PRE-REQS ORDER, READ PLEASE!!

[UrSexyLatinDr]

Hey guys, como estan?

Ok, I have two questions and I hope you guys can advice. Please....

1) Ok, I was wondering, what do you guys think is the best way to take the pre-reqs? Biology along with General chem and then physics with ochem? Or Bio with ochem and general chem with physics? WHat do you guys think is the best combination to manage better study time.

2) Ok, I am taking a statistics course this summer. The course will be 4 weeks long. DO you guys have any advice tips on how to study good enough to Ace the class?

Thanks,

Eduardo

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[UrSexyLatinDr]

Anyone please??

Eduardo <img border="0" alt="[Pity]" title="" src="graemlins/pity.gif" />

 

[anna02]

UrSexy-

1)I took general bio with general chemistry, and it was definitely managable for me. I plan to take organic chem next year and physics the next, although I may possibly double them up next year or the next, who knows. I don't know what the *best* combination is; although, I'm sure others have more input who have actually been through all pre-reqs, unlike myself.

2) I've never taken statistics, although I am taking calculus this summer. My calc course is 11 weeks long, though... good luck with stats my friend.

 

[Michelys]

Ehm...why not take one of the science prereqs in the summer time??? Unless you don't have time for it that is. If you can't do that I'd try taking BIO and CHM together, then Organic, then Physics your Junior year. I'd personally rather take one of those in the summertime rather than double them up--although some people like doing that! As for statistics, I thought it was a fun class--just a whole bunch of analyses and stuff that's useful to know . Good luck.

BTW I took Bio in high school and didn't double up on anything...so I couldn't tell you how hard it would really be to do that...just in case you were wondering!

 

[encee]

Hey Eduardo,

For me, I did not really enjoy physics very much and OChem was very challenging so doing these together was not optimal for me. But doing them at all was not optimal for me!! Basically, if your other courses (if you are taking any) are of more interest to you and you know you can do well in the other courses, then ochem and physics together are fine. For me balancing non-science and science courses at once was the only way to go. I was a sociology major, so I took 2 soc classes and 2 science classes at a time. I was in better shape than my friends who were taking 3 or 4 science courses at once. On your AMCAS application they breakdown GPA into each year, so keeping a balance of courses of varying degrees of difficulty throughout is important.

As for G Chem and Bio, I think that is fine.

 

[UrSexyLatinDr]

Thanks guys, anymore?? Also, what are some good tips on summer courses, how to do well on them?

Eduardo

 

[Sonya]

In our school, gen chem was a pre req for o-chem.
But, i think, in many schools it may not be.

Take gen chem before Bio. o-chem may likely be tough. If you're the kind for which physics is also tough, you may be hesitant about taking them together.

For stats, talk to the prof: what book is he using, what chapters, how closely is he following. What is the general "idea" of the clas. By that, i mean, what does he consider important. Doing lots of problems? applications, understanding of equtions.

In all likely hood, all statistics (especialyl the non calc based) classes are usually about taking equations and stuffing numbers into them, and throwing out answers. The majority of the work is knowing which equations to use. In calc based statistics, some times the math gets a bit nasty (weird double intergrals, they were sort of conceptually tricky).

HOw to do well in summer? it's not to different than other semesters. Here is my key to the semesters that i got 3.9s and 4.0s: Study ahead.
and, this is easy for math classes. ask the questions to the prof i suggested. buy the book, read the chapters, do problems. Just, pretend you're taking the class now (except no teacher to guide you).

Considering it's summer, thus condensed... do NOT fall behind. study evenly. This is much more so needed with a faced paced summer.

When you're asking the profs those questions... i'm not sure it's a good idea to be direct about studying ahead. most profs are glad a study is eager to learn and all. but some, i don't know, have weird ideas like that's cheating, or unfair of something.

If the teacher is not around, ask former students.

I don't know when your summer session starts, but i'd say prepare ahead up to the first exam, at least. (which is usually around 1/3 the course).

Hope it helps.

Sonya

 

[UrSexyLatinDr]

Thanks a lot al of you!

Eduardo

 

[The Philosopher]

Eduardo,

Are you on semester system? Are you a non-science or science major?

 

[UrSexyLatinDr]

Non-Science Major and yes, on a semester system.

Eduardo

 

[The Philosopher]

Alright Dr. Sexy,

Thanks for the info.

Well, I took Gen chem with Bio, and I thought it was do-able, and then sure, take orgo with physics. You should be totally fine by MCAT time.

Just try not to take too many classes over summer, though. I mean, it's time for a break, and you can really set yourself apart from a lot of students by doing something constructive that you really enjoy, rather than taking courses. This way, you'll be fresh for the Fall semester.

In addition, since you're a non-science major, I would recommend taking an intro physio class, microbio, biochem, and molecular/cell bio class sometime during college.

Try to get in the physio and molecular bio before the MCAT. For your sake, take no more than 2 sciences/semester and forget about taking them over the summer.

If you do this, you should have plenty of time to finish all the pre-req and recommended courses, as well as your major courses, as well as enjoying yourself by doing research, travelling to Africa, whatever...in the summers, and max'ing your EC's in the semesters.

Best of luck

 

[UrSexyLatinDr]

Thank you very much for the info. SO any study tips for the summer guys? Also, did it take you guys 2 years to finish the pre-reqs or what?

Eduardo

 

[efex101]

Edu taking Bio with Gen Chem is totally doable, I took both of them together plus another two classes and I did very well. I took Organic I and Physics I with three other classes (18 semester hours) and did well also. So based on what I did it can work, other other hand everyone is different some can take two sciences together with labs and other classes and do well but others may not do as well with that load. Have you ever taken two science classes with labs together? you know your weaknesses and strengths so you are the better judge of what to take together. Know that Gen Chem and Physics (at least at my school) had a lot of problems, and Bio and Organic can take up a big chunk of time...

 

[paean]

What kind of learner are you? Do you prefer reading or doing problems? Understanding difficult concepts or absorbing massive amounts of not-necessarily-related facts?

GChem: problems and concepts
OChem: problems and memorization
Bio: reading and memorization
Physics: problems and concepts

I'm a fan of balance, so unless you only have two years to finish the above four classes, I'd suggest taking GChem and Bio the first year, OChem and some upper division bio that will help on the MCAT (cell, physiology, genetics, anything having to do with organ systems or prokaryotes, which will be more conceptual and reading) the second, then physics and one semester of biochem the third, taking the MCAT in April (you cover enough physics by April to do fine on the MCAT).

 

[paean]

If you can't fit all this into your schedule, I still suggest spreading out over three years, and taking at least one upper div. bio class, it will help on the MCAT. My undergrad has one semester of General Bio focused on cells and physiology, and the second on plants, evolution and ecology. If your school is like that, I highly recommend not taking the plant/eco/evol class, and instead taking a class that is more relevant to the MCAT. There's no Gen Bio requirement, just a one year of bio with lab requirement.

Sorry for the split post, SDN won't accept longer ones from me anymore <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

 

[ellerose]

The sequence of the prereq's does depend on you. If you like taking summer classes to get stuff out of the way in less time (like I do), then I recommend taking physics over the summer (anytime) and any of your bio or other MCAT-friendly classes like biochem, cell bio, molecular, etc. This frees up your fall and spring semesters for taking all of the chemistry and major coursework. I did not have to double up too much (I took some bio and physics over the summers), but what I did do was to save the labs for any of my summer classes for the coming semesters. Don't get me wrong, summer classes can be hell. The way I made it easier for myself was to spread out the lab work over the longer semesters so that it wasn't so hectic. The only way I was able to do this was because my undergrad institution had separate lab and lecture portions of most science courses. This helped me retain more of the knowledge for the MCAT by forcing me to think about physics concepts long after taking the course by taking the labs the semesters after taking the lecture. Well, it's not for everyone, but it's an idea.

I took stats last fall. DO ALL PRACTICE PROBLEMS! Study them, and attend any/all review sessions possible. Ask questions of the prof if you don't understand something. This is pretty basic stuff. Don't stress too much. Just don't fall behind on problem sets/studying!