Freshman in College...Need some Premed advice

[Qamar3212]

hey guys, Im a little new to this forum but i have been reading threads/posts here for quite awhile now. I just recently registered because I had a few questions to ask and I know that there are many helpful people on these forums who might have some useful information for me 🙂.

I am currently a freshman in college doing premed and biology as my major (for now but might switch to Chemistry).

Biology/chemistry are big weed out courses in my college, the average after the 1st bio exam was a 75 WITH A 14 point curve, but i got a 92 WITh the curve. 1st Chemistry exam average (no curve was given) was a 71 but i got a 94. I know i can get an A in bio and chem if i keep up my current study habits. I can probably pull of a 4.0, I am doing well in my other classes also....so grades aren't a problem for now 😛

But now my question is how is my class schedule looking so far and what classes should i take next semester/next year:

Current semester:
biology/with lab - 4 credits
Chemistry/with lab- 4 credits
English 1010 - (have to take) - 4 credits
Geography - (have to take) - 3 credits.
College learning skills (Freshman class) - 1 credit

What classes should i Take spring semester?
I was thinking this:

Bio/lab
chem/lab
Calculus (dont know if i should take this......)
elective


Im not too sure what else to take in spring semester and Sophmore year...so i was wandering if you guys can recommend me some classes.



Also another question....I took physics in high school and it was a ECE class which gave 4 college credits. I got a C in that class because well I didn't try at all due to me being a senior, working 30+ hours a week, and I had gotten into college with the early decision program. I know I could have gotten an A easily in the class if i studied and actually read or did my homework 😛. But now my question is Should i retake Physics now in college to better prepare myself for the MCATs or just review my notes from high school in preparation for the MCATS?



Thats it for now, and I want to thank you all for making a forum like this to help us little guys out 🙂.

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[tennisball80]

4.0/45

Great research and ECs

Excellent LORS

=Ticket to med schools


BUT

I think we should do something we enjoy instead of becoming gunners.

And we should become a good human being first instead of becoming tools.

My $0.02

 

[Qamar3212]

4.0/45

Great research and ECs

Excellent LORS

=Ticket to med schools


BUT

I think we should do something we enjoy instead of becoming gunners.

And we should become a good human being first instead of becoming tools.

My $0.02

Your absolutly right, I didn't pick biology as a major because i liked it, but I picked it because i thought it would look good on my transcript. But now im switching to Chem because so far i Just love Chemistry. I love the concept from lecture then reapplying what i learned in lecture in the Lab. Its very interesting and im not "just" saying this. I really do enjoy Chem. I am almost 95% sure i want to major in Chemistry right now.....but i still don't know what classes i should take for my rerequirments. Many MD schools have different requirements and I want to take the MAJORITY of them so when I do apply, I can apply to many to give me a better chance 😀. 😛

 

[CoolWhipp]

If you use the search option, your answers will be found. These are way to basic (and individualistic), and that's why no one is responding.

 

[ziggydoc]

Geez, a lot of tough ppl on this board lol. Well, OP I'll help ya out.

Plan to take Stat at some point if you can, and you only really need to take Calc I and stat to be able to apply to most schools (most schools don't require a full year of calc). Retake physics, C+ from high school when you know you can do better means you should retake it, it will help you prep for MCAT anyway. Also, if you are a chem major, you will most likely have to take all the premed pre-reqs for your major, so don't worry about that.

academics are important, but try to do other activities you enjoy, join some clubs that fit your interest, and find some good volunteer positions, and see if you can shadow a few doctors as well. If ou do those things starting now, you will be a pre-med rockstar come app. time. Good luck, I hope this helped.

 

[spyderefs]

FWIW, I was a chem major until P. chem and A. chem

 

[Kickback]

Also another question....I took physics in high school and it was a ECE class which gave 4 college credits. I got a C in that class because well I didn't try at all due to me being a senior, working 30+ hours a week, and I had gotten into college with the early decision program. I know I could have gotten an A easily in the class if i studied and actually read or did my homework 😛. But now my question is Should i retake Physics now in college to better prepare myself for the MCATs or just review my notes from high school in preparation for the MCATS?

Did you do a lab section? You might need to take that.

 

[DirtyJustice]

FWIW, I was a chem major until P. chem and A. chem

Going to assume A. Chem is Analytical. That was one of my favorite classes. I will give you P. Chem as being bad. I had a rough time in thermo.

But to the OP. Take what is interesting to you. Med Schools like diversity. There are a lot of people with Bio Majors and Chem majors so those aren't really good "resume boosters." If you take an economics class and really like it, maybe do a major in it. (that's at least what I did and I have no regrets)

Also, welcome to college you are going to have to get used to taking multiple classes for a major / premed at a time as long as you arn't doing more than 3 lab days a week, consider it a pretty average schedule. The worst thing that can happen right now is burning yourself out early in the game. The whole processes is a marathon and you have build your way up.

The best advice I can give is to go talk to your pre-med advisor. They will know exactly what it is like at your school, which classes are hard/easy and what is an intense schedule. Not all intro bio/chem classes are the same, it really depends on the school.

 

[Qamar3212]

Geez, a lot of tough ppl on this board lol. Well, OP I'll help ya out.

Plan to take Stat at some point if you can, and you only really need to take Calc I and stat to be able to apply to most schools (most schools don't require a full year of calc). Retake physics, C+ from high school when you know you can do better means you should retake it, it will help you prep for MCAT anyway. Also, if you are a chem major, you will most likely have to take all the premed pre-reqs for your major, so don't worry about that.

academics are important, but try to do other activities you enjoy, join some clubs that fit your interest, and find some good volunteer positions, and see if you can shadow a few doctors as well. If ou do those things starting now, you will be a pre-med rockstar come app. time. Good luck, I hope this helped.

Sounds good, I will take Calc 1, Bio 2, Chem 2, and Physics next semester...16 credits all together. I have joined the Pre-med society but the only problem is that I have class during the Pre-med society meetings....and my bio lab teacher said she doesn't care lol so i have to "fix" it into my schedule....But i can't because we can't switch classes anymore....ARGH. Im also going to start volunteering at a local hospital 4 hours per week. In 4 years ill have over 1000 hours of volunteer experience. Then during winter vacation ill fit in about 40 hours of shawdowing and then a lot more in summer. I gotta do all this while working 30 hours per week 😀...i can pull it off I think. 😎

Did you do a lab section? You might need to take that.

it was a full year with lab....i got 4 credits from the class. Im going to take it over again because i forgot a lot of the stuff anyways 😛....

Going to assume A. Chem is Analytical. That was one of my favorite classes. I will give you P. Chem as being bad. I had a rough time in thermo.

But to the OP. Take what is interesting to you. Med Schools like diversity. There are a lot of people with Bio Majors and Chem majors so those aren't really good "resume boosters." If you take an economics class and really like it, maybe do a major in it. (that's at least what I did and I have no regrets)

Also, welcome to college you are going to have to get used to taking multiple classes for a major / premed at a time as long as you arn't doing more than 3 lab days a week, consider it a pretty average schedule. The worst thing that can happen right now is burning yourself out early in the game. The whole processes is a marathon and you have build your way up.

The best advice I can give is to go talk to your pre-med advisor. They will know exactly what it is like at your school, which classes are hard/easy and what is an intense schedule. Not all intro bio/chem classes are the same, it really depends on the school.

Thanks for the advice, I set up a date with my advisor about choosing classes and what else i should do to build up my character...


Another question to you very helpful and kind people.............Research.
What is it? I have heard of many people on this forum talk about it but im really not quite sure what it is and what you do in it....Also where can do find some research? Is there a website? Or do i have to ask my advisors/teachers?

Thanks again guys......I am very nervous right now. I hope that i can make it, i know its going to be a crazy 4 years but I like challeges. You guys are great people taking out time to help kids like me who are confused and new about this whole Premed process. 😎

 

[rulzzz]

Hi guys,

i am from malaysia and wants to do my MBBS in india.....i heard that there is donations to get into the course......may i know the total cost to study in india.

 

[allinthecookies]

Do not do what I did which was become over confident, barely study and get B's. I thought I was really cool until about this last summer when I realized I really wanted to get into Med School and my GPA is a 3.2 which is WAY below my potential. Now I'll spend the rest of my time at school trying to boost my GPA.

So keep up with what you're doing!