Scheduling Prereqs

[Clairea11]

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I didn't decide that I wanted to be premed until halfway through this semester (I'm a freshman). Right now I am taking Calculus and a few other courses that are required by my university.

I was planning to start all my science prereqs next year and double up, but I looked at the course descriptions and apparently a full year of chemistry is needed to qualify for the biology course.

So I was hoping that I'd be able to do this
Freshman: Calculus
Sophmore: Chem and Bio
Junior: Chem and Physics
Senior: Bio electives

Now it looks like they will force me into this:
Freshman: Calculus
Sophmore: Chem
Junior: Chem and Bio
Senior: Physics and Bio electives

I could triple up on sciences junior year, which sounds like a horrible idea. What do you think I should do? Should I take the chemistry class over the summer to catch up?

Thanks

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I didn't decide that I wanted to be premed until halfway through this semester (I'm a freshman). Right now I am taking Calculus and a few other courses that are required by my university.

I was planning to start all my science prereqs next year and double up, but I looked at the course descriptions and apparently a full year of chemistry is needed to qualify for the biology course.

So I was hoping that I'd be able to do this
Freshman: Calculus
Sophmore: Chem and Bio
Junior: Chem and Physics
Senior: Bio electives

Now it looks like they will force me into this:
Freshman: Calculus
Sophmore: Chem
Junior: Chem and Bio
Senior: Physics and Bio electives

I could triple up on sciences junior year, which sounds like a horrible idea. What do you think I should do? Should I take the chemistry class over the summer to catch up?

Thanks

take classes over the summer
your supposed to take your mcat junior year
and apply for medical schools in senior year
its not wise btw to take the mcat without taking all the pre-requisites or be very close to being done with all the pre-requisites

 

[ElegantWeapon]

i don't know what your HS background is, but if you've taken AP sciences at all, you should if at all possible just sign up according to your original plan. In my experience, nobody checks anything, the prereq courses are just in the manual because they think people actually pay attention. I started taking upper level courses with no prereqs and was fine. Just do it if you can

 

[Clairea11]

I went to a prep school, and got a C in AP Chemistry but a 5 on the AP Exam, which I took after my junior year. So although I technically could start the second semester of the Chemistry sequence in the spring, I don't feel confident enough since I did badly in the class. Plus, I don't want to burn my bridges with med schools that don't accept AP.

The course sign-up website automatically checks for pre-reqs and won't allow people without them to add the course in question.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Weird, I've never heard of an intro bio class requiring chem as a prereq. In any case, I would take chem over the summer.

 

[chman]

Weird, I've never heard of an intro bio class requiring chem as a prereq. In any case, I would take chem over the summer.

I think it is fairly common, or at least at my school it is.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I think it is fairly common, or at least at my school it is.

theres honestly almost no real chem in bio..
and most chem in bio is misinterpreted or discribed by books that show electrons and other things improperly lol
its honestly a sad pre-requisite for bio

 

[chman]

theres honestly almost no real chem in bio..
and most chem in bio is misinterpreted or discribed by books that show electrons and other things improperly lol
its honestly a sad pre-requisite for bio

Yea, I agree. But that does not seem to stop schools from requiring it.

On the flip side, I feel that one should know some chem basics before taking bio.

 

[Clairea11]

Thanks for all your help!

 

[Clairea11]

I heard back from the science professor! She said that I should be able to take both Chemistry and Biology next fall. I guess they'll waive the prereq or something. Thanks for offering advice!

 

[sgtbrushes]

Weird, I've never heard of an intro bio class requiring chem as a prereq. In any case, I would take chem over the summer.

At my school, Chem I is a "pre-req" for Bio I, but you can take Bio I if you're taking Chem I the same semester without any extra paperwork.

Clairea11, do you have to work during school? If not, I would triple up on pre-reqs your sophomore year. Knock out Bio, Chem, and Physics. Then, as a junior, you can take O Chem I in the fall, and during the spring, while in O Chem II, you can do 3 months MCAT prep and take the MCAT in April or May. This way, you won't be taking Phys II and O Chem II while studying for the MCAT.