Questions for All Premed students at UCI

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Irvine
1

<p>I am going to major in bio sci at uci with hopes of getting into med school. Can anyone tell me what classes a freshman premed student should be taking? These are my ap test scores: Chem 3, Bio 4, Physics 4, Calc BC 5. Also my SAT was high enough so that I did not have to take the analytical writing exam. Can you please explain why I should take the classes you suggested? My SPOP is coming up soon. What should I make sure I get done while there?</p>

<p>This is kind of off topic but, is the premed program at UCI difficult? Are there a lot of hot chicks at UCI? Can I hook up with chicks once in a while and still maintain grades necessary to get into med school? Is there a lot of competition at UCI? (I know there is competition, I just want to know if it is mild or if it is backstabber competition status). When should I start preparing for the MCAT? </p>

<p>I'm sorry if I overwhelmed you guys. But please try to help me out by answering as many of the questions as you can. I am really confused.</p>

2

<p>To begin my street cred, I’m starting my last year at UCI this fall as a neurobiology major with a 3.83 cumlative and 3.89 science gpa. I’ve talked to many counselors and have tutored for some bio core classes for the bio department.</p>

<p>Honestly, you don’t have much choice at UCI. Unlike other UC’s, UCI is very structured and organized. There is no way past it, since it works in a chain of pre-requesites (ie. Can’t take Bio 94 without Bio 93), and Bio 93 is only offered Fall (not winter, or spring quarter!). </p>

<p>The first two years at UCI will be very monotonous, and you will make friends since all bio majors are taking the same class schedule (except for one or two GE’s that are different)</p>

<p>Your first year, you will take Bio 93 (DNA to Organisms) Fall, Bio 94 (Evolution/Ecology) Winter and a whole year of General Chemistry (Chem 1A-B-C) Fall/Winter/Spring. Your spring bio course will be a 1 unit pass/no pass seminar of your topic of choosing. You will also take Chem lab in winter and spring (none fall).</p>

<p>Second year, you will take Bio 97 (Genetics) fall, Bio 98 (Biochemistry) winter, and Bio 99 (Molecular biology) spring along with 1 whole year of Organic Chemistry (Chem 51A-B-C) Fall/winter/spring. You will take Ochem lab fall and winter (none spring)</p>

<p>Then you have to take a bio safety ethics (p/np) course and a upper division writing lab course before you begin taking any upper division bio labs. During third year, you will are free of your restraints and free to choose your upper division bio courses/labs. Your physics will usually be taken during third year, or you may take it separately during summer, or finish it fourth year.</p>

<p>I did not go to SPOP, but I heard you get to register earlier than kids who don’t go. So you will be taking Bio 93 and Chem 1A. You can take a writing course (Writing 39B), since they suggest you finish that before your first year, since it is a pre req to Bio 100 LW (a prerequesite lab/upper divison writing course required for your upper division labs). So that’s three courses. You can take Math 2D (since you are exempt from math 2a and 2B from your AP test) and then you will no longer need to take any math courses at UCI.</p>

<p>Some of the chicks are pretty hot. You can hook up and maintain good grades. The competition is okay… your first two years, all of your physical science and biological science (general chem, phys, organic chem, bio courses) will be based on a curve, where the top 15% get A’s. the next 20% get B’s and so on, so on, like a normal bell curve distribution with 1 Std deviation separating letter grades (with the mean being a C+). You don’t have to be smart, just smarter than your peers.</p>

<p>As for MCAT: You should plan to take your MCATs your third year at UCI, so take the courses that prepare you for them before that (Physics is on MCATS, only way to take it before third year is taking physics during the summer of year 1 and year 2). Take some upper divisons during year 2, and fall of year 3 that help you with mcats (IE. Human Physiology, immunology/hematology, etc).</p>

<p>YOu’ll want to apply to med school by the end of third year, since it takes 1.5 years for the application process to finish and be accepted. So if you don’t apply by end of third year, you will have to take a year off after you graduate (4th year) and be bored out of your mind.</p>

3

<p>Take bio93/chem1a/writing39b/general ed because that’s the standard for bio sci majors. I suggest this because as long as you have a bio sci major you can 99% safely assume you meet medical school class requirements. SPOP hmmm make sure you learn some do’s/do nots from the upperclassmen.</p>

<p>Pre-med program difficulty is hard to answer. I mean science is science amiright? 2+2 will always be 4 as long as your in base 10. Hot chicks, sure why not. Can you hook up with the hot chicks while still maintaining grades necessary to get into med school? Yea but… noone knows how good you are but you. Competition? Top 17% (or less) get A’s. In a lecture of 400 that’s a little less than 80 people. When should you start preparing for the MCAT? the year of (most take it junior year). You’ll have the fundamentals of bio/chem/physics down by then and you usually only take the MCAT once unlike the SAT.</p>

<p>Extra advice: Familiarize yourself with <a href=“http://www.studentdoctor.net%5B/url%5D”>www.studentdoctor.net</a> and <a href=“http://www.mdapplicants.com%5B/url%5D”>www.mdapplicants.com</a>.</p>

4

<p>When do pre-med students usually begin:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Research</p></li>
<li><p>Internships</p></li>
<li><p>Volunteering</p></li>
<li><p>Clubs</p></li>
</ol>

<p>thanks</p>

5

<p>Research typically begins at the beginning of third year. Some students, however, begin at the beginning of second year. You’ll have to make sure you fit the pre-requesites and pre-req course (such as Bio 194 safety/ethics): [Bio</a> 199 Positions Document](<a href=“http://www.bio.uci.edu/Bio199/positions/index.cfm]Bio”>http://www.bio.uci.edu/Bio199/positions/index.cfm)</p>

<p>Internships… kinda vary depending on where you want to intern at. Usually employers like students with a solid background, so sophmore or junior standing at least; however, my friend started interning near the end of her first year.</p>

<p>Volunteering, anytime you want, beginning of first year. there are a lot of clubs to get you started.</p>

<p>Clubs, beginning of first year; it looks good on college apps to show that you are committed to what you are doing</p>

<p>KEEP IN MIND: These extracurriculars that you are sporting is no picnic; it’s hard to juggle with them along with academics, especially work/internship. Research takes a lot of time too (depending on which lab you are working in). In short, begin clubs and volunteering ASAP. You can begin internships/research at the beginning of third year.</p>

6

<p>@Jaganshi</p>

<p>thank you so much for the insightful info!!</p>

<p>i now have a better perspective on this EC stuff =]</p>

7

<p>I’ll alert the girls(chicks) at UCI you will be available occasionally but not all the time for them. Disappointment all around I’m sure. Ditto the premed stuff as above.</p>