UVA First Year Pre-med Schedule

<p>I was looking around Lou's list and picked out some courses for my fall semester. Is this a doable workload in terms of the number of credits I'm taking on? I noticed a lot of courses have discussions that are rewarded their own credits and was wondering what they were compared to lectures. Similarly, languages have drills and I was wondering if these are also required along with the lectures? Here is a sample of what I've picked out:</p>

<p>Chem 1810 Lecture (3 Units) and Discussion (3 Units)
Chem 1811 Laboratory (3 Units)
Psyc 2200 Lecture (3 Units)
Pers 1010 Lecture (4 Units) and Drill (4 Units)</p>

<p>Any tips on a pre-med schedule for a first year would be appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>Actually, for most classes that have mandatory discussions the discussion is included in the credit count of the lecture. Thus, CHEM 1810 with mandatory discussion is 3 credits, PHYS 1610 with mandatory discussion is 4 credits, etc. The only time I’ve encountered when this doesn’t apply is when a class has an optional discussion section. (E.g., LNGS 3250 is 3 credits, LNGS 3251 is 1 credit.)</p>

<p>“Mandatory” in this context, though, is more with regard to registration rather than fact. My CHEM 1410 professor made discussion more of an open-ended thing where the TA would help with material or homework, so I never went. Discussion for languages, as far as I know, though, are always mandatory. In your first year of study of a language you really do need the extra practice with a fluent speaker.</p>

<p>So, since you only have 13 credits right now, I’d recommend you find another class. I think it’s not uncommon for premeds to take the biology at the same time, but I also have seen lots of premeds taking something like SOC 1010 or a philosophy course in their first year.</p>

<p>D is a rising fourth year premed. She took the same schedule you have above except instead of Pers (already had languages through AP and is in Echols), she took physics. She’s glad she got it out of the way but taking the 80 series chem alongside physics and psych (sometimes another weed out) was not easy. Some students take bio first year and then double up in chem and physics second year. Bear in mind you’ll need to take the following actually at UVA even if you’ve fulfilled reqmts through AP: min. 2 semesters Bio + labs, 2 semesters Gen Chem + labs, 2 semesters Orgo + labs, 2 semesters Physics, and 1 semester Calc II or Calc III. Most med schools also require 1-2 semesters English and 1 semester Biochem. A few may also prefer 1 semester of Stat. Hope this helps in trying to draft out an outline. If you decide to take the 80 series chem + labs, I would not suggest you exceed 15 hours.</p>

<p>Thanks for replying guys. I’ve decided that I’m going to take the 1400 series CHEM instead of 1800. Here’s an updated version of my schedule:</p>

<p>Chem 1410 (3 credits)
Chem 1410 Lab (2 credits)
Psyc 2150/2200 (3 credits)
Pers 1010 (4 credits)
Relg 2650 (3 credits)</p>

<p>Now it adds up to 15 credits but I have some back classes as well if I don’t happen to get this exact schedule. Depending on whether or not I become exempt from my foreign language requirement I may substitute physics or even biology.</p>

<p>I’d recommend subbing bio before physics…just my two cents. I think it looks great, though, like you have it. Good luck!</p>