Too heavy of a work load? Advice please.

<p>I am transfer student entering my junior year at Berkeley. I am an intended psych major and attempting to fulfill the premed requirements. The courses I am taking are Chem 1A with lab, psych 101, bio 1b, and an american cultures course. An adviser told me it may be to much, due to psych 101 involving a lot of math. Any advice?</p>

<p>I don’t know anything about Psych 101, but Chem1A is supposedly quite difficult in the Fall. Is there a way you could take it in the Spring instead? It’s much easier… especially if you’ve taken AP Chemistry already. </p>

<p>Bio 1B is annoying, but it should be okay.</p>

<p>Honestly, it’s really hard to have an easy workload at Berkeley so you might need to stick with what you have right now.</p>

<p>I agree with purpleroses. I suggest taking chem 1a in the spring because I heard it was much easier. However, if you had a good background in chemistry I think you’ll be fine.</p>

<p>I personally took chem 1a in the fall, and I honestly wishes I had taken it in the spring. Stacy’s exams required to understand chemistry AND apply it into different scenarios. As for Nitsche’s (not sure how you spell his name), his midterms are basically memorization of chem concepts. I personally believe that chem 1a spring midterms are what you need to know to do well on fall chem 1a midterms haha. all of her exams are conceptual. If you like the challenge or feel confident, by all means go for it. Definitely go to SLC for chem! and go to Sneha’s. She’s the best study leader!</p>

<p>Good luck!! I’ll be taking bio 1b this fall too :D</p>

<p>I am taking chem 1a with Arnold. I honestly don’t have a strong background in any of the sciences but I honestly don’t have many semesters to play around with. I know I am required 2 years of organic and inorganic chemistry.</p>

<p>Spring had mc midterms 8D</p>

<p>I dont know if you are aware of it or not, but Majda Arnold & Stacy all have the same midterms. Stacy is the one that writes them. If you feel you can handle it, go ahead and take it, and in actuality the curve in the end is really nice. </p>

<p>I got a C+ first midterm, D in the second midterm (be ready for acids and bases), A on the third midterm (thermodynamics and electricity stuff), and I never found out what I score was on the final but I got a solid B overall.</p>

<p>So I would say the curve is generous and always go to lecture to get those easy ICLICKER points :D</p>

<p>Two lab courses (Chemistry 1A and Biology 1B) will make it a high workload semester.</p>

<p>Typical premed courses, assuming you have not taken any previously, are listed here:
<a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Medical/PrepPrereq.stm#table[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Medical/PrepPrereq.stm#table&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I’ll agree with what everyone said about Chem 1A in the fall. It was very tough, and my friends that took it in the spring with Nitsche had a way easier time. I believe that Nitsche is no longer teaching Chem 1A, but I’d probably take my chances and avoid Stacy/Arnold/Majda. Unless you LOVE chemistry, or something. Bio 1B is more of a fun class than a stressful class, I really enjoyed it and it wasn’t much of a burden time-wise (apart from the lab). I don’t know about the other two courses, but I think you’ll be okay.</p>

<p>Majda does awesome demonstrations though! But if you don’t have a great background with chem, fall may not be the best semester. Its not unbearably difficult, but it won’t be the easiest. I’ve also heard Chem 3A (the next chem after 1A) is easier in the fall. I took a long time ago in the Spring, so I don’t know what the story is now. Bio 1B is fine for all levels - just memorize everything. I’m sure Psych 101 will be memory intensive too.</p>

<p>As a transfer student with four semesters left, you need to note that many of the chemistry sequences listed in <a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Medical/PrepPrereq.stm#table[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Medical/PrepPrereq.stm#table&lt;/a&gt; are four semesters long, so many of them require starting Chemistry 1A or 4A in the fall. However, some of them can be shortened to three semesters, such as Chemistry 1A -> Chemistry 3A -> Chemistry 3B and MCB C100A, since MCB C100A lists Chemistry 3A as a prerequisite but only lists Chemistry 3B as “recommended”.</p>