Class Selection Question?

[Kochanie]

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So I'm going into my junior year and my current schedule includes:
Literature Class
Physics 1/3
Physiology
Research Credit

My last class is either a 100 level Bio or a 300 level Bio?

The 100 level Bio would be less work for an A and more interesting and the 300 level Bio would be less interesting and more work for an A (but still pretty easy to attain).

I think it seems like I should take the 300 level, but taking 2 weed-out pre-reqs (Physics/Physio) makes me think I should have an easier class, what do you guys think? 🙂

 

[meander]

What is your major?

 

[Dr. Retractor]

If your major requires upper division electives then I would take the 300 level, if that's upper division at your school. And Physiology isn't normally a weed-out class, although it would require a fair amount of studying.

 

[Aerus]

What is this?! Kochanie saying science classes are easy A's?! I'm thrilled to see that you're doing so well now!

I would pick the class that contributes to your major. Physics and Physiology isn't a terrible combination.

 

[PakiMDDreamer]

I would for go for the easier in all cases of situations like these unless you were extremeeeeely interested in the subject/professor or it fills a requirement that the other one doesn't (for major or GER)

If there's anything I've learned from current med students out of my school its that there's no substitute for a high GPA to open doors for you to medical school, even if you worked hard and got a subpar grade and maybe even a rec from that prof...adcoms may never even come to know that because you were excluded from early screenings. Upper levels just don't seem to impress them at all b/c other factors are more interesting to them: research experiences, unique activities, life struggles, etc. You took an upper level Bio? Cool you're ahead of the game maybe for the rigor of med school but a kid who got a 40 on his MCAT and was an award winning athlete looks way better.

I can totally understand if the essence of someone's candidacy is their genius status, but that would mean taking lots of upper levels in lots of subjects, so that's different...

Med school is hard. Challenge yourself in college but c'mon why bio? Bio is relatively simple on the MCAT, and everyone is taking upper level bios who apply to med school, it doesn't make you stand out or anything.

I was in the same boat and am 100% choosing the easier bio class to keep showing my grade improvement before I apply next cycle, hoping to break a certain GPA. Took a 200 that doesn't even go towards my major and got a stupid B+ because the prof graded subjectively.

 

[PakiMDDreamer]

^^^That's my two cents, I feel pretty strongly about it, so I hope I didn't come off as having an attitude. Those are just my feelings and you'll surely find someone else with ones on the polar opposite end of mine.

 

[Kochanie]

Thanks @PakiMDDreamer, if I was an A student to begin with, I would not be making up terrible grades with Bio electives. Bad grades is definitely why I want to go with the easy, little time commitment, A. But the 300 level is still easy, just more of a time commitment (projects/test prep).

I am a Bio major.

I think in the end I'll go with the 300 level, it does contribute to a requirement, kind of (any 300 level will).

Plus, the 100 level meets late and at least the 300 level will get me up early and I'll have a gap between classes for research/studying.

 

[Kochanie]

What is this?! Kochanie saying science classes are easy A's?! I'm thrilled to see that you're doing so well now!

I would pick the class that contributes to your major. Physics and Physiology isn't a terrible combination.

Haha, summer Orgo is making me a pretty good student, no time to slack! 🙂 Well those 2 are, Plant Bio vs 100 level haha.

 

[Kochanie]

If your major requires upper division electives then I would take the 300 level, if that's upper division at your school. And Physiology isn't normally a weed-out class, although it would require a fair amount of studying.

At my school, it's a pre-req for med school, we don't have the standard "Bio 1/Bio 2" so it's full of premeds and curved to a C+ whereas a class like the 300 level will have 10 students and not graded on a curve so it's possible for everyone to do well. It's kind of required for my major, but any class I take in the future would fulfill it.

 

[Kochanie]

What is your major?

Bio!

 

[hoihaie]

do the upper div one, smaller calss size= potential chance for LoRs too