<p>I'm new to this forum and do not know too much about premed at UCLA so can any of you help me? I have a few questions but I'll post them one at a time after each one is answered. If any of you other future premed students have any questions feel free to post on my thread. </p>
<p>Okay, so my first question is: Is it wise to major in chemistry if I want to do premed? My main concern is will I be able to achieve a high enough gpa for med school. I don't know how competitive this major is so if any of you can enlighten me that would be awesome.</p>
<p>I dunno about the major, but being premed at UCLA is…crazy. I was prelaw for a while and then i switched and WOW…not good. Ummm the major is gonna be pretty competitive just because people are either going to be premed or just super passionate about chemistry. Choose a major based on what you like…not because it’ll look good for med school. You’re going to have to take the same pre-reqs for med school regardless of what u major in so make sure you own those. I honestly wish I would’ve gone somewhere else because the competition is kind of getting to me. But I love UCLA otherwise!</p>
<p>Actually, I really enjoy chemistry. It’s a subject that has always interested me ever since I took AP Chemistry. Do you know if the chemistry classes or premed classes are mostly curved? I’d also like to hear a little more about the competition. What do you mean exactly when you say “premed at UCLA is…crazy” and “the competition is kind of getting to me”.</p>
<p>They’re curved, but not very much. My classes had crazy insane people so it wasn’t really curved and I didn’t do too hot. Um my gpa has suffered, some of these people are like robots…that’s what I mean by competition. I know a lot that do nothing but study and take ritalin on top of that because apparently there insane performance on tests is still lacking. ugh.</p>
<p>This spring quarter, I received an A in LS 2 with Dr. Phelan (with a rank of 7/271 students on the final exam), and an A+ in Physics 1A with Dr. Gelmini (with a rank of 3/151 students on the final exam).</p>
<p>Keys to success in UCLA science classes:
-Know what you’re getting into. Take classes with good professors (Bruinwalk ratings are invaluable!), and don’t just coast because they have an “easy” reputation, because it’s easier for everyone else too.
-Make sure you have a good idea about what topics are emphasized in class, and aren’t blindly studying/memorizing. This knowledge obviously doesn’t substitute for really knowing the material inside out, but it will direct your focus toward the topics that are the most relevant instead of low-importance topics (i.e. distractions).
-Study with a goal in mind (i.e. to understand these three concepts, to review lecture notes for Chapter 13). Don’t vaguely say “studying biology” is your goal, that’s too general. The more specific that your study goal is for a study session, the more focused you will be, and the more efficient you will be.
-For problem solving based classes (physics and chemistry mainly), really understand the nuts and bolts and the finer points of the really tough “challenge” problems, and SOLVE LOTS OF THESE HARD PROBLEMS. If you can successfully solve many of these problems and, that it is an indicator that you have mastered the critical points and that your studying is highly likely to translate into test performance.
-In every exam, there are questions that are designed so that almost everyone will be able to correctly answer it and receive full points. There are also questions that almost everyone who has studied the content of the question will be able to correctly answer it and receive full points. Finally, there are questions that most people will not be able to answer for full points - it is these questions that you have to nail in order to do well in UCLA science classes.
-ALWAYS review your lecture notes the same day you take them. There is scientific evidence that reviewing your lecture notes the same day that you take them increases memory retention very significantly.
-Don’t get into a habit of skipping class, because it really is a slippery slope.
-In every lecture, reserve a space for questions that you have during the lecture, and ask these questions at discussion or at office hours (or look them up in the textbook, lecture notes, or internet). These questions are probably sticky points that everyone is a little shaky on; and knowing the answers to these questions will separate you from the “bunch.”
-Have faith. Every test has a luck factor - are you well-rested, do you feel good and confident before the test, do you see questions that you know well, etc. But this is the most important: Consistency and good study habits, and working hard AND smart will reduce the luck factor. In turn, you will experience successes and gain confidence. Self-confidence + study habits is the recipe for minimizing luck, and really translating your efforts into excellent test performance.</p>
<p>Wow! That post was great. Thanks so much. I was never much of a note taker in high school. I just listened, read the textbook, and did problems. How important is it to take great notes?</p>
<p>One more thing, what does life science 1, 2, 3 count for. The one year of biology?</p>
<p>Also how come you didn’t get the A+ in LS 2. Isn’t being 7/271 enough for the A+?</p>
<p>Oh but isn’t your final grade based mostly on you final test grade. Also are there such things as A+/- or B+/- etc or does UCLA strictly follow the flat A, B, C, D system.</p>