If you're a WashU pre-med or have gone to WashU, help!!

[JulianCrane]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey guys, I'm gonna be taking physics 117A and 118A next year. How hard are these classes? How much studying is involved? I heard that these 2 classes are the easiest pre-med classes, is that true? Any tips?

 

[ckent]

I didn't have too much trouble with 117 or 118. There are homework assignments every week that are graded for a significant portion of your grade, but even if they weren't graded, you should do the homework anyways because that's how you learn physics. Some of the sections were very poorly taught when I was there (3 yrs ago), and they actually started giving quizzes my year because attendance was so low. If you are worried about taking the MCAT while taking 118, don't be, I had plenty of time for the MCAT while I was there, I was taking 15 credits too. Another great class to take during spring semester during your junior year as you are taking your MCAT is Cell Bio, that was a great, easy class when I was there that scheduled their tests around the MCAT. I took Vert Structure, Biochem and Physics 117 during my fall semester of junior year, that was a pretty difficult semester, but I think that it definitely helped with med school and taking the MCAT. Go Bears!

 

[Sonya]

CELL BIO WAS THE FRICKIN' HARDEST PREMED CLASS AT WASHU, PERIOD!!!!!!!

And, so does every single bioeng student I've talked to agree. I took it last year, at WashU. I think it's a bit easier this year. but it's TONS of memorizing of TONS of little detail. in my mind, extremely boring, but I can see how people can be interested in it.

Didn't take physics here, at WashU.

Human Phys was an excellent, fun class, relatively easy class. And Dr. Clark rocks!!!!

 

[Doctor&Geek]

I took PHY117 and 118 my freshman year. Again, I agree with ckent that the instruction was indeed pretty bad, but dealing with the professors in the physics department was always easy. If you need help, even to the point of retaking an entire test, the professors and TAs may be able to accommodate you.

Cell Biology is NOT a hard class. The means in the class are higher than normal premed classes. (B-/C+ up to B). All the BME people seem to think these little details are worthless, but then again, they don't like to get their hands dirty with molecular biology. Its a question of interest, as Sonya perfectly stated.

I would tell you about Biochem, but Chilson is retiring and the whole setup is going to change.

Best of luck in Physics.

JPaikman
[also declared honorary engineer in A&S]

 

[JulianCrane]

Hey guys, what do you think of this schedule:
Physics 117, Vertebrate Structure, and French Poetry and a history class?

 

[ckent]

That sounds fine to me Julian. Vert structure is a very time consuming class, but you will definitely be happy you took it once you get into med school. It is taught and tested very similarly to how med school is taught (if Krukowski is still teaching it, but even if she's not, I'm sure it's still a good class). Believe it or not, most of the names and locations of stuff in a cat are the same in a human so memorize the names and locations well and remember them for med school. Definitely try to finish your distribution credits so that you can have some fun your senior year and take whatever you feel like taking. I finished my requirments for my bio major and distribution credits and just took some more bio classes that I thought would be useful for med school. The classes that I have found useful (or heard are useful) for med school are (in descending order of usefulness):
biochem, vert structure, cell bio, immunology, neuroscience, abnormal psych (take this class during the sememster that they have actors come in and act stuff out, you will have to ask around to see which prof does that), endocrinology, psych 100 (there is some behavioral science stuff in med school). Another good, easy non-medical class at Wash U is Personal Finance, the prof was really good while I was there.

 

[JulianCrane]

Hey, thanks for the advice. How would you recommend that I study for Vert. Struc? How was it graded when you took it? Sorry to ask so many questions!

 

[ckent]

Well, my memory is a bit fuzzy about the grading, but I think that there were 3-4 lab practicals (different parts of the cat had pins stuck in them and you had to identify them, or there were microscopes with arrows pointing out histology). This is just like how they test anatomy at most med schools, except it is with humans. There were also 3-4 written tests, which tests a lot of histology, cell function, and a lot of anatomy in the form of written questions too. These tests were also very similar to tests in med school. Grading in this class is pretty difficult, most people get B's, so this isn't a good class to boost your GPA in if that's what you need for your app. In terms of how you study for this class, this is where the real benefit comes in because you probably will be overwhelmed at first but it's better to be overwhelmed in college then overwhelmed in med school. Everyone has their own pattern of studying, it's really just brute memorization. I drew out a couple of diagrams for the blood vessels and nerves and how they all connected, be sure to buy the "optional" books on cat anatomy, they are basically required books, and you basically just stare at it until you have memorized it all :wink: . A study partner might help for some too.

 

[Original]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Sonya:
•CELL BIO WAS THE FRICKIN' HARDEST PREMED CLASS AT WASHU, PERIOD!!!!!!!

•••••I don't think cell bio is a pre-med class. I think the only pre-med classes are general biology, gen chem, gen physics, and intro o-chem.