Physics & Chemistry as a Freshman?!?

[shaq93]

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****Update! Thanks for all of the advice. This semester I ended up with the following grades: Physics 101: A-, Chem 101: A, Eng 101: A, Mus 121: A+, and an A+ in a research class. Looking to keep things going next semester.****

Im going to be a freshman at the University of Alabama in the fall with some credits transfering from a local community college. Pre-reqs that I've already taken (or are taking) include Biology 1, Mth 112, and Mth113. Now originally I wanted my fall schedule to consist of Biology 2 and Chemistry 1 with English and some other class but today I found out that Biology 2 was already filled up for the fall. So I enrolled in Chemistry 101 (w/ lab), English 101, Music 121, and Psychology 101. I wanted to take out Psychology 101 and replace it with Physics (w/ lab) since I've already taken the pre-reqs for it and so that I can stay ahead but one student (who took Physics and O chem together and earned A's in both classes) didn't recommend that for a freshman. Do you guys think that I should take Physics and Chemistry together or just take Psychology and wait to take Physics later?

 

[Medicine4Bruhs]

Take psychology. Don't pile on too much too early or your med school dream may end abruptly.

 

[Espadaleader]

Do not take both. Please.

 

[CodeBlu]

I took both... I managed just fine.

 

[blizzah]

Lots of people take both together. You'll be fine.

That said, if you don't have to, you can always wait.

 

[shaq93]

Thanks so far guys

 

[Tapepsi]

I guess it depends on the individual. If you're willing to put in the time and effort then take both, especially if you're mathematically inclined. Me personally (and this is coming from someone who did well in Physics I and II) I don't think I would've been able to handle physics as a freshman.

 

[shaq93]

Starting to lean towards taking both classes because my other classes easy.

 

[sonia1177]

Im going to be a freshman at the University of Alabama in the fall with some credits transfering from a local community college. Pre-reqs that I've already taken (or are taking) include Biology 1, Mth 112, and Mth113. Now originally I wanted my fall schedule to consist of Biology 2 and Chemistry 1 with English and some other class but today I found out that Biology 2 was already filled up for the fall. So I enrolled in Chemistry 101 (w/ lab), English 101, Music 121, and Psychology 101. I wanted to take out Psychology 101 and replace it with Physics (w/ lab) since I've already taken the pre-reqs for it and so that I can stay ahead but one student (who took Physics and O chem together and earned A's in both classes) didn't recommend that for a freshman. Do you guys think that I should take Physics and Chemistry together or just take Psychology and wait to take Physics later?

General Chemistry I was the hardest prereq for me out of all of them (yes, even including orgo). I would not recommend taking Chemistry and Physics together. But this truly depends on the professor. For example, my General Chemistry I professor was impossible but my General Chemistry II professor was amazing and explained things really well. With her, I could have easily taken General Chemistry and Physics together. You may very well be able to take them together, but first you need check how the professor is. Professors make or break the class. That's just the way it is (from my experience so far).

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

Depends on how good your are at math. Both courses will make you use qualitative concepts to solve quantitative problems. I do not know how hard your school is or professors are, but with mine I would not have taken them together. If you're only taking two other classes and they are easy ones then I think you should manage fine though. If I could go back I would make my transition a bit easier with lighter course-loads initially, but this is coming from someone with a lower GPA.

 

[shaq93]

yea, i went on rate my prof. to look at my original chemistry teacher and everyone said that he was horrible lol, so I switched to a new chemistry class. The problem now is that I dont know who the professor is going to be yet but I figure it cant be worse than my first chemistry teacher.

 

[Abscissa]

My college required me to take two calculus-based physics courses and chemistry my first semester, along with some other traditionally "difficult" courses. I'm not familiar with the difficulty of UAlabama's courses or their grading scheme, but if I could've avoided my first-year experience, I would have. Either way, I survived and can say those courses taught me damn well. I didn't come out unscathed, but I'm still continuing my dream of becoming a physician with all my might. I was always jealous of those kids at colleges who had the liberty to pick and choose their classes...

I don't think you have anything to gain (or lose) by taking those classes simultaneously. As someone who takes ~16 technical credits a semester, I'd probably recommend you hold off since it can be hard to juggle all that information and all those darn problem sets.

 

[DontTreadOnMe]

I was naive my first semester and assumed I should just take productive classes. I signed up for physics I, calc III, chem II, and theatre appreciation. I had no problem with any of them, and it was actually my only semester I made a 4.0 haha. It can be done just assess your attitude and your need to push ahead.

 

[MonkfishSushi]

You should be able to take both without any problems if you can manage your time well. If it becomes too challenging, you can always drop one of the classes before drop deadline!

 

[pfaction]

I voted just Chemistry.

Freshman year isn't the year to **** up your pre-reqs.

 

[osprey099]

I took chem1, physics1, and calc2 freshman first semester and got A-, A, A respectively. I then took chem2 and physics2 second semester and got A and A- respectively. Don't worry, you'll be fine.

 

[chemistryguy]

It will absolutely be fine. Im sure your physics class will be ten times more interesting then intro psych anyway. If you are mathematically strong, which you seem to be, you'll just need to be clear with concepts. Classical mechanics is very intuitive, and I don't think it will be a problem. Also, into physics labs are a joke, so dont worry about them either.

 

[Jarudy]

Thousands of people have done this and harder schedules, I'm sure many have done fine while the others learn time management.

 

[Ismet]

I took honors general chemistry and calc-based physics at the same time, as a freshman. And I hate math. I made all A's (except for that almost-an-A in gen chem I 🙄). Don't slack off and you'll be fine. I actually feel like I do better when I have a lot on my plate...it forces me to stop procrastinating and get stuff done!!

 

[Kangaroo Paw]

Honestly, my best advice is the following: take two science pre-reqs at the same time. For the four semesters I've been in college so far, I've taken at least two lab sciences each semester, and it's turned out fine. I'm a double humanities/science major (so I'm not one of those crazy science-science-science people!), but I strongly recommend taking two pre-med science reqs at the same time. It just teaches you how to deal with things better.

 

[shaq93]

Thanks again everyone. I just talked to one of the available physics teachers and he seems like a really nice guy. The only problem is that he used to teach astronomy and this will be his first time taking physics so I cant look him up on rate my prof lol. Again, he seems nice and there will only be 35 students so I might just sign up.

 

[Hotshy]

If you have any of your prereqs from a community college, retake them at your university. Med Schools frown upon classes (especially prereqs) taken at community colleges.

 

[shaq93]

If you have any of your prereqs from a community college, retake them at your university. Med Schools frown upon classes (especially prereqs) taken at community colleges.

I called plenty of med schools asking them about that and told me that it doesnt matter unless Im taking classes at cc's in between semisters to get an easy grade. And I took Bio at a cc because I finished high school early and didnt have anything else to do.

 

[Hotshy]

I called plenty of med schools asking them about that and told me that it doesnt matter unless Im taking classes at cc's in between semisters to get an easy grade. And I took Bio at a cc because I finished high school early and didnt have anything else to do.

Oh well the Dean of admissions at my State Medical school strictly told me not to. I'm doing a research fellowship at my state's med school this summer and we had an open Q and A sessions with him and that's what he said. But it should be fine if you take an upper level biology course in the future, like genetics or biochem.

Best of luck, if you are taking the time to get informed about these things I'm sure you will be successful taking both chem and physics as a freshman 🙂.

 

[shaq93]

Oh well the Dean of admissions at my State Medical school strictly told me not to. I'm doing a research fellowship at my state's med school this summer and we had an open Q and A sessions with him and that's what he said. But it should be fine if you take an upper level biology course in the future, like genetics or biochem.

Best of luck, if you are taking the time to get informed about these things I'm sure you will be successful taking both chem and physics as a freshman 🙂.

Thanks, Im hoping that I can do well!

 

[sonia1177]

I called plenty of med schools asking them about that and told me that it doesnt matter unless Im taking classes at cc's in between semisters to get an easy grade. And I took Bio at a cc because I finished high school early and didnt have anything else to do.

Agreed. I did the same thing with a different class over the summer before starting at a 4 year university and it hasn't been a problem. Do NOT retake any course you took at community college, i don't even know why people say to retake courses taken at a CC. it really doesn't matter, don't waste your time with that.

 

[cheesier]

Don't do hard things that have absolutely no benefit to you and that have the potential to harm your academic future.

 

[shaq93]

Just signed up for physics 😱 now I just need to find an english class. Alot of people on here have been saying that they took the two classes together and with other "hard" classes so I think that I can do it. Hell, I was gonna have to take it anyway and probably with orgo so I might be making my second year easier.

 

[centrigeugle]

If you can't do genchem and physics I at the same time, how do you expect to stack any other prereqs? Physics I is about the simplest science class you're ever going to take. As you've said, you'll definitely want more time to concentrate on your upper-division stuff. Taking genchem and physics is better than taking ochem and physics is better than taking biochemistry and microbiology, etc.

Or do you plan on taking an individual year/summer for: genchem, biology, physics, and ochem, and another for the cell/micro/genetic-bio?

 

[vin5cent0]

I took Physics II and Orgo together at the same time and didn't have much of a problem with Physics. Orgo was another story, but I could've just enrolled in that class alone that semester and still struggled in it lol. You'll be fine with those classes.

 

[LeoGer]

Im going to be a freshman at the University of Alabama in the fall with some credits transfering from a local community college. Pre-reqs that I've already taken (or are taking) include Biology 1, Mth 112, and Mth113. Now originally I wanted my fall schedule to consist of Biology 2 and Chemistry 1 with English and some other class but today I found out that Biology 2 was already filled up for the fall. So I enrolled in Chemistry 101 (w/ lab), English 101, Music 121, and Psychology 101. I wanted to take out Psychology 101 and replace it with Physics (w/ lab) since I've already taken the pre-reqs for it and so that I can stay ahead but one student (who took Physics and O chem together and earned A's in both classes) didn't recommend that for a freshman. Do you guys think that I should take Physics and Chemistry together or just take Psychology and wait to take Physics later?

Nut up.

 

[Eric01]

How are you in geometry/general mathematics? General chemistry 1 is ok, but if you're weak in mathematics you should take some remedial courses in geometry and calculus to build up to taking physics.

 

[shaq93]

How are you in geometry/general mathematics? General chemistry 1 is ok, but if you're weak in mathematics you should take some remedial courses in geometry and calculus to build up to taking physics.

Yea, Im not weak in math. Actually, I would consider math my strongest subjects but I just hate doing it. Thanks

 

[kpcrew]

did it, would not recommend.

 

[Web MD]

I don't know, are you smart?

 

[JGlueck]

Depends on you. I went to a college which gave me a yr of credit for my year abroad during which I took only religious classes. Therefore I needed to do 4 yrs of premed and general courses in 3 yrs. They suggested I take Chem and Bio my first year, I was told by a student to take them separately bc it was my first year and if need be take a gap year if I could not take the MCAT in time. This is what I did and I did well. On the other hand I took Orgo II and Physics II in my senior year while studying for the MCAT and did well. But I already had a good work ethic by then. So if you think you can handle the two and your other classes are easy then go for it. If you would rather ease into college then put it off. Good luck

 

[shaq93]

Depends on you. I went to a college which gave me a yr of credit for my year abroad during which I took only religious classes. Therefore I needed to do 4 yrs of premed and general courses in 3 yrs. They suggested I take Chem and Bio my first year, I was told by a student to take them separately bc it was my first year and if need be take a gap year if I could not take the MCAT in time. This is what I did and I did well. On the other hand I took Orgo II and Physics II in my senior year while studying for the MCAT and did well. But I already had a good work ethic by then. So if you think you can handle the two and your other classes are easy then go for it. If you would rather ease into college then put it off. Good luck

Thanks for the words. My other classes (english and music) shouldnt be too hard so I think I should be good.

 

[shaq93]

did it, would not recommend.

How did you do in the classes?

 

[kpcrew]

How did you do in the classes?

a- in chem, b- in physics. this was before i figured out how to study for final exams properly

 

[Stumpyman]

Why not chem 1 and Calculus, it'll prepare you more for physics....

btw- are you going to UAB? I'm possibly transferring there in fall 2012....

 

[Propylene]

Im going to be a freshman at the University of Alabama in the fall with some credits transfering from a local community college. Pre-reqs that I've already taken (or are taking) include Biology 1, Mth 112, and Mth113. Now originally I wanted my fall schedule to consist of Biology 2 and Chemistry 1 with English and some other class but today I found out that Biology 2 was already filled up for the fall. So I enrolled in Chemistry 101 (w/ lab), English 101, Music 121, and Psychology 101. I wanted to take out Psychology 101 and replace it with Physics (w/ lab) since I've already taken the pre-reqs for it and so that I can stay ahead but one student (who took Physics and O chem together and earned A's in both classes) didn't recommend that for a freshman. Do you guys think that I should take Physics and Chemistry together or just take Psychology and wait to take Physics later?

It's freshman year; use it to adjust to college and knock some of your GEs out of the way. Once you know you can handle a tougher load you can start to challenge yourself. As other people have said, there's no rush and if you start out with too strenuous of a workload your grades may suffer.

 

[Stumpyman]

Hmm, is the general consensus here Physics 1 + Org Chem 1, Physics 2 +Org Chem 2 a bad idea? Cause that's what I am basically going by :O

 

[Stumpyman]

But then again, I need a lot of practice in math, I had a non traditional Highschool, so I basically have to take calculus before physics....


Also, Calc + Stats will suffice for pre reqs right? Because I'm terrified of something like Calc 2....

 

[shaq93]

a- in chem, b- in physics. this was before i figured out how to study for final exams properly

What is your definition of "studying for final exams properly"?

 

[shaq93]

Why not chem 1 and Calculus, it'll prepare you more for physics....

btw- are you going to UAB? I'm possibly transferring there in fall 2012....

Well I like to take math classes during the summer (i plan to take calculus next summer) and I heard that physics is a lot of trig, which is what I am taking now.

And Im actually at the regular University of Alabama not UAB. I was gonna go to UAB but I didnt like how the campus was spread out and I loved the big campus feel of University of Alabama. There is a chance that I may transfer to UAB though because I just like the school for some reason.

 

[MartletMD]

Hmm, is the general consensus here Physics 1 + Org Chem 1, Physics 2 +Org Chem 2 a bad idea? Cause that's what I am basically going by :O

I believe what has been said is that neither configuration is ideal, but one of them must be done.

I chose orgo and physics together, because I wanted to try a linguistics class my first year before calling it my major. I'm going to have to work hard and decrease my social activities, but I think I can handle it. If I can't, then I'll have to drop one, but that would suck, because I'd have to squish my MCAT and potentially only get one shot at it.

 

[shaq93]

EVERYONE WHO TOOK PHYSICS AND GAVE ME SUGGESTIONS ON THIS THREAD; did you guys take ALGEBRA based physics or CALCULUS based physics because I am taking algebra based? Which was easier/harder in your own opinion also?

 

[MyCarIsDirty]

I'm going to be taking Physics I and II this coming year. It's going to be my junior year. If I could do it over again, I would have taken Physics with Chemistry my Freshman year so that I could take the MCAT this August.

For some reason, my school's "pre-med" timeline has Physics Junior year and MCAT during the Spring. Being a freshman, I did what I was told.

Take both, but be prepared to work hard. If you were to screw up this year, it would make things difficult for you down the road.

 

[shaq93]

I'm going to be taking Physics I and II this coming year. It's going to be my junior year. If I could do it over again, I would have taken Physics with Chemistry my Freshman year so that I could take the MCAT this August.

For some reason, my school's "pre-med" timeline has Physics Junior year and MCAT during the Spring. Being a freshman, I did what I was told.

Take both, but be prepared to work hard. If you were to screw up this year, it would make things difficult for you down the road.

I will be working extra hard to make sure that I dont screw up,thanks.

 

[shaq93]

I just looked at my school's schedule for organic chem. and the labs are almost 5 HOURS LONG!!! "DAMN" is all I have to say. Im kind of happy that I am taking physics this year because if I took it next year with orgo, I would be in a bad mood 24/7.