<p>what are the typical courses taken during your freshman semester at penn if you are majoring in bio and doing premed? i know this is a very specific question, but i just want a general idea. how many credit units? any courses that are basically "must-takes"?</p>
<p>thank you</p>
<p>There are no “must takes”, but for pre-med you basically have to finish all of your premed requirements by the end of your junior year at the latest in order to take the MCATs. Essentially you need: 2 semesters each of biology, chemistry w/ lab, physics w/ lab, organic, calculus. You will need to take multiple of these courses most semesters, but you can take it easier your first semester. I would say start out with either bio or chem, each of which is 1.5 credit units. Taking 4.5 credits your first semester isn’t bad and you have distributional requirements, language requirements, a writing seminar, or just courses you want to take for fun to fill the other credits. If you do want to take another premed requirement your first semester, then math is a good way to go on top of either the bio or chem.</p>