Is anyone else finding Bio hard?

Med School Insiders
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Members don't see this ad.
our bio classes were all bell curved. You just had to do better than everyone else.. if you plan on being a doctor you kinda do need to be able to do better than your average college kid considering that most of those kids probably wont be bio majors for long or are just taking the course to knock out a gen ed science requirement.

Yes, I know, spoken like a true gunner.
 
its supposed to be hard to weed out the people who don't have the commitment to keep moving forward.
 
AsianPersuasion said:
I am utterly overwhelmed. Our test tomorrow is on 10 chapters. :scared: Is this normal? I've been going to tutoring and did some study group + studying on my own. I feel a little comfortable but I don't wanna jinks it. I've never studied this much ever in my life. I'm only taking five classes. I'm an anthropology major and I love my anthropology classes. But damn, bio is brutal.

My mind is running and I'm starting to think like I'm stressing out over regular Bio, how am I gonna handle orgo or other upper lvl classes? 🙁

I'm sorry if I'm ranting or a thread was made before already about this, but I'm just scared, bummed out and I don't know....too much mix emotions.

P.S a class of 156 dropped to about 121....
Click to expand...

I have been through college bio and cell bio and I thought both were the most difficult classes iIve taken. There is just so much crap to memorize. I found both gen chem classes easier. I just took my first Ochem test and so far I find it easier then my biology classes. So just give these classes your all for now. If you can, try and think of how the material applies to real life. I am staying away from a bio degree for two reasons.

1. I don't want it as a fallback.
2. It is WAY too time consuming.
 
Now the next test is only on 5 chapters -___- gosh, I can't figure this professor out.
 
If you are being this neurotic and stressing over your first month in Gen Bio I then I really pity how you are going to handle the next 10+ years! Enjoy college.
 
Ha I remember over a year ago after my first bio exam, no curve at all, professor was a geneticist (tough but real cool though) and he didn't believe in extra credit or things like that . The class average on the first exam was like a 59%. I sat back with an 89 and was only one of the few to have a solid A at the end.😎 So congrats on the 90!

I look back and I actually over studied a bit at times. It's really not that hard, just know your teachers outlines like the back of your hand and you'll consistently pull A's on every exam. I always used the tutors and it helped me big time, to the point I was actually tutoring the other kids halfway through the semester.
 
probably because the first 10 chapters are has a lot of review about things you should know but these 5 chapters contain new material as has been previously stated.
 
personally I'm finding chemistry to be 5x as hard as biology, then again i actually like biology and with chemistry...well, not so much.
 
Neurosis said:
personally I'm finding chemistry to be 5x as hard as biology, then again i actually like biology and with chemistry...well, not so much.
Click to expand...

yeah, it's pretty ******ed
 
gumbyj said:
If you are being this neurotic and stressing over your first month in Gen Bio I then I really pity how you are going to handle the next 10+ years! Enjoy college.
Click to expand...

hmmm I'm actually enjoying college. Hard, but I seem to have developed a pretty good time management skill going on between my studies, work, and fun.

Neurosis said:
personally I'm finding chemistry to be 5x as hard as biology, then again i actually like biology and with chemistry...well, not so much.
Click to expand...

Well I'm taking chem I right now and to be honest, I'm not as stress for it as I was with Bio. Than again I took chem back in high school. My first test is this Wednesday, part of it I think is because of the professor's teaching style. We don't really use our text book, he has hand outs and power point with interactive learning videos and modules etc. It's pretty cool cause he makes it all himself and out of all the teachers besides my anthro professors, he seems to really enjoy teaching and actually wants us to understand it. 🙂
 
AsianPersuasion said:
-_-

That test, was so hard.

But I got a 90!!!!! 😀 I couldn't believe it!!! I was very disappointed when I was leaving class......
Click to expand...

Get used to that feeling. Especially when the MCAT rolls around.

Its true for docs as well as lawyers. Many people that feel like they do great on state exams actually fail and many people that feel like they failed do well.
 
I've earned A's in all of my Bio courses thus far (only on my 4th) but lord almight I had to put some major hours into micro and I'm having to put some major hours into cell. My cell test was brutal. I knew everything on there well enough to get a 95% or better on a standardized test, but our exam was 10 essay questions to be done in an hour. I was exhausted after the seventh question and probably dropped to a B.

Adapt and succeed, friend.
 
gumbyj said:
If you are being this neurotic and stressing over your first month in Gen Bio I then I really pity how you are going to handle the next 10+ years! Enjoy college.
Click to expand...

Wow that was very helpful. OP just started and needs encouragement or good piece of advice not something a douchebag would say. We all went to through similar experiences when we went to college and also needed people to talk to about it. Now just because you are about to apply to medical school, you feel like the first semester of college is easy? Yea sure that's normal. High school is easy when you are in college; college undergrad is easy once you are in medical school...etc.
 
MShopes said:
Wow that was very helpful. OP just started and needs encouragement or good piece of advice not something a douchebag would say. We all went to through similar experiences when we went to college and also needed people to talk to about it. Now just because you are about to apply to medical school, you feel like the first semester of college is easy? Yea sure that's normal. High school is easy when you are in college; college undergrad is easy once you are in medical school...etc.
Click to expand...

This^

There's been so much **** spewed on here recently that more or less laughs at a premed that is stressing out over a class. Don't act like you slept like a baby the night before your orgo I final. :laugh:

Stressing because you want to do well in a class is different than stressing because you're not sure you're going to make it through the class.

Good luck OP, you'll look back at that class two semesters from now and think "Damn, that was easy."
 
zma21 said:
This^

There's been so much **** spewed on here recently that more or less laughs at a premed that is stressing out over a class. Don't act like you slept like a baby the night before your orgo I final. :laugh:

Stressing because you want to do well in a class is different than stressing because you're not sure you're going to make it through the class.

Good luck OP, you'll look back at that class two semesters from now and think "Damn, that was easy."
Click to expand...

That pretty much sums up my main point.
 
i thought intro bio was way harder than any of the upper level bios i've taken. i TA intro bio and i think my students will be thrilled to move on to the more advanced classes. it gets better! lol
 
I don't have anymore sympathy for premeds complaining about Bio after spending two years TAing Bio and Biochem :laugh:
 
Intro bio at my school was incredibly difficult. The professor was an Oxford biochemist and congratulated anyone that got a 70% or higher. I feel your pain. If anyone tells you that the class was a breeze it is more likely that their professor or institution is simply not as difficult (or they are a genius). Just do your best. You'll be fine 🙂

Edit: I see you got the A-. Congrats 🙂
 
Just to give you folks an update:

Bio sucked, but made it out with a A+ 🙂. Managed to pull a 4.0 at the end of my freshman year of college. Been accepted to the pre medical scholar program and if I can keep my GPA up and MCAT of at least 30 (including all the extracurricular activities etc) I would receive an assured acceptance my junior year to my state med school which is affiliated to my undergrad. Have a great summer everyone, and thank for the advice!
 
AsianPersuasion said:
Just to give you folks an update:

Bio sucked, but made it out with a A+ 🙂. Managed to pull a 4.0 at the end of my freshman year of college. Been accepted to the pre medical scholar program and if I can keep my GPA up and MCAT of at least 30 (including all the extracurricular activities etc) I would receive an assured acceptance my junior year to my state med school which is affiliated to my undergrad. Have a great summer everyone, and thank for the advice!
Click to expand...

Damn an assured acceptance with a 30? What school is it? I wanna live there!! 😛
 
BigBlueBear said:
Damn an assured acceptance with a 30? What school is it? I wanna live there!! 😛
Click to expand...

For privacy purposes, it's a state school in the northeast lol one of the top school for primary care (hint hint) lol

This program is created with the intention to produce more primary care physicians to serve the under serve areas of the state and create more diversity.
 
Friend of mine with a 3.93 cGPA has her only B in Bios 100, one of the two introductory Bio courses. A's in Physics/Orgo/Bios 101/Genetics etc. etc.
 
Davidasaurus said:
Friend of mine with a 3.93 cGPA has her only B in Bios 100, one of the two introductory Bio courses. A's in Physics/Orgo/Bios 101/Genetics etc. etc.
Click to expand...

The only classes I have left are Physics I&II and Org chem I & II + their labs. A little nervous for org chem but we'll see how it goes.
 
AsianPersuasion said:
The only classes I have left are Physics I&II and Org chem I & II + their labs. A little nervous for org chem but we'll see how it goes.
Click to expand...

Don't underestimate Physics, I actually had an easier time in Orgo believe it or not 😱
 
Davidasaurus said:
Don't underestimate Physics, I actually had an easier time in Orgo believe it or not 😱
Click to expand...

Oh no, not underestimating anything!! Not taking any chances. Doing whatever I have to do to keep that opportunity for an assure acceptance.
 
AsianPersuasion said:
Just to give you folks an update:

Bio sucked, but made it out with a A+ 🙂. Managed to pull a 4.0 at the end of my freshman year of college. Been accepted to the pre medical scholar program and if I can keep my GPA up and MCAT of at least 30 (including all the extracurricular activities etc) I would receive an assured acceptance my junior year to my state med school which is affiliated to my undergrad. Have a great summer everyone, and thank for the advice!
Click to expand...

Good job mate, I was hoping there was an update when I looked at the date.
 
kpcrew said:
Yeah you're right, but I'm also trying to be realistic. It does take time to develop proper study skills. But coming to an internet forum to commiserate instead of hitting the books seemed immature to me.
Click to expand...

so does putting others down to validate your own ego
 
AsianPersuasion said:
For privacy purposes, it's a state school in the northeast lol one of the top school for primary care (hint hint) lol

This program is created with the intention to produce more primary care physicians to serve the under serve areas of the state and create more diversity.
Click to expand...

"Privacy purposes?" I loled a little. I don't know why.

Sounds similar to the theory behind my school's articulation with TCMC, though a 3.5+ GPA and 30+ MCAT will only get me a guaranteed interview spot. Eh.
 
I had the 9th edition and did well. Use the online resources! Pearson ...masteringbio I believe. They're not bad, especially the practice questions. Also read the book (given). Good luck
 
Good job AsianPersuasian. Some of you were too hard on him - at least he acknowledges that he's having a hard time and is asking for advice. Don't forget that most medical schools have tutoring and help services.

Anyway, I think you'll be fine in the long run. Keep studying hard because Intro Bio is indeed meant to weed out people who can't match the expected work ethic.

EDIT: Didn't realize this was an old thread. More kudos to you for proving the naysayers wrong.
 
Gen bio is a high school level class.
 
AsianPersuasion said:
Biology 9th edition Campbell & Reece.
Click to expand...

My class used C&R as well. We had 10-14 chapters on each exam. We covered the entire book through Bio I and II. 2 exams in Bio I and 3 in Bio II (I believe there were 60 chapters in the textbook).

Very normal. Stay confident and study hard. Look over the end of the chapter concept reviews for some refreshers.
 
The very first Bio class I took at the university level was a physiology class my freshman year. The professor taught at the medical school and while the class was an "intro" course, it was taught at anything but an intro level.

Anyway tl;dr, it was my first experience with Bio at the university level and despite studying for hours everyday, I didn't do so well in the class.

I hear stories about how easy Gen Bio is for people on SDN and wonder if its just my school or if it really is just an exaggeration on SDN o.o

Sent from my SGH-T959V using SDN Mobile
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Anyone have any suggestions for finding research after Undergrad?
Replies
1
Views
180
TheRealBibFortuna
TheRealBibFortuna
T
Finding many punctuation errors in my secondaries
Replies
3
Views
218
Goro
Goro
meticulousex36
Finding Mock interviewers?
Replies
5
Views
962
systematicX
S
C
Does/Did anyone find med school "easy"?
Replies
14
Views
3K
@#Frogthejam#@
@
A
Taking bio 1 and 2 at another uni
Replies
9
Views
612
LizzyM
LizzyM
Top