WashU Premeds: Questions and Answers

<p>sounds like a lot of classes to take. Also I guess I’m used to how college schedule systems are worked out, but can I still do BME and pre-med and also minor in business?</p>

<p>also, does writing I count for the english requirement for pre-meds?</p>

<p>also, does anyone know anything about the physics courses during freshman year from BMEs?</p>

<p>I know a good handful of BME, pre-med students who are minoring in business. Certainly possible.</p>

<p>Just for reference, I’m BME (NOT pre-med), with 2 minors (1 declared, the other I just recently decided on). One of my minors is in the engineering school, the other is pretty related (as in I only need 3 more classes), in artsci.</p>

<p>Writing 1 does satisfy half of the year of english requirement. The other half could be tech writing, which all engineers have to take. As I’m not pre-med, I don’t really know pre-med req’s like the back of my hand.
A good chunk of engineers don’t take writing 1, since you can test-out. I myself didn’t, and since I’m not pre-med a full year of english is unnecessary for me (I’ll just have the 1/2 year).</p>

<p>What do you want to know about physics?
If you’re talking about which series to take, I HIGHLY recommend the 190 series (197/8). One of the professors is leaving, but Bernatowicz is an amazing professor and will be teaching all 3 sections of 197 this year (unless they find someone else?).</p>

<p>Johnson181, what is the difference between Physics 197/8 and general physics 117/8? Does the 190 series have other prereqs, and would it be harder to take the 190s without having prior experience with calculus-based physics? (I took Physics B this past year…and plan on BME)</p>

<p>197/8 have more advanced calculus requirements, but as a BME that shouldn’t even be a concern (calc 1 is a prereq, calc 2 is a coreq for 197) since you should be taking at least calc 2 this fall.</p>

<p>The professor of 197/8 is excellent, and really engaging. The professors in 117/8 not so much.<br>
Generally speaking, you learn more in 197, and you learn it better (my friends in 117 said the prof spoke to the blackboard…). </p>

<p>Note- the 190 series has a ton more work (daily homeworks vs weekly), and class attendance is mandatory. But, do to this, exams have less weight on your grade, and you have the opportunity for a near 100% in 55% of the class (hw = 35, lab = 15, participation = 5).</p>

<p>Seriously, I don’t think there’s a single person who will tell you that 117 is better. The only people I know who didn’t like 197 over 117 just didn’t like the work load.</p>

<p>Johnson- in high school, I’ve taken AP physics B and got a 4 on the exam, and also took AP physics C but didn’t take the exam (then again, I didn’t learn so much because our teacher was pretty badly organized). You think that’s good enough for physics 197/8?</p>

<p>Also, I was told by many of my friends in college that physics in college isn’t much of a problem, and that chemistry is what really kills people.</p>

<p>Lastly, can you specifically choose your profs at WashU? Or doe your prof vary on which classtime you signed up for?</p>

<p>Also, when I took the Physics B exam, it was the year when the physics B exam became ridiculously harder than the past years because college profs were getting ****ed that students entered physics courses in college with almost no background. My teacher even said it was the hardest AP physics B exam he’d seen in years.</p>

<p>Also, I thought you’re only suppose take 4 classes in college? So how can anyone manage to take all of these courses freshman year? Sorry butI’m obviously new to college schedule systems :P</p>

<p>Well, I didn’t really have physics in high school, it was a complete joke (no AP, we did more circuits than standard physics…). You’ll be fine.</p>

<p>I took 6 classes last semester. But I’m nuts.</p>

<p>4 classes only? There are some semesters where you’ll have to take more than 15 credits (but some where you can take 12).</p>

<p>Many people, including some teachers, told me we only take 4 classes in college, but it seems from WashU’s BME schedule, I’ll probably have to start off with 6 classes in freshman year. Seriously, I have NO CLUE what’s going on, and I hate to enter college just to get raped by the workload</p>

<p>and if I really have to take 5-6 classes then I won’t mind because I’ve taken 5-6 difficult courses in HS. I did almost did get destroyed but that’s only because of SATs and 15 college apps.</p>

<p>also most of my high school teachers were horrible, but I’ve heard many great reviews of washu’s profs.</p>

<p>also does anyone have the link to the recommended schedule for the pre-med track route?</p>

<p>[Life</a> Sciences Forms | The College | Arts & Sciences](<a href=“http://college.artsci.wustl.edu/prehealth/forms]Life”>http://college.artsci.wustl.edu/prehealth/forms)
Also can get to this through the undergrad Biology department</p>

<p>Ok so from what I’ve read on this thread, it seems that even for top caliber chemistry students, Gen Chem 1 is going to be quite the challenge. As a student who is 2 years removed from any sort of chemistry class, I’m starting to get the impression that brushing up on my chemistry skills would not be a bad idea.
Does anyone have any suggestions of what I could do to help prepare for Chem 111a this fall?</p>

<p>BUMPing this thread.</p>

<p>Sorry for bringing this thread back. I know that this isn’t the transfer thread, but I feel that my question will most likely be answered here. I am currently applying as a transfer into WashU from a community college. I took AP Chem in HS and got a 5 and got an 800 on the SAT II. I am currently in Orgo II at my institution. My question is, how likely am I to get credited (Gen Chem I, Gen Chem II, Orgo I, Orgo II)?</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Zero chance at all for Chem 1 & 2. WashU does not accept AP credit for chem at all. (Engineering is an exception, but you don’t get credit for the class - you get waived from the requirement and credit for a nonexistent chem class at only 6 credits, not 10).</p>

<p>Can’t really speak on Orgo, but they generally do not approve class transfers for WashU students wanting to take it at a community college.</p>

<p>Thanks for the quick response. I suppose it will be fun taking chem again haha. Hopefully, I never have to take Orgo again.</p>

<p>If it’s any consolation, the first semester of Gen Chem is nothing like AP. It’s quantum chemistry.</p>

<p>Pre-meds can use transfer credits to satisfy the Orgo requirement, but I’m not sure if credits from a community college are accepted.</p>

<p>Hmm. I would hope that not accepting the orgo would be justified after doing the course evaluation. I know that linear algebra from my community college transfers to WUSTL.</p>

<p>Just if other people are interested. My orgo credits were approved for transfer as equivalents to 261 and 262 I believe. If you attend WUSTL you can’t get CC credits for orgo, but since I don’t attend WUSTL it is fine.</p>