<p>Okay, sorry I'm posting so many things about my freshman schedule, but I'm trying to figure out what would be the best way to keep my load light for my first year (is this a good idea?) as a premed.</p>
<p>Here is one possibility I'm considering:
Intro bio w/ lab
Chemistry w/ lab
Freshman writing
Spanish 123 then 209 2nd semester
PE</p>
<p>Here is an alternative:
Intro bio w/ lab
Chemistry w/ lab
Freshman writing
Intro psychology (how hard is it to get this class as a freshman?)
PE (is this no number credit? only pass fail?)</p>
<p>I know premeds usually take Calculus in their first years but I don't see much of an advantage in taking it this early. If someone could comment on any of these plans or suggest alternative plans I would be greatly thankful.</p>
<p>Consider taking 5 instead of 4 academic courses, if you can be up to it. Psych 101 is a great class, and I know that they reserve spots for freshmen. Definitely take all the maths as soon as you can. You will be glad later. Also, you will forget the calculus you learned in high school if you continue math later.</p>
<p>It could be hard taking five courses since the classes that have labs are like 5 credits. I wanted to but they simply didn't let me take 21 credits. </p>
<p>I suggest that you ease into it in the fall and then take 5 next semester.</p>
<p>I very very very very highly suggest you don't take bio and chem lab in the same semester. maybe take bio over the summer or take physics summer and bio sophomore year. Labs reports in college are not like HS ones, they take about 8 hours and you feel like **** afterwards</p>
<p>I disagree with dh277, although I would probably suggest not schedulijng both labs for the same day. The labs are long, but I personally recommend taking your important pre-reqs at Cornell.</p>
<p>I would still recommend the typical pre-med schedule of Bio w/ Lab, Chem w/ Lab, Calculus, and FWS. If you had a good h.s. education, bio, chem, and calculus will be somewhat of a review (althoug still difficult). If you want a lighter load than that, you can take a FWS any time during your four years.</p>
<p>The reason I recommend taking these freshman year is so that you can take physics your sophomore year, and orgo and biochem/upper class bio your junior year. From people I talked to at Cornell, this is the best strategy for keeping your courseload balanced all four years.</p>
<p>PE courses are one credit, but this credit does not count towards your total number of hours per semester.</p>
<p>Just a note: you only need one semester of Calculus to take physics (MATH 111), so while most people take two semesters, it's possible to not take calc until your 2nd semester as a freshman.</p>
<p>I think you should take bio, chem, fws, psych, and spanish your first semester. From what I've heard/seen, bio is the only really difficult class in that group. If the work gets to be too much, you can always drop a class 7 weeks into the semester with no penalty...</p>
<p>You need 2 semesters of math for med school. If your singlevariable calc is separated in 2 parts, I would suggest taking multivariable as well for a total of 3 semesters.</p>
<p>Also, if you enrol simultaneously in Bio and Chem in your first semester, that would suggest thay your Bio class does not require any chem prerequisites and is threfore mabe a little too introductory. My intro bio required 2 semesters of gen chem and at least concurrent registeration for organic chemistry.
I don't go to Cornell, however.</p>
<p>couple of things: im reading the cornell course book right now, and it says calc is highly recomended but not like mandatory for physics... how does this work?</p>
<p>are like the typical pre med classes (chem 207 208, phys 207 208, orgo, bio) tough to get into?</p>
<p>do 6 mandatory credits of writing seminars count as the english credits most med schools want?</p>
<p>and , what are the typical courses required for premed , is it like 24 credit science 6 eng 3 math...?</p>
<p>also how tough would it be 2 fit premed into my sched in the college of human ecology, would it eat up all of my elective space</p>
<p>edit:yea im looking at it right now phys 207 just says have a backround in calc 208 implies u realy should have taken the class</p>
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and , what are the typical courses required for premed , is it like 24 credit science 6 eng 3 math...?
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</p>
<p>No. The requirements are much more specific.</p>
<p>2 sem gen chem with 2 labs
2 sem o-chem with 2 labs
2 sem bio with 2 labs
2 sem physics with 2 labs (I suggest calculus based)
2 sem math (i suggest the calculus sequence or beyond depending on your entry level)
2 sem English (6 credits +)</p>
<p>my school recomends like 4 extra bio/biochem classes.</p>
<p>Calc based physics (Physics 207-208) is a significant time committment (3 lectures, 2 sections, and 1 lab a week=insane). Physics 101-102 is a good alternative if you aren't strong at physics and/or you don't have the time for Physics 207-208. It won't hurt you for the MCAT at all since the MCAT doesn't test any calc-based stuff.</p>
<p>Premed classes are easy to get into b/c they're all gianormous classes. Whether writing seminars are acceptable as english credits will depend on each med school. The line becomes blurry when considering whether a class is strictly a writing class or an English class.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Calc based physics (Physics 207-208) is a significant time committment (3 lectures, 2 sections, and 1 lab a week=insane). Physics 101-102 is a good alternative if you aren't strong at physics and/or you don't have the time for Physics 207-208. It won't hurt you for the MCAT at all since the MCAT doesn't test any calc-based stuff.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Remember how when you applied as a freshman they looked for demanding courses. This is med school. Getting in is hard hard hard.</p>
<p>I know calc physics is demanding.. it is takling my soul right now. I am currently taking the second sem and every lecture of mine teaches a chapter and a half of calc III based poorly explained physics.
As somebody posted on the ratemyprofessors website, if you can't do it, good luck getting through med school.</p>
<p>Med schools admissions work a lot differently from college admissions.</p>
<p>Physics is pratically useless for med school. Being weak in physics doesn't preclude you from doing well in med school. So what if I take a 100-level physics course? I'm taking a 600-level bio course next year. I'm simply better at bio than physics. BTW: I got a 15 on the PS section of the MCAT with no HS physics and only physics 101-102. I think Physics 101-102 is just fine.</p>
<p>
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BTW: I got a 15 on the PS section of the MCAT with no HS physics and only physics 101-102. I think Physics 101-102 is just fine.
[/quote]
Nice!</p>
<p>Honors classes and heavy curriculum still make you more competitive.
A semester of med school is equivalent to 25+ undergrad credits. They want to know you can do it. That said, your 600 level bio will give you much more edge, compared to physics.</p>
<p>Now that we are talking about it, I think that I should go read the 1200 pages of physics that are going to be on my final.
Good luck to everyone!</p>
<p>norcalguy: so do you advise I take bio, chem, calculus, fws, pe? Is this courseload of below average, average, or above average rigor for freshmen premeds?</p>
<p>don't overload in your freshman year, you <em>have time</em>. four years gives you plenty of time to not only complete your major (or program if you are pre-med) but time to explore others. I know several people who are doing pre-med and also getting a degree in AEM. Just plan out your summers and speak with department advisors if you need help (they are actually helpful unlike guidance counselors in high school). I took chem and chem lab freshman year with calculus and writing seminar and also got my language reqs done.</p>