My freshman D is meeting with her adviser to choose classes as I write this. She doesn’t know what she wants to major in - she loves science, math, and English. So it’s time to choose which science classes and she is being told there are two paths. One is science for non-majors which is fun but won’t count toward her science major credits if she chooses to major in science. The other is taking intro chem or physics for majors “but it will be an incredible amount of work.” I also get the impression that if she only takes one science class and she chooses to major in science, she will be behind because she only took one of these classes with an incredible work load.
I look at it in terms of which doors are you closing by not taking the science for majors classes. From this standpoint, it seems she should take the science for majors class. Her other classes will be a math and a writing class. We chose Amherst as a liberal arts college with an open curriculum so she could be well rounded and take her time to figure out what direction to go in. But if she goes the science route, will she be “behind” without the science for majors course, and will one science class be enough? Part of the problem is she doesn’t know if it will be physics, biology, or something else. It appears that chem is required for the core biology courses - and so chem would be one of the first courses. I get the sense that there is a divide between science and non-science students when it comes to the workload and specializing early on -is this accurate?
I know the adviser will talk to her about all of this, but it’s all new and a bit overwhelming for her not knowing the real impact of her decisions. Any advice from students or parents who have had to make this decision?
Relax. I have a first year there, with the same dilemma, but it’s not really a dilemma. She should take one of the science for majors classes, probably Chem (or maybe Physics), along with Calculus. She won’t be “behind” if she goes that route.
No first year should be taking two major lab classes like Chem and Physics at the same time. It’s too much. This school is demanding, and a first year needs time to adjust. And believe me, they will get a lot of work in their non-science classes, and those analytical and writing skills are equally important, even for science majors. So don’t push her to take an unrealistic schedule.
You may find this link reassuring. Neuroscience is one of the most demanding majors there is, in terms of course and lab requirements. Nevertheless, the recommended courses for a first year interested in Neuroscience are Chem, Calc, first year seminar, and one non-science class.
“Chem, Calc, first year seminar, and one non-science class” => Which is what she will ask for. She talked today with a number of people who have taken the chem class. They all responded that it was not excessive. So she’s going back to her adviser saying that this class offers the experience she wants. It’s interesting the adviser is pushing so hard for her not to do it. I wasn’t suggesting she take two science classes, but was curious what the those in the pre-med track were being asked to do.
If she is interested in pre-med, look at the major requirements for biology, biochemistry and biophysics, and neuroscience. First semester, Chem and Calculus is all you need for each of them (and you could start with physics instead of chem for 2 of the 3).
D is a potential science major and decided early on that Chem and Calc this semester is the way to go. They’re pre-reqs for a lot of later science courses no matter which science department.
Did your D get the schedule and courses she hoped for @rmsdad ?
My D only has a potential issue with Spanish (her “non-science” class, lol), she seems to have placed into a higher course than she thought she would and that’s creating a schedule conflict with Chem. She seems to know what to do to handle it though, so I’m staying out of it. Her adviser is a Chem prof and she says he’s been very helpful.
@OHMomof2 & @michigandermom - Yes she got the chem for majors class and she’s also taking calc. The whole scheduling thing was way more stressful than I would have expected. All the Upperclassmen had the opportunity to register for the classes while the Freshmen were in their orientation leap classes. So, a lot of classes were full when my D went to register. She talked with some older students who recommended specific professors - which set up this hope to get into a specific chem or psychology class, but in the end she got the classes she wanted but not the professors that were recommended. She’s fine. She’s wondering right now where all the “free time in college” is that she heard about. She’s not getting much sleep. She’s also feeling an inner urgency to find her social group. Personal growth is happening at an accelerated rate.
@ThankYouforHelp - Thanks for the checklist. It is very helpful.
@rmsdad I hear you. D says Chem is pretty demanding, and with that, Calc and a language - all of which have extra sections for labs and discussion and so forth, plus the FYS, her time is tight. This is how they learn to juggle, right?
On specific sections…some of these courses say they give priority to freshmen. Was that not the case for hers or was she interested in ones that didn’t give that priority?
@OHMomof2 I’m not sure about the priority thing - I’ve read that too in some of the course descriptions. She go into the psychology class that filled up. But as the orientation week went on, it seems that courses filled up and if you didn’t claim your spot, you were out of luck. So, if your adviser sent you back to reconsider your selections (which hers did), then it was towards the end of the week when she was trying to get in (first needing the advisers OK, then needing professors OK, as with chem). It may have already filled with freshmen as well. Psych 101 and Sociology 101 filled up I believe she said.
Gotcha @rmsdad . D had that hold-on-can’t-register-yet with one course - the Spanish - because she had to test into it. Her adviser did approve her other 3 courses, though, so she got into them.
I think it’s valuable for a kid to learn the “class is full but I might get in if I talk to the prof” lesson early. Self-advocacy and communication and all that
Next semester this should go a little smoother, right?
