Help?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Maryland - College Park
1

<p>Hello,
I will be a freshman student in LTSC in Fall 2013. I would like to go into human or veterinary medicine. I registered for classes at orientation. I have a few questions about the courses I may be taking. I am trying to become a biological sciences major. I have biology credit from Stevenson University that gets me out of BSCI105, but I also have a 4 on the AP Biology exam. I am currently signed up for 106. It looks like I need CHEM 131/132 and CHEM 231/232 to get into the biology major. I completed the english req. using AP credit. I was just confused today as to whether I should sign up for CHEM 131/132 in addition to the biology class. Do you think that would be too difficult? If I am planning to apply to medical or veterinary school, would it be better to get a higher GPA by saving the chem classes for my spring semester? This would lighten the load, and I would be able to get some of the gen ed req. out of the way in the fall since I wouldn't be in chem. On the other hand, if I took chem in the fall, I could take chem 231/232 in the spring. This would mean I would be able to declare the biology major sooner. I would also be "ahead of the game" I guess since I would be able to go into more advanced classes my sophomore year. If I waited, I would have to take chem 231/232 in my sophomore year and wait to declare my major. I guess what I'm asking is, for getting into medical school or veterinary school, would it be better for me to spread out the harder classes and potentially get a higher GPA? Or would it be better to take the harder classes as soon as possible, which would allow me to declare my major sooner and take even more advanced classes and improve my course rigor? Is chem even difficult? Would it be hard to take chem and bio at the same time? Thanks for any and all advice!!!
EDIT: Also, keep in mind, to remain eligible for the bio major, I think I can only retake a required class once. </p>

<p>Here is my course load right now...
Comm107
Math130
Univ100
BSCI106
Eng289B</p>

<p>I'm thinking of dropping comm and univ to take chem 131 and 132. Is that advisable to do in my situation?</p>

2

<p>I think you should take chem. If it’s a prereq, it should be a priority. </p>

<p>Also, what is Eng289B?</p>

3

<p>Thanks! Eng289B is The Rites of Discovery: Science, Law, and Literature 1492-1992. They told us it was a “unicorn” class because it satisfies 3 different education requirements. That is really the only reason I am taking it lol</p>

4

<p>Univ 100 is a requirement for all freshman last I heard so you can’t drop it. I’d also try and talk to your adviser about it as well as check to see if you can even fit it in (freshman are last to register). That said, there is also a LOT going on fall semester between new roommates, adjusting to campus life, activities etc. Your load looks fine to me. You don’t wanna go too crazy fall semester and risk gpa because of everything else going on.</p>

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<p>“Univ 100 is a requirement for all freshman” “so you can’t drop it”- where exactly did you hear that?</p>

<p>I believe it is recommended, but I don’t think it is required.</p>

6

<p>Thanks! Yeah I don’t remember them saying it was required.</p>

7

<p>checked with a friend and apparently its not required for all majors, however of the freshman I knew personally - I don’t know anyone who didn’t take it or another version of it through their living/learning program.</p>

8

<p>Univ 100 is not required. This class helps freshmen transition from high school to college. The forum deals with the educational and social aspects of change and if you show up you generally get an A, which helps that freshman GPA blues!</p>

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<p>Univ101 is required for some colleges, not for others. Check in directly with your college’s advising because they are the ones who do your degree auditing. Don’t just talk to your friends about this, everyone has different requirements!</p>