<p>Hey all, I’m an incoming freshman giong to BC next year, and I’m not sure what I should take in the first semester of my college career. I’m currently a bio major and I’m thinking of double majoring in bio and chemistry. I don’t want to be completely overwhelmed, but I definitely don’t want to take classes that are way too easy. Any ideas on what courses I should take? Thanks!</p>
<p>BC has a very large core, I would attempt to fulfill at least 2 cores your first semester. Message me or reply back here if you want specific help. I am a returning sophomore.</p>
<p>As some background check out; [Biochemistry</a> Major Degree Requirements](<a href=“http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/chemistry/undergrad/biochem.html]Biochemistry”>Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences | Boston College)</p>
<p>Also some checklists here:</p>
<p>[Academic</a> Advising - Boston College](<a href=“http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/biology/undergrad/advising.html]Academic”>Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences | Boston College)</p>
<p>You should find a good balance between all of your classes. You may hear people telling you to knock out all of your core classes early, but I find that to be over rated. I would say if you’re dead set on a bio major; start on your major early and mix in some core classes so that you wont be taking all biology courses your junior and senior years. The thing is, you probably do not want to have all five of your classes to be part of your major. In my opinion, it’s best to mix in some core classes later on such as the fine arts core and the cultural diversity core.</p>
<p>I am a rising junior at BC and still need to complete my fine arts and my cultural diversity core, which I plan to complete this coming school year. I did not want to have to deal with five business classes, it’s much easier for me to deal with four serious courses and one that I can blow off and know that I can still do well in even if I study the night before.</p>
<p>If you need further assistance, don’t hesitate to post in this thread.</p>
<p>thanks! right now I’m considering taking: intro to bio, general chem with lab, calculus II, elementary french, and freshman writing seminar.</p>
<p>I looked at the requirements for each major and I’m not sure if BC wants these courses to be taken during freshman year (in the academic workbook, about 2-3 courses for each major), and that’s what’s confusing me the most.</p>
<p>BC, If you have taken any AP chemistry or biology in high school, the intro courses are probably too easy for you. You can think about taking the more advance versions, but you may also not want to be in a track that has the most difficult chemistry and biology the same semester. If you don’t have AP credit, then you probably don’t have a choice. </p>
<p>You can discuss with your adviser or the deans, but its good to be prepared. Some advisers are better than others.</p>
<p>BC2013: Heh. That’s pretty much what I was planning on taking. Though I am still trying to decide between Spanish and French.</p>
<p>Dear Savs, BC 2013, and all : Let me offer this thought to those of you who are transitioning from a high school curriculum to Boston College. If you are mapping a plan for courses in your first semester before orientation, think about what made you most comfortable in high school : a mathematics course, a science course, a language, an english course, and a social science course (history, economics, political science, or similar). That balance will help ease your transition year, provide some familiarity with your past experience, and also provide stepping stones towards covering the core requirements.</p>
<p>Now, if you have chosen two sciences (or two anything over one of the others), please do not be concerned. You are not heading down the wrong path. You are trying to dive into an area where you might have a deeper interest. When combined with a solid core as espoused by Boston College, you are doing exactly what you should be doing as a collegiate freshman. Good luck in your studies!</p>
<p>take perspectives. it gets rid of your philosophy and theology core. i took it and am now double majoring since i added the perspectives major! also prof. cronin is the best teacher on the planet. hands down.</p>
<p>I agree. Perspectives is a must, I took it this year and am now a double major with Perspectives and math. the other poster is incorrect, however. Professor Braman is the best teacher on the planet. hands down. </p>
<p>in all seriousness though, you will hear nothing but good things about those two professors, either one would be a great choice.</p>
<p>Those professors are good; however, being the older member, I would have to say that these top posters above me are incorrect. Professor Kelly is your ** best ** option for perspectives. ;)</p>
<p>Anyway, that sounds like a reasonable schedule. If you have AP credit, take advantage of them. That way, instead of taking core courses, you are able to take electives which might ease your schedule in future years. Congrats on getting accepted. By the way, you should look into perspectives, it’s great way to fulfill your theology and philosophy core.</p>
<p>thanks all! I may take perspectives next semester. I took both AP biology and chemistry, but I only recieved a 4 last year (thanks to the ridiculous exam changes they didn’t tell anyone about =(( ) and I didn’t take the AP chemistry one.</p>
<p>right now the AP courses I can get out of are most likely a psych course and possibly english literature, but i won’t get those scores until july.</p>
<p>thanks again!</p>
<p>oh, and I neglected to include this in my last reply, but is there a placement test for math or can I just take calculus II? I took calculus honors this past year and it was pretty comprehensive.</p>
<p>BC’s Math Dept. website has detailed info on choosing the correct level of math for incoming freshmen:</p>
<p>[Math</a> Course Selection and Advice - Boston College](<a href=“http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/math/advise/home.html]Math”>Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences | Boston College)</p>
<p>you can take calc 2. Just make sure you understand all the necessary calc 1 material.</p>
<p>I didn’t want to start a new thread, but I am thinking about freshman courses a fair deal myself. Here is a freshman course schedule that I want to have:</p>
<p>First Semester:</p>
<p>Calculus I
Perspectives I
Principles of Economics: Micro
Writing
Portico</p>
<p>Second Semester:</p>
<p>Statistics I
Perspectives I (Continued)
Principles of Economics: Macro
Computers in Management
Literature</p>
<p>The only course that I fear that I may not get is Perspectives I, since that seems to be quite a popular freshman course. But otherwise, I feel confident that I will get this configuration.</p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>Except the thing is, perspectives counts as 2 courses 
so if you’re taking perspectives, you’re only going to take four courses instead of the five you outlined.</p>
<p>Oh. So, I guess I’ll just cut out Writing and Literature for the time being, maybe.</p>
<p>Can you take Perspectives at any time? I keep hearing that there are some courses which are limited to freshmen only.</p>
<p>Perspectives is generally a freshman only course. I believe there is one sophomore perspectives class, but that’s it. There is a similar program for sophomores called PULSE, but that requires you to volunteer at least 8 hours a week at a certain placement. I believe writing and literature have to be taken during your freshman year, so if you decide to not take either your first semester, you’ll more than likely be forced to take both your second semester.</p>
<p>So, would the schedule I have specified previously be ok’d by the administration? Or would they ask me to drop a class because Perspectives counts as two classes since I can only have five total?</p>