Premed - math 41 or 103? chem 23 or 151?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
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<p>For premeds with AP credit in Calc BC (5) and Chemistry (5) and planning on being a biology major, which courses should be taken/would you recommend? </p>

<p>Math: math 41 which is single variable calculus
or
math 103, multi var or even 103x??</p>

<p>Since the ap credit gets me out of 32 and 33, should I continue onto more advanced math (103)? Do premeds even need this course? If not, should 32/33, 41 be taken to fulfill the premed reqs?</p>

<p>Chemistry: chem 23L which is chem 21L and 22L
or
chem 151L orgo chem</p>

<p>Is it a good idea to retake chemistry (23L) for a stronger foundation even though I'm pretty good at chem (5 on ap, competitions in hs, etc) or should I continue on to Organic Chemistry as a freshman? Which would be better for premed, MCATS, getting into med school, etc? </p>

<p>Also how difficult are these classes? math 41, math 103, chem 23L, and chem 151L?</p>

<p>Thanks for the help, it's been very helpful reading all the schedule posts (even though some of you find it annoying) :D</p>

<p>EDIT: Another question about pre-med: it says theres a physics requirement of Physics 53L and 54L. If we have AP credit for Phys B and Phys C EM/M (5's) we receive credit for physics 61 and 62. Do we still need to take 53L and 54L? On ACES it says if you take 53/54L you lose AP credit for 61/62?<br>
Is it a good idea for premeds to take 53/54L physics again even though we have ap credit and are pretty good at physics (physics olympiad, etc)?</p>

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<p>The first thing you hae to remember is that medical schools do not accept AP credit. For example, you need a year of physics - if you AP out of 53/54, you'll need to take second year physics instead. It is for this reason that premeds should not pass out of physics. (Exceptions, obviously, for physics majors.)</p>

<p>Chem 23 is a harder decision to make, but I have to be honest that it's frankly not very relevant to 151, and 151 has a good freshman curve anyway. You'll need to take Biochem to fulfill premed requirements, but that's okay; you should probably take biochem anyway.</p>

<p>Be warned that the GenChem on the MCATs is quite difficult.</p>

<p>As for Math, I believe 103 is suggested for physics and counts as a bio class (!) towards your major, but double check both of those. 41 is a lot of work and meets a lot of times a week; my guess is you'll find 103 to be less stressful, but I've never interacted with 41.</p>

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<p>I agree that you should probably take orgo instead of gen. chem, esp. if youve been doing competitions. 23 would just seem super boring to you. I really don't think pre-meds need 103. Phys 61/62 are engineering classes.</p>

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<p>i'm sort of in the same boat. got a 5 on ap chem, thinknig of doing pre med. i really am sorta confused with all this scheduling stuff...too many choices. i got a 5 on calc bc too so i don't know what to do w/ math. i have some writing classes selected in my book bag and some seminars selected. what else do you guys recommend for science, math, so on. how many classes do most kids take? and lastly how do i get an ipod haha. i don't want to take a class just for an ipod. can u just buy an ipod even w/o taking the class?</p>

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<p>Uh... you could just... buy an iPod, yes - Duke does not ban students from purchasing them.</p>

<p>Take 4 or 4.5 classes your first semester.</p>

<p>Go ahead and go into Math 103 and consider Chem 151L very seriously.</p>

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<p>Yeah, Duke sells iPods... I bought a 30 GB video iPod last semester from the computer store. It doesn't have the Duke engraving on the back, but that's alright. They sell them for I think 30 bucks less than they normally cost in stores.</p>

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<p>Also, just making sure you know, Duke is no longer giving out iPods. If you take an "iPod class" you receive an iPod for the semester, but you have to return it at the end (unlike in past semesters). So there really is no point in taking a class just to get an iPod anymore.</p>

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<p>Though, if you do take the class and Duke "gives" you the iPod for the semester, I believe you can buy it from them at the end of the semester for 100 dollars, which is significantly cheaper than normal. Still, don't go out of your way to make sure that you're in a class that uses iPods.</p>

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<p>man too bad you can't buy ipods for 100 bucks just for being a student.</p>

<p>thanks for all your inputs so far though. any further suggestions is really appreciated.</p>

<p>as for org chem, my dad thinks it's going to be too heavy for freshmen. you think chem 23l and 22l in spring is better?</p>

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<p>You can't take 23L and 22L - you either take 23L, or you skip right into 22L if you have AP credit.</p>

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<p>L06:</p>

<p>You have four chem options, two of which are bad.</p>

<p>(1) 21 fall, 22 spring.</p>

<p>(2) Nothing fall, 22 spring. These are your two bad options, because these classes are annoying.</p>

<p>(3) 23 fall, nothing spring.</p>

<p>(4) 151 fall, 152 spring.</p>

<p>Just bear in mind that 151 has an easier freshman curve than it will if you take it as a soph, but it is quite a bit of work regardless.</p>

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<p>I'm sorry but I'm lost in this class selection. If i am pre-med right now, did well in BC Calc and have a shaky background in Chem (bad teacher).. what classes should I look into? Thanks :)</p>

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<p>Math 103 and Chem 21, since your other options (23 and 151) both have AP requirements.</p>

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<p>so if im to understand correctly, my fall semester is something like this?</p>

<p>english / seminar
math 103
chem
should i take a physics class too?</p>

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<p>Physics, chem, and math is often considered overwhelming. Maybe try to fill your FL requirement.</p>

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<p>im thinking of possibly switching to biomed eng after my first year...anything i need to do differently?</p>

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<p>look into EGR53, it would fill some kind of trinity requirement (probably), and would allow you to transfer to pratt without being behind. you could then take physics 61 in the spring and be right on track for bme.</p>

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<p>what do you guys think advantages of biology vs. bme are?</p>