What elective to take freshman year?

[linziclip]

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Hey guys! If you could give me some quick advice that would be awesone 🙂
I am a freshman biochemistry major and seriously considering medical school.

This semester I am taking calculus I and gen chem I as my science courses.
Next semester I will be taking gen chem II and an elective. I'm conflicted as to what to choose, my chemistry teacher recommended calculus II even though it's not required by my degree. My pre-med advisor said to take gen bio II or a similar bio elective.

I was leaning toward calculus because I like problem solving and I think it would help me in the future with calc-based physics and just thinking quantatively in general, you know what I mean?

But then I don't want to neglect my bio kowledge as well, any advice would be greatly appreciated!

This is how my classes are going to be ordered in college

1st year: calc and chemistry
2nd year; o-chem and physics
3rd year bio and biochemistry
4th year upper division chemistry classes (a-chem. p-chem, ect)

 

[911 Turbo]

Hey guys! If you could give me some quick advice that would be awesone 🙂
I am a freshman biochemistry major and seriously considering medical school.

This semester I am taking calculus I and gen chem I as my science courses.
Next semester I will be taking gen chem II and an elective. I'm conflicted as to what to choose, my chemistry teacher recommended calculus II even though it's not required by my degree. My pre-med advisor said to take gen bio II or a similar bio elective.

I was leaning toward calculus because I like problem solving and I think it would help me in the future with calc-based physics and just thinking quantatively in general, you know what I mean?

But then I don't want to neglect my bio kowledge as well, any advice would be greatly appreciated!

This is how my classes are going to be ordered in college

1st year: calc and chemistry
2nd year; o-chem and physics
3rd year bio and biochemistry
4th year upper division chemistry classes (a-chem. p-chem, ect)

wtf? what kind of biochem degree doesnt require cal 2?

 

[Owlie]

wtf? what kind of biochem degree doesnt require cal 2?

That's what I thought.

OP, look at your major's suggested schedule
You'll need a year of biology. Microbiology will help for the MCAT

 

[linziclip]

It's offered as an elective course. IDK why its different in different schools

 

[linziclip]

Yeah, those were the thing I was debating on. So would you suggest calc 2, microbiology, or gen bio for next semester? Those are among the electives I have to choose from

 

[911 Turbo]

Yeah, those were the thing I was debating on. So would you suggest calc 2, microbiology, or gen bio for next semester? Those are among the electives I have to choose from

your choice.. I'd choose gen bio because its the easiest of the three

 

[dcolod]

GO CALC 2.

The goal for electives is to 1) learn something useful and 2) make yourself stand out as an applicant.

There as soooo many pre-meds it seems that take 2 bios, 4 chems, 3 physics, and a few upper level bios since that is the general med school requirements and the majority of these classes are fairly easy.

There is a dearth of med applicants, med students, and physicians with strong math/physics skills and experience.

Taking math/physics/comp sci. as electives accomplishes goals 1 & 2 more than most other classes (though abstract thinking in philosophy, poly sci, religion can be quite helpful too). Will they be harder as classes and riskier for GPA purposes...sure.

 

[911 Turbo]

GO CALC 2.

The goal for electives is to 1) learn something useful and 2) make yourself stand out as an applicant.

There as soooo many pre-meds it seems that take 2 bios, 4 chems, 3 physics, and a few upper level bios since that is the general med school requirements and the majority of these classes are fairly easy.

There is a dearth of med applicants, med students, and physicians with strong math/physics skills and experience.

Taking math/physics/comp sci. as electives accomplishes goals 1 & 2 more than most other classes (though abstract thinking in philosophy, poly sci, religion can be quite helpful too). Will they be harder as classes and riskier for GPA purposes...sure.

this is also true (according to my professor and the post above me at least)... I was actually gonna suggest you to take cal 2 and cal 3 as well as differential equations but that might blow you too far off course as far as credit requirements.

 

[linziclip]

this is also true (according to my professor and the post above me at least)... I was actually gonna suggest you to take cal 2 and cal 3 as well as differential equations but that might blow you too far off course as far as credit requirements.

yeah, I was leaning more to the technical side of science, I actually enjoy physics more then I enjoy bio and I kind of wanted to challenge myself with calc 2..
But I really can't stay off my major requirements too much

 

[TheMightySmiter]

If you're serious about med school, statistics will be far more helpful than Calc II.

 

[487806]

If you're serious about med school, statistics will be far more helpful than Calc II.

The first part of the sentence makes the second part sound a bit extreme. Statistics will be useful, but I wouldn't go too far to make it as a requirement.