pre-med track at UF and Grading

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Florida
1

<p>So I am applying for the 2010 Fall term for pre-med track.
Lets not discuss my qualifications, they are great and lets just focus on if/when I get in. now:</p>

<p>with a 5 on AP bio + chem, and a 6-7 in HL bio + chem what should I do?</p>

<p>Should I take the intro courses again, or just take the higher level courses like Chemistry 2047 and an elective in biology or whatever is available higher up ? </p>

<p>I am not really attracted to the fact that thousands of freshmen are enrolled and then its up to the intro classes to over work everything. Thinking maybe I would be better off at a private university where your work put in is a direct reflection to the GPA.</p>

<p>Also, about GPA. I just learned a A- is not a 4.0 . can someone explain to me the grading system at UF?</p>

<p>most importantly, I dont really understand how the pre-req fit into a perspective of a 4 year undergrad track. What is a typical schedule for the pre-req? and isnt there time to take things like Immunology, genetics, embryology or histology (these classes relative to intro classes: harder or not?)</p>

<p>thank you so much, soo soo much in advance!!
UF is a great school just need to make sure I am aware of what I am getting myself into!</p>

2

<p>I would suggest taking higher level courses for two reasons: one, because they are more interesting and two, because they generally don’t have dysfunctional curves like most of the general courses will. CHM 2047 is a fairly rigorous course and may not be such a great idea if you don’t really enjoy chemistry, but if you do then it’s a great class (you could take CHM 2046 and begin organic in the spring if you dont want to take CHM 2047).</p>

<p>I’m not really sure where you’re getting the idea that GPA isn’t a reflection of the amount of work you put into a class at UF. There are plenty of challenging courses that you can find at UF if you decide to take them.</p>

<p>Grading System: Look it up on ISIS, should be somwhere on there under Minus Grades. The major point is that UF now has minus grades and therefore an A- is a 3.75. There is no A+.</p>

<p>You can look up suggested schedules on UF websites, generally they are department specific so you’ll probably need to look at like the chemistry department or the microbiology one to find out specifics. Eventually, when you get an ISIS account you can use degree audit to look up different majors and their critical tracking.</p>

<p>Whether or not youll have time to take those upper level classes will depend on how quickly you work through the general education courses and what your major is. If you have to complete major requirements in philosophy then you may not have as much time to take those biology electives, but if you major in microbiology then itll be part of your degree requirements.</p>

3

<p>no, theres no reason to do the intro classes if you feel like you have a handle on them. if they didn’t put stock in AP scores they wouldn’t be giving you the credit for taking them.</p>

<p>4 years is 130 credits. 36 are gen ed, about 40 are degree requirements, and the remaining 60 credits are electives, of which a pre-med student would take their pre-med courses.
majoring in biology isn’t necessarily better than majoring in something else that you might enjoy more, so dont get too caught up in picking a major for med school.</p>

<p>[Office</a> of the University Registrar](<a href=“http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/policies/regulationgrades.html]Office”>http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/policies/regulationgrades.html)
^ grading scale.</p>

<p>

assuming the first part was about weed out classes… (disregard if i misunderstood)
and another note about the ‘weed out’ intro courses you’re worried about, its not the work that kills, its the type of work. if you dont do well in them, and if you dont enjoy doing work in them, its supposed to tell you something about the direction you’re taking. someone who loves chemistry is going to breeze through chem while someone who majors in history might not. its not a matter of intro classes working you to death with unnecessary work just to be a pain in the ass.</p>

4

<p>You probably read my last response, so I will answer the new questions.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Could you restate this? I’m not sure what your trying to say. My experience has been what you have stated for private universities. </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>[Office</a> of the University Registrar](<a href=“http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/policies/regulationgrades.html]Office”>http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/policies/regulationgrades.html)</p>

5

<p>no problem. Private Universities usually dont have weed out classes. A university like UF has to weed out several of their students in order to be better able to focus on those that are qualified for their attention as far as med school advisers.
I do enjoy chemistry its all very interesting to me =) </p>

<p>I thought CHM 2045/2046 were a full year, like the same class back to back.
Though CHM 2047 is a semester class right?
I know it moves really really fast, I just dont want to repeat material. </p>

<p>Good points made here, thank you very much!!</p>

<p>I am the type of student (and plan on it) who has no problem saying no to social life. Maybe even bringing it down to a zero level, to get something to a high degree.
So if I lock myself up, go to class, and study non-stop (no exaggeration) and sleep 4-5 hours a day, could I pull off a 4.0 for freshmen and on ??</p>

<p>I really want to make a good jump into grad school, because I fear the worst is that my MCAT wont be so up to par. I am the type of student that studies 24/7 and gets the grade, but when it comes to some of these tests I dont score as high as I would like (goal for MCAT 36 +).</p>

6

<p>Thee is no Bio II / III right? </p>

<p>Because the guide for 5 on AP and 6-7 on IB, says that you should choose elective.
So something like immunology (any thoughts on the class?)</p>

<p>And Organic chem is not possible in spring, they forbid it for the whole first year.
So I would probably have to do something like CHM 2046/2047 ?</p>

7

<p>I think there is Bio II but I don’t know if it would satisfy requirements. For example, for Johns Hopkins med, they state, “College Biology with Lab, one year (8 semester hours)
Advanced Placement credit may not be used to satisfy the biology requirement.” Whether its okay for you to use AP credit for Bio I but still take higher level classes is kinda ambiguous.</p>

8

<p>Kalibri, that is totally false about not being able to take organic in the spring. I did it, my friend did it, many others from CHM 2047 did it, it’s fine. Now taking it in the fall I hear is forbidden. Also, CHM 2047 is generally only offered in the fall due to lack of interest in the spring. Another also, they have CHM 2046 available in the fall so you could just take that (you don’t have to do 2045 to 2046). From what you say I guess I’d suggest taking CHM 2047.</p>

<p>The only immunology course I know of is the one from the microbiology department and I think they require microbiology first, which itself requires organic I first (and its graduate level).</p>

<p>Also, about weed out courses. I have never seen a teacher purposefully make a class harder so that people will fail. I think people fail because they are lazy, it’s not always the professor. (Physics lab is a weed out class and it is terribad, not sure about bio).</p>

<p>Another significant also…umm about the whole social life thing, that’s going alittle overboard. I have a 4.0 and have a decent social life. I mean if you have to study straight through and only sleep 4-5 hours, then you aren’t studying correctly. Another thing to remember is that while med schools like 4.0s, they will also want you to show diversity (extracurriculars) and of course great volunteering things.</p>

9

<p>A lot of you have opened my mind to many things.
I have decided to start my year in the Summer session.</p>

<p>sorry If i sound sporadic, I am just making these difficult decisions. And I really do appreciate the time you guys take out to answer my questions, this last week I have built-on my future freshmen year so much thanks to you guys.</p>

<p>Okay so how does this sound:?</p>

<p>[SUMMER 2010]: CHM 2046 + LAB
[FALL 2010] : CHM 2047 + LAB + Human sexuality and Behavior</p>

<p>but then I run into a problem, cause I want to take Organic Chemistry for Summer session cause its easier and I can focus on only that class + its LAB. But I have to fill something for second semester of FALL year, or that would be in Spring then, without messing up everything. Because If I start up a class in second semester, it has to be a semester only class because Organic chem is during summer. and then I get to Organic 2 + lab for 1st semester of second year…you see what I mean guys, not be be repetitive but I am cutting classes that last 1 year between summer + semesters and messing it all up.</p>

<p>So to solve this, I should just do 2 classes for summer session of my first year. Summer 2010, I should take 2 REALLY EASY classes, to get to know the campus + get boost on GPA. Then Just do the normal CHM 2046 –> 2047. And then start organic in summer to get it a bit easier. Right? {even though this is where I would again mess up 1 year course schedule, but it doesn’t matter as long as I get Organic easy]</p>

<p>What two EASY classes should I take for summer session…human Sexuality behavior + what, feasible for a sure A for summer? </p>

<p>Also, Is there anything I can do NOW for Organic chem. Like I went and picked up the intro books to Organic and it…doesn’t…seem…like its…At ALL self-study worthy. I usually can pick up things from just studying, but this doesnt seem like its feasible on my own as a senior in high school (I have a huge motivation for studying for things outside of my scope and year of study, its absolutely crazy. Its not a way to show of, I hide the books I study from so people dont make fun of me. But I really want to get WAY ahead on Organic to the point where I am number one in the class). </p>

<p>thank you guys so much ^_^</p>

10

<p>Oh and to just explain the ORganic chem thing.</p>

<p>I could like get a workbook + more, and just work through it for fun (this would be on my down time during senior year of High school, and all of 1st year of college)…</p>

<p>Like, look into the really simplified books, memorize a few things…and work through it.</p>

<p>just through my teacher, I have learned how to name –> <—draw compounds on IUPAC terms.</p>

<p>Alkanes (109.5 degrees <em>), alkenes (122</em>), Alkynes (180<em>), Aromatic compounds (120</em>).</p>

<p>including the following functional groups: halogens, amidos, aminos, carbynol (ketone), carbynol (aldehyde), carbyxol, hydroxyl, Hydrosulfide, ester, ether. </p>

<p>saturated and unsaturated forms of the above IUPAC names.
characteristics of all the above.</p>

<p>Reactions: Dehydration, Hydration, Dehydrogenation, Hydrogenation, elimination , halogenation, Addition (HX, X^2, H^2, H2O), Combination (2 molecules come together –> bigger one small product like H20). </p>

<p>elementary perspective of Benzene: delocolized electrons + electron density.</p>

<p>So this is a good foundation now to build on workbooks for ORganic?
Or will it get me no where…</p>

<p>I am not a student who just…gets things…gets the grade with no work.
I have to repeat study and work non-stop to get things, and this is exactly what I do. I will cover a section for chemistry like 3-5 times, before I finally get it and get the high score. Not sure fi I will have this stretch in College…so yeah thats why I sleep so little.
I have a very CUT-THROAT bullet road to medicine, and I will study as much as possible to get there.</p>

<p>Same thing must be done for Physics. since math is my worst subject, and I will be fighting against so many kids who know math and will get the subject. The lab, as I have learned now, I will have to review even before starting it. Know what I am getting into, and then from there on execute.</p>

11

<p>hahahaha. Ok. I am a student at the University of Florida and can help you out a little. First, you seem bright so have you ever thought of applying to the honors college? Also, you say you have credit for chemistry 1 and 2 right? I reccommend you retake chemistry 2 and possibly chemistry 1 instead of taking intro to chemistry (1025) which many freshman take to refresh their memories. Chemistry in college is a whole new level than at highschool. I don’t care how much you study or how smart you are, you need to establish some foundation in college as a starting point and rushing only makes you stress out more along with giving you less options for classes. Those higher level classes will be taken by higher level students so your chance of even getting those classes are low. I also reccommend you take orgo 1 and 2 since in all honesty, its mandatory for med school so you are stuck with it. All you need to know is carbon and its every form : ). My friend is in it now with a 24% and with the class curve actually has a C+ in the class. So do you think you are ready for this level of work as a freshman? Stay a kid. Don’t waste your life on school when your not enjoying it. You don’t have a family support system like you do at home. Also, NEVER be cocky about getting into UF. My friend had a 1435 SAT and 4.7 weighted GPA. Flat out denied. If I were you, join a club and some aport group cause you are gonna need it. To be honest, a normal freshmen UF schedule on a pre-med track usually looks like this
*Chm 2045 (3 credits)
*Chm 2045 Lab (1 credit)
*Calculus 1 (4 credits)
*Social (I took human sexuality, it gives gordon rule words and is very interesting) (3 credits)
*Humanities (I took Plants, Plagues, and People cause it sounded fun and i was a freshmen : ) and it was MAD easy which leviates work load)
*Composition (Any)</p>

<p>While this looks simple in your standards, its a balance of easy and hard. Each class requires time so don’t take it for granted. Also I would declare Microbiology and Cell Science as your major, it sounds like what your leaning towards in interest offering virology, immuniology, pathogens, genetics, microbes, bioinformatics etc. Remember, enjoy yourself as you become part of the Gator Nation. This is an important time in your life so dont let it pass by. Good luck. Any other questions?</p>

12

<p>By the way I said take up a sport not APORT : ) and the composition/humanities are 3 credits each. That freshman semester is 17 credits which is more than anyone should take. I might also reccomend you take one less class but again that is a pre-med track. P.S. I am a pre-med student as a microbiology major so you can take my word or ignore it. Either way good luck : )</p>

13

<p>Also in summer take easier classes. Maybe take
*chm 2045
*chm 2045 lab
*Social or humanity or composition</p>

<p>And in fall take chm 2046/lab instead of chemistry 1. DO NOT TAKE ANYTHING MORE I PROMISE YOU WILL NOT WANT TO DO THE WORK NOR WILL YOU BE ABLE TO IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD!</p>

14

<p>College is so different than high school, you are really underestimating how much stuff you are going to be doing- especially if you are a pre-med you are going to be shadowing, volunteering, doing research ,etc. Plus, if you opt out of Chemistry 1 and 2 you are automatically ruling out all California schools and quite a few others since they do not accept AP credit, meaning you would have to take two more higher level chemistry courses to supplement your missing Chem 1 and 2, and unless you are a chemistry major that is going to be pretty tough to do. Like the other post said, the higher level courses are literally impossible to get into. I am in that position right now, I am a freshman and I opted out of Bio 1/2, and logically I should be taking Genetics next semester but the course filled up within the first week with upperclassmen (and technically I am classified as a second year, almost third), and they will not allow you to fill out closed session forms unless you are in dire need (need it to graduate next semester), so you have to take your biology electives, which also fill up fast.</p>