<p>I am currently a high school senior, and have been taking college classes at Clarion University since the beginning of my Junior year. I anticipate attending the University of Pittsburgh after this year, and have planned my classes so as to fulfill most of the Arts and Sciences general education requirements. During Junior year I took College Writing, Principles of Sociology, Medicine in Literature, and American History 1877 - Present (getting A's in all of the above.) During the summer session I took Anatomy and Physiology I and II (got A's in both). But that's really not saying much, considering the entry requirements for Clarion (no offense meant to anyone.) I am currently taking a public speaking and philosophy course with the intent to take more classes next semester, and will probably graduate high school with 30 credits. As math is my weak area, I am also thinking about taking Calculus 1 at Clarion this summer, when I am fresh from studying for the AP exam. </p>
<p>For my freshman year at Pitt I was looking at doing Bio I, Gen Chem I, and Physics I in the fall, and Bio II, Gen Chem II, and Physics II in the spring. Is this realistic/smart, given my circumstances?</p>
<p>At this point I am considering a Biology/Japanese double major, and will definitely be following a pre-med tract (already know a large amount of Japanese and can skip a couple years). </p>
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<p>Also, should I re-take my SATs before I apply? I'm just concerned with my math scores. </p>
<p>High school GPA is 3.9 unweighted with about as many honors and AP classes as my small private school offers. Letters of Rec from college professor/doctor.</p>
<p>You should definitly retake the SATs. I was told by someone in admissions that Pitt will not even look at you if your combined Math/verbal SAT is less than 1200.</p>
<p>Your CR score is near the top of the mid-50% though your math is a little low. If you can raise your math to 600 or above it would be better (and would also exempt you from taking the algebra placement test- and if you don’t pass that placement test you’ll have to take algebra your freshman year). If you’re planning to take Calc at Pitt, you also have to pass a trigonometry placement test, just be aware!</p>
<p>The good thing about Pitt is that if you apply now, you’ll get an early answer. Sometimes that early answer is acceptance, sometimes they want to see your first marking period grades. If don’t get the answer you want, you can be reconsidered if you send in new information, such as a higher SAT score if you retake the test.</p>
<p>I see no downside to applying early- good luck!</p>
<p>As far as the Japanese goes, it’s very hard to skip Japanese I at Pitt. They really encourage everyone to start at the beginning. Contact the department chairman and arrange a test. It won’t be easy, but if you are well prepared, that will help.</p>
<p>Also, I think taking three major science courses at once is a big mistake. Luckily, the advising is very good at Pitt, and you’ll get one-on-one advice on what to take.</p>
<p>My daughter spent her first two years as a Japanese/applied math (physics minor) dual major. She had a friend (Japanese major) who had Japanese in high school and he started in Japanese I his freshman year. He definitely did well in the first level, but I don’t think he regretted starting at the first level.</p>
<p>If your skills are good enough to start at a higher level, it will certainly free up your schedule because years one and two of Japanese require seven hours in class each week (lecture and recitation).</p>
<p>Thanks for all the help so far! I am already signed up for the October 1st SATs and am studying for the math section pretty intensively, so that is now taken care of. When it comes to Japanese, I visited their department during my Junior year and was told even then that I’d be “bored” in Japanese I, so I’m decently confident that I’ll be able to test out.</p>
<p>At this point my main concern now lies upon my science classes and the pre-med aspect of my question. I seem to be in a rather uncommon position and, projecting outward, having those three classes done during my first year looks to be the most appealing course of action. (MCATs change in 2015 and I would be more easily able to get in on the old ones, my math [which, as I have stated, I am rather bad at] will be extremely fresh for physics, etc, etc.) I am very, very intent on attending medical school, however, and don’t want to do anything stupid that could seriously hurt those chances.</p>