Math 1A or 16A for MCB

<p>Hey i am a spring admit and an MCB major. I have never taken Calc before...and i only took a dumb precal class in hs. Many told me to go into 16a since i need a calc background for 1A but MCB requires 1A. What should i do? Am i screwed?</p>

<p>You are not an MCB major, you are an intended MCB major.
If you don't have AP credit for 1A-1B, you will need to take 1A-1B to declare MCB.</p>

<p>Any other bio major will allow you to use 16A-16B. MCB, BioE, and ChemBio (and some of the EPS bio tracks) require 1A-1B. Normally, you can use AP credit for declaration and Math 16A-B for med/grad school.</p>

<p>Now time for the public service announcement:
MCB is the hardest bio major not counting ChemBio. Only do it if you love it. If you are MCB you are obviously looking forward for a graduate school or professional school (sadly Biology degrees don't get much these days), if you're really into MCB, then stay MCB. If you don't and you're just a premed following the bandwagon, find a new major.</p>

<p>Seems to be duplicate postings of this, but anon5524485 makes such a good point, I wish more people would take note. You don’t have to do MCB to study biology, and you certainly don’t need to do MCB to do premed. If you aren’t strong in math, it is crazy to take 1A/1B, those classes will destroy you.</p>

<p>yes i accidently posted this twice..sorry bout that
i actually never took calc in high school...so i dont have the needed AP credits. Do u guys think that if i took MATH 16A first and then went to 1A that i could do that? would it set me behind more than i already am by being a spring admit? And u are totally right about the premed thing...thats what i am looking toward. I have heard MCB is hard...but the problem is i dont know if i love it because i havent really gotten exposure to it. Should i just do another bio major...are they all similar anyway. Also i was thinking about Molecular Toxicology but i am not sure. Sigh...so confused.</p>

<p>oh thanks guys for your replies...i really appreciate it...this freedom in class choices is really new to me!</p>

<p>
[quote]
Should i just do another bio major

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes, there is no doubt about it.</p>

<p>If you realize after the first third of bio 1a that you molecular bio you can always go switch to MB/MCB/MEB afterwards.</p>

<p>ok...i hope a realize it soon...because this uncertainty is making me insane</p>

<p>The thing is, you should take 16A. Taking 1A is setting yourself up for trouble. 16A lets you go on to medical school, lets you major in biology, lets you major in all kinds of things. It limits you very little. Without a calculus background, 16A will be hard.</p>

<p>ok...i think i have no choice then...i dont want to set myslef up for failure. and i talked to the math advisor today and she said that i can take 1A after i take 16A but i wont recieve any units for 1A, so if i decide that i realllly want to do MCB then its not the end of the world. thanks guys
there is only one 16A lecture though...so i hope i get it :S</p>

<p>
[quote]
If you realize after the first third of bio 1a that you molecular bio you can always go switch to MB/MCB/MEB afterwards.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I mean MB/MEB.</p>

<p>i heard that if you take 1A and 1B you will be able to get more research opportunities. is that true?</p>

<p>math research maybe, nothing really for biology</p>

<p>mmmm...i hate making decisions. lol
maybe i will just take 1A and study really hard..</p>

<p>don't do it. don't rape you GPA. Do 16A. Microbial biology and molecular ecological biology are still molecular (assuming you ultimately decide to you want molecular) and take 16A.</p>

<p>You CAN do both 16A and MCB if you decide to do the Neuro or CDB emphases only. They won't allow it for the other emphases. The waiver of 1A/1B and using 16A/16B in contingent on the adviser. I know 2 people who did this (CDB) and I did 1A/16B and am doing 16B.</p>

<p>really? ok i didnt know that rishabh87</p>

<p>thanks everyone, i feel like i am being really wishywashy
but i dont want to stress myself my first semester...so 16A it is</p>

<p>but wait....
the only prof for 16A in woodin and people say he is really bad
<em>sigh</em></p>

<p>Remember what we told you about MCB, you said you don't even know if you like it.</p>

<p>Do not follow the bandwagon!</p>

<p>anon2528462 ur make good points</p>