Which science course should I take?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
21

<p>Here is my advice: study the AP that is best taught at your high school. Self study (without taking the AP test) those than are taught badly at your HS.</p>

<p>If you want some specifics, I’d say Physics (if it’s well taught), and Chemistry. Those 2 subjects are hard to self study because they involve more understanding than memorization, and more practice than reading. Biology is easy to self study if

  1. you like it (it keeps you awake while reading a textbook like the Campbell)
  2. If you are good at memorization.
    Besides, Biology Campbell textbook is EXTREMELY well written, and can be read like a big novel. So self study shouldn’t be a problem.</p>

<p>So if you like Biology, and you are good at memorization, you don’t really need any teachers to study it (however, I more than encourage you to take it if you like the teacher who is teaching it).</p>

<p>Now, before any one yells at me, I am talking about the generic curriculum of AP biology/chem/physics at an AVERAGE or GOOD high school in the US (not about true college level course)</p>

22

<p>You may wonder why I talk about self studying. I think it’s a great idea because:</p>

<ol>
<li>It builds good habits for college (where you will have to figure out for yourself a lot of the material)</li>
<li>It fosters a personal interest in the subject (especially when you can study in more depth some topics you like than what an AP course offers)</li>
<li>It doesn’t necessarily involves taking the AP (colleges won’t frown on you for not taking the AP test).</li>
</ol>

<p>All my advices are based on the fact that you have good study habits, and that you actually LIKE studying science. If that’s not the case, ignore those advices.</p>

23

<p>Okay quick question… if i can get an A in AP Chem and maybe like a B in AP Bio…should I take AP Chem? I heard the AP Chem exam is hard but I don’t know about you guys but if you don’t take the AP Exam in my school, then you don’t get that extra weighted GPA (.07) or whatever…</p>

24

<p>thanks for the advice</p>

<p>i was wondering: do most incoming premeds know that they should sign up for the better profs? or do they show indifference towards the issue?</p>

<p>what about the attitude towards APs? (ie what to take/what not to take)</p>

25

<p>As an incoming frosh, you may know that signing up for better profs is a good thing, but you won’t have an idea who those profs are.</p>