Majoring in CNR for Molecular Biology?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>Okay, guys, I'm a 2nd year majoring in some sort in biology, and I like stuff that concerns with Immunology. I lurk the forums, seeing debates of MCB, IB, and even MEB and NST. However, I have no idea which majors to choose, and MEB/NST sounds appealing because how different they are. I'm a pre-med/pre-dentistry/pre-pharm (like I said, I have no idea which career to choose, and biology is probably my best subject; I may even consider research or something), so that means a lot. I'm more interested in the molecular level, and I know that IB provide some of those options as well.</p>

<p>Here are some questions that I have:</p>

<p>How difficult is it to transfer into CNR, and what are CNR requirements (like the L&S breadth requirements)?
-I'm currently in L&S right now (potentially doubling in Anthropology with a medical focus), and I have fulfilled/am in process of fulfulling the requirements of Chem 1A/L, Chem 3A/L, Calc AB, Math 1B, Physics 8A, and Bio 1B/L. Going to take Bio 1A/L and Chem 3B in spring. I also finished all of my L&S requirements.</p>

<p>How difficult are the classes in MEB and NST?
-I know that MCB is outrageously cutthroat, but I am really interested in Immuno, so I like options. I know that MEB provides Immuno electives, but I haven't looked at NST in-depth yet.</p>

<p>Is fulfilling the major requirements for MEB/NST difficult?
-I'm aware that they need more units to fulfill (I think that MEB has around 35 units and NST has 40 units for upper divs?). Just letting you guys know, if I take Physics 8B and Chem 3BL in Summer 2012 and 2 Anthro courses in the summer after, I can graduate a semester early as a double major in MCB/IB and Anthro, so I have room for a semester.</p>

<p>Lastly, this doesn't concern with CNR, but when should I take the MCAT?
-If I were to major in MCB/IB, I have an extra semester for doing med school stuff/take a break/do part-time research, so I have that option available.</p>

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<p>I can only answer a few of these since I haven’t followed this exact path, but one similar. I’m not pre-med, so I can’t answer your MCAT question. I was some sort of biology major in L&S coming in (probably leaning towards IB), but I transferred into CNR after my 3rd semester (I am MEB now). It was really easy to switch and declare because all you needed was a semester of bio and a year of chem. </p>

<p>I haven’t taken any NST classes, just one IB, a few MCB, and a lot of ESPM classes. In general, the ESPM classes are light in work and easy, but the tests can be memory-intensive. Its less reading than IB classes and less competitive with the other students than MCB I would say. Fulfilling the requirements is turning out harder than I thought since there are a lot of units to take and they can’t overlap. The most difficult thing with that is trying to get into upper div IB classes, since they limit the enrollment for non-IB majors. My area of concentration is not Environment and Human Health, which you would be if you wanted to focus on Immuno, so your experience may be different. EHH has a lot more classes to choose from. </p>

<p>Anyways, hope that helps. I find CNR more interactive than L&S was (I didn’t know who my adviser was in L&S) and the advisers has been tremendously helpful to me.</p>

3

<p>Thank you, sllamas1, for your quick reply!</p>

<p>Looking at Upper Div requirements, it seems that I have to take
-15 CNR Upper Div requirements
-12 units from the Human Track requirements.</p>

<p>Oh, so it’s not 35 units, but 27 ^^’ Is this very intensive within 3 semesters (along with a double major)? I’m not sure how many units that a typical MCB immuno/IB human track is.</p>

<p>I really like the less competition idea and the great interaction with CNR advisers (which I constantly read as +'s when I lurk around the forums). Your input is really helpful. Again, thank you!</p>

4

<p>Bumping this up. Still kinda iffy about CNR.</p>

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<p>I was a Moltox major (part of NST department) in CNR. In comparison, I didn’t find MCB classes to be a lot more challenging than NST classes. I ended up taking a lot more MCB classes because they were a lot more interesting, but that’s my preference. At the end, it doesn’t matter what you major in because you can always take classes in another department (except IB, which is a department notorious for guarding their upper divs against other majors). NST classes barely has any Immunology focus, so if you are interested in Immunology, I highly suggest looking into other majors. Also, take note that Bio Majors in the CNR department have a lot more Upper Divs to complete for graduation.</p>

<p>IB classes are generally driven by memorization, so if you have a good memory, these classes are easy A’s. I’ve taken 1 ESPM course (bioethics), which was a lot more work than I bargained for, but was by no means a hard class (seem in line with reviews for other ESPM courses). </p>

<p>I was happy with the advising I got in CNR, and the CNR community is definitely more tight-knit than L&S (you also get free printing!) However, I will also comment that my interactions with the MCB faculty (depending on who) have also been favorable and the professors are awesome resources. </p>

<p>For the MCAT-- if you are applying your senior year, try to take it during your junior year. Med school apps start early (June) and you will want to get those apps in early.</p>

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<p>If you’re interested in Immuno, you should also consider Microbial Bio (specifically Host/Pathogen track) in CNR. It’s very similar to MEB in the variety of courses you can take but has a slightly different focus. Feel free to message me with questions.</p>

<p>Generally, if you have a 3.0 and your pre-reqs completed, then you can usually switch into and declare within CNR. Keep in mind that some of the lower level pre-reqs are different and more specific than IB/MCB so you need to make sure that you’re following the appropriate pathway. For example, within MEB, you need some random ESPM classes and for Microbial Bio, you need Statistics. Additionally, CNR doesn’t really require PHYS 8B but you will need to take it for med school if you choose that route. Also, keep in mind that med schools require a year of Calc and you can’t use AP units for it.</p>

<p>If you major in anything in CNR, you’re going to dedicate the majority of your education towards fulfilling those requirements since it is a BS degree and requires more classes than a BA in MCB or IB. This is typically ~36 units as opposed to ~24 units for MCB/IB. In other words, it is going to be difficult to take additional courses for an additional major or minor. I definitely wouldn’t suggest doing this. Also, don’t underestimate any science courses offered at Berkeley. You want to make sure that you’re keeping your GPA up even if that means utilizing all 4 years. Understandably, you may think you’re able to cram it all in but you don’t want your grades to suffer. You also should start looking into various extracurriculars at this point and dedicating a good portion of your time to them. Anyway, I can’t speak for NST, but a lot of CNR requirements (like PMB courses) overlap with MCB so essentially you are still going to be competing with MCB students in classes like 102 (Biochem) and other cell biology courses but the perk is that you only need a few of them :)</p>

<p>THE PLUS SIDE!
CNR is a much smaller college so you have more access to professors and research if you try. Additionally, being in smaller classes could potentially allow you to more easily obtain recommendations etc.
I’m the kind of person who would probably choose to take science(ish) courses as additional electives anyway, so CNR gives me the opportunity to use those towards my degree whereas a major like MCB essentially requires 6 courses with no options. </p>

<p>I highly considered IB for the sake of it being easier than MCB but I’m really not interested in the content. Since you don’t know what you want to do post-graduation, try to figure out what aspects of bio you really like and see what kind of major will give you the chance to explore those topics. </p>

<p>Generally, if you want to go straight to med school the Fall after you graduate, you would take the MCAT sometime during the Spring of your Junior year. The AMCAS medical school application (and most others) open in the first week of June. Ideally, you would want to have your scores by this point (which take one month from the testing date) so I wouldn’t take it past April.</p>

<p>Trey, the advisor for MEB/MB is super nice ftr.</p>

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<p>hrhcow and killmyentourage, I’m really glad for your responses. I wish that I was more aware of CNR, so I would have transferred or enrolled in it much earlier and not have to deal with the 7 breadth requirements. I realize, with L&S and anthro, I would have to put in WAY more effort for NST and MEB. MEB seems really interesting to me (so is MB, but for some reason, I like MEB more; maybe it’s the class choices for the human track?), but I did not notice the lower div requirements for MEB (ESPM classes T^T), and the amount of upper divs is so intense… I’m seriously in the wrong college, and I feel that I don’t have much time left, and I already got so much of L&S done…</p>

<p>I might regret this in the future, but I will probably have to stick to MCB or IB. The amount of work for majors in CNR is too much when I already have got so much done in L&S. Thank you for all of your guys’ advices, though. It really help me ponder what I’m going to do.</p>

<p>Also, thank you for the MCAT information. I’m probably going to study it over winter break and take the test (hopefully, I get over 32).</p>

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<p>Actually, I looked over Microbiology again, and they don’t seem to have that many units as the other CNR classes. Hmm… I’m not sure if I’m really into plants, though. I’m more interested in the effects on the human bodies and its reaction/effectiveness in treating the disease, but I know that bacteria, viruses, etc. are really important to learn in immunology</p>

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<p>A lot of the PMB courses are cross listed with MCB just for reference.</p>

<p>Microbial Bio Required Courses:
MCB 102 (or C100A, 100B, 110)
PMB C112 = MCB C112 Microbiology
PMB C148 = MCB C148 Microbial Genomics & Genetics</p>

<p>Additional Courses you could choose from (Need 6):
PMB C114 = MCB C114 Virology
PMB C103 = MCB C103 Bacterial Pathogenesis
MCB 150 Immunolgy
MCB 150L Immunology Lab</p>

<p>You could technically tailor your schedule to include mostly MCB if you wanted to. The plus side of having IB, Pub Hlth, and ESPM classes optional is that you don’t HAVE to take as many difficult MCB classes. Personally, I’m taking PH 150A (Intro to Epidemiology & Human Disease) next semester which I consider relevant to learning about Immuno but an easier class to combine with MCB 102 than like… MCB 104 for example. Overall, it’s up to you, but there is a lot of flexibility in course combinations with any of the CNR majors. 36 units seems daunting but a lot of the classes aren’t as intense as those you’ll find in MCB so it’s more manageable.</p>

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<p>Thanks again, killmyentourage. What you said is really useful (especially the fact that CNR classes are not as difficult as MCB). Hopefully, if I have time tomorrow, I’m going to see an adviser in CNR to discuss my plans for classes.</p>