<p>Hi! I'm going to be a Freshman in the Fall of 2013 in L and S and I was hoping for a bit of advice on building a fall schedule. I want to take challenging classes, but I don't want to overwork it so it so I'm thinking of sticking with a lower number of credits (around 13). I'm looking to go to medical school but am not completely set on it. I know many medical schools want you to fulfill prerequisites in college, but would it suffice if I just took higher division classes?</p>
<p>Chem 4B (4 units)
Math 54 (4 units)(I am taking Multivariable Calculus/Differential Equations right now, but I am fine with taking Math 53, but eventually would also like to take 55)
Organic Chemistry</p>
<p>I am also hoping to earn a 5 on the AP English Literature exam so I can skip the R and C requirements, but if I don't, I would take either Philosophy R001B and Rhetoric R001A (because 1 of the R and C courses is fulfilled by a 5 on the AP English Language exam), although I'm not sure how many credits those are. I could be completely off track with this schedule, so I really appreciate any help!</p>
<p>Note that just about everyone taking Chem 4B is a chemistry major, from what my roommate (who is a chemistry major) tells me, so you may not want to compete with them if you’re not a chem major. I’m not sure about premed requirements, though, so I’m afraid I can’t be of much use there.</p>
<p>English Language only satisfies R&C A; you have to take A before B. So you would need to take an R_B class if you don’t get a 5 on Lit. R&C classes are 4 units for the most part.</p>
<p>Note that Chem 4B is only offered in the spring semester. But I highly recommend taking Chem 1A or 4A before taking Chem 4B, even if you have significant prior experience in chemistry. As energize said, everyone taking Chem 4 is studying chemistry/chemical engineering/chemical biology and pretty much everyone has had prior chemistry experience (almost everybody I knew had a 5 on AP Chem, for example).</p>
<p>Physics 7 is usually a good freshman class to take for people with strong physics backgrounds. I recommend Chem 1A/4A, Physics 7A, Math 54, and some sort of introductory seminar as your schedule for the fall. If you’re ambitious you could add in a 4th class like English if you like. </p>
<p>There is no reason to rush through organic chemistry in your first semester. You have plenty of time for o-chem, trust me.</p>
<p>Check carefully for each medical school’s rules for the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>Lab requirements (many advanced courses in chemistry, biology, etc. do not have labs, so you may have to carefully choose enough with labs if you skip the intro courses with AP credit)</li>
<li>English composition – what is acceptable other than R&C courses if you fulfill R&C with AP credit?</li>
<li>What counts as “calculus” for those medical schools that require it? (e.g. maybe they count Math 104 but not Math 110 or 113)</li>
</ul>
<p>Unless your major requires the same courses, you may be able to defer some of the pre-med courses until you are sure what you need. You can take courses for your major, or courses like Psychology 1 or 2 and/or Sociology 1.</p>
<p>Thank you for the helpful responses! I’m majoring in Molecular Biology. I was thinking Chem 4A (4), Physics 7A (4), Math 54 (4), and Integbi35 AC (3), for a total of 15 units. Do you think that is a doable schedule? Thanks for your feedback! I would be taking Integbi35 AC to satisfy the American Cultures Requirement and the Social and Behavioral Sciences Breadth Requirement.</p>
<p>Yes, it is certainly doable – frosh chemistry and chemical engineering majors often take something similar.</p>
<p>You do realize that you are taking the more difficult chemistry, physics, and math courses for chemistry, chemical engineering, and physics majors, rather than the easier ones for biology majors and pre-meds, right?</p>
<p>Just be cautious about first semester load with all major science/advanced math courses at the same time. Easy AP chem./physics C of score 5 and community college Math 53/54 equivalent “A” does not guarantee an easy “A” at Berkeley. Work hard will not always work for those science/math courses.
Why not take one Science. One Math, (one English) and 2-3 breadth/AC courses to start with like I had last year (17 units) with less risk.</p>
<p>Just don’t underestimate Chem 4A! If you’re at all thinking about majoring in chemistry or chemical engineering take the class, but if you know chemistry isn’t your thing, don’t take it just for a challenge. If you do take it, make friends with kids in the College of Chemistry!</p>
<p>My Daughter (chemE) is thinking about taking a very similar course load:
Chem 4A
Math 53 or 54
CBE 40
upper division history class that also satisfies american cultures requirement</p>
<p>From previous posts, I gather this is a reasonable/manageable first semester load.</p>
<p>If she has from APs: 5.3 credits from Chinese, 2.7 from Econ, 2.7 from Government, 3.0 from US History, 3.0 from European history and 4 units from a 5 on the English literature exam, then does taking the upper division history class help her to satisfy all breadth requirements? </p>
<p>College of chemistry does not limit the number of AP’s used to satisfy the 19 unit breadth requirement, and I’m assuming taking an upper division history course would count as a series for either European History AP or US history AP. A 5 on Eng lit satisfies all reading and composition requirements. I believe she would be able to complete breadth by taking only one course, but it seems too good to be true. Please offer any insights if you know the particulars.</p>
<p>Also, if anyone knows if it’s a good idea to be taking an upper division history course as a freshman, that would be helpful too.</p>