First year undergrad

[Dtran904]

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First post! 😀

So I'm going to be first year undergrad this upcoming fall semester and I was wondering whether or not it would be smart to finish all my Gen Ed courses first semester, and start on my sciences second.

I'm coming in with enough credits earned throughout high school that will let me knock out all the gen ed requirements with a 12 credit courseload. Granted I have to take a 3 credit freshman course because of my honors requirement. I have to take WOH, an ENC class, and like a CD credit and fine arts credit. The reason why I planned to do this was because second semester I was planning to take Bio, Chem, and Calc and I dont want to throw something like WOH in the mix with those because I feel like i wouldnt be dedicated enough to it.

I just dont want to fall behind is why I ask.

 

[Desp]

First off let me say I have no idea what those acronyms stand for.

People may differ in opinion but this is what I think:

I would advise against using a semester to knock out all your gen eds because those classes are great fillers. I would use gen ed classes to get me to fulltime status during semesters I knew were going to be particularly challenging.

Just my two cents though, cowboy.

 

[Dtran904]

Haha sorry, the acronyms stand for World History, English and Culture Diversity. And yeah that's one of the things I was thinking about considering there are some pretty much joke gen Ed classes that I need to take. Anyone else gone this route before?

 

[weezynation]

First post! 😀

So I'm going to be first year undergrad this upcoming fall semester and I was wondering whether or not it would be smart to finish all my Gen Ed courses first semester, and start on my sciences second.

I'm coming in with enough credits earned throughout high school that will let me knock out all the gen ed requirements with a 12 credit courseload. Granted I have to take a 3 credit freshman course because of my honors requirement. I have to take WOH, an ENC class, and like a CD credit and fine arts credit. The reason why I planned to do this was because second semester I was planning to take Bio, Chem, and Calc and I dont want to throw something like WOH in the mix with those because I feel like i wouldnt be dedicated enough to it.

I just dont want to fall behind is why I ask.

This is probably not the best idea considering each of the pre-reqs come in 2 parts and the 1st part may not be offered at your school in the spring. This would force you to start your pre-reqs fall semester of sophomore year.

 

[Gigantron]

this is probably not the best idea considering each of the pre-reqs come in 2 parts and the 1st part may not be offered at your school in the spring. This would force you to start your pre-reqs fall semester of sophomore year.

+1

 

[Dtran904]

Sounds good.

Thanks for the advice all. I'll be reevaluating my schedule plans within the next few days.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

If you take the full sequence of general chemistry your freshman year, life will be way easier later on, because gen chem is the one class that you have to take as a prerequisite to several other required pre-med courses (organic, and often biochem). Lots of people take both gen chem and gen bio freshman year, but I think it's better to start off with just one difficult lab science course. It's hard enough so that you get a good idea of what it's like to be pre-med, but taking just that won't overload your schedule. Then take a couple of your gen ed courses and maybe another intro course in the major you want to study.

 

[Haislip]

I'd take

Bio and Chem 1
or
Bio and Calc 1
or
Chem 1 and Calc 1

 

[polymathg]

Take 2 science classes your first semester and fill in with your gen ed classes. Depending on how it goes try to take 2 more science classes next semester plus a lab.
For example, I did bio 1 and chem 1 first semester. Bio 2, bio lab, Chem 2 second semester.
BTW, I also took calculus my first semester, but I had already taken it in high school so it was a joke.

 

[Dtran904]

I'd take

Bio and Chem 1
or
Bio and Calc 1
or
Chem 1 and Calc 1

That actually was gonna be mine. Ended up only taking Chem this first semester and I'm doubling up on sciences next semester. Ill be a little ahead in chem but I'll probably be taking something to catch up during the Summer.

I was being hassled by my advisors, practically daily, who kept saying "It's time to cut the umbilical cords parents!" at orientation.

 

[blub1212]

Agree with what everyone here is saying. I took as many of the sciences as soon as I could. That way, when I took the MCAT, I already have a couple upper division science classes under my belt (genetics, immunology, molecular biology and bio chem), which I think helped. It also helped pad my application to be able to apply at the end of my junior year with several upper division science classes on my transcript.

 

[AestheticGod]

Do you think it's a bad idea to take calc 1, bio 1 and chem 1 in the same semester?

I would that's a lot of studying, honestly. Why not take chem 1, calc 1, and english? Cause obviously you're not gonna take ONLY 2 classes a semester lol

 

[911 Turbo]

Do you think it's a bad idea to take calc 1, bio 1 and chem 1 in the same semester?

No its not a bad idea its what you SHOULD do

Bio 1 w/lab
Chem 1 w/lab
Calc 1 w/lab
Random easy course (psyc, humanities)
Research (3 hours a week or so)