<p>this just popped into my head. If you're a sophomore next year, then probably your junior year the biology curriculum is likley to change, so there might be a chance that your 290 will no longer exist and you'll have to start a different sequence for microbio half way to complete the POS. I don't know that for sure, I don't think the people writing the curriculum even know anything for sure. BUT, the physics sequence will not change because it's a different department. I guess that's just something to think about.</p>
<p>Also, if you're transfer student and you have declared youself has a biological science major you will have a student advsior over the summer and a faculty advisor in probably July who will help you with your schedule.</p>
<p>I'm sure you can take it either semester. The chem department can handle all 700 students taking orgo lab in one semester. I'm not sure which book you're refering to, it might say it's a corequisiste of 357-358?</p>
<p>^You're right, you can take Chem 251 in either fall or spring while you take orgo.</p>
<p>I took it in the fall but most of my friends postponed it until spring. In my own opinion, taking orgo lab and microbio lab while you take orgo + microbio could be a bit much as you'll be adjusting to Cornell. You'll be find if your postpone orgo lab until your spring semester.</p>
<p>Sweet, congrats dewdrop. I fell in love with New Orleans about a decade ago and I have been going back there every year, love it even after Katrina. Are you considering about Tulane SOM?</p>
<p>I think you'll be fine. BioMI 290 is about as easy as it gets (there's extra credit for godsakes!). So, really we're just taking about orgo + orgo lab + microbio lab which is manageable.</p>
<p>It feels like a lot of busy work....but it's not unbearable. The only difficulty I encountered were the orgo lab practicals where you are graded on yield and purity.</p>
<p>Orgo lab is alloted a 3 hour block once a week...but sometimes you don't need all 3 hours.</p>
<p>Before every lab you have to do a write up in your notebook b/c you are not allowed to bring the book or notes to lab...that can be tedious b/c you have to be detailed and some TAs are strict with grading. </p>
<p>Usually you have a quick write up after lab...takes maybe 10 minutes outside of class. There's also a midterm exam...it's long and many people don't finish it but I didn't find it to be difficult at all.</p>
<p>There's a lot of lab reports and worksheets and stuff but they're worthless. The two practicals and the written midterm make up 80-90% of your grade in orgo lab.</p>
<p>
[quote]
actually...I think orgo lab is the most fun of all the labs I took
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I agree. Chem 251 was probably the most fun I had in a lab course. I felt everyone was very cooperative in helping each other get through the labs w/o blowing stuff up or setting a fire. I actually looked forward to lab. Plus, I became really good friends w/ my lab partner (we were roommates the next year). We came up with the same protocol for the practical. I got 10% below the mean on yield. She got 10% above the mean. Boo</p>
<p>I could be mistaken but wasn't the rule for the practicals that you could talk to each other, just not the TA? Like, people can discuss strategies with other students as they're going along but they can't ask the TA for help?</p>