General Bio and Chem same semester?

[jtimmer1]

Hi, I just finished high school and enrolled in the Pre-medical program at my school. The orientation counselor I had told me not to take Gen Bio 1 and Gen Chem 1 together. However, the Pre-med adviser did. So, I went with taking them both first semster. For those with expierence, is it pretty rough taking both and doing well, or was my orientation counseler, for lack of better words, a slacker?

If it counts for anything, I took Chemistry last semester in high school. Thanks for your answers in advance.

-Jacob

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[silverhorse84]

Many times counselors tell first time freshmen to take a really light load in their first semester/quarter to give them time to adjust to college life. I was told my freshman year to take both, but thats because it would take me forever to graduate with my major if I didn't.
It really depends on you - if you want an easy semester to allow yourself time to adjust to college then don't take both. If you think you can do fine with it then take both. I know a lot of people who did fine taking both - just don't take any other science courses with it, take a GE or something.

 

[TheRealMD]

Hi, I just finished high school and enrolled in the Pre-medical program at my school. The orientation counselor I had told me not to take Gen Bio 1 and Gen Chem 1 together. However, the Pre-med adviser did. So, I went with taking them both first semster. For those with expierence, is it pretty rough taking both and doing well, or was my orientation counseler, for lack of better words, a slacker?

If it counts for anything, I took Chemistry last semester in high school. Thanks for your answers in advance.

-Jacob

Orientation counselor = slacker.

 

[fastdude400]

The only reason I possibly wouldn't is if you are really trying to get a feel for classes during your first semester of college, and want a really light load. Being pre-med (or some other science major), you'll see that taking multiple science classes in single semester is pretty common, I did 9 outta 9 semesters during my undergrad.

 

[Dendrite]

Gen Chem I and Bio I are completely doable the first semester together. For those immediately starting college, after having done well in high school, the advisors at my university said to take two sciences and a math, along with a general education requirement. If you feel like you will have a tough time with that courseload, then two sciences/math and a gen ed course would be fine.

 

[jtimmer1]

Besides those two courses along with their labs, I only have freshman English and a liberal studies class. It shouldn't be too rough. I basically need to take them to fulfill the pre-med requirements for the school.

 

[175961]

Do it....it will probably be your easiest semester

 

[tianac2]

When you have the choice of listening to a general advisor or a pre-med advisor, always listen to the pre-med advisor. There's a reason why they are called "pre-med" instead of "general". General counselors are just that, they cousel everybody, including art majors, music majors, and english majors. For those students, it would probably be insane to take bio and chem at the same time, but for pre-meds insanity is a necessity, med schools look for it, they want to see that you can handle that kind of pressure. I started as a music major (wanted to teach), and changed after my first year. So when I got to my sophomore year, I hadn't started on any of my sciences. One quarter that year I took gen bio, gen chem, calculus, and psych 1 all at the same time and still got A's in all but calculus (B+). So, it can definitely be done.

 

[jtimmer1]

sorry, I should have clarified, the orientation counselor was a junior pre-med student. I still doubt her enthusiasm personally, she seemed like the "I hit the club like 4 times a week type" 😏

 

[175961]

sorry, I should have clarified, the orientation counselor was a junior pre-med student. I still doubt her enthusiasm personally, she seemed like the "I hit the club like 4 times a week type" 😏

pre-med junior or no pre-med junior.....it should be a piece of cake👍

dont worry

 

[eagle34]

During my orientation before freshman year, our pre-med adviser stressed to not take gen bio I and gen chem I during your first semester so that you can get acclimated to the school atmosphere and to the college life in general. I followed her advice and I'm glad I did. I completed all requirements by end of junior year and took the MCAT end of junior year as well. I'm glad I took one science class the first semester, but then I took at least two science classes every other semester of college. First semester of college has a lot of other things going on that you're not used to - mainly, your friends everywhere around you (living with you) and parties almost every day. But, if you think that you can handle the work load of 2 science classes your first semester, if you don't have other hard classes, then go for it. Just study hard.

 

[Salient]

Just don't be a slacker. Find out how much work it takes to get the grades you want, and then do that. If you want a 4.0, be prepared to work for it. Science courses tend to build on each other, so make sure that you put the time required in to learn (and understand) the fundamentals. Don't just memorize the answers for your next test, actually put the time in to learn how everything works. It'll pay off later in classes like OChem/Biochem.

On the flip side, don't lose your life to school (you'll do that later). Enjoy college while you can. If you're comfortable with getting a 3.6 and attending a less prestigous medical school, then do that.

I guess what I'm trying to say is take college seriously enough to get good grades, but not so seriously that you burn out trying to get 100% in every class.

 

[Insulinshock]

While first semester is definitely the hardest because of the transition (not really the difficulty) gen chem and bio are definitely manageable to do together. I aced both classes my first semester freshman year.

Just remember to be focused immediately. If you "take two weeks off" at the beginning to get used to college life, that will most definitely affect your grade.

 

[shiftingmirage]

Do both. The first 6 or so chapters of my gen chem class were covered in my high schools chem class and it was a regular class not AP or anything.

 

[JasonCT]

I have to agree - do it!

 

[Bacchus]

At my university, which is only comprised of science majors, everyone except the PT students taken gen chem and gen bio together. Its not a death wish, imo.

 

[wolvbb]

I'd say take the chem now with your intro psych + math + whatever and then second semester you can do whatever you want and still know what you can and cannot handle.

College is a big change. How many times have you heard "my freshman year killed me"

 

[175961]

I'd say take the chem now with your intro psych + math + whatever and then second semester you can do whatever you want and still know what you can and cannot handle.

College is a big change. How many times have you heard "my freshman year killed me"

meh. college is a big change if you were a slacker in high school and/or needed someone there telling you to do your homework. freshman year will kill you if you party excessively and/or think you can get by in everything without studying. if non of the above applies to you, then you will find that college is slightly harder than high school with bigger classes and teachers you call "Dr". and by the time you start taking upper division classes you will broken in to the college life

 

[Narmerguy]

I'd take the class. You'll probably have much more difficult combos coming up later on so this will be a good way to get past the training wheels. Also Gen chem and bio shouldn't be too rough if you give a little commitment to them.

 

[WWXstand]

I didn't do it, opting to wait until my sophomore year to start chemistry. While it hasn't really mattered, it has been a little bit of a pain later on trying to fit in all the sweet (non-req) science classes I wanted to take later.

 

[Danbo1957]

Depends on your degree.

If you want a BS in Bio, Chem, BioChem, Physics, etc., you will be taking a lot of science courses and you might need to take Gen-Bio 1 and Gen-Chem 1 in your freshman year. For a BA in Finance or Art History, probably not...

 

[fastfingers]

he's prolly a slacker. although, one of my advisor told me to not take gen biology and instead take cell biology and upper level biology instead. in that case, it's a harder route.

 

[Dial71]

Both are simply survey courses that will seem downright shallow once you start your higher level courses; Bio I in particular.

That said, you ought to take both to prepare for the rigor of college coursework. The best way past an obstacle is through it.

 

[jtimmer1]

I plan to get a BS i either bio or chem. My college told me that BS degrees are usually needed for professional schools, I have heard conflicting arguments, who knows.

 

[Livingapparatus]

I plan to get a BS i either bio or chem. My college told me that BS degrees are usually needed for professional schools, I have heard conflicting arguments, who knows.

BS is needed for professional school...

what else are they lying to you about?

 

[jtimmer1]

Well, they made it sound like it was. Maybe they were just trying to infer that it is highly recommended.

So its not right?

 

[Raryn]

Well, they made it sound like it was. Maybe they were just trying to infer that it is highly recommended.

So its not right?

Medical schools don't care if you get a BS or a BA, as long as you get a bachelors.

PhD schools might care depending on what differentiates the two at your school. All the chem students at my university that want to get a PhD go for the BS, just because its more in depth chem stuff and it is pretty much necessary for them. All of the premed, predental, prepharm, prewhatever chem students go for the BA, because they don't need the hardcore indepth physical chem and such.

Since you're on the pre-allo forum, you're probably premed and would be fine getting a BA. You can get the BS if you want, as it definitely won't hurt, but it is by no means necessary.

As for taking general bio and chem the same semester, you should be fine doing that. If you decide to postpone one though, *definitely* postpone the bio rather than the chem. There are four semesters of chem required for med school/the MCAT, while only two semesters of bio are required (only one really, second semester general bio is utter ****). You want to get yourself started on the chem sequence early. Bio classes its easier to double up and take stuff out of the "proper" order, though I would still say start that early as well.

 

[eagle34]

I got into a bunch of med schools with a BA in biochemistry. It doesn't matter if its BA or BS, as long as you get one.

 

[lesubversif]

Yeah, I think you'll be fine. I started out as a poli sci major but decided that both biology was a better major for me (not because I think it's better for med school or anything like that, I know they don't care. I just think it's more interesting). So I won't be starting any of my science classes 'til this fall (sophomore fall). I really have no choice but to take both Bio I and Chem I at the same time.

Even as a freshman I imagine I would've been able to handle it. I'm not worried and unless you really slacked off in high school the transition won't be as huge as it's made out to be, at least it didn't seem that way. Just make sure you do what you have to get the grades you need, and all should be well.

 

[Hyperstudyosis]

I took general biology and general chemistry at the same time and had no problem- A's in both. Most of the pre-med students I've met took the two together in their freshman year.

 

[Emerica]

I took general biology and general chemistry at the same time and had no problem- A's in both. Most of the pre-med students I've met took the two together in their freshman year.

This is what I hear as well. But the premed advisor at my school (University of Florida) explicitly stated and wrote in the powerpoint, "DO NOT TAKE BIO 1 FIRST SEMESTER." And then she followed that with, "you guys don't know what it is like to take college level science, we have run studies that prove that your AP grade in AP Bio has no correlation with the grade students receive in Bio 1 here at UF, even if you scored a 4 or 5." She was trying to say that Bio 1 is known as the hardest class at UF and we have no idea what it's like especially our first semester in college.

Due to her intimidation, I won't be taking bio 1 with chem 1 first semester. Instead, I will be working on a foreign language which is required anyway. Although I am sure I could handle the course my first semester.

 

[VikingLegacy]

The only reason I would possibly agree is if your college experience is very different from high school. If your high school was small, you got lots of one-on-one time with your teachers and took classes of 40 students or less, and now you're thrown into the world of ID codes, 400-student stadium lectures, TA's, mass exams, curved grades and professors who don't even know what class they're teaching until they walk in the door, then maybe you ought to take it easy. If you were a good student in high school, you might just adapt quickly anyway, and maybe you don't need to take it easy in the beginning.

I would suggest enrolling in both and seeing if you can handle it, and being mindful of the drop deadline. That way you can get a feel for it, look over the syllabus for each class and ask yourself honestly if you feel you can take them both. That way you have some insurance.

 

[Dannyw]

a very typical sequence for a first semester freshman goes like this:

calculus I - 4 credits
Bio 1 w/ lab- 4 credits
Chem 1 w/lab- 4 credits
English comp - 3 credits

 

[orthomyxo]

I took both at the same time and did completely fine.

 

[sonia1177]

Hi, I just finished high school and enrolled in the Pre-medical program at my school. The orientation counselor I had told me not to take Gen Bio 1 and Gen Chem 1 together. However, the Pre-med adviser did. So, I went with taking them both first semster. For those with expierence, is it pretty rough taking both and doing well, or was my orientation counseler, for lack of better words, a slacker?

If it counts for anything, I took Chemistry last semester in high school. Thanks for your answers in advance.

-Jacob

Take both. But no one told me what to do, I was told to do what suited me best. I did both and pulled through fine. Except I struggled first semester of Gen Chem. It depends on the Professor too. Second semester I had a Professor who is now one of my favorite Professors and I did well second semester. All in all, If you are focused, self disciplined, have a good work ethic, and at least a decent amount of intelligence then you are good to go by taking Bio and Chem together. Taking them together helps you get everything set in time (Bio + Chem Freshman year, Orgo sophomore year, Physics also sophomore year or Junior year) Good luck!

 

[thumbsucker]

Although, I'm not sure why this thread is alive again and I'm too lazy to make one of my own.

Opinions are appreciated for my second semester of first year this fall (don't ask)...

• Required English, usually very writing intensive
• Functions & Modeling v. Stats (trying to warm up for Calc, I haven't taken a math course since jr. year of HS!)
• Cell & Animal Bio
• General Chem (Lab)
• General Chem

Can it be done successfully?

 

[zeppelinpage4]

Although, I'm not sure why this thread is alive again and I'm too lazy to make one of my own.

Opinions are appreciated for my second semester of first year this fall (don't ask)...

• Required English, usually very writing intensive
• Functions & Modeling v. Stats (trying to warm up for Calc, I haven't taken a math course since jr. year of HS!)
• Cell & Animal Bio
• General Chem (Lab)
• General Chem

Can it be done successfully?

That's very similar to my first semester freshman year and it was a very doable semester for me. Finals week was a bit stressful but I managed to do okay in all my classes and had some time to adjust to college.

Most pre-meds at my school majoring in some science followed a similar schedule as well, so I think you'll be okay. However your school might make the courses harder or have a slightly different curriculum so I'd check up with an adviser to be sure. If you put the work in, I think you'd be able to do it.

 

[thumbsucker]

That's very similar to my first semester freshman year and it was a very doable semester for me. Finals week was a bit stressful but I managed to do okay in all my classes and had some time to adjust to college.

Most pre-meds at my school majoring in some science followed a similar schedule as well, so I think you'll be okay. However your school might make the courses harder or have a slightly different curriculum so I'd check up with an adviser to be sure. If you put the work in, I think you'd be able to do it.

Thanks for the input. I'm finding it hard to make a solid academic plan, because of premed requirements as a humanities major at LAC. I would like to graduate on time (2013) while building a strong work ethic in prep for med school (granted I get in). I feel that if I can't complete 20 hrs undergrad coursework successfully then I don't know if I'll be able survive med school. There seems to be a split between what is the most advisable way to schedule undergrad. Some say take it easy, others say go hard but both recommend a 4.0.