<p>Is it doable to take MATH31, Chem 31L, Bio 25L and writing 20 for the first semester? Do the lab of Chem and Bio take a lot of time? What options do I have for the 0.5 credit course for the first semester? When is the good time to take foreign language? Thanks</p>
<p>If I’m not mistaken, Math 31 is generally taken including the lab also. You can choose not to I think but for some reason most people do so I guess it’s recommended (?). </p>
<p>As for chem and bio labs. I know that chem labs generally take an entire afternoon (3-4 hours). Bio lab will probably run 2-3 hours. </p>
<p>For the 0.5 credit course, you can take some music classes, most PE classes are 0.5 credit, and I know Pratt at least does some introductory seminar thing for freshmen that’s 0.5 credit.</p>
<p>Regarding foreign language, if you are starting a new language you should probably take it as soon as possible so that should you wish to, you can study abroad and learn more of that language. You also don’t want to be stuck with a bunch of freshmen as a junior or senior later on in an intro course. If you are continuing a language, you can basically do it any time you want.</p>
<p>SBR,</p>
<p>is math 31L required?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>quote:</p>
<p>" You can choose not (take Math 31) …?</p>
<p>It seems like I have to eat my words here. According to ACES, there’s no other option besides 31L with lab if you need to take that class. But there is a 32 without lab. Don’t know what that’s all about. There’s also 41L if you want to combine 31/32 into one semester but I’ve heard mixed reviews about that class. </p>
<p>Not too familiar with the calculus curriculum here since I started with 103.</p>
<p>I got 5 on CAL AB/BC, could I waive MATH 31/32L, or I still need to take extra math classes?</p>
<p>thanks again.</p>
<p>If you are an engineer, then you will definitely need more math. If not, ummm you might need a QS? </p>
<p>Here’s the trinity requirements website: [url=<a href=“http://t-reqs.trinity.duke.edu/]T-Reqs[/url”>http://t-reqs.trinity.duke.edu/]T-Reqs[/url</a>]</p>
<p>SBR,</p>
<p>thanks. BTW, what is QS ?</p>
<p>QS<br>
Quantitative Studies</p>
<p>I got it.</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>If you got a 5 on the BC calc test, you can start with Math 103 I think it was (multivariable calc?). A lot of high level classes (like in the 100-200s) have the completion of calc II as a requirement.</p>
<p>cdz512,</p>
<p>I am wondering if it is too heavy to take MATH31, Chem 31L, Bio 25L and writing 20
in first semester, what is the class GPA for math 103?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>cdz512,</p>
<p>I am wondering if it is too heavy to take MATH103, Chem 31L, Bio 25L and writing 20
in first semester, what is the class GPA for math 103?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>^ you’ll have a tough courseload, that’s for sure. that was my first semester freshman year except EGR53 instead of Bio25. i haven’t taken Bio25, but i’ve heard it’s a pretty tough/time consuming class. i’d recommend you take chem 1st semester and bio 2nd semester. do you have ap chem credit? if so, you could also go straight into orgo. freshman orgo’s curved to like a b+ or something insane that you won’t get to take advantage of later on.</p>
<p>Ok here is the deal, you want to do pre-med ok? you want to go to a med school.
It would make little sense that you want to start with Calc I (which if i’m not wrong is MATH31). If I was a admissions officer, I would not see you as a unique and impressive application because most pre-med students who apply to good med schools start with Calc III. You might have a though schedule but I totally would not recommend you to “slack” off (no offense and not to insult you at all) but I just don’t want you to start with Calc I all over again. If your afraid of overloading schedule, I would recommend you take MATH32L (which is Calc II if I’m not wrong) because starting from Calc I all over again is just a waste of time and tuition money. And your application to medschool would look weaker</p>
<p>Actually, I don’t think there are any standardized medical school math requirement. However, most schools want to see some form of credit for calculus and multivariable calculus. The top ones sometimes even recommend linear algebra and diff eq, especially for MSTP applicants. </p>
<p>As for taking 31/32 to slack off, that’s quite possibly the worst idea I’ve ever heard. Those two classes have a reputation for fail rates (no hard data though). Why subject yourself to that on purpose? </p>
<p>On the other hand, I doubt taking 103 will make you a “unique and impressive” applicant. That’s actually fairly common. In the debate between GPA vs. course difficulty, I would say that in most cases you should mind the GPA over whether a challenging course will make your app look good. If you’ve got a good GPA, you probably won’t be pre-screened out of the applicant pool. However, if you took a challenging class and didn’t do well, not only are you taking a GPA hit, you are also telling the adcoms that you can’t handle the class, making your application weaker. </p>
<p>IMHO, if you don’t want 3 labs, then Senator Noodle’s suggestion is very good, push Bio off until spring and take a seminar or an intro class for your intended major or a foreign language. </p>
<p>Here’s my freshmen year fall schedule for reference. I’m a BME/premed</p>
<p>Chem 23 (the honors/accelerated one in the new system)
Math 103
EGR 53
Chinese 170</p>
<p>cdz512, are you a duke student…? </p>
<p>nsrjsyt: I’m pretty sure for pre-med, you actually don’t technically need math 103, though it is probably recommended. You do need 2 QS credits to graduate from duke, though you can get QS’s through other classes like Stats. If you’re good at math, take math 103. I’m not sure how hard math 32 is (without the lab), but definitely don’t take math 32L (the version with a lab) because from what I’ve heard from everyone who took math 32L AND math 103, math 32L was more of the weed-out, hard class. However, know that math 103, like most math classes at duke, is no joke - it’s HARD. </p>
<p>Also, I think your best option for first semester would be: writing 20 (if you’re assigned to take it this semester), chem 31L or orgo, a language (especially if you’re starting from scratch), and math if you want to but otherwise a class in a major you think you might want to pursue.</p>
<p>EDIT: sorry, didn’t see SBR’s post…</p>
<p>hi guys,</p>
<p>your guys are so nice and I learned a lot from you. I like duke more now because of you.</p>
<p>thanks again.</p>
<p>You don’t need a lot of math on the MCAT. Considering the fact that you aren’t allowed a calculator and basically has about 90 sec to answer each question, the only thing you absolutely must know is scientific notation. Though familiarity with arithmetic involving decimals would be helpful too…</p>
<p>Regarding math at Duke…it’s basically a crapshoot. While the classes are hard and the material is inherently very challenging (no non-genius can really understand the Laplace transform in 2 weeks), your experience depends completely on the teacher you have. I was fortunate to avoid the bad ones. Even then, I basically had to self-teach about 70% of math 103/107/108 and stats because I constantly fell asleep in class. </p>
<p>WRT taking orgo as a freshmen, many do it, but just know that you’ll need 1 semester of inorganic chemistry in addition to AP Chem and 1 year of orgo to satisfy those premed requirements. And if you are considering biochem (which doesn’t have a lab) as a substitute, I’ll just say that I have seen med schools that insist on 1 year of inorganic chem with lab or specifically state that biochem takes the place of a semester of orgo (though those schools tend to be top tier ones). Make of that what you will.</p>
<p>SBR,</p>
<p>many thanks. have good night.</p>