<p>Hi guys. I’m an incoming first-year at Brown and need to make a pretty important decision before September 1. I received a score of 5 on the AP bio test and an SAT II bio score in the upper 700’s, but all these scores were freshman year scores. And while I got an A+ for the year in an advanced bio course…this also happened in freshman year. So…it’s been a while.</p>
<p>I looked at some old Bio 0200 exams, and the questions seemed more than manageable to me (with some simple review). In fact, many of the questions seemed similar to the ones I encountered in freshman year of HS. I don’t want to take a course that isn’t worth my money; I’m looking for a challenging/rewarding bio course, and I’m worried that intro bio would not fulfill my expectations (although I’d probably learn a lot).</p>
<p>Would I be able to take a more advanced bio course this year (i.e. not take Ken Miller’s intro bio course) and still be able to (re)learn the topics covered in intro bio? Has anybody faced this situation of mine? What would you current students/alumni suggest?</p>
<p>Bio classes numbered above 0200 all nominally require 0200, but shouldn’t be a problem since you get that placement for the 5 on your AP Bio. However, there are some classes you should probably avoid until you are secure in the stuff covered in 0200. Genetics and biochemistry come to mind as examples of such courses.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, there are probably a handful of classes you can take right off the bat that probably won’t be too reliant on remembering everything in 0200, like courses in EEB, if you are so inclined. However, these courses by themselves probably won’t prepare you to take genetics and biochemistry if you don’t remember everything else from 0200. Though they allow you some time to relearn the necessary stuff before attempting the more challenging courses later in your Brown career.</p>
<p>I skipped Bio 200 and haven’t looked back at all. Even challenging classes like Immuno weren’t a problem, and I have friends who took genetics with no issues either. Friends who re-took Bio 200 said it was different from AP Bio, but there was enough review to make it not entirely worth the time except for getting to have Ken Miller. I’m sure your PLME dean (and Meiklejohn) will suggest the same during your meeting early next week, but go ahead and assume you’ll be skipping Bio 200 and start looking at higher-level bio courses. If Zelinski is teaching her Biotech course, that one’s a great intro to bio at Brown (though an easy one). Immuno with Dr. Bungiro (who’s awesome) would be another good choice if you’re in the mood for a challenge.</p>
<p>I skipped BI 20 as well (thats what it was called when I was a student) but I took AP Bio as a senior so obviously the material wasn’t that old. I think BI 50 (I guess now you call it BIOL 0500), the cell bio class, would be a good place to start. As a PLME, you have the luxury of being able to take a bad grade without it really affecting you anyway.</p>
<p>Most PLMEs in your situation would skip BIO 200. (This advice does not hold as much for nonPLME premeds). Second bruno14’s specific recommendations. There are also a few other BIO freshmen seminars usually that always get great reviews (and I think at least one gives PLMEs a first pick at it.) Even if you haven’t signed up and it’s “full” may be worth trying it out during Shopping and getting prof waiver to add in.</p>