Rank the following in order of importance

[DoctorC]

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In your opinion what is the most important class to do well in for a Pre-Med student? What was the hardest in terms of trying to get an "A?" In my opinion the list goes:

O.Chem
Biology
Physics
Chem

 

[dumbest premed]

From what I heard, organic chem is scrutinized most by the adcoms since it is most similar to med school classes in terms of the amount of information you have to learn in a short amount of time. But they are all just about equally important in the admissions process.

I think that they were all equally not too difficult. It's the upper level science classes that are a little harder, if you decide to major in chem or biochem.

 

[DrHuang]

1. O.Chem
2. Physics
3. Chem
4. Biology

 

[SarahGM]

Most important to do well in:

1. Bio
2. Orgo
3. Chem
4. Physics

Hardest (at least, at Dartmouth)

1. Orgo
2. Bio
3. Chem
4. Physics

 

[Dr. Xavier]

It depends on what kind of person you are, for me conceptual stuff is hard and rote memorization is easy. But I would agree w/sarah w/order of importance.

 

[Dr Trek 1]

I did better in chem II than chem I and a lot better in orgo II than orgo I (odd professors for the first part of each). I didn't do so hot in orgo I and I'm afraid of what to say about it in my interview other than the prof had impossible exams and I think was an unfair grader (but those are probably dumb answers anyway).
I got an A both semesters in bio, so I hope adcoms will take that into consideration. I take physics this fall.

1.orgo
2. chem
3.physics
4. bio

 

[commy-superman]

I got beaten into my head that orgo was the most important class for perspiring doctors and the most difficult undergraduate class you can take.

 

[mpp]

yes, all doctors that sweat need to know about Grignard reagents...

 

[Dr Trek 1]

I always thought that orgo was the most "important" as well. But, it depends on how you define important. In terms of knowledge that may help you succeed in medical school, it would be general chemistry, since medical school is mostly chemistry. Biology would be next. Organic chemistry is useful in pharm. but only at an advanced level and physicians really don't use any orgo in their everyday practice. Physics is the least useful, some medical schools actually allow you to only take one semester of it. Some medical schools even allow you to take a semester of biochem in place of orgo, showing the importance of biology and chemistry, but not necessarily orgo.

 

[Miss155]

Hi

In your opinion, what did you think was so hard in Gen. Chem and Physics?

 

[umass rower]

Originally posted by Miss155
Hi

In your opinion, what did you think was so hard in Gen. Chem and Physics?

Both were easy.

 

[peterockduke]

don't listen to umass rower's pretentious answer, he didn't go to a very good undergrad so he thinks things are easy b/c he didn't have to compete at a high level. He just likes to brag.

Your grades in these classes depend on where your talents lie.

If you're good at math/analytical subjects - than gen chem/physics will be your strong point.

If you're good at pure memorization than probably bio.

Orgo is kind of a mix of both.

 

[jenni4476]

I just have a question....which classes would you categorize as more conceptual and which as more rote memorization?

(Switched majors, starting prereqs this fall, I'm just curious what I should prepare for....)

 

[Wardens]

Jenni,

It seems physics and gen. chem are a little more conceptual than organic and bio. The latter two are really just memorization. In organic, they try to fool you on tests by giving you molecules you haven't seen before, but it's really just the same head on a different body. Easy stuff if you put in the work.

 

[umass rower]

Don't listen to peterockduke. He's just mad because he's starting to realize that saying he went to Duke for undergrad isn't going to be enough to carry him through life. Contrary to what he says in other threads, he does attack people personally, and that makes him a hypocrite.

Hard work and perseverence, rather than "talent", will be the primary determination of how you do in those classes. Talk to other students who have taken them before, find out how they studied, and find a method that suits you. Each one of the pre-reqs for med school have to be approached a little differently, but if you put in the time and effort you should be fine.

 

[peterockduke]

See how easily manipulated he is... no duke student would be bated so easily. I would only tease someone who makes a really pretentious comment that is completely unhelpful.


Now isn't that a much better answer than "they're all easy." Wow ace, you actually wrote some advice that provide another with help.... amazing.

 

[Cerberus]

Physics sucked because of the professor I had (4 questions per exam, questions nothing like anything found in text or lecture, very little partial credit, class average of around 50 per exam).

The material in the others really wasnt that difficult in my opinion.

 

[umass rower]

Sorry to drag you into this flame war Cerb, but someone on a high horse must be toppled.

Originally posted by Cerberus
The material in the others really wasnt that difficult in my opinion.

So peterockduke, is cerberus pretentious too? He found the material in his classes easy. Are you going to try to "bate" him as well? Is that anything like baiting?

And in my original response, I answered the question. She asked what was so hard about them, and I said they really weren't that hard. I found your general advice to the question to be lacking and too reliant on an external locus of control to determine the outcome of the class. I find that expecting a grade based on talent encourages either a sense of entitlement to those who are talented, or a feeling of premature defeat in the less talented. Both are unhealthy attitudes, so I recommended effort and diligence as more appropriate indicators of performance.