@dooley55555 : Okay, I’m going to be blunt: The new MCAT includes biochemistry and the NBB major has become more rigorous for those declaring after 2013 requiring more electives and QTM 100. In addition, if you can’t handle doubling up in chemistry and biology, I’m trying to imagine how you’re going handle what happens when you probably end up with ochem and biology sophomore year (or biology and physics) or NBB 301, some NBB electives, AND physics junior year, AND biochemistry junior year. There is a reason the biology major basically tells people to double up on chem and biology freshman year. This definitely applies to pre-meds taking the new MCAT, especially if you are not planning to take a year off. In addition, by excluding biology from freshmen year, that will delay entry into most NBB classes. Again, you’ll be putting too much on yourself in the future and you want an UPWARD trend. Do the best you can doubling up freshman year as biology is honestly not that bad for the lecture (much worse for lab) and gen. chem lab is easy and the lecture is meh…and then you can space out your sciences in future years. The thing about the NBB major is that it isn’t like biology where there are TONS of instructors that provide classes that either grade or simply are easier than the intro. Many NBB instructors will give you a run for the money. This is a good thing in my opinion because many more NBB majors seem to do really well on the MCAT along with chem. majors. More of their instructors emphasize the right things. However, taking several at a time with pre-med core classes/ classes that will help with the MCAT will be even rougher if you can’t take 1 or 2 sophomore year.
As for AP credit, consider just skipping chemistry (people SAY that, but they are often talking about generic colleges, at many selectives, the general chemistry instructors will rehash the same material you got in AP, but write MUCH harder midterms than the ones you’re used to taking in HS. The midterms can sometimes be like a mini AP exam that is more onerous. Also many schools let you exempt both semesters which is why it could be a problem there. At Emory, you’re merely sitting a semester out and it isn’t that harmful unless your first semester is completely lacking in rigor, in which case spring will be quite an adjustment). I would also skip biology 141 and take 240 w/141-L as it is honestly easier grading wise and trains you to think like you will have to on MCAT passages (data/experiment based, not “just the facts” and somewhat weak attempts at experimental analysis in 141). It is NOT really usefully to retake the first part for those who got a 5 or even a 4. Some people think they’ll receive an easy A, but research has been done on this and this has honestly been shown to be untrue (especially in chemistry where there may be a boredom or complacency factor at play). Most 5’s of the 5’s get some sort of B or are bored out of their minds. You’re an NBB major, so you’ll be taking upperlevel biology (as I said, you can immediately by taking form and function in the fall. Don’t let the 200 level label scare, the mean is a B+, much higher than bio 141 with a decent instructor).
Also, Mulford (UG studies director in chemistry) will recommend you not retake 141, he flat out says it has no use or advantage (he also probably doesn’t want it because enrollment levels will be too high and they are trying to teach it differently in a new type of classroom in the new addition which doesn’t fit but so many folks and I’m also sure the teaching technique is less effective when the room is filled to the rim: http://chemistry.emory.edu/home/facilities/Atwood%20Addition.html ). The idea of the “refresher” is over-rated and I’m sure motivated students that skip it have no disadvantage and can also fill their schedule with more interesting things in its place, science or non. Also, the reason you can probably get away with skipping it is because the curriculum is changing your sophomore year, where “general chemistry” will apparently become a 1 semester course. Meaning, most pre-meds will only be encouraged to take 1 semester and apparently they will send them a letter with their med. school application explaining the new curriculum structure. If they won’t be hurt, neither will you.
If you’re really squeamish about doubling up despite getting 4/5, simply go sit in the intro. classes the first day, and see what you think. Sit in a TOP (I don’t think students who could AP out are using their time wisely if they take a noob or a lower end instructor for their retake. That defeats the purpose of “refreshing” the material. In fact, some teachers may actually put you a step back for upperlevels because their training rather weak. This especially goes for biology. The current chemistry line-up is pretty solid. Just choose McGill, Mulford, and maybe the new guy, Llewellyn who has high ratings back at his original U. For biology, anything outside of Spell or Abreu is a miss) instructors class and be honest with yourself and figure out if you can handle it. In addition, please do go sit in biology 240 if you reconsider biology. I honestly think this should come first if you’re an NBB major and refuse to double up because it at least opens up the NBB courses for sophomore year, though I certainly recommend chemistry 142 before NBB 301 (chem 142 is useful for 301, not so much 141). However, 301 can be taken junior year. So, if you double up freshman year, like you should at some point (spring or fall depending one whether you wuss and forfeit the AP’s lol), you can have ochem (I don’t know if it will be two semesters anymore either), physics, some NBB electives (and 201), and GERs, and then you’ll have good preparation by time you reach 301 as an understanding of physics 142/152 puts you at a huge advantage in NBB 301 (the first test often kills those who are taking it at the same time or who have not taken it at all).
*Finally: Note that it is often those NOT exposed to AP versions discouraged from doubling up. You have credits in biol, chem, and calc. BC. This correlates with your ability to succeed pretty well, plus college has a much lower course load than HS meaning that since many of your other classes (only 2-3) will be a joke (trust me, not as much busy work compared to HS in easy college classes) compared to the sciences, you have much more time to prepare for them. Can their test dates, overlap, yes, but keeping up with studying for those two is not that hard, especially for someone with credit. While you are not guaranteed an A, you’ll certainly do well if you do what is needed.
if you’re taking it at all)? Were they top instructors? Particularly did you have Mulford (who I don’t think was that bad last year). Also, yes…I’ve noticed that people who have chemistry experience far beyond just the AP are essentially wasting their time in gen. chem especially with anyone lower than Mulford or McGill (although she is now easier than she used to be. The more applied or onerous problems on her exams are almost non-existent now though they are still decently conceptual). Gen. chem and biology at Emory is very dependent on instructor. You can have a cruise fest with no experience with one instructor and be potentially challenged by another even if you have AP credit.
can’t wait…
. I wonder if they are smart enough to send invitations like chemistry does for ochem because that is the only way they’ll have a chance of getting even 5 folks to enroll.