BIO or Chemistry first?

[copon]

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I will be a sophomore in this coming fall. I have not taken any science classes because i wanted to get all of the pre-reqs out of the way ie: math, english, psych...etc.

Should I take Biology first or chemistry when it comes to my schedule? I know i am going to have to end up taking them at the same time at a certain point.
In my first semester taking science classes I wanted to just have one science class in my schedule.

Also should i take Bio concepts first then general bio?

By the way I am majoring in History.

 

[GoSpursGo]

When are you planning on taking the MCAT and applying for med school? If you want to take the MCAT in the spring of your junior year and apply during your senior year (the "traditional" timeline), then you need to start taking both now or you'll run out of time. If your plan was always to apply after your senior year and take a year off doing something else, then just do whatever seems more interesting to you.

I have no idea what "Bio Concepts" is at your school; if there is still a Gen Bio I and Gen Bio II that follows it, I wouldn't waste your time.

 

[mdbound1987]

When are you planning on taking the MCAT and applying for med school? If you want to take the MCAT in the spring of your junior year and apply during your senior year (the "traditional" timeline), then you need to start taking both now or you'll run out of time. If your plan was always to apply after your senior year and take a year off doing something else, then just do whatever seems more interesting to you.

I have no idea what "Bio Concepts" is at your school; if there is still a Gen Bio I and Gen Bio II that follows it, I wouldn't waste your time.

I agree with this. Unless you are taking a year off after college to apply, I would recommend Bio and Chem together your sophomore year and then Orgo and Physics together your junior year. Then you would apply your senior year. Honestly though, if you haven't had any experience with these levels of classes, taking two to start out with may not be the best idea. Unless you are ridiculously opposed to it, take a year off after undergrad. This will give you the opportunity to take for example (this is what I did)...chemistry sophomore year, bio and orgo junior year (I felt these classes went well together), and physics senior year. You do not want to rush into applying just because you dont want to take a year off. It can also be great because not only can you increase your gpa by including senior grades, but you can also add another whole year to your ECs, shadowing, leadership positions, research, and community service.

 

[NickNaylor]

Doesn't matter in the long run, but I would try and take both if possible.

 

[anbuitachi]

I dont know about your school but at mine, the general for pre meds is Freshman: bio , chem,
Sophomore: orgo, physics

 

[absolutdokta]

If that Biology Concept class is like a biology 100 it will be a complete waste of your precious time. Biology 101 is the place to start.

 

[mdbound1987]

I thought Bio 101 is bio for non-majors (aka not pre-med bio). Or maybe that's just what it was at my school.

 

[cfx]

If you're not in any rush to apply by junior year, and have plenty of time to only take 1 science each semester, I'd probably go chem before bio. This because it's the only course that serves as a prereq for another (ochem), so would give you a bit more freedom down the line. Chem is first in the sequence suggested at my school. Though it truly doesn't matter, it might be a *tiny* bit helpful in bio (just to know about bonding, phosphate, etc.), whereas you probably won't see anything relevant to bio in genchem.

 

[mspeedwagon]

👍. Honestly, I would take them both. However, if you had to choose one or the other, getting CHEMISTRY out of the way is more important. There are 4 chem classes to get through so you want to start making a dent ASAP. Also, a lot of the biology is stuff you want to have fresh in your brain for the MCAT so taking it a little closer to the MCAT will be helpful (there will be less you will have to re-learn).

If you're not in any rush to apply by junior year, and have plenty of time to only take 1 science each semester, I'd probably go chem before bio. This because it's the only course that serves as a prereq for another (ochem), so would give you a bit more freedom down the line. Chem is first in the sequence suggested at my school. Though it truly doesn't matter, it might be a *tiny* bit helpful in bio (just to know about bonding, phosphate, etc.), whereas you probably won't see anything relevant to bio in genchem.

 

[Stewie32]

My school requires that biology majors have one semester of college chemistry before they can enroll in their Bio class (it is specifically for bio majors). If you are going to take one of them before the other, I would take chemistry. However, if I could have, I would have taken them both during first semester.

 

[copon]

I appreciate all the feedback, it's all very helpful.
I realized it might be pertinent to say that I am at a community college right now.

I owned a business that last five years and that's the only route i could go. I was going to try to hold off on as much of the sciences as possible, till i made it to the university this coming spring.

I think i am going to go with bio and chem this semester at the cc, then take the majority at the university. Not sure how schools look at the sciences taken at the CC.

 

[sonia1177]

I think you should take both. Because if you are a sophomore and just starting out then you still have to take Intro Bio 1 and 2 , Intro Chem 1 and 2, Orgo 1 and 2, and Physics 1 and 2. And TRUST ME YOU DO NOT WANT TAKE ANY OF THESE THREE AT A TIME. I think you should either take Intro Bio 1 and Intro CHem 1 your first semester, then Intro Bio 2 and Intro Chem 2 your second semester. Then your junior year, take Orgo 1 + Physics 1 first semester and then orgo 2 + Physics 2 second semester. Or take some summer classes this summer or the summer after your sophomore year. But eventually you'll have to double up. Don't worry. I have a lot of friends who did this and it turned out fine. Best wishes and Good Luck

 

[sonia1177]

I appreciate all the feedback, it's all very helpful.
I realized it might be pertinent to say that I am at a community college right now.

I owned a business that last five years and that's the only route i could go. I was going to try to hold off on as much of the sciences as possible, till i made it to the university this coming spring.

I think i am going to go with bio and chem this semester at the cc, then take the majority at the university. Not sure how schools look at the sciences taken at the CC.

I don't think taking classes at a CC is a big deal but it is preferential if you take at a 4 yr university. But honestly, I don't think it really makes that BIG of a difference in the long run. Just take them and do very well 👍 get started so you can finish up and take the MCAT on time and graduate on time.

 

[TriagePreMed]

I will be a sophomore in this coming fall. I have not taken any science classes because i wanted to get all of the pre-reqs out of the way ie: math, english, psych...etc.

Should I take Biology first or chemistry when it comes to my schedule? I know i am going to have to end up taking them at the same time at a certain point.
In my first semester taking science classes I wanted to just have one science class in my schedule.

Also should i take Bio concepts first then general bio?

By the way I am majoring in History.

Take it this way:

Sophomore:
Fall: Chem1, Phys1
Spring: Chem2, Phys2
Summer: Statistics

Junior:
Fall: Bio1, O.Chem1
Spring: Bio2, OChem2
Summer: Calculus

Senior:
Fall: BioChem1, Elective/Research
Spring: BioChem2, Elective/Research

It wouldn't hurt to take additional classes.

 

[snorlax]

Take it this way:

Sophomore:
Fall: Chem1, Phys1
Spring: Chem2, Phys2
Summer: Statistics

Junior:
Fall: Bio1, O.Chem1
Spring: Bio2, OChem2
Summer: Calculus

Senior:
Fall: BioChem1, Elective/Research
Spring: BioChem2, Elective/Research

It wouldn't hurt to take additional classes.

That plan looks really good. I wish I had done it that way.

 

[boaz]

I think taking gen chem early should be a priority. It's a prereq for orgo, which in turn is (at most schools) a prereq for biochem. Many med school require or recommend biochem, and it's (apparently) popular with premeds.

Of course it doesn't hurt to take gen bio at the same time. It's better than taking physics at the same time as gen chem, unless your math skills are really good. Gen chem gets you used to the kind of math you need for physics.

 

[Evergrey]

I will be a sophomore in this coming fall. I have not taken any science classes because i wanted to get all of the pre-reqs out of the way ie: math, english, psych...etc.

Good. A lot of people have had their aspirations ruined because they started taking their science classes too early!

 

[whitecoatdream]

I will be a sophomore in this coming fall. I have not taken any science classes because i wanted to get all of the pre-reqs out of the way ie: math, english, psych...etc.

Should I take Biology first or chemistry when it comes to my schedule? I know i am going to have to end up taking them at the same time at a certain point.
In my first semester taking science classes I wanted to just have one science class in my schedule.

Also should i take Bio concepts first then general bio?

By the way I am majoring in History.

I took both gen chem and bio for majors in my freshman year.. it really depends on how you can handle the work load.. it was hard for me because being a bio major I had no choice but to take chem bio and calc.. but I am glad I did because 3 pre-reqs are out of the way.. and for the bio i think you should just go straight into general bio.. you will be fine, its just memorization.