<p>Hi guys, I’m going to be a first year biological sciences major at UC Davis this fall and I’m still confused by all the classes and the scheduling procedures. If any current UCD bio majors could share their first year schedules and give some tips, that would be great! Thanks!</p>
<p>You should look at the 2017 group in facebook!
A lot of incomings are posting their schedules 
Gl with everything :):):):):)</p>
<p>You will be taking Math (either 17A or 21A, I think they recommend 17A for life sciences) and some science classes between Chemistry, Bio, and Physics. Since you are a Bio major, you’ll probably start with BIS 2A (the first in the biology series) which is 8 units. Then you may take Chem 2A if you are ambitious in getting science classes out of the way early, but some people take 2A winter quarter just so they don’t take lots of hard courses early on. This would give you 13 units, the minimum for financial aid. Or, you could take 2 other classes like 2 GEs.</p>
<p>As reference, I’m and engineering major. My first quarter I took Math 21C (APs tested me out of 21A and 21B), Engineering 4, Religious Studies 1C (Very interesting and easy class), and Economics 1A. This was 15 units.</p>
<p>Though they recommend only taking 12 or 13 units your first quarter, I would recommend more just because the more units you have, the earlier your pass time is next quarter to pick classes, which gives you the chance to pick classes before everyone else. </p>
<p>For your first year, you could do something like this:</p>
<p>Fall: Math 17A, BIS 2A, Chem 2A, (Optional GE) = 13 Units (16-17 Units)
Winter: Math 17B, BIS 2B, Chem 2B, GE = 18 Units
Spring: Math 17C, Bis 2C, 2 GEs = 17 units (Spring quarter should be easier, this is when all the fun stuff happens, so you want some free time!)</p>
<p>Then next year take Chem 2C to finish that, and take your physics 7A-7C classes.</p>
<p>As for GEs, just make sure you satisfy your arts and humanities as well as social science requirements; DON’T TAKE SCIENCE GEs! It will be a waste of time since your major covers all your science GEs. </p>
<p>GEs I’ve taken:
Religious Studies 1C (Recommend, easy A)
Economics 1A (A bit harder than expected, indifferent)
Philosophy 1 (I hated it, my professor turned it into a history lesson)
Comparative Literature 2 (I love it; recommend if you like writing, or any of COM 1-4)
History 17A (Recommended if you took AP US History, as a lot of it is repeat and easy)</p>
<p>I can’t comment on the 17 series of math, so I won’t. But I took Chem 2B (I tested out of Chem 2A) and it was mildly difficult; study a lot and you’re fine. </p>
<p>Oh and by the way, even if you tested out of the lower division writing requirement, if you plan on going to grad school then you need to take a class that satisfies it anyway, so you can plan on taking UWP 1 or one of the COM courses I listed above.</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Whoa whoa whoa, BIS 2A is not 8 units, it’s 5 units.</p>
<p>I think they were totaling the units of the listed classes. But yeah, what sopranokitty said for BIS 2A units.</p>
<p>Basically, for a bio major you want to take Chem or bio, calculus and a GE, and possibly a freshman seminar.</p>
<p>Just to add my GE recs:
ANT 2-Took this fall quarter and found it really interesting. If you’re interested in culture, consider it.
RST 1F (might not be offered fall quarter?)-I’m currently taking this class, and it’s really interesting. If you take it with Elmore, he focuses on defining religion and applying those definitions to modern and classical religious practices.
ANS 42 (winter quarter only I think)-An interesting class if you have any interest in companion animals. Note that as far as breadth requirements go, this is a SE one. It does fulfill writing as well though.</p>
<p>Yea woops, meant 4 units for BIS 2A.</p>