<p>I am maybe pre-med (not entirely sure, been wavering back and forth with it - other things like clinical neuropsychology really intrigue me too) and I am planning on taking maybe 18 credits for next semester, and maybe research (not entirely sure yet, and not sure if for credit). I was also originally bio but thinking of doing biopsych now, here is my prospective schedule:</p>
<p>Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
Intro to Biopsychology (3 credits)
Elementary Modern Hebrew III (4 credits)
Psych Stats (4 credits)
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (4 credits)</p>
<p>Will this be too much? I know that if there's one course to drop, it would probably be Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, but I REALLY want to take it and am extremely interested in the subject matter. I figure that just in case I decide to drop it, for courseenroll I will put my self down for Orgo Lab 251 and drop one or the other depending on how I feel about my schedule.</p>
<p>I think I could handle it. I do not think Hebrew will be much work, and from what I hear, stats courses are really easy (though maybe different depending on which one?). That leaves two courses with most likely moderate amounts of work, and then of course, orgo. Would I not have a life with this schedule? I figure that on Mon, Wed, Fri, I have class from 9 to 3:30, and I could stick research somewhere in the 2.5 hour breaks I have those days. On Tues and Thurs I have class from 11:30 to 2:15, so that's not really that much. Will it just be ridiculous amounts of studying outside of class? I feel like I already have experience studying my ass off more than ever before due to Bio 105, though that was with 15 credits. Is orgo significantly more studying than a course like Bio 105? Would it be best to just sign up with all of this and then see what I can handle at the beginning of next semester?</p>
<p>Well what are reasons for taking it sophomore as opposed to junior year? I hear it usually is about half and half, and none of my friends who are pre-med who I know are taking physics yet, and so far they're doing extremely well. I know that you can take MCAT's earlier, but what's so bad about taking it at the end of junior year?</p>
<p>Plus the thing is that I'm not die-hard pre-med, as I'm trying to keep my options open. I suppose that if I really needed physics, I could get rid of Israeli-Palestinian conflict and psych stats, but I really should be taking psych stats, unless maybe taking autotutorial would be better, but I've heard bad things about it compared to Bio 105 which I loved, and I'd feel like it'd be a waste after taking AP Physics C and getting a 5 on both tests. I want to try to start getting a broader education rather than just the usualy orgo, physics, etc.</p>
<p>Am I wrong in thinking this? Any advice you have would be greatly helpful!</p>
<p>There's nothing wrong with taking physics junior year....just realize if you plan to apply for admission during your senior year, you will most likely be preparing for the MCAT junior year as well. And preparing for that test is something that is not to be taken lightly.</p>
<p>You could always discuss this with a pre-med advisor...that's what they're here for!</p>
<p>Yeah, I understand what you're saying about that. Ironically, although it probably seems like I have been procrastinating working out my schedule, I thought I finalized it over a month ago and thought very carefully about it. However, this was before I considered research and now I might have an opportunity, so no I don't know if I could handle this, and now with this whole thing with physics...I feel like I'm back at square one.</p>
<p>The thing is that if I do physics instead of Israeli-Palestinian then that might be ok, but I would really like to take stats next semester, as I think that will be practical for research and data analysis in general, and it's required for the psych major. In general, how much work is a stats course, and if possible, specifically psych 350? I've heard from most people that it's easy but I don't want to fall into the trap of thinking it's easy, and not studying for it so that when I get tested I'll be screwed (kinda happened to me in chem 208 this semester since i heard it was easier, so i got cocky and messed up the 1st prelim but luckily more than made up for it with the 2nd prelim).</p>
<p>And this also goes along with the fact that for all I know medicine is not right for me! Clinical neuropsychology seems really cool, and that's actually more difficult to get into than med school. I feel like I maybe should take physics, but then if I decide not to do medicine, it will just be a waste when I could have taken a more relevant course instead (i guess the same could be said for orgo, but I think orgo might be really cool).</p>
<p>Explain to me again why doctors need to take physics? I've been seeing multiple doctors every week for a while now, and they mostly just listen to my heart, stick needles in my joints, and tell me to ingest certain chemicals.</p>
<p>The hoops people need to jump through to become a general practitioner are ridiculous.</p>
<p>^It's more about the hoops than the knowledge. You really don't need any knowledge to go to med school. That's why you can major in whatever you want. They'll teach you everything you need to know once you get in med school.</p>
<p>Orgo, physics, chem are used to wittle the number of premeds down to a manageable number. Even then we still have way too many med school applicants which is why med schools have 5% acceptance rates.</p>
<p>Indeed. I really wish I could just AP out of it, since MCAT physics is a real joke compared to what actual non-pre-med physics courses are, and its truly laughable for physics majors. I really feel like it'd be taking a step back from AP Physics C, since that course was so rigorous and challenging, but rewarding. Oh well.</p>
<p>No one said you have to take premed physics. If you want to take an upper level physics course to satisfy the premed requirements, you can.</p>
<p>BTW: The MCAT has never been about the material. It is a critical thinking test and you are curved against other premeds (most of whom are physics/chem/bio majors). That's what makes the MCAT "hard." That's also what allows someone like me, who never took physics in HS and who took Physics 101-102 at Cornell, to ace the Physical Sciences section (which is 99.7-99.9th percentile). Even physics majors only scored an average of 10.3 (out of 15) on the Physicial Sciences section.</p>
<p>That's why, even if you've taken a more "advanced" physics course in HS, you'd be better served taking a college physics course and going up against stiffer competition.</p>
<p>The AMA made a gross miscalculation when they predicted an oversupply of doctors. They are now reversing positions and we are seeing new allopathic med schools opening up in the next few years (in fact, I believe there are more than 6 allopathic schools that have already received accreditation or is in the process of receiving accreditation).</p>
<p>Because writing is a critical skill needed to function in today's world?</p>
<p>I would actually be in favor of all Cornell students having to take two semesters of calculus, as well. The analytical insights calculus can add to one's world view are superb. The ideas of integration and differentiation have all sorts of applications to ordinary day to day things in the real world. Like driving a car. Or dealing with social relationships. Seriously.</p>
<p>But physics for aspiring medical students never made much sense to me. Maybe for orthopedics or prosthetic limb doctors?</p>
<p>i think 18 + research is okay. for my next term im planning on taking 19 credits including physics and orgo and i probably will continue my lab job which is mwf 3 hours a day.</p>
<p>A college physics professor was explaining a particularly complicated concept to his class when a pre-med student interrupted him.”Why do we have to learn this stuff?” the frustrated student blurted out.”To save lives,” the professor responded before continuing the lecture.
A few minutes later the student spoke up again. “So how does physics save lives?”The professor stared at the student without saying a word. “Physics saves lives,” he finally continued, “because it keeps the idiots out of medical school.”</p>