<p>So I want to start the biocore next year as a sophomore but it has certain pre-requisites: chem. 31a/b, 33, 35 and math</p>
<p>I have got all of it covered except 35 b/c I took the a/b path ( :( ) instead of the 31x, so is it a good idea to take 35 in the summer?</p>
<p>I am asking because a 10 week course has been cut to 4 weeks(yikes!) and I need this to prepare for the MCATS ...so is it a good idea? Are 35 all that difficult?</p>
<p>Question: when do you plan to take your MCAT that you're so worried about 35? Even if you're taking it summer after sophomore year, that still gives you 2 chances to take 35.</p>
<p>You can pretty much ignore the pre-requisites. It's not like they help or anything...in fact they pretty much have nil to do with the bio core. It comes into play somewhat in bio 41, but only because it's assumed that if you've taken 35 then you're taking 131 at the same time as 41--some of the material is the same (maybe a lecture or two), but not enough to make any real difference in the end.</p>
<p>35 is way different from 33. 33 makes you memorize and work with menial things like molecule configurations. 35 makes you memorize reactions and then put them in an appropriate order to make Molecule B from A. Considerably more difficult. Especially when it can take 7-8 steps and you need to figure out the exact order. Not a good idea for someone coming out of Wender's 33 class to have to take 35 crammed into 4 weeks. Definitely saw a good number of people get owned in last year's summer class because they weren't ready. There are only three reasons you should consider taking it in the summer:
1) you're repeating and hoping for a better grade
2) you're really pro at orgo and have had experience in putting together reactions
3) it's the only thing you're doing this summer and you have a ton of time to study for the exam that you'll have each week (this year's prof is different, so who knows, but last year there was a full-blown midterm every week).</p>
<p>If 2 or 3 apply, then I guess the choice is up to you. But I don't see why you seem desperate to take it in the summer when you've got plenty of time before you take the MCAT. And Huestis teaches it in the fall, she's a brilliant teacher.</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>i was only worried b/c i really dont want to take the bio 41,42,43 junior year jst b/c i didnt take chem 35 freshman yr</p>
<p>but if it doesnt matter all that too much its fine</p>
<p>Cool. Just for future reference, think of pre-reqs as just being suggestions. You're free to ignore them if you wish/need to.</p>