As of now, I’m thinking about going the pre-med route. In college, I know the required science courses I’d have to take are bio, chem, and physics, and that people generally take them in that order. I was wondering if it matters what order you take these courses though. I think I would rather take physics first as a freshman, then the bio and chem courses in the ensuing years. Would mixing up the usual science sequence be ok? And for any current premed students, what sequence do you think is the best?
I assume the reason people typically do it in that order is because of the number of classes after the intro sequence that students generally take. Many pre med students don’t take any physics classes beyond intro physics so they take it last. Orgo is required after intro chem so the later you start chem, the later you do orgo, and many pre-meds are bio majors so the earlier you take intro bio the early you can start taking more advanced courses (and some advanced bio courses require orgo too e.g. intro biochemistry at Brown so if you delay orgo too much it can affect your bio course selection). If you feel taking physics earlier than bio or chem works better for you then go for it.
The order doesn’t matter. I’d only add that considering freshman year stressors (living on own/with roommate, social, academic, etc…), you don’t want to dig yourself a hole GPA wise and then have to try to recover. So choose your first year courses wisely. The best sequence is the one which gets you the highest GPA. If you feel most comfortable in physics, go for it.
The most classes you take are in chemistry and the sequence lasts 2 years. So depending on when you want to take MCAT, you should be starting chemistry 2 years before.
Actually the chem sequence is now 2.5 years long. You need to take biochem after ochem for MCAT. (Plus more and more med school now require biochem as a pre-req.)
It really does not matter. D took bio and chem together. Many pre-meds take lots of advanced Bio, so they take some Bio practically in every sememster. So, D. was taking Physics with Physiology.
@MiamiDAP , did your daughter take BIO & CHEM (intro) together her first semester? How manageable considering labs and other courses? I’m assuming she had already taken the AP courses in high school and it was a lot of review for her. Thank-you in advance for any feedback.
Since the tender age of 6, my D had always said that she wants to become a doctor.
Presently, D is a first year with Chem E/premed track “intention”…lol… Last semester, she took General Chem & General Physics. This semester, she’s taking Physics E & M, and Chemistry of Materials, said they’re fun and interesting classes. So now she’s concentrating on her major instead of following the premed track. She also claims that Chemistry of Materials and Physics E& M (college classes) are easier than AP Biology. lol I don’t have an explanation for that.
Maybe the cliche: “Do what you love, and you will become successful.” … is true after all.
You too might change your mind.
Please note: D has not taken 1 college Biology course.
The order does not matter, except for these constraints:
a. Completion of the pre-med courses before taking the MCAT.
b. Prerequisite sequencing (e.g. general chemistry before organic chemistry, perhaps others).
c. Completion of prerequisite course work for your major early enough.
Biochemistry is now on the MCAT, so that sequence may take over two years. many schools do not allow you to take Biochem before completing the O-Chem sequence so it now can be 2 1/2 years. Ideally you will want time to take your classes and have time to study for the MCAT. DS only took Chem his first year and it does seem that those that did that at his school have higher GPAs. At the very least, he was able to adjust to college with fewer problem so that by the time he was a junior he had no issues taking 3-4 science classes.