<p>Wanted some thoughts on my tentative first semester schedule. If it helps, I hope to get a BS in biology. Thanks!</p>
<p>Freshman seminar (GER)
Chemistry 141 (Major Req.)
Chem 141 Lab (Major Req.)
Bio 141 Lab (Major Req., if exempt with AP from 141 class)
Intro to Psychology 110
Health (GER)</p>
<p>That’s effectively the same schedule every other pre-med kid is going to try to get, so make sure you have a lot of back ups.</p>
<p>I think you can do one more class. Maybe throw in a writing requirement or (if you feel daring) CS 170. Or take Intro to Logic. Or Sociology 220.</p>
<p>Lots of choices. I think you can fit in one more. </p>
<p>@SadieLane12 Well, not really aigiqinf (remember, we’re talking main campus here, where the pre-meds and the whole pre-med system/advising is kind of “soft” in comparison to Oxford) biology 141(and its labs) is pretty easy to get because the stupid pre-health office (and biology to some extent with its tricks claiming that knowing chemistry is helpful for biology 141. It isn’t really relevant and all relevant chemistry is retaught. I get the feeling they say this to lower enrollment in the course and basically push all the freshmen to gen. chem) has all freshmen (yes, even good ones) running scared of doubling up in science (it’s so stupid) the first year. Also, psychology 110 is not particularly easy (I would take Edwards personally, but with caution. Be ready to study everyday or at least on days you have off from his class. You can probably handle it because the only full course you have is chem 141 w/lab and the 141 lab is kind of a joke. I suppose psyche 110 will just function as something to replace biology lecture as your second science course), so freshmen nor pre-meds will be rushing (or at least shouldn’t be. Unless I had at least 1 math or science AP credit, I wouldn’t go near psyche 110 as a freshman) for that one. I would take chem 141 with Mulford. It’s obvious he provides the best training and is not overly difficult like weaker freshmen make him out to be. However, because stupid freshmen all of the sudden fear him (this used to not be the case and he was always reasonably challenging. It makes me wonder about our most recent freshman classes), he’s pretty easy to get (he used to fill easily and now he doesn’t. Again, I think our freshmen have become weaker or at least less fearless). </p>
<p>I will say this for sure. They are looking for some noobs to teach the other 2 sections of 141 (the ones that are currently closed off). DO NOT TAKE THEM. ONLY TAKE MULFORD OR MCGILL. If you take the others and they end up being too easy, you may end up having your grade curved down (Mulford and McGill kind of control final distribution of grades and try to normalize across sections) or getting screwed in 142 if no such instructors return and you have to take Mulford or McGill. Pick your instructors very carefully. None of the intro. instructors are overly challenging, so I would just pick the best, most experienced ones, and do the work necessary to succeed. Normally you pay a price by choosing others, even if it isn’t immediately apparent. Also, as normal, I strongly recommend Dr. Eisen or Dr. lynn’s freshman seminars. These are two of the most innovative faculty members when it comes to teaching science (especially in an interdisciplinary context).</p>
<p>I definitely agree with Bernie when he said to either take Mulford or McGill for gen chem. I’m leaning towards McGill but I’m a little biased. I didn’t take that option, and I had Tovrog, a teacher who didn’t really teach, tests were somewhat difficult, and overall I taught myself how to do gen chem. His lectures SUCKED! I wouldn’t double up on bio and chem unless you have a good background in both (AP, IB, etc.) You don’t have to double up freshman year; it’s just most efficient if you do. Also, if you’re time sucks for enrollment you may not be able to get your freshman seminar, but don’t worry if you don’t get it first semester, you can always get it next semester. Make sure you have another class to replace your seminar. Other than that, I think your schedule is fine. Good luck!!!</p>
<p>Chem and bio aren’t that hard in my opinion, at least not biology. The two hard components between them are biology lab and chemistry lecture. However, if one is too squeamish and has no real AP/IB/college science experience, perhaps a math (could be that stupid life sciences calculus course or QTM 100, whatever) and a science may make more sense (I just think you should make more progress than a single math or science. Things may pile up later or other things may be delayed, or you may end up feeling compelled to the take watered down summer versions as a part of your major or track. The two summer science classes remotely close to semester training are gen. chem and intro. physics. All others are far below par and students know it. Often summer ochem and biology are filled with what are generally weaker students. This especially goes for ochem. They will claim that it is because they don’t have time the next year, but it’s usually code for: “I’m scared I’ll have to take so and so” or “the new credit system will make me take another 4 courses with a major science class and I can’t handle it”- all weak crap. Science students, pre-med and non at many other top schools with the Carnegie Unit suck it up and take 5 courses. I suppose it takes a while for this reality to grow on our students). If you have AP/IB experience, it makes more sense to double up in the sciences. It makes for a more versatile schedule in the sophomore year because you can perhaps begin intermediate or advanced courses in whatever your major is as opposed to going through 2 full years of intro. training and becoming bored and then perhaps missing out on some of the rarer electives and courses (that may be taught every two years or something). I feel this threat is more intense if you are an NBB major or a more intense (maybe plans to take graduate level courses or the quantitative biology suite of courses) biology major though. I suppose for more average biology majors or pre-healths for whom the actual course content can matter less, whether or not a special topic course is offered does not matter because they won’t be taking it anyway (only exceptions are perhaps cancer biology and immunology. Those have a reasonable amount of popularity I suppose). </p>