College Freshman in need of help!!!

[BryanEC07]

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Hi, I'm a freshman at Elmira College, a small school in upstate New York that probably no one is familiar with, except for the huge state prison. I'm majoring in biology with the goals of becoming a MD/DO after my undergrad. I pulled a 3.91 GPA for Term I, with taking Bio 1, Chem 1, Freshman Composition, and Core 1000 (a great books course jobby everyone is forced to take 🙄 ). My next term consists of Bio 2, Chem 2, Communications, Core 2000, Research in Biology, and Skin Diving for my Bahamas Trip Term III 😀 . Anyway, I'm having trouble with some decisions on future courses. I'm thinking about taking organic chemistry I and II over the summer at Stony Brook University and also volunteering at the University Hospital. I might do well in the course because that is all I would focus on, even though it definitely will be a crappy summer. I'm going to try to get a decent volunteer position, maybe in a cancer clinic or something where I could recieve some experience. Is this a wise plan? My other concern is about calculus and physics. I might not take calculus in college, probably just statistical methods, maybe precalculus too. I was never too great in math in the first place and I don't want to kill my GPA. Also, Elmira only offers calculus based physics which I won't do well in if I don't take calculus. I was thinking about taking algebra-based physics during the summer going into my junior year at a community college or somewhere on the island (I don't think Stony Brook offers the course, at least in the summer). I really don't know what to do about that physics course, but I heard the kids with no previous calculus bombed the first course. The school isn't too big in pre-med/dental/vet things, they graduate about one kid or sometimes none who go into those fields. I was thinking about putting some transfer applications into Colgate, Haverford, Connecticut College, and maybe a few others which have a stronger and more funded science program.

Thanks for the help!
Bryan

"We're gonna go where people pretend to want to go when they can't afford to go someplace good. We're gonna see America. We take no map. We'll follow the sun. Stay in cheap motels and steal what we need along the way. We go west, past the cheese factories, where the air is fresh, the sky is big, and a man can still kill his dinner with his car. Guys, tomorrow we put the pedal to the metal and we ride with the wind." - Al Bundy

 

[carrigallen]

i don't know the area, but i read your post. here is my advice:


Take elective classes at Stony Brook - something interesting but lightweight (read: low gunner) like medical anatomy or cytology or something like: molecular basis of inherited disease (ok i'm making this up, you get the idea). make sure it is not too advanced though.

Take your core premed stuff at Elmira (ie orgo). These are the grades that matter most, you want to stay in your "security zone" with these classes. and you don't want to botch them with the competition at Stony Brook. it sounds like you adjusted well at elmire; there is no advantage in saying "oh, i did my orgo at stony brook" - no one cares. all they want is your grade.

So after you sign up for classes, talk to the volunteer director at the suny about what you can do. Do this early, like feb or jan. also, volunteering for only a few weeks is useless. if your stay will be short, it is far better to find a physician to shadow during your stay there. <thinks> If I were going to arrange that, I would start by talking to the suny's premed advisor. he/she can give you names of doctors who like undergrads.

 

[Smitty75]

Originally posted by BryanEC07
Hi, I'm a freshman at Elmira College, a small school in upstate New York that probably no one is familiar with, except for the huge state prison. I'm majoring in biology with the goals of becoming a MD/DO after my undergrad. I pulled a 3.91 GPA for Term I, with taking Bio 1, Chem 1, Freshman Composition, and Core 1000 (a great books course jobby everyone is forced to take 🙄 ). My next term consists of Bio 2, Chem 2, Communications, Core 2000, Research in Biology, and Skin Diving for my Bahamas Trip Term III 😀 . Anyway, I'm having trouble with some decisions on future courses. I'm thinking about taking organic chemistry I and II over the summer at Stony Brook University and also volunteering at the University Hospital. I might do well in the course because that is all I would focus on, even though it definitely will be a crappy summer. I'm going to try to get a decent volunteer position, maybe in a cancer clinic or something where I could recieve some experience. Is this a wise plan? My other concern is about calculus and physics. I might not take calculus in college, probably just statistical methods, maybe precalculus too. I was never too great in math in the first place and I don't want to kill my GPA. Also, Elmira only offers calculus based physics which I won't do well in if I don't take calculus. I was thinking about taking algebra-based physics during the summer going into my junior year at a community college or somewhere on the island (I don't think Stony Brook offers the course, at least in the summer). I really don't know what to do about that physics course, but I heard the kids with no previous calculus bombed the first course. The school isn't too big in pre-med/dental/vet things, they graduate about one kid or sometimes none who go into those fields. I was thinking about putting some transfer applications into Colgate, Haverford, Connecticut College, and maybe a few others which have a stronger and more funded science program.

Thanks for the help!
Bryan

Yea CC!
Wow, I've never seen anyone mention Connecticut College before. Unless, of course, they meant to say UCONN

 

[discusdan]

I believe most schools require a math course preferebly calculus. I agree with the others, take Orgo at your college. You're starting early in your college carreer which is a great thing. Keep up the good work.

 

[XT777]

i believe that only around 25% of med schools require math as a prereq.

http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/preprofessional/health/forms/additional_math_reqs.pdf


XT777

 

[BryanEC07]

One of the two General Chem teachers in my school told me that the bio major at Elmira was crap and it would kill my chances of getting into med school. Even though he is french-canadian and has a more unique approach to teaching, I thought this was a little farfetched. I have the other chem professor who worked for Corning Glass for about thirty years, the class really isn't too bad but I felt I learned a good amount. I don't know why the guy is putting down his own school, but that is one of the reasons I'm thinking of transferring to a better undergrad. We only have four chem professors in our school, 2 general, 1 analytical, and 1 organic. Some of them also teach classes like biochemistry and I think some advanced organic. Anyway, I'm kind of hesitant on what decision to make.

Thanks, Bryan

 

[BryanEC07]

One of the two General Chem teachers in my school told me that the bio major at Elmira was crap and it would kill my chances of getting into med school. Even though he is french-canadian and has a more unique approach to teaching, I thought this was a little farfetched. I have the other chem professor who worked for Corning Glass for about thirty years, the class really isn't too bad but I felt I learned a good amount. I don't know why the guy is putting down his own school, but that is one of the reasons I'm thinking of transferring to a better undergrad. We only have four chem professors in our school, 2 general, 1 analytical, and 1 organic. Some of them also teach classes like biochemistry and I think some advanced organic. Anyway, I'm kind of hesitant on what decision to make.

Thanks, Bryan