<p>If we're planning to take a life science major(psychobiology), should I take the Chem 14 or Chem 20 series? Also, after I take Chem 14, do I go onto Chem30(Organic Chemistry)?</p>
<p>For psychobiology, you can take 14 or 20. Most people take the 14 series, but some take the 20H series. The infrastructure is similar, but the title is ".. for life science majors" for 14. You can take the 20 series for flexibility if you aren't sure if you will switch out of your life science major.</p>
<p>After 14 is the 30 series; you are correct.</p>
<p>if you are sure you'll stick with life science (psychobio, bio, MIMG, MCD Bio, etc) then take 14 series because its slightly easier and fewer classes. 14 series already includes ochem. consists of 14A, 14B, 14BL, 14C, 14CL, 14D.</p>
<p>if you might switch to a physical science (chem, biochem) or engineering (chemE, bioE, etc), then take 20/30 series. consists of 20A, 20B, 20L, 30A, 30AL, 30B, 30BL, 30C, 30CL. has one more ochem class and 2 more lab classes than 14 series.</p>
<p>Boelter, no...14 series does not go into 30 series. only 20 series goes into 30 series. then 14 and 20/30 both go into biochem (if your major requires it).</p>
<p>If you know you'll either stick w/ your major or stay within the life sciences (or basically any major except chemistry/biochemistry/or some type of engineering), its recommended that you take the 14 chemistry series, which is considered to be easier, and has 1 less lecture and 1-2 less labs (2 if you want to take Chem 30CL which is not required and is not generous at all in the grading) than the 20/30 chemistry series. 14A and B are the general chemistry courses and 14C and 14D are the o-chem courses for the series- you cannot take the Chem30 courses (which goes w/ the 20/30 series) unless you decide to redo your chemistry courses beginning from 20A since you're attempting to upgrade mid-way through the series. If you're taking the 20/30 series on the otherhand, you can try to petition to downgrade to the 14 series at the o-chem junction (after 20B, and attempt to enter 14C), but you have to go through paperwork and your petition can still get rejected.</p>
<p>All in all, the safest route in my opinion is to stick with a life science major and take the 14 series unless you love chemistry (the curve tends to be stronger in chemistry courses where the people are engineers and chemistry and biochemistry students who may very well also be pre-meds rather than a course full of a bunch of pre-meds that have yet to be weeded out since the latter has more of a "cushion" in terms of enrolled students more towards the lower end of the ladder)</p>
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Boelter, no...14 series does not go into 30 series. only 20 series goes into 30 series. then 14 and 20/30 both go into biochem (if your major requires it).
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My apologies, you are right. That would be a killer to take both 14 and 30.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for clarifying!</p>
<p>Oh, I have another question: If I were planning to go to medical/pharmacy/dentistry school, should I do psychobiology or biochemistry?</p>
<p>Doesn't matter, as long as you get your BCPM reqs done. Although you know you don't have to be a science major to go to med school, right?</p>
<p>It really doesn't matter, as long as your major has the core bio classes (chem, math, physics, etc.) that those schools require. These schools don't care what major you have. </p>
<p>(note: some pharmacy schools do prefer you to take the chem 20/30 series)</p>
<p>Do med/dental schools prefer either of the chem series?</p>
<p>Yep, either chem series works. Keep in mind that Chem 20/30 does give you more flexibility when it comes to switching majors between L&S and Engineering. More importantly, you'll be able to take equivalents of Chem 20/30 at other UCs and CSUs. Chem 14 is UCLA-specific, and the Chemistry Department will not allow you to take that anywhere else. It's a pain when you're trying to take classes closer to home, but you're forced to take it at UCLA instead.</p>
<p>i have a few friends who are life science majors but decided to take the 20 series "just in case they wanted to switch".....huge mistake! Chances are, you aren't going to be switching to biochemistry (if you are already set on a life-science major) so why make it harder on yourself? Stick with 14 if you're pre-health.</p>
<p>all i have to say is....i wish i had switched to a life science major before starting chem...</p>