<p>I've read on this site, the college site, and talked to people about how it's not necessary to major in Biology and that it really doesn't even seem to have much of an advantage. Because of this I decided to major in psychology and minor in biology (well that was the plan for fall of 09' anyway). I was just looking at the required classes though and there's 5 classes needed for a bio minor plus 4 chemistry classes and 2 physics classes. So basically I would have to take 11 science classes and that doesn't include all the courses I'm going to take for my Psych major and general classes.</p>
<p>I realized that If I drop the bio Minor and just take the required med school classes that would stop me from having to take an additional 3 science classes so I would have 8 along with everything else which I feel would be much more reasonable.</p>
<p>What do you guys think of this? Do you think it would negatively impact my chances of getting into med school? If anything I think It might keep my "science GPA" higher and possibly my overall GPA higher too by giving me more time to focus on them.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot,
David</p>
<p>While neither a minor nor a major is necessary, I think an extra couple biology courses will be helpful, both for establish interest and ability. Things like physiology, microbiology, etc.</p>
<p>In other words, the minor and the major themselves don't matter, but nor is it a good idea to hit the absolute minimum on your science courses.</p>
<p>*"While neither a minor nor a major is necessary, I think an extra couple biology courses will be helpful, both for establish interest and ability. Things like physiology, microbiology, etc.</p>
<p>In other words, the minor and the major themselves don't matter, but nor is it a good idea to hit the absolute minimum on your science courses."*</p>
<p>Normally I wouldn't try to do the minimum but I don't see how I could take 11 science classes in addition to all the classes I'm already going to be taking for my major and general classes. If I'm going to do extra ones I might as well do the bio minor, it just seems like a crazy amount. I can't speak from experience though. How many did you take?</p>
<p>
[quote]
If I'm going to do extra ones I might as well do the bio minor
[/quote]
I think that's exactly correct. I took an extra three biology courses -- animal physiology, microbiology, and biochemistry. Biochem double counted towards a chem minor as well, in my case. I was also a non-science major and it did in fact require taking a lot more classes than normal.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I think that's exactly correct. I took an extra three biology courses -- animal physiology, microbiology, and biochemistry. Biochem double counted towards a chem minor as well, in my case. I was also a non-science major and it did in fact require taking a lot more classes than normal.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Wait your saying being a non-science major required taking a lot more classes than normal? </p>
<p>I was going to ask about the workload but I'll start a new thread so the subjects don't get mixed. I'd appreciate it if you could check it out</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>
[quote]
being a non-science major required taking a lot more classes than normal?
[/quote]
Well, this makes sense, doesn't it? A biology major's requirements overlap a lot more with the premed requirements than, in my case, an economics major's.</p>
<p>There's 14 premed requirements, 2 each of math, biology, English, and physics, plus four chemistry. It's unwise to stop with just 2 of biology, so I added three more. So that's essentially 15 classes.</p>
<p>My economics major was 15 classes. Four of those overlapped with my premed classes, so we're at 15+15-4=26 courses so far.</p>
<p>Now add in my general education requirements. Again, a lot of those overlap, but a few didn't: history and philosophy (2), foreign language (3), ethics (1), arts (1). So that's 33 classes. A normal student at my school takes 32, so I'm already 1 over normal. Now remember that I got very lucky in terms of my planning, since it's normally harder than this to fill my gen ed requirements. I also got lucky that my economics major was willing to include Physics as my quant requirement, which also isn't totally normal. So figure I'd have to take four extra courses if I weren't quite so lucky (2+2), and that's 37. Now add in however many courses you want to take just for interest (in my case, 3), and bang. You're at 40 courses out of a usual 32.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Well, this makes sense, doesn't it? A biology major's requirements overlap a lot more with the premed requirements than, in my case, an economics major's.</p>
<p>There's 14 premed requirements, 2 each of math, biology, English, and physics, plus four chemistry. It's unwise to stop with just 2 of biology, so I added three more. So that's essentially 15 classes.</p>
<p>My economics major was 15 classes. Four of those overlapped with my premed classes, so we're at 15+15-4=26 courses so far.</p>
<p>Now add in my general education requirements. Again, a lot of those overlap, but a few didn't: history and philosophy (2), foreign language (3), ethics (1), arts (1). So that's 33 classes. A normal student at my school takes 32, so I'm already 1 over normal. Now remember that I got very lucky in terms of my planning, since it's normally harder than this to fill my gen ed requirements. I also got lucky that my economics major was willing to include Physics as my quant requirement, which also isn't totally normal. So figure I'd have to take four extra courses if I weren't quite so lucky (2+2), and that's 37. Now add in however many courses you want to take just for interest (in my case, 3), and bang. You're at 40 courses out of a usual 32.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yea I see what you mean and it's something I've thought about before. I was initially going to major in Biology but I read on this site about how you have to take so many classes that aren't necessary for med school and that what your major is actually doesn't matter much. So considering that I decided to major in psychology which I think will be significantly easier and also more interesting. </p>
<p>32 courses is only 8 a year though so 4 a semester. Isn't that low? I thought average was 5 (so 40 overall) since most courses are 3 credits (this is coming from my dad from his time in college though so I'm not 100% sure)</p>
<p>4 a semester is normal at my alma mater. It varies. I happen to know that at Penn, normal is 5.</p>
<p>OK, hopefully mine is 4 :D</p>
<p>on avg. how many times a week does each course meet and for how long each time?</p>
<p>At my undergrad, each course met for two hours and thirty minutes a week, either in three sessions of fifty or two of seventy-five. Four classes was normal for that load.</p>
<p>alright well that definitely seems more manageable. I still have to decide, but this has definitely helped. Thanks.</p>
<p>Bear in mind that schools which require more courses at a time probably have major and gen. ed. requirements which are more stringent. E.g. you should think of my 40/32 discussion as a ratio (125%), not an absolute number (40) of classes.</p>
<p>Thanks for posting this thread. I’m a 2nd year at a community college transferring next fall to a UC or possibly a private(not likely though). My major is currently psychology and I also plan to apply for med school. I was just sitting here thinking about weather I wanted to minor in biology to better prepare myself for med school. My step dad was just telling me not to go through the extra work and just take a couple of bio courses for fun if I want, but I had also told him might as well get that minor if I’m going to be taking extra classes anyway. Thanks guys. Did you end up deciding what you would do?</p>
<p>I’m actually planning on switching my major to Health and Exercise Science, but will probably still do the bio minor.</p>