<p>I am trying to make my freshman schedule, and would just like some opinions. I do not want to depend on what others think, as I so often do, but I would just like some help from those who may have more knowledge!
I am interested in pursuing either Biochem, Chem, or SCPP at ND, I think. Biochem & chem scare me and I am afraid of overwhelming myself first semester.. but I am afraid SCPP would limit me to only going to med school when I am not sure this is what I want to do. (I am considering med school but not for sure).
So, I noticed an option called 'Undecided with an Inclination Toward Science', with the suggested courses being:
FYS/Seminar
Math 10550
Chem 10171
Req/Elective
Req/Elective</p>
<p>It's slightly different than Biochem or SCPP.
If, after first semester, I choose Biochem or Chem or SCPP, would I be far behind? I don't want to play catch-up!
Any opinions? Thank you!</p>
<p>It is tough to say. Regardless of your specific major you will likely need to take Intro to Bio. I am not sure if you want to take it now or next year but I think you would have more options if you took it this semester.</p>
<p>If you take bio, this leaves you with a fyc/seminar and an req/elective. I would try and find two classes that interest you and would likely make you happy. I have heard a lot of good things about the theology seminars. A language might also be another option. It is really up to you. I probably would not choose another science course. You probably want to pick from arts and letters for variety sake.</p>
<p>Hm, yeah, if I take Bio it pretty much follows the Biochem track, so I might as well take Chem 10181? I am just afraid I will overwhelm myself first semester… although I would not like playing catch-up or losing options later by making it easier, either. 
I was wanting to take French and perhaps a Theology seminar though!</p>
<p>Yeah, it’s a tough call. Maybe you should contact somebody in the Biochem department and see what they think. I think keeping things too easy this semester will make life difficult for you in the next few semesters as you try to play catch up. Yet you also do not want to make things too difficult either. You need to strike some sort of balance. If you know your FYS adviser you might want to give him/her a call as well and see what she suggests. Good luck.</p>
<p>The way scheduling works, it is very tough to accurately predict what classes you will get because you are only laying down suggestions and nothing final. That being said, but down the classes you think you would want to take and then once AP scores are released, contact ND if need be, and then what until August 24th when things are more concrete and definite changes can occur. Though you should definitely keep all these concerns in your mind until you meet with your advisor in August</p>
<p>If you are even sort of considering chem or biochem do NOT take the easy way out in chemistry. Take CHEM 10181. If you don’t, you will be very overwhelmed when you switch (I know people who have switched to biochem from bio and had a hard time with this). It is a tough class, but it is better to get acclimated into the track freshman year when everyone else is and when tutoring help is free and easily accessible. You won’t be alone and there is a nice curve at the end. Also, CHEM 10181 was one of the best classes I have taken at Notre Dame. The professor is AMAZING: he is a great lecturer and will go the extra mile to make sure you understand. If you go to his office hours, he will stay there with you until you get it (which I doubt you will find for the other large intro class). I could go on and on about why he’s the best professor I’ve ever had, but I won’t force everyone to read through that…</p>
<p>Also, I don’t know if they are putting everyone else back into the old chem track (intro chem 1 and 2 followed by orgo 1 and 2), but if they are, taking their chem class would make it even more difficult to switch into the majors chem track (intro chem/orgo 1 and 2/inorganic chem).</p>
<p>If you really feel the need to make things easier, I would recommend dropping down into an easier biology instead (will they let you take the premed option freshman year?). While I think you would be missing out on another good class, it wouldn’t hurt you in the long run since biology doesn’t build as much on previous classes and the biology side of the biochem major is not as intense as the chem side (we take most of our bio classes with the premeds and only a couple with the bio majors). And the chem majors only take one bio class anyway, so it wouldn’t hurt you for either major.</p>
<p>I’d recommend at the VERY LEAST, taking CHEM 10181, even if it is the only science class you take, otherwise you will regret it later if you choose anything but SCPP. But I would also recommend taking biology or physics, because otherwise you will be behind for either chem or biochem (and maybe SCPP? I don’t know). Taking CHEM 10181 and another science will make sure that you have the option of choosing any of the majors you listed without having to kill yourself with a tough semester later. Chem, biochem, and SCPP all require 2 semesters of both bio and physics anyway, so you wouldn’t be wasting your time no matter which of those you pick.</p>
<p>That makes sense! All this overlapping is starting to make sense to me as well. Based on all the helpful information, I have come up with this for my schedule 
:</p>
<h1>1:</h1>
<p>THEO 13183 06 Foundations of Theology
Taught by: Daniel Groody
PHIL 13185 02 Introduction to Philosophy
Taught by: Lynn Joy
PHIL 13185 03 Introduction to Philosophy
Taught by: Michael DePaul
PHIL 13185 05 Introduction to Philosophy
Taught by: Leopold Stubenberg</p>
<p>-or-</p>
<p>FYC 13100: First Year Composition</p>
<h1>2: Math 10550 or Math 10560 (depending on AP score)</h1>
<h1>3: Chem 10181</h1>
<h1>4: A French Class? :/</h1>
<h1>5: Bios 10161</h1>
<h1>6: PE</h1>
<p>Any opinions are of course still welcome & appreciated! =)</p>
<p>Hmm could someone tell me the difference between Math 10350 and Math 10550?</p>
<p>They seem rather similar… Is 10350 what we covered in AP Calculus in high school?</p>
<p>Looks good, Leparfait. :)</p>
<p>Lucidfighter- I’m not sure, I actually didn’t know MATH 10350 existed. However, if you are science or engineering, you want to be in the MATH 10550/10560 track. Business majors go into the business calc track (MATH 10250/10260). And MATH 10240/10270 are for arts and letters students or archies. However, all of the courses listed as Calc I or Calc A should be equivalent to AP Calc AB in high school. If you use your AP score to get credit, you should get credit for MATH 10550 (10560 for BC).</p>
<p>Keep in mind that you need to put multiple options for the Philo slot - and by that I mean different subjects, not just different sections of the same Philo class - which means you may not end up getting the Philo anyway. That said, dire emergency switches can usually be made as long as you are persistent and rational enough (and maybe try crying a little) with your advisor once your schedule is put together.</p>
<p>Lol thanks kevdude, I misunderstood that then. Awe, that kind of stinks. I really want to knock out one of my Theo or Philo reqs with the seminar, since I think my schedule is going to be so packed (esp. if I go through with the French idea…) If I don’t, I will have to find time to knock out both parts of them in the next 3 years lol.</p>
<p>^I am pretty sure what you did is fine. It guarantees that you will get either a theo or phil. seminar, but again there is the chance of getting FYC. I don’t think there is anything wrong with your seminar plan.</p>
<p>Okay, thank you. =] I also logged onto NDToday.com and tried to research the teachers and pick the ones that seemed to be the most popular.</p>
<p>Hmm so do you guys recommend having a packed schedule or taking it easy on the classes?</p>
<p>And thanks shellzie!</p>
<p>It is tough to determine the level of your classes, with the exception of math, science, and program requirements. The seminar and electives are pretty much random. I would say do what your program recommends if you are planning to major in engineering or business. If you are in Arts and Letters, try and take classes that you find interesting. It depends on major, but for the most part, first semester planning is mostly random, especially for Arts and Letters</p>
<p>That makes sense. I think mine will be pretty packed first semester!!</p>
<p>If I decide to take French, I will take the placement test as I took it in HS but was not able to senior year. For the placement test, as I have not looked at French in about a year, is that something I should study for, or just take it with what I remember right now? ^_^</p>
<p>I know that my friend has a chem placement test for UoP and she’s studying from the AP reviews from junior year… if that helps lol.</p>
<p>I would say that you shouldn’t cram for it because then you will be placed thinking you know material that you don’t. If you study for it and learn the material then that is fine, because it is acquired knowledge. Cramming will only result in an incorrect placement which ends up being more work for you.</p>
<p>Hm does anyone recommend using your AP credit for calculus or taking it at ND if you’re on the science preprofessional track? Also what’s the general consensus on taking the community based composition course versus the regular one? Haha AND, if I were on science preprofessional now, would it be easy to switch to into prelaw or something later? I’m still debating between medical or law school.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>for the calculus issue, at my school people never complain if they skip the class, but they do complain if they retake and say that is a big waste of time. I say if you have the credit, skip it.</p>