SEAS Freshman Courses Advice (Biomedical Eng)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>Okay, I was looking over the courses and I'm a bit overwhelmed. I haven't been to any of the advising sessions so I was hoping I could get some helpful advice (especially from current biomedical engineering majors at SEAS).</p>

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<li><p>What courses should I be considering just generally for first and second semesters?</p></li>
<li><p>For math I'm considering Calculus II to get a good foundation in mathematics. </p></li>
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<p>(Professor recommendations would be nice for classes.) </p>

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<li><p>For chemistry, which one is more suitable yet still doable for biomedical? 1400 or 1600? Same questions applies for physics.</p></li>
<li><p>When would I be taking PE and the nontechnical classes...I want to manage my schedule well, so do I need to worry about that this year or is that later?</p></li>
<li><p>So I know we take five classes each semester, so that would be...math, physics, chem, writing/gateway lab, and the preprofessional course (engineering in medicine probably, right?) first semester, yes?</p></li>
<li><p>How heavy of a course load will this be? Will I die? :P</p></li>
</ul>

<p>I'm just really confused. Basically, at this point any advice would be GREAT :)</p>

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<p>[Degree</a> Tracks](<a href=“http://www.bme.columbia.edu/misc-pages/degreetrack.html]Degree”>http://www.bme.columbia.edu/misc-pages/degreetrack.html)</p>

<p>This should help give you an idea of what to look at.</p>

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<p>Have you heard of Culpa? It’s a site with many of our professors reviewed by students. Google the word and the first result is the one you want. I’ve personally found it to be fairly accurate with my profs so far.</p>

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<p>That is such a helpful site. Thank you so much!</p>

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<p>by 1400-or-1600 i assume you mean physics, not chemistry. I preferred the pace of 1600.</p>

<p>I highly recommend doing Intensive G-Chem rather than Normal G-Chem, chiefly because it’s 1 semester rather than 2 (but for other reasons too). Someone contemplating biomed eng should be able to handle it easily.</p>

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<p>I second 1600 chemistry. I had a good teacher for AP chem, and 1600 was not a large step up from the material learned there. The workload was fairly small: 3 tests, a few quizzes, and a final. We approached the material with an emphasis on physics, which interested me quite a bit but might be a turn-off for other people.</p>

<p>That might change, because I believe that Flynn is taking a sabbatical.</p>

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<p>If you have passed BC calc, take calc 3, you are going to be bored and frustrated when you realize calc 2 is more difficult than calc 3. </p>

<p>A lot of people take PE senior year so they can get the classes they want when they have higher priority. </p>

<p>This course load will be fine. You won’t die. It’s freshman year and with SEAS it’s only going to get harder.</p>

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<p>starting with Calc 2 can be a useful way to get some Easy-A credits in your first semester at Columbia. Especially paired with a more challenging course like intensive G-chem or, god forbid, physics 2800.</p>

<p>You’re probably intellectually prepared for the stuff in Calc 3 but you may not be prepared for Columbia’s pace or level of competition in the stuff. Consider giving yourself a break.</p>

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<p>chem, physics, gateway or U writing, calc, and engineering in medicine (great introduction to BME and a fairly easy course)</p>

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<p>that’s fine…it’s what i did</p>

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<p>completely depends on your strengths and has nothing to do with your intended major. you should shy away from challenging yourself too much…there is no shame in taking 1400 chem and physics nor does it put you at any sort of disadvantage. </p>

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<p>probably a good idea to get a PE out of the way freshman year. don’t worry about the nontech classes until sophomore year</p>

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<p>yes</p>

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<p>it’s very manageable unless you screw yourself over by taking a chem or physics level that is too challenging for you. there will be plenty of time to challenge yourself in BME (especially junior year), try to establish good study habits and a solid GPA the first two years.</p>

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<p>Okay, I have a (maybe stupid?) question then. </p>

<p>If the tracks you choose for physics and chemistry have nothing to do with your intended major, then why not just take the (relatively) easiest ones? I mean, is there a disadvantage to this in the long run or something?</p>

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<p>by taking the more difficult tracks you save a semester (or two) which would allow you to take things you’re more interested in later on in addition to the requirements</p>

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<p>I was looking at Physics/Chem on the track pick though… for some majors (ie. EE), it seems that while you’re required to take courses in Physics/Chem for a full track (three or so courses), you actually aren’t required to take harder level classes… so, you could do a full three-course track in easy courses and meet the track requirements according to the pic… is that true?</p>