<p>Hey guys so I'm starting to feel like my schedule is packed with tough classes and I am looking to drop Chem for a core filler course. I really have no idea where to start, though. Anyone got suggestions?</p>
<p>My schedule so far:</p>
<p>English 101
General Chemistry (Looking to sub a class for this)
Cell Bio
Intro to Micro Economics
Spanish 2040
Public Education TIDE</p>
<p>I'm on the waitlist for Psych 1000 but I don't really think that's considered a filler course; even if I drop chem for psych I don't really know how much easier that makes my schedule. Any thoughts on psych with Rollins?
Thanks</p>
<p>Why not start a language at the 100 level? French is very easy if you know some Spanish. That way, it’s not just a filler class, it’s something that you can continue if you’d like. </p>
<p>If you are really looking for just “filler” I suggest something like music theory (basically what 5 year olds study when learning sheet music) or even a “credit for learning an instrument” class. Take something you’d like to play. Also, there are dance classes which are easy paced. Other than that, you’ll find quite a bit of busy work at Tulane. (It’s not that the classes are always hard.)</p>
<p>Psychology is not a filler class at Tulane. You’ll have lots of reading. The tests will come directly from the reading (not the lectures) almost word for word and you’ll need to do it.</p>
<p>Also: Creative Writing 101 is an easy class. No homework except writing one or two poems and a few short stories. Reading that you should read but can apparently get away with not reading. (Easy) portfolio grade, no test.</p>
<p>Actually, in terms of Rollins, it’s a GREAT course! Almost filler, I’d say. Her lectures are thorough and lively and most of the info comes from the lecture! Reading will enrich your knowledge and help but I know a lot of people that got A’s in PSYC1000 without reading but who LOVED that course. Just go to class everyday and you’re 90% set.</p>
<p>With class scheduling and registration for the fall rapidly approaching, I thought it would be good for current students to share some suggestions for good classes to take to meet various requirements or as electives. The class schedule has already been posted (Tulane University - Class Schedule), although I’m sure that Tulane will add more sections of things and switch around the teachers.</p>
<p>My suggestions:</p>
<p>Humanities/Inside European Tradition (Perspectives)- Meets 2 Requirements at once!!
-Mythology
-History of Ancient Philosophy-I haven’t personally taken this, but I’ve heard it’s pretty easy and that the Prof (Jennifer Beers) is pretty awesome</p>
<p>Social Science/Outside European Tradition (Perspectives)
-Cultural Anthropology-Really easy, just check the prof on rate my professor to ensure a class with minimal work/assignments</p>
<p>Social Sciences
-Intro Psych-Most people take this class at some point, it’s pretty easy and interesting, although as a neuro major I am heavily biased!!!
-Sociology of the Family
-Any Anthro Class</p>
<p>Fine Arts- I would avoid any of the “art” classes (i.e. glassblowing, painting, etc) because they require hours of extra studio time each week per class. They aren’t hard, but they take up soooo much time.
-Dance- You get credit to work out
-Music Theory-Very easy, if you can read music and actually go to class, this should be an automatic A</p>
<p>Honors Requirement
-Inquiring Minds at TU-One of my favorite classes at TU. It’s an Intro to Research Class where you go and tour labs on campus and learn to read research articles, etc. This class is for ALL majors (not just in the sciences). The Prof is awesome and a SUPER easy grader. All 10 of us who took it in the fall ALL got an A! Seriously, this was probably the easiest class I have ever/will ever take at TU AND it is Honors</p>
<p>Thanks guys, I’ve added myself to the waitlist of both psych and music theory, but I do have one question about music theory.</p>
<p>For someone who literally knows nothing about music, does not know how to read it, hasn’t played an instrument since 3rd grade recorder, would music theory be a really bad idea?</p>
<p>Also, I am considering signing up for the intro to Chinese language course. I have spoken it all my life, though not particularly accurately, and never been able to write. My question is, how difficult/time consuming are intro languages typically at Tulane? I am specifically looking at Guoqing Qin’s class.</p>
<p>I’m signed up for Music Theory in the fall with Jensen. I did play cello all throughout high school and can ready music, etc, but I’ve never heard of anyone having a problem with music theory. Honestly, given the other choices for fine arts, I think music theory is a pretty safe bet. Most teachers are known to let students out early all the time, give take home tests & finals, and move at a comfortable pace (even for those with no prior “music experience”).</p>
<p>Also, if you are pre-med, I wouldn’t drop chem. You really need to take care of that class freshmen year to be on track.</p>
<p>Feel free to PM me (or just post here) if you need more help.</p>
<p>Thanks tulane14, do you think I could still manage the premed track if I just did Cell first semester and then Chem second semester? I know I’d have some serious catching up to do, but I am just not sure if it’s the right move for me to commit to such a hard course load for first semester. My plan was to spend first semester feeling out the course difficulty and work load, but it doesn’t seem like that’s much of an option for potential pre-med students.</p>
<p>if you’re worried about feeling overloaded, have you considered putting off cell? you could always take ebio first semester (the much easier class of the two) and then take cell bio second semester once you have adjusted to college life. yes, if you are premed and want to be on track, you really need to take chem in the fall. chem 1 isn’t offered in the spring, so if you don’t take it in the fall you will have to wait until your sophomore year. if you were to drop any of the premed classes, i would drop cell bio and not chem because you can’t take orgo without having general chemistry. cell bio you can take any semester at tulane. i hope this all makes sense, feel free to ask for further clarification if you need it.</p>
<p>If you still need to alleviate your course load a bit, you could also put off taking econ.</p>
<p>Well this really complicates things… I don’t know what my major is, which makes it that much harder. I hadn’t considered putting off Cell, I guess because I figured I’d have more success in Bio than I would Chem. I think for me it’s more just a fear of failure, as my chem class junior year wasn’t great preparation (easy A) while it seems like everyone else took AP. On top of that, I have yet to take calculus and haven’t touched a math textbook in quite some time, which I figure is another disadvantage. (And I’ve heard Schmel is rough.)</p>
<p>I don’t want to go in on day one and completely throw out any chance of a premed track, but I don’t see how I can possibly enjoy college life with such a course load.</p>
<p>Another thing playing into it is my undecided major. The only reason I signed up for Microeconomics was to explore a bit, maybe find something else I’m good at. This makes me hesitate to just drop it for a completely premed course, but at this point I guess I kind of have to take a leap of faith in premed or just quit it. Looks like I have some serious choices to make before September.</p>
<p>One more thing- do the chem labs usually last all 3 hours? The only one I am able to take is from 6-9 PM on Wednesday night, and I really don’t want to do that. I was hoping to do from 12-3 Monday, but I have a Spanish class that starts at 3. Would I be able to get department approval for this, or do the labs sometimes run late?</p>
<p>You don’t need departmental approval, the labs should be actually done by 2:50 at the latest, giving you 10 minutes to get to Spanish (Newcomb Hall?). Should be fine. I imagine many days you will finish a few minutes early at least.</p>
<p>It won’t allow me to register on Gibson because it says the times conflict. I assume the way to get around that is to speak with the teachers or department?</p>
<p>Unless you want to take summer school, by putting off general chemistry to sophomore year, you are pretty much ruining any chance of studying abroad junior year. In addition, if you are interested in the creative scholars program (early admittance to Tulane Med School as a non-science major), you are also disqualifying yourself from even applying. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry too much about chem. You are going to college now. All your classes are going to be hard. As long as you are willing to put in the time, you should be fine. I know several people that got A’s and B’s who had never even had chemistry before. The tutoring center, upperclassmen, and your professor will all be helpful resources in obtaining the grade you want. </p>
<p>It’s all up to you, but taking chemistry and cell bio together isn’t that bad. I took general chemistry, calculus 1, and cell bio all together and managed to make A’s in all three. Med school is going to be way harder than anything you do in undergrad. In addition, your freshman year is the least important year in terms of grades. Med schools understand that it takes a while to adjust to college and are generally forgiving as long as you show a positive, upward trend through your sophomore and junior years.</p>
<p>You’ll start to see that sadly there isn’t much room for exploration with a typical pre-med schedule. Almost all my courses have been in the sciences. I can relate to you because while I’m pretty set on a neuroscience/psychology/biology major, I’m still searching for something else to enrich my academic experience.</p>
I couldn’t agree with you more, tulane14. It is a shame that, from what I read on here anyway, it is considered a stigma to take 5 years to graduate as far as med schools are concerned. Sure, it might be too expensive for a lot of people anyway, but for those that can afford it it just makes sense to take this unique time in your life to enrich your life through being exposed to Chaucer and/or Brazilian anthropology and/or the history of the Ottoman Empire. Seems to me it would make a lot of people better doctors too. Tulane must agree with this in principle since they have the Creative Scholars program.</p>
<p>headingsouth - I guess they programmed the computer to have the class go all the way to 3:00. I would think you could get it OK’d. E-mail your advisor.</p>
<p>To be completely honest, you don’t sound like a great fit for a pre-med major. </p>
<p>If you are thinking about pre-med, you should really, really love science–more than anything else. You shouldn’t already be concerned about the heavy load or the impossibility of “enjoying school” with a few science classes on your plate. You also shouldn’t be upset about not taking a class in (obscure liberal arts subject here.) I’m not saying you shouldn’t care about other things; you should. I’m just saying that if it is difficult for you to sacrifice time, liberal arts, or an “easy course load” for your proposed career path, these four years will be miserable, and your seven years plus at medical school will be even more miserable. There’s a reason that medical school has less than a 50% retention rate.</p>
<p>Your schedule is pretty normal compared to most freshman. My freshman year was chemistry+lab, biology, a 300-level German class, Hebrew, volunteering ten hours a week, Tides and something else that I can’t even remember. It ended up being about 19 credits. Schedules should only become “easy” senior year, and only if you’ve completed your major(s). I’ve completed mine twice over, so I feel entitled to take two instrument for credit courses and a dance class for the heck of it. A freshman shouldn’t. Please pile your classes on and get them out of the way.</p>
<p>I appreciate your honesty, tulanechild. I think my problem is that I love biology a lot more than I like chemistry, which I guess just isn’t gonna fly. I’m not really sure what to do now then… Just drop chem and say screw pre-med? Regardless, I don’t really know what to add, so back to the original post, any more ideas would be great.</p>
<p>The reason I am so concerned about course load is I feel like everyone is always talking about their filler classes, and rarely have a schedule packed with legitimately hard or tedious classes.</p>
<p>You’re clearly a top student at Tulane, which I won’t be able to say when I show up. I’ll be pretty average; I didn’t take a bunch of AP’s in high school, I just showed up and got A’s in standard classes and rode my 2100 to a scholarship. I’ve never really been an overachiever in school, so I guess that contributes to my hesitancy in taking these science courses right away. Seeing kids like you who love every aspect of science and are thriving is definitely making me realize that maybe I’m just not committed enough for premed. So… where do I go from here?</p>
<p>I would absolutely not take cell 101 if you are not pre-med. Dr. V will say that on the first day of class and she isn’t kidding. The class is A LOT of work and studying. Pre-med at Tulane is hard (but totally do-able) and if you aren’t sure about it, then I would wait to pursue that coures of study until you are.</p>
<p>I think you should honestly just pick random classes that interest you. You have 2 years to declare your major. Take econ, history, gender studies, english, psychology, a language…take whatever sparks your fancy, especially things that will satisfy a CORE tulane requirement.</p>
<p>I’m actually not a science major. I did what you are doing now for the wrong reasons. I could do science well enough but hated it with a passion. Nothing about it excited me or motivated me to put any more effort than what was needed to make that A. My motives were this: I’ve got to be pre-med, I’ve got to be a doctor, I’ve got to make money. Life is short, however, and I realized I’d much rather teach than be a doctor. That’s what motivates me and makes me happy. </p>
<p>In the end, I don’t think what I did was a mistake. I got all of my science requirements out of the way my first semester. However, if I could do it again, I would have taken one science class per semester and filled the rest with classes that interested me. Why? There’s no reason to fill your schedule with hard science classes unless you are pre-med. (For the record, I also would have taken geology instead of chemistry, because this actually interests me.)</p>
<p>Don’t tie yourself down with the scholars programme. If you want to be pre-med, you can accomplish this your second semester sophomore year if you really want to. If you don’t study abroad it is even easier. I suggest taking a science, math, language, tides, a class that fills the cultural requirement at Tulane, and maybe an easy fine arts class (dance or music theory.) That way you’re getting a good taste of ALL subjects while filling (most) all your requirements. It also will be an easier schedule.</p>
<p>I haven’t been able to get in touch with my adviser, but I will try giving her a call again on Monday. This discussion is making me shy away from pre-med; I may drop chem for psychology or statistics, and bio for a class tbd.</p>
<p>Anyone know anything about international development with Laura Murphy?</p>
<p>I don’t know about Laura Murphy, but all my friends who have taken int development have said that it is a ton of work. Most of them complain about the weekly papers and say that everything is graded harshly. To be honest, these weren’t my “smartest” friends, but I have heard similar things from multiple people. I personally haven’t taken the class, but if you are interested in international development I would go ahead and take it.</p>