Anyone know anything about DePauw University?

[TheGeek]

My family just put down the enrollment deposit for DePauw university in Greencastle Indiana. They offered me a hefty scholarship, and the school seemed a good fit for me.

Anyway, I'll be going there as a Freshman next fall, and I was wondering if anyone knows anything about the Pre-Med courses there, be it advice, warnings or just general information.

I'm really enthusiastic about medicine, which should work wonders for my GPA [everyone's always said that enthusiasm is the best motivator], I'm willing to put in hours to study, and sciences have always come naturally to me and all that.

Also, general "insider information" about the university itself would be great; I've applied as a music major and I'm trying to decide whether I want to double-major in Bio (with a concentration in biological neuroscience). Is this a good idea? I've heard rumors that taking science classes after the pre-reqs and a few other things [anatomy & physiology, etc.] is a big no-no. Can anyone confirm this?

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to all this, and I'm just looking to see if anyone has general or specific heads-up info. Thanks!

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[TheGeek]

*bump* and further thoughts:

DePauw's website has the following list of recommended prerequisite courses for students pursuing medicine (each being a semester long, of course):

Math:
Calculus I (or Calculus with Review I and II)

Bio:
Organismal Biology with Lab
Ecology and Evolution
Any one Upper level Biology course with lab

Chem:
Structure and Properties of Organic Molecules with lab
Structure and Properties of Inorganic Compounds with lab
Stoichiometric Calculations (1/4 credit; prerequisite for Thermo.)
Thermodynamics, Equilibrium and Kinetics with lab
Organic Mechanisms and Synthesis with lab OR Structure and Function of Biomolecules

Physics:
Principles of Physics I with lab
Principles of Physics II with lab

Most of these make sense to me, but I never thought of Ecology as a pre-req. Any thoughts?

 

[vhstudent]

My lit teacher went to DePauw, and he's one of the smartest guys I know. That's all I know about DePauw, lol. Sorry.

But I'm guessing it's an all around good school, he doesn't shut up about it.

 

[WildEMDoc]

Most of these make sense to me, but I never thought of Ecology as a pre-req. Any thoughts?

Well since I'm a Biology major I have to take it anyway. But I have always thought that Ecology was a very important subject to anyone who wants to pursue medicine. Why?

Here is the course description from my university:
"A survey of ecology including general theory, the adaptations of organisms, population dynamics, species interactions, and the structure and function of natural communities and ecosystems"

I believe that learning about those adaptations is central to a class dealing with how bacteria are continuously changing to adapt to antibiotics, that class is called Medical Microbiology.

But maybe I just put to much emphasis on ecology since I find it so interesting.

 

[DrBowtie]

DePauw is very fraternity and sorority heavy.
I've got nothing to add about academics.

 

[TheGeek]

I believe that learning about those adaptations is central to a class dealing with how bacteria are continuously changing to adapt to antibiotics, that class is called Medical Microbiology.

But maybe I just put to much emphasis on ecology since I find it so interesting.

Huh. That makes a lot of sense, now that I think about it. Thanks so much!

I've seen other threads that suggest taking other classes beyond these pre-reqs, like Anatomy & Physiology, Genetics, Biochemistry, and the lot, but I've also seen people suggest avoiding extra science classes like the plague, to keep GPA up. I guess I was wondering how to reconcile those two. How important are those extra classes on the MCAT, and is it worth a possible GPA hit?