<p>With the first semester over, and before the second starts full swing, I thought I'd answer any questions.</p>
<p>A little info about myself:</p>
<p>Freshman
Intended major: Cognitive Neuroscience
Work at the library (work-study)
Starting to volunteer in the Spring with Big Brother Big Sister
Live in a high rise
On financial aid (if anyone needs to know)</p>
<p>fire away :)
and congrats to the ED acceptances!</p>
<p>Holy crap! You are legitimately the perfect person to post for me. I just applied to Penn as a cognitive neuroscience prospect. How do you like the program?</p>
<p>Well I’m taking the introduction to brain and behavior this semester, which is needed for neuroscience. Since I can’t declare till the fall, I’ll pass along info I got from an upperclassman who is a part of MAP (major advising program)</p>
<p>"To start off, I’ll just you give you run down of the major. All of this information can be found on the undergraduate webpage but in case you hadn’t found it yet, here is the link [Institute</a> for Research in Cognitive Science](<a href=“http://www.ircs.upenn.edu/education/ba-cogsci.shtml]Institute”>http://www.ircs.upenn.edu/education/ba-cogsci.shtml). </p>
<p>For the Cognitive Science major, you have:
1 Core Requirements
6 Breadth Requirements
9 Concentration Electives</p>
<p>The Core Requirement is the Introduction to Cognitive Science course. You don’t have to take it before you declare, but it is suggested because it gives you a general idea of what cognitive science really is. Personally, I declared last semester without having taken the course. I’m taking it this semester because it is only offered in the fall.</p>
<p>The Breadth Requirements include courses in psychology, computation, language, philosophy, neuroscience and mathematics. These courses are mainly large introductory classes that specialize in particular areas of Cognitive Science. If you’re unsure what concentration you want to do, these introductory classes can help a lot because they really provide a general idea of the concentrations. For example, PSYC 001 covers the psychology requirement and BIBB 109 covers the neuroscience requirement.</p>
<p>Concentration electives are courses directly related towards your concentration. As a neuroscience concentration, this would mostly include psych, BIBB and some biology courses. This is where you can take upper level courses and focus on classes that pertain to your particular interests. On the webpage, there is a list of courses possible but also keep in mind that there are many classes that aren’t listed but will count. Basically, just talk with your major advisor about what classes would count.</p>
<p>Now, let me try to answer some of your questions</p>
<p>In consideration for your mock schedule, I don’t have any suggestions in particular, just that I suggest taking courses that aim to fulfill college and pre-med requirements as a freshmen or sophomore. This was the route I took and I think everyday how grateful I am I did. Now as an upperclassmen, I have plenty of room to just take courses for my major and don’t have to worry so much about those requirements. However, also keep in mind that this is strictly my personal opinion but I wanted to inform you with as much information possible.</p>
<p>I definitely recommend taking PSYC 109 next semester. Looking back, I should have taken the class freshmen year and instead am in it now. It’s a very interesting class but largely it is a pre-requisite for many upper levels BBB and Psych courses. So it’s best just to get it out of the way early on because that will allow you to take upper level courses.</p>
<p>One of the nice things about Cognitive Science is that there is flexibility which allows you to focus on what’s interesting to you. For example, I’m really interested in language and the brain as well as memory in the brain. Therefore, I’ve taken multiple cognitive development and language acquisition courses but if you’re interested in another area, you can choose to take more classes concentrating on that instead. That being said, some of my favorite classes thus far include PSYC 281 - Cognitive Development and PSYC 151 - Language and Thought. For me, they were by far some of the most interesting classes I’ve taken here at Penn and are well taught by renowned professors.</p>
<p>My favorite thing about Cognitive Science is that it is interdisciplinary across major departments so you can take BBB and Psych classes that count towards your major electives. For me, this was a distinguishing factor against majoring in just BIBB or Psych because there isn’t always as much flexibility in those majors. But again, this was just what suited me best and I cannot say it is the path for you although it might be something to keep in mind.</p>
<p>I hope this helps you make your decision! If you have more questions, please don’t hesitate to email me again!"</p>
<p>So Penn had a separate neurosience major? Wow…i thought it was the BBB program.</p>
<p>Its under the cogsci department</p>
<p>Which high rise are you in? And how hard is it to get into the high rises either through fresh ex or at Harnwell?</p>
<p>Any reason you didn’t opt for the Quad? Mind saying how you did grades wise ? How was your workload? Thx</p>
<p>sorry what math courses did you have to take? I want to do premed/econ and wondering how math intensive those are?</p>
<p>Which high rise are you in? And how hard is it to get into the high rises either through fresh ex or at Harnwell?</p>
<p>I live in Harnwell, was my top choice. There are 96 of us in the building of several hundred. I am not in a program floor so my floor is almost all freshman. There are a few programs floors related to arts and one for internationals. I don’t know anybody in freshex but I hear its a great program. </p>
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<p>Any reason you didn’t opt for the Quad? Mind saying how you did grades wise ? How was your workload? Thx</p>
<p>I didn’t want to live in the Quad because:
The idea of surrounding myself with hundreds of people living away from home for the first time was unappealing to me.
The noise level.
I’m an introvert and need that space and quiet to maintain sanity lol so I wanted to maximize that. It’s really nice being able to cook, especially when I’m sick I don’t have to leave my room for food, and being able to close the door and have it quiet is a plus.
I don’t really care either way for the “essential college freshman experience” so if you’re okay with not necessarily being down the hall from your friends, it doesn’t make a difference. I’m in a few clubs and it forced me to be more sociable.
Spring Fling in the quad? I’ll pass lol.</p>
<p>I took 4.5cu last semester (four classes and chem lab) and got 3 B+, 1 B, 1 A. That gives me a 3.42 for the semester. I took chem101, a writing seminar, spanish 121, chem lab, and math104. Workload-wise, I’ll admit I hyperadjusted to college life. Having a schedule in terms of “I know when I’ll do this” keeps you on track. I knew that Tues I would do my lab report, I had two tutors to keep me in check even though I probably could have done without my chem one, figured out before I left my room my general plan for the day, etc. It’s about organizing more than anything. </p>
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<p>sorry what math courses did you have to take? I want to do premed/econ and wondering how math intensive those are?</p>
<p>Math104. If you keep up with hw and such, it isn’t too horrible especially if you took BC calc, as I did, it’s really inclusive of all BC calc material. Just faster and more complicated. Huge focus on integrals. I know someone who’s been taking chem/math but doing econ and he did 114. He thought it was easier than the stuff I was doing. The professors aren’t so great from my understanding. He also did Chem with me and did well so I’d say it’s possible.
For first semester, I’d definitely recommend taking math, a science, and writing to get it out of the way. I’m really glad I did it. My chem prof always told me there was an order to the premed sciences (Physics -> Gen Chem -> Orgo -> Bio) so if you’re looking for an idea, that’s one. I pushed off physics because I’m looking to a chem minor and I love chem so for me personally, I opted to take the chem classes first.</p>
<p>Edit: forgot a question. oops.</p>
<p>Class registration at the college I currently attend is like a war zone. Classes fill up insanely fast, and those who don’t get in are left hoping on a waitlist. The advising office simply doesn’t care about the students. Their policy is that if you don’t get in the class (even if a major requirement), then tough luck, you’re graduating a semester later. This is one of the many reasons why I am trying to transfer. </p>
<p>What is registering for classes like at UPenn?</p>
<p>It’s about strategy. Profs are pretty lenient if you need it for your major and its full. Classes like Sex and Human Nature and Intro to Brain and Behavior and the writing seminars fill very quickly, with the later being full of freshman for the most part. </p>
<p>When filling out your “wishlist”, as I like to think of it, during Advance Registration, it’s good to be strategic. I list all my small classes first, then my alternates are the classes I already have listed or the same class at a different/same time(different prof). I was able to get all of my classes this semester with no problem. </p>
<p>People drop and shuffle around, there are waiting lists, but Advance registration is your best bet before the live registration period that follows about two weeks later. The high up you go in your major, the less full the classes tend to be. I’m pretty sure cogsci courses never fill up completely unless it is crosslisted or needed for other majors. The smaller the major, the less likely you’ll have those issues in general. I’m not sure how more popular majors deal with it but its a trend that classes are smaller and not difficult to get into. </p>
<p>Overall I’ve had no issue, and when I needed a chem lab I just emailed the head of the department and he stuffed me into a closed class :)</p>
<p>wow 96 freshman, that seems like a pretty good community for freshman. I’ll definitely apply now</p>
<p>Did you take any AP credits? Are they shown as an A for GPA purposes? If majoring in Bio for pre med is it best to not take the AP credits so you take the classes to protect a high GPA?</p>
<p>I know kids who took AP bio and instead of taking 101/102 they took bio121 and 1 other level 200 course to fufill the year. </p>
<p>AP English doesn’t really do much
For premed requirements you still have to take the course, from my understanding. Just the next level. I don’t remember if it’s required or just incredibly suggested but I would not opt out of a premed course with AP credit if you don’t plan to take a higher level course.
As for GPA overall, just remember it’s not the only determining factor and there are a lot of resources here to make you a more interesting applicant (MAPS, Penn Premed Association, Career services takes a look at resume formats, plenty of workshops, etc)</p>
<p>Things on the MCAT are much more than any AP class can teach. Chem101 here covers quantum theory which is much more than any AP class can cover ever, so it is likely bio101 will do the same here.</p>
<p>Thanks Mini, If you opt to use your AP credit do you get an A grade on that course?? Or just get to take a different class?</p>
<p>It doesn’t count as an A. I’m not sure how it comes up on the transcript since I decided not to use any AP credit. It probably just comes as complete, if at all to be honest.</p>