What would you do with this schedule (sophomore)?

[zeppelinpage4]

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Sorry if this seems repetitive, I posted a thread about this a while back. I'm more than willing to delete this if I can revive the old one but my previous thread mentioned how I had no choice but to take calc-physics.
I was pretty cool with it and that left me the chance to have a biochem major.
Well re-registration just passed and I now DO have the choice to just take algebra based physics.

I read the thread about calc-based vs. algebra based physics and both seem to have their positives and negatives.

Truth be told I have no issue with putting in the work for either class I take. So I don't mind taking the harder one but I'm very worried with the coming semester because I'm taking
Orgo I
Orgo Lab
Genetics (sink or swim course at my school)
History
Physics
Physics Lab

It's only 15 credit hours but I think it'll feel more like 16 or 17.

If I were 100% sure about medical school I'd take the easier algebra based one in a heartbeat and get a degree in biology.

However biochem looks pretty cool and if for some chance I changed my mind or didn't get into medical school I could see myself in the biochem field. Is risking the GPA worth it?

I just feel like sucking it up with calc-based will leave me with more options down the road but I don't want to regret it when I have little time to study for orgo and genetics.

If it's any help to know, I aced both Calc I and II this year and I took AP physics B in high school but didn't do so well on it. And this choice will really come down to me but I was just curious to see what other SDNers might choose in this situation.

 

[Elpenor]

Take calc based. I don't think it will be much harder (if harder at all, it really depends on the professors)

Imo I would consider dropping genetics. But that is just me...

My schedule next semester is going to be

Physics with lab
Ochem with lab
a 200 level English course
and an introductory history course

You could also consider taking a course pass/fail to "lighten" your load

Good luck 👍

 

[RelicLTD]

Go calc based IMO. I went algebra based even though I had already taken all the calc stuff... and honestly I think it would make it EASIER if you have a handle on your calculus. Instead them just saying "AND MAGICALLY THROUGH CALCULUS WE GET THIS EQUATION" you can actually derive an equation, which I think helps you understand the logic, and what the equation means, rather than just taking it on faith. Of course this is all subjective to professors, and your University.

If its first semester physics, it should be pretty smooth sailing. Just be ready to put in a little time working problems if you aren't really solid on your calculus.

 

[Lewist02]

Your schedule seems pretty standard for a sophomore. I took Orgo, Physics, Genetics, and Biostatistics (material not hard....professor made it the most difficult course that semester out of everything I was taking). As for calc based vs. algebra based physics, ask around at your school and see how much more difficult calc is. Honestly, there weren't a whole lot of questions on the MCAT (I found them pretty easy even after taking only algebra based), and you won't really see physics again in med school (and definitely not to the capacity that you learned it in undergrad). My advice would be take the easier one and sneak out with the better grade for your transcript. If you could pull A's in either, take the harder class. If you're unsure, definitely go for the easier one. You will have a difficult course load.

 

[whimsical]

I ended up taking algebra-based physics at my school because it had a focus on the life sciences. I found it helpful because I was able to understand the applications to biology and medicine. I really wish I'd been able to get the calculus aspect, though, so it's a tossup.

I think it's most important for you to feel comfortable with your schedule, and in the end it doesn't matter what you pick. If you think there's really a strong chance you want to major in biochem, then pick calc-based.

 

[PreMedder]

I aced both Calc I and II this year

Am I missing something?

 

[zeppelinpage4]

^ I was just mentioning what background I currently have in math and physics.

Take calc based. I don't think it will be much harder (if harder at all, it really depends on the professors)

Imo I would consider dropping genetics. But that is just me...

My schedule next semester is going to be

Physics with lab
Ochem with lab
a 200 level English course
and an introductory history course

You could also consider taking a course pass/fail to "lighten" your load

Good luck 👍

Thanks and that's what I heard about genetics. Most of the kids that did well had to teach themselves b/c the professors for the course supposedly don't teach or help.
I wanted to take genetics one semester later but they designed the curriculum so that I need to take all these courses at once. Good luck to yourself also. 🙂

Go calc based IMO. I went algebra based even though I had already taken all the calc stuff... and honestly I think it would make it EASIER if you have a handle on your calculus. Instead them just saying "AND MAGICALLY THROUGH CALCULUS WE GET THIS EQUATION" you can actually derive an equation, which I think helps you understand the logic, and what the equation means, rather than just taking it on faith. Of course this is all subjective to professors, and your University.

If its first semester physics, it should be pretty smooth sailing. Just be ready to put in a little time working problems if you aren't really solid on your calculus.

That sounds good, I did speak with some students who took the class. One of my roommates took the same class this year and he told me Calc-Physics I was not bad at all.
It got exceptionally harder at Physics II though.

I ended up taking algebra-based physics at my school because it had a focus on the life sciences. I found it helpful because I was able to understand the applications to biology and medicine. I really wish I'd been able to get the calculus aspect, though, so it's a tossup.

I think it's most important for you to feel comfortable with your schedule, and in the end it doesn't matter what you pick. If you think there's really a strong chance you want to major in biochem, then pick calc-based.

Thanks and I agree. Our algebra based physics course is similar by showing biological applications of physics.

Wish we had time to take both courses.

Your schedule seems pretty standard for a sophomore. I took Orgo, Physics, Genetics, and Biostatistics (material not hard....professor made it the most difficult course that semester out of everything I was taking). As for calc based vs. algebra based physics, ask around at your school and see how much more difficult calc is. Honestly, there weren't a whole lot of questions on the MCAT (I found them pretty easy even after taking only algebra based), and you won't really see physics again in med school (and definitely not to the capacity that you learned it in undergrad). My advice would be take the easier one and sneak out with the better grade for your transcript. If you could pull A's in either, take the harder class. If you're unsure, definitely go for the easier one. You will have a difficult course load.

Yeah any break I could use would be nice, though I think it's possible to make an A. One of my friends took the course with the same professor and said the first semester is fine. He's willing to help me out if I take it though so I think I could manage a B or A-. Thank you for the suggestions, I really wish medical schools looked more into our courses. I don't mind a challenge but ultimately I'll want As if I decide on medical school for sure.

Thanks everyone for your opinions, I think I might as well stick with calc-based, if I really have trouble I can try to get into algebra based physics for the second semester.

 

[ruiner]

Sorry if this seems repetitive, I posted a thread about this a while back. I'm more than willing to delete this if I can revive the old one but my previous thread mentioned how I had no choice but to take calc-physics.
I was pretty cool with it and that left me the chance to have a biochem major.
Well re-registration just passed and I now DO have the choice to just take algebra based physics.

I read the thread about calc-based vs. algebra based physics and both seem to have their positives and negatives.

Truth be told I have no issue with putting in the work for either class I take. So I don't mind taking the harder one but I'm very worried with the coming semester because I'm taking
Orgo I
Orgo Lab
Genetics (sink or swim course at my school)
History
Physics
Physics Lab

It's only 15 credit hours but I think it'll feel more like 16 or 17.

If I were 100% sure about medical school I'd take the easier algebra based one in a heartbeat and get a degree in biology.

However biochem looks pretty cool and if for some chance I changed my mind or didn't get into medical school I could see myself in the biochem field. Is risking the GPA worth it?

I just feel like sucking it up with calc-based will leave me with more options down the road but I don't want to regret it when I have little time to study for orgo and genetics.

If it's any help to know, I aced both Calc I and II this year and I took AP physics B in high school but didn't do so well on it. And this choice will really come down to me but I was just curious to see what other SDNers might choose in this situation.

I'd probably take it home, put some nice music on, get some drinks, then finally give it a little hugging and lovin'.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

I'd probably take it home, put some nice music on, get some drinks, then finally give it a little hugging and lovin'.

Sounds like a good time with a physics text book. 😀

 

[Danlee07]

What's the most amt of calc that you gotta know???

Just deriving for first physics and integrating for second physics???

 

[cfx]

If you'd prefer to take the alg/trig-based physics, but want to be safe for biochem, try asking the biochem advisor how strictly they enforce the calc-based requirement. At my school, they were somewhat lenient with this. Although all of the lists of course requirements only gave the options for calc-based, advisors responded along the lines of "well, you can take the alg-based physics as long as you do well in calculus," and they don't make students retake it if they took the alg-based one before declaring the major. I think this was actually for a straight chem major, but you get the point...ask your advisor if the department at your school is more lenient than is indicated in the catalog.

In all honesty, I took alg-based, but kind of wish that I took calc-based (hadn't taken calc beforehand, unfortunately). It just seems like it would've been more straight-forward. I remember my instructor going through this big song-and-dance to arrive at an equation and explain it, then would say "...or if you know calculus, you just take the derivative." It wasn't 'til calculus that I realized this probably would've been simpler. That said, I have no experience in calc-based physics, so it could be a real beast for all I know...

 

[zeppelinpage4]

What's the most amt of calc that you gotta know???

Just deriving for first physics and integrating for second physics???

I didn't take the class.

But one student I talked to told me the same thing.
He said physics I at my school wasn't too calc heavy, mostly derivatives and physics II required setting up of integrals and such.

They required Calc I and II but he told me it's not nearly as much calculus as we would do in actual calc. More of the basics.

If you'd prefer to take the alg/trig-based physics, but want to be safe for biochem, try asking the biochem advisor how strictly they enforce the calc-based requirement. At my school, they were somewhat lenient with this. Although all of the lists of course requirements only gave the options for calc-based, advisors responded along the lines of "well, you can take the alg-based physics as long as you do well in calculus," and they don't make students retake it if they took the alg-based one before declaring the major. I think this was actually for a straight chem major, but you get the point...ask your advisor if the department at your school is more lenient than is indicated in the catalog.

In all honesty, I took alg-based, but kind of wish that I took calc-based (hadn't taken calc beforehand, unfortunately). It just seems like it would've been more straight-forward. I remember my instructor going through this big song-and-dance to arrive at an equation and explain it, then would say "...or if you know calculus, you just take the derivative." It wasn't 'til calculus that I realized this probably would've been simpler. That said, I have no experience in calc-based physics, so it could be a real beast for all I know...

Wow, I never actually considered that. I hope to take most of the other biochem courses no matter what physics I take anyways. So it might be worth asking if they could be a little bit more lenient about the requirement. 🙂