Course Suggestion: Philosophy or Psychology

[premedmind]

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I've finally narraowed it down to either these two courses. Im Biochem and/or pre-med (obviously). They are both Gen Ed's so I have to take at least one or the other.

PHI 108 : Logical and Critical Reasoning

"Students learn to read/write/think critically, the student develops a sensititvity to language and argumentation that is applicable to a wide range of situations and subject matters."

PSY 103 : Intro to Psychology

"An intro to resedarch and theory in psychology in areas such as learning, perception, cognition, biopsychology, development, personality and abnormal and social psychology, as part of the course students must participate in experiments and/or a library research project."

My friend who is pretty intelligent told me that psych is useless if ur pre-med..PHI would be the way to go...

Psych probably has the interest factor, but only by a tiny bit that is pretty much negligible. PHI seems like it would help on the essay/verbal section, but then again so could Psych...suggestions?

 

[mvenus929]

I personally hate philosophy, so I'd go with psych. But that's largely an interest factor for me.

 

[premedmind]

I guess if this boils down to interest, which is purely a subjective matter, which is going to be more useful for me? Like I said, I'm not a huge fan of either, but Psych sounds a little more interesting then reading/writing/thinking critically.

 

[mvenus929]

Well, I didn't take philosophy at my school, but my roommate did. She had a hard time with it, but she really learned how to write a critical paper. It might help you some for the MCAT, or reading journals (since those tend to be boring), if you aren't already capable of that.

In my psych class, we just took tests on the material. It was really interesting material though. Makes me wanna take an upper division class.

 

[walkoffhr]

I had a major in Psy and a minor in Phi, and I'd say if you're not going to go further with either of the two, go for the intro to psych. I think it comes down to whether you want to gain more insight into people and yourself, or become a better thinker.

 

[Femme Fatale]

*

 

[premedmind]

I am currently enrolled in Psych (and I would have to move my classes around to accomodate PHI)....while I am interested in other people and the way they are, I am not so interested in the "theories" of behavior, (ex. Freud)....I disagree with his ID...EGO...SUPERGO...(disagree is a nice way of saying I found it boring). This course doesn't seem to be heavily based on that though, or maybe it just briefly goes over it.

Philosophy could benefit me on the verbal passages and essay section of the MCAT...but in reality it's probably pretty boring, and a whole schedule of Orgo, Calculus, and Physics could drive anyone nuts.

The common consensus I've gotten from this board was to go with Psych. But Philosophy is definetly more useful. Psych has the "personable" qualities to it though that makes you seem well rounded to adcoms, it also MAY help me on the essay, because I can relate to people better.

Gah.

 

[TheRealMD]

Best answer: Do whatever you like.

Practical answer: Psych. It's a good idea to understand how people's minds work because you'll be thinking "WTF" a lot when you meet patients who can't seem to follow simple directions without a bit of trickery.

 

[combatmedic]

Hands down intro to Psych. Interesting class.

 

[eeyoreDO]

Psych is better.

 

[prmdbeach17]

Psych. I've taken both and that was way more interesting. You could read something like newsweek or something that's not inherently interesting to you to get ready for the reading passages on the MCAT. But after doing orgo, physio & calc hw last fall, the last thing I wanted to do was sit and read my lengthy..boring..philosophy readings.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

The psych class will probably be much easier. Intro to psych is usually about the easiest class you can take at most schools. Philosophy classes can be hard because the grading might be subjective, and most of us really aren't too good at critical thinking. If your goal is to gain as much as you can intellectually, I'd vote for the logic class. If it's just to take an interesting and relatively easy class, go for psych.

 

[ScienceJunkie]

bah you wimps! take philosophy! greek for "love of wisdom"...yeah it's tough, but you'll carry away much more than psych. but you learn to think critically and some of the stuff you read is wild--psych is another class of memorizing and regurgitating (relatively speaking). phil is as original as you can get.

besides, you can then take upper level bioethics and philosophy of science/biology courses later on.

 

[Meatwad]

Haha, obviously you go to Stony Brook.

PHI 108 is ******edly easy. Easiest A I've ever gotten in my life. Who is teachin it this semester? PSY 103 is pretty boring, and the class is huge, whereas PHI 108 only has like 80 people if I remember right.

I'd have to say PHI 108 >>>>> PSY 103

 

[premedmind]

What teacher did you have for PHI 108? Your grade usually depends on it..have you taken PSY 103? Obviously your opinion is going to weigh a little more since you are from SBU.

The two open classes right now have Simpson, Lorenzo (bad rating on ratemyprof) and Delaurentis, Allegra

 

[custard]

Aren't there a few schools that recommend that people take psych? It will be much more useful to you in the long-run, I think.

 

[Meatwad]

What teacher did you have for PHI 108? Your grade usually depends on it..have you taken PSY 103? Obviously your opinion is going to weigh a little more since you are from SBU.

The two open classes right now have Simpson, Lorenzo (bad rating on ratemyprof) and Delaurentis, Allegra

I had this guy, Prof Shannon; he was pretty ****ing awesome. He owned a limo company and taught MBA classes and philosopy (lol... yeah, SB is ridiculous). He had stories about driving Missy Elliot to the Grammy's and stuff... but I digress.

I'd go with DeLaurentiis, but I haven't personally taken her. Definitely check ratemyprof, like you've been doing, but don't totally rely on it. A lot of kids at SB are lazy as hell, and I've seen some good profs get burned on there because they actually want you to learn the material. Either class is easier, but like I said, PSY is a huge, boring class. I find myself actually using things I learned in PHI 108 as far as structuring arguments, recognizing fallacies in debates, etc., to this day. Good and useful class.

 

[Meatwad]

BTW, what other classes are you taking this semester?

 

[Medicine929]

I love Psychology, mabye it's because I am a Neuroscience and Physiology major. Psychology is a fun and interesting class that actually made me change to a neuroscience and physiology major.😀

 

[premedmind]

Im taking Orgo321/327, Physics 121/123, And Calc B. I want just one DEC so I am not so behind in that aspect.

BTW does SBU have a Neuroscience major (I don't see it in the student bulletin, I only see a Neuroscience track for Bio majors)? I am really interested in that field but am not sure if it's worth it to switch, I am Biochem now.

 

[quiltlady]

There are med schools which highly recommend psych, (Minnesota? Illinois?) so you might check out these requirements. I thought psych 101 was a snap, i took the final just after having wisdom teeth removed and I still aced it.

 

[Meatwad]

Im taking Orgo321/327, Physics 121/123, And Calc B. I want just one DEC so I am not so behind in that aspect.

BTW does SBU have a Neuroscience major (I don't see it in the student bulletin, I only see a Neuroscience track for Bio majors)? I am really interested in that field but am not sure if it's worth it to switch, I am Biochem now.

Yeah, like you saw, they only have a Neuro concentration within the BIO major.

Orgo will take up the most of your time... Drees for Physics is supposed to be good, Calc B is taught very well usually, but the Orgo professor is a douche. Focus most of your efforts on that class. PHI 108 might be a nice distraction from all the rest of those.

 

[premedmind]

Yeah, like you saw, they only have a Neuro concentration within the BIO major.

Orgo will take up the most of your time... Drees for Physics is supposed to be good, Calc B is taught very well usually, but the Orgo professor is a douche. Focus most of your efforts on that class. PHI 108 might be a nice distraction from all the rest of those.

Just curious, have you taken PSY 103? If so, with whom? Right now, Julia S. has a class open for PHI 108 - and she has good reviews...but I would like to know your opinion on the class only if you have taken it.

 

[ekb1701]

Haha, obviously you go to Stony Brook.

PHI 108 is ******edly easy. Easiest A I've ever gotten in my life. Who is teachin it this semester? PSY 103 is pretty boring, and the class is huge, whereas PHI 108 only has like 80 people if I remember right.

I'd have to say PHI 108 >>>>> PSY 103

Only 80 people? Haha, it's still weird when people say that b/c I go to a small priv college with less than 1000 people. I think my biggest class had 25 people.