<p>I have not taken any computer science classes during my high school. I will be in a premed program and apply to medical school later. </p>
<p>I would like to know if I should take a computer science class, to have some exposure to how software is developed, how it can be used to analyze data, etc. </p>
<p>If someone have some experiences on this topic, or advices, please let me know.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>An intro to computer programming class is not going to teach you how to analyze data. You don’t need any computer science to go to medical school, and it’s not going to give you any edge over your peers come time to apply or matriculate.</p>
<p>Take a computer science class if you like, but don’t think that’s going to be of any special benefit.</p>
<p>Take a statistics class, more useful.</p>
<p>Thanks for both of you for your advices. I have taken AP stats and AP Calc BC in high school, should I take some more math classes in college ? (There is at least one more math class required to take, Calc II or Calc III). </p>
<p>Will higher level math be helpful in studying premed courses (Chem, Bio, Organic Chem, etc)?</p>
<p>My D commented that Stat class made it much easier to understand procedures that she was previously involved at med. research lab. It sounds like extremely useful class. Comp. science is very involved and computer usage is so different from one place to another, that if you are not Comp. Science major, I would advice not to take any classes and learn on a job whatever will be reguired from you. Some places (or all?) will have training classes.</p>
<p>higher math is not necessary. In fact, if Chem has a little math, Orgo + Bio have none. You can choose what Physics you take Calc based or not. All pre-meds at D’s school take non-calc based Physics.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that if you decide to major in chemistry, you will likely be required to take Physical Chemistry which does require higher level math, at least up to Differential equations if I remember correctly. Biochem majors may also be subject to the special circle of hell in which p-chem resides, but that may vary by school. Bio majors on the other hand usually aren’t expected to take anything past calc I, though Calc II may be encouraged depending on your school. </p>
<p>Many students who have higher level math experience find calc based physics easier, but med schools will accept both algebra and calc based courses equally. (and there’s absolutely no benefit one way or the other - no one’s going to be impressed that you took calc based physics)</p>
<p>At my son’s undergrad school p-chem was part of the Orgo rotation; it was required before you could take Orgo.</p>
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<p>Are you sure about that? Generally, physical chem is usually the last chem class majors usually take because it has so many pre-reqs. Most likely you are thinking of general chem.</p>
<p>I’m positive; he took Honors orgo (two semesters) and had to take a semester of P chem first…heard all the drama when he discovered he had to take it as well. That made him decide to go ahead and get a chem minor since he only needed something like one or two more courses to achieve the minor… He never took general chem in college; used his AP credit for that.</p>
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<p>Really. That’s not the way it was at my alma mater. Most of the people in my p-chem class were juniors, but there were some seniors. The reqs were gen chem, calc II or statistics, and physics with calc III and/or linear algebra being recommended. That seems reasonable for a “third year” course.</p>
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<p>That is very weird - I can see why it would have caused so much consternation. I can’t understand why someone would need p-chem to do orgo. Which semester of p-chem did he have to do? Quantum mechanics or thermodynamics?</p>
<p>At one school, the first 1/3 of a year-long freshmen orgo is essentially a shortened version of p-chem. The consensus among premeds is that, for most “average” premeds, it is better not to take that sequence of orgo courses. The reason is that you have less exposure to the traditional orgo materials and p-chem is useless for MCAT.</p>
<p>Every school is somewhat different.</p>
<p>On the other hand, for some premeds who plan to be in the combined BS/MS program, taking that course in freshmen year may help complete all the required courses in time. Also, some well-prepared premed may take advantage of that special course to skip the traditional two-semester orgo sequence, especially when the professor in that year happens to be particularly “bad”. I heard in one year, the class average for a test in a traditional orgo course was 40s out of 100 (usually is like 60-70?). It is also rumored that the only value of attending the lecture is to find out what will NOT be in the test – Whatever is not taught is more likely in the test.</p>
<p>In another year, many premeds decided to delay one year to take the 2nd semester of orgo. This is because the professor for that class always gives a test that consists of a grand total of 3 problems (and 6 for the final) and the nature of most problems is such that you can hardly get any partial credit. That professor is a fellow of Science Academy or something, but he really has not much patience with the average premed. He is probably looking for an academic superstar who will follow his footstep. (We are not sour grape here as DS received a very good grade from him, partly due to hard work but more imprtantly due to luck.)</p>
<p>I am going to respectfully disagree with eadad and his assertion that p-chem is required prior to taking orgo. At UNC (and I speak from experience), students do not have to take p-chem prior to taking orgo. In fact, I’m not sure if you could take it before taking orgo.</p>
<p>I heard that the professor who teaches the freshmen orgo insists that the students have a good foundation in p-chem before they can learn the orgo properly. But the matter of fact is that few freshmen feel the same way.</p>
<p>It is often the case that the professor lectures excitedly about p-chem in the context of orgo (or the other way around), but most students do not get it. Is there some student who can get it? Sure. But they may be selected few.</p>
<p>In a regular orgo class, the professor does say occasionally that he really can not explain some topic properly because the students have not had sufficient background in quantum/thermal chemistry. I guess the perception from the egghead is sometimes different from the rest of us ;-)</p>