HEY, INCOMING BRUINS: Understanding the different tracks of math, chem, physics

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
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<p>Just a little something that will help explain the different tracks (Math 3 series vs. Math 31/32, &c.) It's focused on lifesci majors, but those tend to be premeds, who tend to have the more annoying questions and tend to ask them over and over and over again. Just something I've noticed.</p>

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[quote=<a href="http://www.physci.ucla.edu/ugrad_major_understanding.php"&gt;http://www.physci.ucla.edu/ugrad_major_understanding.php&lt;/a&gt;]
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<p>Understanding the Chemistry, Math and Physics Options</p>

<p>Life Science majors are required to have a solid background in the physical science areas of calculus, general and organic chemistry, and calculus-based physics. However, the faculty from each of these departments recognizes that biology-based majors do not require as much depth and coverage of certain physical science concepts. Therefore, life science majors are allowed to choose from two or three different sequences of classes in each of these important areas. Please use these descriptions as a guideline for your academic planning.</p>

<p>Check with any special academic or research programs for their requirements before choosing a path;</p>

<p>Choose based on your level of interest in a topic. Generally speaking, if these are not your favorite subjects, you will get enough preparation with the life science sequences.</p>

<p>Chemistry 14A, 14B, 14BL, 14C, 14CL, and 14D</p>

<p>Known as the "Chem 14 series" designed specifically for life science majors</p>

<p>Accelerated pace through general chemistry</p>

<p>Will satisfy all pre-health requirements</p>

<p>About 85% of life science majors complete this series</p>

<p>Chemistry 20A, 20B, 20L, 30AL, 30A, 30B, 30BL, (and 30C for pre-health prep)</p>

<p>Known as the "Chem 20/30 series", and is required for all physical science majors (including chemistry and biochemistry, engineering, math, and physics)</p>

<p>More depth in areas like general chemistry and material science</p>

<p>One extra general chemistry lab class</p>

<p>About 15% of life science majors complete this series</p>

<p>Math 3A, 3B, and 3C</p>

<p>"Short" calculus for life science majors, and will satisfy all pre-health requirements</p>

<p>Math 3C completes basic calculus and begins concepts in probability</p>

<p>Is recommended concurrently with the Chem 14 series</p>

<p>About 50% of life science majors complete this series</p>

<p>Math 31A, 31B, and 32A</p>

<p>Includes differential calculus of several variables and intro to vector analysis</p>

<p>Is recommended concurrently with the Chem 20/30 series</p>

<p>About 50% of life science majors complete this series</p>

<p>Physics 6A, 6B, and 6C</p>

<p>Classical physics for life science majors, and will satisfy all pre-health requirements</p>

<p>Developed for students with no prior exposure to physics</p>

<p>Preparation is found in either the Math 3 or 31/32 series</p>

<p>About 75% of life science majors will take this series</p>

<p>Physics 6AH, 6BH, and 6CH</p>

<p>Combines physics and biology concepts, considered a fast-paced series</p>

<p>Developed for students with previous experience in physics or strong desire for more advanced concepts in this area, and will satisfy all pre-health requirements</p>

<p>Preparation is found in either the Math 3 or 31/32 series</p>

<p>About 20% of life science majors will take this series</p>

<p>Physics 1A, 1B, 1C, 4AL, and 4BL</p>

<p>Classical physics for physical science majors, and will satisfy all pre-health requirements</p>

<p>Preparation is found in the Math 31/32 series</p>

<p>About 5% of life science majors take this series</p>

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<p>omg i'm an incoming freshman, life science (undeclared) major! thanks so much this is soooooo helpful! btw, pink are you a life science major as well? =)</p>

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<p>you left out chem 30CL.</p>

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<p>wow nice post but where did you get the numbers for the percentage of people taking the classes? maybe I just don't know enough people but almost all life sci premed majors I know are taking 14 and 3 series as opposed to the 50%... wow</p>

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<p>HELLO. I put up a source link! USE YOUR EYES!</p>

<p>UCLA</a> Department of Physiological Science Undergraduate - understanding the Chemistry, Physics and Math options</p>

<p>I didn't write this. I found it and posted it so I could be bombarded with more questions. :rolleyes:</p>

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<p>Hmm, I'm a life science major and I'm trying to decide between Physics A,B,C and AH,BH,CH. I've had 2 years of IB higher level physics at high school, so I have definitely had previous exposure, but I'm not sure if it's best to go with the harder class or the easier class with the easier grade?</p>

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<p>lmao sorry pink, i didn't use my eyes when I first heard about this... you see im blind and had to have a friend read it to me while he only read the important parts haha :)</p>

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<p>I have a question for students taking the premed path.</p>

<p>Is it possible to study for the Chem 30 series and the LS series finals in 2-3 days each? I know someone who never studied for the class until the day before midterms, and then started to "learn everything" 2-3 days before the final nonstop. In the end, this person got an A in all the classes.</p>

<p>I want to know if these science courses are designed for students to just cram, memorize, and forget all the material afterwards. </p>

<p>I also know that this person throws away all the course material (notes) after the final is over. Does this mean the LS and Chem series is unimportant? What about taking the MCAT? It makes the LS and Chem series sound trivial. Will the MCAT courses separately prepare students for the exam instead of courses taken at UCLA?</p>

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<p>I think it's just some certain people who can study like that. I've tried before and it's hard and time-consuming for me. I really do love enjoying my meals instead of having to scarf them down. And sleeping. LOVE sleeping. So for me, I'd rather learn the stuff gradually instead of cramming. I suppose it is possible, considering there's so much time in one day when you shut off the internet.</p>

<p>You could say that it's all cramming and forgetting, the LS series moreso than the chem series. Chem is all concepts, and if it makes sense to you, and you see how things work, you're not too likely to forget them. (More likely, you forget how to utilize them.) LS on the other hand, is a lot of facts arranged by/in systems, things that you memorize more than understand and know. I still remember a lot of things from LS1 (07F) but only because I was actually interested in the stuff. Most others have forgotten it...but then again, it is LS1. Same for LS2, I can see a lot of people forgetting about like, fetal sex development in a quarter, unless you were actually interested in the material.</p>

<p>Don't think that the science courses were particularly designed this way, but in the end, they do turn out to be "cram, memorize, forget" for most students.</p>

<p>But then again, I'm just a lowly freshman. I'll get back to you in a year if you're still interested. :rolleyes:</p>

<p>Also, I think MRSPAM (aka Mr. 3.9 science GPA) should be able to answer this better. He's a way better premed than I am. :(</p>

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<p>I'll answer this after I get my 30A/AL/LS 2 grades.</p>

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<p>Everyone, minus 2 people, on my floor that I hang out with studies like that.. the 2-3 day thing. Works fine if you are that type of person. </p>

<p>I think I can only learn this way. When I learn a bit at a time, nothing makes sense. Just gotta CRAM everything in, in a few days and see the light bulb light up when all that information fits into one big gigantic something. HAHAHA. Seriously though. I've actually tried the reverse cram strategy. Do all the cramming in the beginning of a course. Doesn't work well in my case because by the time I am tested on the material and need to review, but I HATE REVIEWING!!! So that doesn't work out too well. </p>

<p>But hey, what do I know, I'm bombing all my classes, =P</p>

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<p>im life science...just finished 1st year of college...about to take pre-med route taking math 3 series, chem series, life science and physics series...i am seriously bad at this stuff but i've finally found my goal in life after 1 year of college (yeah i'm late but whatever dude)...and hopefully i'll make it...can i? rofl, no seriously is there enough time wow...im FSDUAFU@#UR@#RU@RUCKED!!!</p>

<p>what should i take 1st semester?...math 3a...chem 14a...life science 2?...and then do physics 6 series like junior year? HELP</p>

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<p>Expect to take and extra year-ish if you do not want to pile on 3-4 science classes each quarter. Anyone else see a better solution?</p>

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<p>Bring up my thread.</p>

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<p>omg i wish i knew this before i signed up for 31 A and 14 A...they dont match!1</p>

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<p>does anyone know if its possible to take physics 6a one semester and then do physics 6bh and 6ch later?</p>

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<p>This is very comprehensive and amazing thank you. I finally understand what some of the threads around this forum are talking about. </p>

<p>Now the question is: Which of each set should a premed take and still be competitive? You could go for the hardest in each subject and probably have a crap GPA but seem more valuable, or you could take the easiest route for each subject and have a higher GPA. Thats the only part Im having trouble with grasping. </p>

<p>PS: To get my point across, Id much rather do probability than vector analysis, lol.</p>

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<p>i’m pretty sure having a higher gpa in a class that is easier while not necessarily seen as “lower” in quality is the better choice.</p>

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<p>victoriaragland:</p>

<p>they dont even offer the honors series for physics anymore. u have to do an 89 seminar for honors credit.</p>

<p>on the same note though, i took 20A fall quarter and 20BH (chem) and i dont think it made any difference that i didnt take honors the first quarter. 20AH is a worthless class in my opinion (congratulations study whores, you can solve wave functions. wont do you any good for the rest of the series or for MCATS or the like). in this sense i knew some REAL worthwhile chemistry going into 20BH. for example, id say 80% of my classmates were from 20AH and some of them couldnt draw a lewis structure because they never learned it. also, scerri for 20A gave a nice preview of organic chemistry which has helped us so far --AH students got no such thing.</p>

<p>so just consider these things before doing honors.</p>

<p>sid3000,</p>

<p>im a biochem major currently and i take the engineering seris for math and chem, but take physics life sci series.</p>

<p>there are definitely pros and cons to both. i personally find premeds (even though i am one) to be really annoying people so i prefer the engineering series in one sense. </p>

<p>at the same, theres a buttload of premeds in that series too, so its hard to escape.</p>

<p>if you have a choice, take the LS series cuz its prolly ezier. i just get rilly ticked off by the people.</p>

<p>i dont think it makes too much (if any) difference for med schools if thats wat ur wondering too…</p>

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<p>my perspective…</p>

<p>math: 3 series and 31 series are equal for the first 3 classes. 3A/B and 31A/B are the same thing basically. ive seen em both and the material is very similar. surprisingly, i found myself not being able to help some people with 3A/B because theres a lot of weird questions. 3C i havent heard much about. 32A, however, is a fairly easy class. once you get past 32b, though, it gets much harder for that series.</p>

<p>physics: 6 all the way. 6 series is a joke. dont even need calculus. 1 series is all weird **** and the labs are insane. integrating position functions and all this *****. dont even try it.</p>

<p>chem: 14 series is great. 14A-D are all taught by seasoned professors with tons of resources so its easy to do well. dont do the 20/30 if you are an LS major…no point at all. the labs for 20/30 are a lot harder. 14 series is excellent prep for the mcat btw. ive learned a ridiculous amount of stuff so far. i dont know enough about the 20/30, but im sure its good prep too.</p>