<p>I'll be attending VCU Honors this fall as a biomedical engineering student with a pre-med concentration and a minor in Spanish. I just wanted to get some feedback on this course schedule I compiled. My advisor has the major say on what I take fall freshman year, so that's kind of immovable. Other than that, any changes, comments, recommendations?</p>
<p>FRESHMAN YEAR</p>
<p>Fall - 15 credits</p>
<p>Rhetoric - 3
Calculus w/ Analytic Geometry II (possibly diff eq instead if i get 5 on bc exam) - 4
Biomedical Engineering Practicum I - 2
Freshman Seminar - 1
University Physics II - 5
University Physics II Lab - 0 (lol no credit given for lab)</p>
<p>Spring - 15 credits</p>
<p>Intro to Engineering - 3
Creative Writing - 3
Cell Biology (pre req to everything and full for fall =\ ) - 3
Advanced Grammar and Writing in Spanish - 3
Differential Equations (possibly in fall if 5 on bc exam) - 3</p>
<p>SOPHOMORE YEAR</p>
<p>Fall - 21 credits</p>
<p>Electric Circuits - 4
Introductory Quantitative Physiology I - 4
Organic Chemistry I - 3
Organic Chemistry I Lab - 2
Genetics - 3
Laboratory in Genetics - 2
Linear Algebra (possibly spring fresh year if 5 on bc exam) - 3</p>
<p>Spring - 18 credits</p>
<p>Introductory Quantitative Physiology II - 4
Computational Methods in BME - 3
Introduction to Biomechanics - 3
Organic Chemistry II - 3
Organic Chemistry II Lab - 2
Animal Physiology - 3</p>
<p>Other notes:
-As a junior ill be taking biochemistry I and II
-I plan to study abroad in guatemala during summer btwn fresh and soph year and knock out 6 credits towards spanish minor, plus gain a tremendously invaluable experience
-Summer btwn soph and junior year I plan to travel to peru in the SIHF program -- perfect blend of healthcare and spanish
-I plan to take MCAT april junior year
-I will finish up spanish coursework senior year (junior year i forecasted will be packed)</p>
<p>Congrats, I once considered BME at VCU. Didn’t look too much into your schedule (someone else will… either way, it’s kinda hard to analyze considering we don’t go there & know the classes), but I will just throw a quick tip that will be thrown out repeatedly here: you shouldn’t accept your AP credits. Even with VCU being a very easy school, and not running on a +/- system, I would still say to not accept your AP credits. Besides, what’s the rush for - VCU’s engineering school allows you to jump straight into your major without having to take introductory engineering courses. You’ve got a lot of time on the slate. </p>
<p>Use the ease of the school to your advantage - spend your free time searching out various opportunities such as research. It will help you much more than your AP credit in terms of med prospects.</p>
<p>Your soph year looks brutal. And no love for multivar? Not sure if you need this or not, but inorganic chem (gen chem)? Or upper-level? GL, sorry would post more but I’m dead tired.</p>
<p>Yea I originally had the mindset of not using my AP credits. But I had an advising consultation with the department chair of the honors college who is also the interviewer for bs/md applicants (program called pref app allows one to apply for bs/md at end of sophomore year again). She said it would be extremely unwise for me not to use them. I guess VCU tries to get its students to take the most challenging courseload they can. Which makes sense. So oh well =)</p>
<p>@Acceptd:</p>
<p>No need to take multivar for me =). Apparently its not required for BME. General chemistry I’m using my AP credits to place out of. As for upper level I’m planning on taking biochemistry junior year so that will take care of that.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice. Much appreciated!</p>
<p>Correct me if I’m wrong, but some schools require biochemistry in addition to general and organic chemistry. Don’t automatically assume that biochemistry will replace general chemistry. I would second the notion to just retake general chemistry. And are you taking only a half a year of physics or other courses to make the full year requirement?</p>
<p>Looks like you already had your questions answered before coming here. </p>
<p>I will say this, I do know about this program. Her advice could be jaded towards this program - since the only people who can apply are students of VCU and the spots are EXTREMELY limited, then your course selection will matter a bit so that the adcoms can compare you against the other students applying. Secondly (this would be less likely), she may be giving you the advice on the notion that maintaining good grades at VCU is relatively easy, so advancing ahead won’t hurt you (I will say it won’t help you either, at least outside of VCU’s BS/MD program). Thirdly, I will say that VCU’s BS/MD program is outrageously competitive, and applying as a rising junior is even MORE competitive. As a rising junior, you are not applying for the same seats as rising freshmen are applying for, you are applying for a VERY limited number of seats, and you can almost be guaranteed that very many students applying WILL have 4.00 GPA’s - like I said, grades are easy at VCU. I am not saying you won’t get in/aren’t capable and I am NOT dissuading you, just throwing out ideas for you to keep in mind.</p>
This would only be applicable towards the program you are applying for and not every other medical school in the country. If you opt out and can’t pull good grades, ideally A’s, it will look worse than if you had just used the AP credit and maintained A’s – at least in the eyes of every other medical school (as I said, maybe not to VCU’s program).</p>
<p>It looks like OP is also taking credits for Physics I and Chemistry. BME has very tight schedule for its course requirement. It is extremely difficult to finish the Medical school pre-req before Junior w/o taking AP credits. I think that OP may be planning for taking MCAT after sophomore year. </p>
<p>Most students should retake all science courses; but it makes sense to take AP credits for Cal I and II since MCAT does not cover math. A plan to Junior may be needed.</p>
<p>From my experience the following is way overload (considering that the goal is very high GPA):</p>
<p>Fall - 21 credits</p>
<p>Electric Circuits - 4
Introductory Quantitative Physiology I - 4
Organic Chemistry I - 3
Organic Chemistry I Lab - 2
Genetics - 3
Laboratory in Genetics - 2
Linear Algebra (possibly spring fresh year if 5 on bc exam) - 3</p>
<p>Orgo + Genetics combo (both are exceptionally challenging and time consuming) would be enough. Electric Circuits in addition seems to be overload (I have background in Electrical Engineering, both college and proffessional). Physiology is another very hard class, I am not sure what it means “Introductory”. On the other hand, your whole Freshman year is too low. This is my opinion based on my D’s and my own academic experiences. Keep in mind that most pre-meds are working, interning in Med. Research lab, volunteering and maintaining at least GPA=3.6+ - 3.7+. At the end you will be competing against this crowd with success rate of 43%. You want to be in 43% accepted to Med. School, you do not want to be in 57% rejected. Clear goal setting should result in clear plan. You are the one to decide.</p>
Not sure if you need this or not, but inorganic chem (gen chem)? Or upper-level? GL, sorry would post more but I’m dead tired.</p>