<p>As I do plan on heading toward the medical trek, I have a few questions regarding my current position as a freshman in college. Well, technically in a few months. </p>
<p>Should I take the intro-science courses before general? I really want to build a solid foundation, and I forget most of the AP Biology material I learned over a year or so ago. Also, I believe it is fine to major in a non-medical field, but still be on the avenue toward a doctor? </p>
<p>Any input is much appreciated.</p>
<p>
I’m not exactly sure what you mean by this. “General” and “Intro” usually mean the same thing as far as courses go.</p>
<p>You can major in anything academic (avoid vocational majors).</p>
<p>If you did decent in AP Bio you’ll probably be fine in General Bio I unless your AP class wasn’t taught well or something. And no, you don’t have to major in something medically-related (you’d actually be better off) or even a science for that matter.</p>
<p>Why would one be better-off?</p>
<p>It is best to major in something more academic like english, biology, math, history, etc. and less “vocational” like nursing or exercise science. These health-specific majors don’t tend to do as well, on average, in admission to med school/MCAT score as other majors. That’s just what the data shows-definitely not impossible.</p>
<p>I do not know any pre-med who were allowed to skip first Bio because of AP Bio credit. But it might depend on school. At D’s school, it is not possible to continue with Bio classes after skipping first one, they would not have backgound for it, even though they used the same textbook as in my D’s HS. The first Bio was weed out killer with horror stories about it circulating in Honors dorms, absolutely crazy lab reports and good number of valedictorians from private HS changing their proffesional plans after it.</p>
<p>MiamiDAP, I skipped the first introductory course in biology with a 5 from AP bio credit. I don’t regret it one bit, as it allowed my to get significantly ahead by taking the remaining freshmen biology courses as well as the first few sophomore level courses in a single year. That being said, the information covered in the first course that I skipped is not super important for me to know, and since I already had a good foundation in biology I’ve managed to uphold a 4.0. </p>
<p>Being a biology major is definitely not for the faint at heart, though, and I know many in my year who have switched to business, poly sci, psych, etc. If you’re not comfortable jumping ahead then don’t risk it. It’s better to have the solid foundation first. If the courses are too easy, at least you’re building up credits with high grades.</p>
<p>As much as they like to make a huge deal of it, very little factoid type information is really needed as you move from classes to classes. Basic stuff, like general info on RNA or whatever, but in my advanced biochemistry classes I never really needed to remember all of the Organic chemistry reactions or anything like that, just be able to follow and understand a given biochemical reaction based on the fundamental rules I learned in organic chemistry. For better or worse, classes are pretty self inclusive as far as studying for exams.</p>