What is the typical schedule for pre med? It looks like most combine Bio and Chem or Chem and Physics first year? Does this mean I would have 2 classes that have labs? How should I schedule the labs/classes to make it manageable? What other classes freshman year should I take as pre med? It seems 2 labs would take up a lot of time? Suggestions from what has worked well from other pre meds would help me plan.
If you are a science major/pre-med, a typical freshman schedule would be 2 sciences w/ labs, one math class and one GE elective–often freshman composition or an intro level social science/humanities.
Each lab requires a 3-4 hour block of time. (Some colleges have an hour of lab-lecture before actual lab starts.) Labs are time-consuming, but you only have each lab once a week. Afternoon or evening labs are the most common. A few schools also offer Saturday labs. Depending on your place in the registration queue, you may not have much choice about when you can schedule your labs. (Sections fill up fast since only a limited number of students can be accommodated in each lab section.)
When you get class registration information during the summer, schedule your science lectures & lab first, then fit in your other classes around the times blocked out for the science lecture/labs. (You can’t register for labs at most schools without first registering for the associated lecture class.) Realize you may not be able to avoid early morning classes or evening classes/labs.
My only recommendation–make sure that you leave some time for eat before lab. Going into a 3 hour lab while hungry isn’t fun. Low blood sugar makes you stupid, clumsy and impatient–none of which you want to be in lab.
How do you envision your premed plans working out? The actual process of applying to starting med school takes a year. Do you see yourself trying to apply to med school at end of third year with intent on starting after graduation; or do you see yourself waiting until end of senior year to apply, taking a gap year? The former may mean trying to hit the ground running (more premed reqs first year), whereas the latter may allow you time to acclimate to college life (fewer premed reqs first year). You don’t want to be a typical premed (most change before ever applyting). You want to be a successful premed. So do what’s right for you and you alone and apply with the strongest possible application the first time. Good luck.
Bio and Gen Chem
Calc/Stats either either frosh year, or maybe summer before frosh year if you want to somewhat lighten frosh year (which is kind of a good idea because some math profs give a lot of homework)
Some Gen Ed class
My feeling is that frosh year is an adjustment year, particularly fall semester. If you can lighten/balance your first year at all, do so. Frosh year is a big weed-out year, so if you’re taking bio and chem, then having the rest of schedule being easier, may help you in the long run.
Do you have AP credits? Which ones? Scores? What do they cover at your school?
Ususally Gen Chem + Bio with labs in freshman year, Orgo + Biochem in sophomore year. Physics can defer to junior year. Don’t take more than 2 pre-med science classes with labs at the same time, otherwise it can be the quickest way to kill your sGPA.
For freshmen year my first semester was Gen Chem w/ Lab, Calc I, and Gen Bio I w/ Lab. My second semester was Organic I w/ Lab, Calc II, and Gen Bio II w/ Lab. Most state schools do Gen Chem in 2 semesters, but I went to a smaller LAC so we did ours in the first semester and the second semester you jump into Chem. For the Fall of my sophomore year I’m taking Gen Physics I w/ Lab, Organic II w/ Lab, and Biostatistics. Not sure if that helps any but I think it’s a pretty standard schedule! Try only to take one more class your first semester if you are going to take a math and two lab sciences. An easy general education course for history or art would be an excellent choice.
My advice to you is to take it 'easy ’ first semester. You’ll quickly see it will be harder than high school ever was because not only do you have several AP classes but they’re compressed to more content in half the time AND as a premed you need to be top 10-20% in each.
So, look at your university 's course schedule for last spring and this fall. Use last spring as a guide (most general first year classes are offered every semester but check that they offer both levels in the sequence). If the information is not available ask each relevant department.
Take EITHER General biology 1 OR General Chemistry 1, but check they offer the other in the spring. + lab of course.
Add Calculus, Freshman English, and one gen-ed.
Spring semester, take level 2 for the science you took in the fall plus level 1 for the science you didn’t. Add psychology, biostatistics, and one gen ed.
Take level 2 of the science class over the summer (or the fall if it’s offered - it often is).
The Premed journey is a marathon, not a race. Pacing yourself is key.
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My advice to you is to take it 'easy ’ first semester. You’ll quickly see it will be harder than high school ever was because not only do you have several AP classes but they’re compressed to more content in half the time AND as a premed you need to be top 10-20% in each.
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^This!
While we all know that weak premeds get weeded out quickly, and in the end, that’s a good thing. It’s unfortunate when students who have the talents to do well, trip themselves up the first semester/year by taking on too much.
another thing that tends to trip up even the best students is harsh grading in labs. TA’s and lab instructors seem to have many rules and tight rubrics which can easily cost a very good students important points. Students have been known to lose points over something their lab partner did wrong.
I always recommend AVOIDING 8am classes unless you’re a natural early-riser, and try not to take more than 13-15 credits the first semester. If you’re coming in with some AP credits that fulfill some GE/Core req’ts, then taking a lighter courseload at first is doable or a water bottle that is visible. Take all rules and deadlines to heart.
Thanks for the replies. Isn’t it true that med schools(aside from the top5) do not like to see any summer pre-med classes? After reading the responses here it seems that only one science a year with lab is preferred and the extra year a better option for success? I am unsure if I will have AP credits yet. Please advise. thanks
Med school adcomms don’t like to see pre-reqs taken at schools that are not your home school, especially don’t like it if you take pre-reqs at a CC over the summer.
In general, though, you should not take summer classes. Why? because it’s the least productive use of your time. Summers are for developing your ECs, for doing research, for gaining clinical exposure, for working to earn to $$ you’ll need to apply to med school. (A cycle of med school applications will cost several thousand dollars, more if you need to fly to interviews.)
If you are a science major (bio,chem, physics, neuoscience, biochem, etc) you cannot avoid a semester or two of doubled up labs if you want to graduate in 4 years. You just can’t. Some people advise not to take 2 labs as a freshman, but this risks putting you off schedule in all your upper level classes (due to mandatory pre-reqs for upper level classes) and delaying your graduation by up to 2 years. You need to consult your advisor at your college to see what they suggest/recommend or your major requires in terms of freshman coursework.
BTW, extending your time in undergrad by stringing out your science classes is not cool. Adcomms look at the difficulty of your schedule as well as your grades on a semester by semester and year by year basis.
RE: APs-- be aware not all medical schools accept AP credits in lieu of actual college coursework. Med schools that don’t accept AP credits will allow you to substitute upper level coursework in the same field so long as it’s has equivalent credits and includes a lab. Even med schools that accept AP credits for pre-reqs, it’s strongly recommended or required that you supplement AP credits with an equivalent amount upper level coursework in the same field that includes labs. (Adcomms like to see actual grades so they can judge how well you perform, not just credit/no credit on your transcript.)