Course Selection Bio vs Chem?

[Axes]

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I emailed my pre med advisor and academic advisor like four days ago and neither have gotten back to me.

My school's health advising page shows a "recommended schedule" for the first semester:

Chem
Eng
Math
Bio

This is for people who want to tackle all those courses at once in their first few months.

There's a less rigorous schedule too:

Chem
Eng
Math
Elective

My Q: In the easier schedule, why do they have chem and not bio? Bio is much easier for me, and I feel like taking the class that comes more easily to me will help me settle in to college, and then i can tackle chem next semester. Is there a reason behind this or can I take bio first semester? (Bio/Eng/Math/Elective)

TY

 

[PREDOCSIMP]

Bio 101/102?
Which biology course are you referring to? Cell BIO?

 

[Nucleophile1]

In some Gen Bio 1 classes, principles from Gen Chem 1 are used. At my school, you can't take Gen Bio 1 without first taking Gen Chem 1. My Gen Bio 1 class was also much tougher than my Gen Chem 1. I would ask your advisor if they think it is a good idea for you to take Gen Bio 1 first.

 

[Dr. Bacon 5204]

I waited until my second year to take chem and kind of regret it. It delayed the whole sequence for me and I'm only now heading into orgo II. I'd knock them out ASAP if I were you.

 

[doc05]

if you're only going to do one science in your first year, do chemistry rather than bio. you'll need a year of chem prior to o-chem; and then a year of o-chem prior to biochem.

 

[Axes]

Thanks for your replies everyone. I've calmed down since making that post, lol, and have talked to a few more people. I think I'm just going to do the "harder" schedule, it shouldn't be that bad, plus I've taken AP bio and chem already so.

 

[doc05]

Thanks for your replies everyone. I've calmed down since making that post, lol, and have talked to a few more people. I think I'm just going to do the "harder" schedule, it shouldn't be that bad, plus I've taken AP bio and chem already so.

take the "easier" schedule. you're better off with the "easy A" than struggling to get through the tough courses, only to finish with a couple of "B+ " grades.

 

[moemoekyun]

if you're only going to do one science in your first year, do chemistry rather than bio. you'll need a year of chem prior to o-chem; and then a year of o-chem prior to biochem.

This. For the most part, you only need one semester of gen bio for med school to take upper level bio classes (genetics, micro, etc.) while chem 1 is needed for 2, then orgo, and for other bio. My school required bio 1 and chem 2 for micro.

 

[Pusheen]

You need 3 years of chemistry to take the MCAT and apply (chem, o chem, and biochem). So if you want to apply after jr year, you have to start chem right now.

Also, what's up with people saying that you should have the easiest possible schedule freshman year with only 1 prereq. Do you really want to be rushing to catch up on all your tough science classes later because you only took gen bio freshman year?
Like I get adjusting to college and all, but 14-15 units with gen chem and gen bio is completely fine IMO

 

[Axes]

You need 3 years of chemistry to take the MCAT and apply (chem, o chem, and biochem). So if you want to apply after jr year, you have to start chem right now.

Also, what's up with people saying that you should have the easiest possible schedule freshman year with only 1 prereq. Do you really want to be rushing to catch up on all your tough science classes later because you only took gen bio freshman year?
Like I get adjusting to college and all, but 14-15 units with gen chem and gen bio is completely fine IMO

Mhmm my thinking exactly. It seems pretty typical to take intro chem and bio in your first semester. And because I don't want to be finishing my physics sequence while prepping for the MCAT.

 

[Pusheen]

Mhmm my thinking exactly. It seems pretty typical to take intro chem and bio in your first semester. And because I don't want to be finishing my physics sequence while prepping for the MCAT.

Are you taking intro chem or gen chem?

 

[genericpremedstudent]

This. For the most part, you only need one semester of gen bio for med school to take upper level bio classes (genetics, micro, etc.) while chem 1 is needed for 2, then orgo, and for other bio. My school required bio 1 and chem 2 for micro.

you might want to check on that. every school I'm applying to requires a year's sequence of general biology, not one semester.

You need 3 years of chemistry to take the MCAT and apply (chem, o chem, and biochem). So if you want to apply after jr year, you have to start chem right now.

Also, what's up with people saying that you should have the easiest possible schedule freshman year with only 1 prereq. Do you really want to be rushing to catch up on all your tough science classes later because you only took gen bio freshman year?
Like I get adjusting to college and all, but 14-15 units with gen chem and gen bio is completely fine IMO

No one requires 3 years of chemistry. Biochem, on the off chance that it is required, is only one course. and sometimes can even be used in place of Orgo III.

 

[Pusheen]

No one requires 3 years of chemistry. Biochem, on the off chance that it is required, is only one course. and sometimes can even be used in place of Orgo III.

?
You need biochem for the new MCAT

 

[genericpremedstudent]

?
You need biochem for the new MCAT

yup. doesn't mean its always a pre-req for a school. and when it is, its not a year's worth. therefore, stating you need 3 years of chemistry for med school is incorrect.

 

[Pusheen]

yup. doesn't mean its always a pre-req for a school. and when it is, its not a year's worth. therefore, stating you need 3 years of chemistry for med school is incorrect.

*sigh*
I said you needed biochem to take the MCAT and apply, i.e. take biochem --> take MCAT ---> apply. so, ya I'd say it's indirectly required to apply

and it is effectively 3 years, because you have to wait an entire app cycle while you are taking the semester of biochem. You can't apply in December after fall semester or anything

 

[genericpremedstudent]

my bad, didn't see the MCAT part. I'm on a bunch of vicodin because I tore a muscle LOL. Still though, not sure about other schools, but my school only offers one quarter of biochemistry.

 

[Axes]

Are you taking intro chem or gen chem?

Sorry- gen chem and gen bio, both with lab.

 

[Axes]

my bad, didn't see the MCAT part. I'm on a bunch of vicodin because I tore a muscle LOL. Still though, not sure about other schools, but my school only offers one quarter of biochemistry.

feel better!

 

[Pusheen]

Sorry- gen chem and gen bio, both with lab.

good!

 

[genericpremedstudent]

feel better!

haha thank you. It's actually not too bad. I thought it was a herniated disc at first so I'm much happier with it being a torn muscle.

 

[moemoekyun]

you might want to check on that. every school I'm applying to requires a year's sequence of general biology, not one semester.

Every school I'm applying to is ok with with upper level bio classes (like micro) substituting for bio 2. I emailed the schools and they said upper level bio courses would be ok. My major doesn't require bio 2, but other bio classes, and my friends with the same major got into med/pharm/dental school in the last few years. I agree that it's still a good idea to check though. One school had another requirement (can't remember) I didn't have, so it's off the list.
My main point was if OP is only taking one science (though they should take both), they should do chem first.

 

[genericpremedstudent]

Every school I'm applying to is ok with with upper level bio classes (like micro) substituting for bio 2. I emailed the schools and they said upper level bio courses would be ok. My major doesn't require bio 2, but other bio classes, and my friends with the same major got into med/pharm/dental school in the last few years. I agree that it's still a good idea to check though. One school had another requirement (can't remember) I didn't have, so it's off the list.
My main point was if OP is only taking one science (though they should take both), they should do chem first.

I agree with taking chem before bio. My principles of bio class was very chemistry heavy and unless you have a good grasp on basic chemistry it could be a struggle to do well in bio.