Science Crash Course

[MdDoOrDie]

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Hello I will be a freshman in college next year. I will be taking pre-med classes like bio except that my high school has a very weak science class and I didn't learn too much bio.

What would be my best way to brush up on Bio over this summer?

I was thinking go buy Biology for Dummies or the Idiots Guide to Biology and read up on that, but I was worried it wouldn't be good enough/in-depth enough.

What would you recommend? My school has a very poor science program I was the only one going on for a science major so most of the other students didn't care but I need to brush up, especially since I only took Honors(highest course offered @ HS) versus many AP Bio students I'm sure I will be competing against.

Thanks,
MIke

 

[MdDoOrDie]

I know your telling me to chill out, but this really wasn't honors biology. People right and left failed the state regents from our "honors" preparation. I luckily passed with a mid-80s but when I get into college biology I want to hit the ground running.

Any advice???

 

[ralphie48]

I would also advise you to just chill out. Just put the time in when you have the class. If your worried about bio 1 wait till genetics.

 

[glamqueen]

There are several people in my gen bio classes who managed to do all physical type sciences in high school - they didn't even take bio. They are fine. Please chill out - if you are this stressed out before college starts, you will die of a heart attack. Just study very hard in class, and you will do fine. It is not a pre-req for people to have had any bio much less a "good" bio class from high school in order for them to do well.

 

[MdDoOrDie]

i understand what you guys are saying chill out - i REALLY don't want to get blown out of the water my freshman year. my friend, the grade ahead of me in HS' valedictorian went pre-med at a much less-known and less competitive university and got blown out of the water. he got a 1.8 gpa and got dismissed from the school.

i, on the other hand, would like a 3.8 👍
​

 

[PricklyPear]

If you want to spend a good amount of time reading and think you would enjoy it, Campbell's biology is one of the best general biology textbooks out there. I got a used copy of it on amazon for $3, so it wouldn't be a huge investment to get it and poke around in it. Just read the chapters that interest you as if they were a novel, not trying to memorize every detail.

An AP Bio review book would be ok too, but I don't have a specific one to recommend.

But really, do relax. You don't want to burn yourself out before you even get to school! There will be plenty of time to stress out later. 🙂

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

If you have the mental aptitude to get into college, any introductory class is going to go at a pace that you're going to be able to follow it. If you do the work and put in the time, you'll probably end up crushing those who took a lot of AP and such in high school who just assume they can coast through the class.

 

[Techmed07]

Hello I will be a freshman in college next year. I will be taking pre-med classes like bio except that my high school has a very weak science class and I didn't learn too much bio.

What would be my best way to brush up on Bio over this summer?

I was thinking go buy Biology for Dummies or the Idiots Guide to Biology and read up on that, but I was worried it wouldn't be good enough/in-depth enough.

What would you recommend? My school has a very poor science program I was the only one going on for a science major so most of the other students didn't care but I need to brush up, especially since I only took Honors(highest course offered @ HS) versus many AP Bio students I'm sure I will be competing against.

Thanks,
MIke

I am the same way you are.. figuring that most freshmen in undergrad do horrible (averaging: 2.8 at texas tech). If you reaching for anything higher than that why not brush up on some other classes before entering? I reccommend Schaum's outlines Biology Second edition.. It's great!... I am pretty excited (which is sometimes confused with worried) about everything because I am about to begin undergrad I want to do great!.. And I can tell you the same people that are telling you to relax will be the same ones telling you to try for DO School or worst because of a "relaxed" freshmen year.... Do what you feel you should do, I know I will...If you want to hit your classes full throttle why not?! what is worst that can happen you learn too much too fast....riiight.

 

[MdDoOrDie]

Ordered Neil Campbell's Biology 5th Edition off Amazon for $5 incl. shipping. Thanks for the good replies guys 👍
​

 

[Jaded03]

If you want to spend a good amount of time reading and think you would enjoy it, Campbell's biology is one of the best general biology textbooks out there. I got a used copy of it on amazon for $3, so it wouldn't be a huge investment to get it and poke around in it. Just read the chapters that interest you as if they were a novel, not trying to memorize every detail.

An AP Bio review book would be ok too, but I don't have a specific one to recommend.

But really, do relax. You don't want to burn yourself out before you even get to school! There will be plenty of time to stress out later. 🙂

I totally don't recommend Campbell. 😛

I suggest getting an AP review book that's simple and can help you jump right into understanding what comes out of the professor's mouth. I recommend Princeton's Review. It was one of the simplest books out there.

You really shouldn't sweat it. Regardless of how weak your background is, you really bank off your own learning within the classroom. HS gets you about as far as recognizing a few words here and there. If you don't even have that, then bone up. GL.

 

[Jolie South]

RELAX!!!!!!!

I can tell you there are a lot more stressful things than taking freshman bio. i.e. living in a dirt floor hut with no electricity or running water for 2 years, taking 18 hours of graduate classes at a time for an MS while doing research 12 hours/wk, having surgery in a developing country with only local anesthesia

If I can manage this stuff, you can ace the stupid class.

No one really expects high school to prepare you for anything. Just chill.

 

[Jaded03]

Ordered Neil Campbell's Biology 5th Edition off Amazon for $5 incl. shipping. Thanks for the good replies guys 👍
​

Jeebus, 2 minutes and he already bought it. It's a totally useless text. You'll freak out over how it's 500 pages and you can't cram in. To each is his own, I guess.

 

[MdDoOrDie]

i actually cancelled order once i found out the text was ~1200 pages. leaning towards princetonreview AP book or Schaum's Outline of Biology. Thanks for help.
​

 

[PricklyPear]

oops, never mind! ignore this...

 

[lsumedgirl]

And I can tell you the same people that are telling you to relax will be the same ones telling you to try for DO School or worst because of a "relaxed" freshmen year.... Do what you feel you should do, I know I will...If you want to hit your classes full throttle why not?! what is worst that can happen you learn too much too fast....riiight.

Believe it or not, you actually can relax a little during your freshman year and still get into med school.

As for the worst thing that can happen - it's called burnout. Just study, do well in your classes, and have fun. You'll have plenty to really stress over soon enough.

 

[Jaded03]

oops, never mind! ignore this...

I feel guilty. It's not really a bad text, but honestly the kid is going to buy his textbook for bio, too. So regardless of how good it is, he'll get a thick book for class. You were one of the few who actually helped, so much props! 🙂

 

[MdDoOrDie]

Yeah I'm sorry guys I know your all trying to help. I decided to go with Jaded's advice because when I put the book in my cart I didn't realize it's immense size.


​

 

[TimeResonance]

Ahhh Freshmen, I love the mindset. Don't listen to the jaded ones. In a few years you will see why they are saying to relax and why some are jaded. But it IS important for you to hold onto your dreams or your finished before you start. The classes only get harder and alot of the classes are taxing.

In alot of cases, you get very sick of the bureaucracy. There are a lot of random setbacks that you just can't forsee (at least I could not) and therefore have little to control over. Crazy girlfriends, crazy roommates, cutthroat competition, irrational grading... life in general. You will get burnt out if you focus TOO much on everything. Alot of people look back on there freshmen year and realize how they could or should have managed better socially, explored more majors, had some fun etc.. . If its what you really want go for it but keep in mind you may not yet know what you really want or at what price you are willing to pay for it. Freshman year you can get away with exploring the university because the classes allow you at least some free time.

That being said, dont let your grades fall if you really want it. And to the OP, an AP bio book would be helpful or even an mcat study book that goes over general bio in less detail so you understand fundamental concepts.

As has been said, Relax a little. Emphasis on a little.

 

[foreverLaur]

if you bomb an intro to bio course your freshman year... probably not a good sign. there are philosophy majors that rock med school courses not having nearly the extensive background that science majors do.

it takes extra work, but it is doable. by getting books ahead of time you'll just psych yourself out.

and seriously... it is intro to bio. that class looks like a joke compared to stuff i am taking now...

 

[mterp45]

Hello I will be a freshman in college next year. I will be taking pre-med classes like bio except that my high school has a very weak science class and I didn't learn too much bio.

What would be my best way to brush up on Bio over this summer?

I was thinking go buy Biology for Dummies or the Idiots Guide to Biology and read up on that, but I was worried it wouldn't be good enough/in-depth enough.

What would you recommend? My school has a very poor science program I was the only one going on for a science major so most of the other students didn't care but I need to brush up, especially since I only took Honors(highest course offered @ HS) versus many AP Bio students I'm sure I will be competing against.

Thanks,
MIke

study until your hair falls out.

 

[NCF145]

I would also advise you to just chill out. Just put the time in when you have the class. If your worried about bio 1 wait till genetics.

Genetics? Genetics was a cakewalk, especially compared to some of the upper level chem and bio courses.

 

[uzybear]

have a toke, realize things aren't how you think they are, and "sucess" can often be not what you'd think

 

[Meatwad]

Woh, a gunner on training wheels right here.

However, I'd reccomend getting MCAT review books because God knows you need to start studying for those ASAP; your life is over if you aren't hovering around a 34 after your first couple of practice runs. After your hair falls out from the stress, get First Aid for the USMLE, Netter's, and all the books you possibly can for the USMLE's; try to have all this done sometime between your freshman and sophomore year.

BTW, a double major in engineering + some other field is a big help to your app.

 

[sle3pyguii]

Woh, a gunner on training wheels right here.

However, I'd reccomend getting MCAT review books because God knows you need to start studying for those ASAP; your life is over if you aren't hovering around a 34 after your first couple of practice runs. After your hair falls out from the stress, get First Aid for the USMLE, Netter's, and all the books you possibly can for the USMLE's; try to have all this done sometime between your freshman and sophomore year.

BTW, a double major in engineering + some other field is a big help to your app.

Cold. Very cold.

OP, don't stress so much. Have fun in college. Bio I isn't as bad as you'd think. You won't need any study guides, other than the ones your professors give you.

God knows if you're worried about Bio I, you'll probably end up dropping out of school once you hit O Chem.


We should have a sticky for incoming students that just says : CHILL THE #@($ OUT. LEARN TO HAVE FUN IN COLLEGE.

 

[Meatwad]

Cold. Very cold.

OP, don't stress so much. Have fun in college. Bio I isn't as bad as you'd think. You won't need any study guides, other than the ones your professors give you.

God knows if you're worried about Bio I, you'll probably end up dropping out of school once you hit O Chem.


We should have a sticky for incoming students that just says : CHILL THE #@($ OUT. LEARN TO HAVE FUN IN COLLEGE.

Seriously, I either fell asleep or didn't attend half of my Bio classes and squeaked out with an A. However, fool that I am, I took Orgo this summer and have my final on Monday. Definitely not going to be getting an A...

 

[jochi1543]

You don't need to brush up on bio before taking it at the college level. I took two 300-level bio classes w/o having taken ANY bio in HS and did just fine. It doesn't help either - I had taken economics in HS and done very well, and then made a C in freshman intro to econ. All intro classes assume you have not studied the material before, and if you have, you will have taken the APs and gotten moved to the next class.