I have been accepted to IU, and am about to put my deposit down for it. Before I do, however, I want to ask whether IU is good for pre med. I plan on going to med school, and wanted to know what the classes are like, research opportunities, etc.
@TheInstitute might be able to help
There’s different paths to pre-med major wise. I know people that did Chemistry, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Biology, and Human Biology that did or are doing it. Research opportunities vary based on the department you’re in, Chemistry et. al. or Biology have more stuff going but more students.
Regardless of major, the premed sequence is a bit cast in stone, and like anywhere else is heavy on Chemistry. There’s a pre-professional office of advising that handles pre-med, pre-law, etc. and recommended course sequences.
(let’s not tell him about the cost of C117 textbooks :))
Awesome! So, do you think that the classes and opportunities are good? I know the answer is most likely to be a yes, I just want to confirm before I commit.
The classes are pretty much what IU Med School et. al. expect. If you want to armchair-quarterback it, the chem class sequence is a bit over the top loaded with chemistry as required by med schools (Chemistry 1 freshman 1st semester, Orgo 1 freshman 2nd semester :), Orgo 2 sophomore 1st, then hopefully one is still alive to take Chem 2 2nd semester sophomore). Physics is OK. Math, Calc 1 and 2 (2 optional depending on major, many kids do it), is fine. Biology, not an issue, lots of courses. Social studies, you really have to try hard to not find many semesters’ worth of good classes. Statistics is a bit iffy, IMHO, because every department offers some rendition of STAT 300 (?) but really not much more unless you dig deep into statistics for majors courses. I’m a very firm believer in statistics regardless of major so that would be about my only heartburn. Free electives, yea, again, you have to try to not find some to your liking. Writing, if you skip the dreaded W131 via ACT/SAT you still need to take some writing course, there’s a few good ones. Foreign languages, more than you could ever take.
Class sizes are generally small (esp after 1st test !!, class start at 60 and after a while they dwindle down) and over the top availability of office hours, recitations, more recitations, and the like. Are the classes easy? I don’t think they are, but then Organic Chemistry is Organic Chemistry, no way around that. IU has a grading database where you can see what grade distributions were given for which semester for any instructor. Best thing ever. Texts are expensive but useful and plenty of materials are available.
Summer classes are available which is nice. Labs seem to be decent to good. Opportunities for research, well, you have to look out for #1, approach profs, keep good grades, etc etc. Today was a research symposium where IU undergrad students presented their work. Plenty of good research there.
I would say if you aren’t set into one generic major like Biology or Biochem, look around into what other majors could offer while still covering the premed sequence. Scheduling courses needs a bit of care since the campus is a bit spread out and some buildings are unfortunately located in locations involving lots of walking. Careful dorm selection helps, the new Wells Quad dorm is pricey but pretty much a few squirrel lengths away from the important buildings.
Awesome, thanks for your help! I really appreciate it 
My son’s friend graduated last year with some sort of science degree. He took thisyear off to study for the MCAT and take a mental break. (His Dad’s, also a doctor, recommendation). He was recently admitted to Med school and Law School.
A “famous” doctor in Bloomington was my daughter’s cardiologist. During one of her check-ups he asked her about her planned IU major. At that time she was planning English and Spanish dual majors. Famous Doctor tried to convince her to consider taking the pre-med sequence of courses also. He indicated that Med schools need doctors that are more than scientists. They need doctors that have people skills and that can communicate well. You don’t have to be a science major to go to Med school.