but it's really a matter of personal preference/way schedules work out). You probably will want to wait to see how busy you feel, what else you get involved with and how much effort you're putting into classes to get the grades you want. College presents you with so much more free time that it's hard to predict in June just how busy you'll be. You may find that you can fit bio in as a sophomore. Also remember that you may have the option of summer sessions to fit in some non-med school related graduation requirements, which may open up your schedule more.</p>

<p>norcalguy, how could you take Orgo and Biochem concurrently during your soph year? I thought Orgo is a pre-requisite for Biochem.</p>

<p>Concurrent is okay at Cornell.</p>