When To Take Prerequisites in College?

[Nantes]

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So I'll be entering college next year, majoring in Anthropology as I really enjoy the study of the human body. Additionally (since it's a B.A.) I can easily just take a few more courses to switch to a B.S. in Human Biology, which is just a slightly harder major if I feel I can handle the extra classes eventually.

What I was wondering was is there any recommended pattern for taking the prereqs if they're not included in your major? At my university, they push strongly for Bio and Gen chem freshman year, Orgo and Physics sophomore year. They also recommend a year of math either of those years.

The problem is that I'm not sure I want to pile them all into my first two years. I want to be able to take a few anthro courses in my first two years because it's what I will enjoy (I'm taking human phys. right now and enjoying it immensely). It seems like taking two major classes with labs freshman year might be a little difficult as well.

What are the drawbacks of taking Bio freshman year, chem sophomore year, and then physics and orgo junior year? And possibly prolonging a semester of calc to senior year? I feel like taking the harder prereqs later means that by junior year, I'll be a better studier/more comfortable with college, etc. I'd love to hear any stories or advice from people who are going through this/have gone through it already.

Thanks!

 

[236116]

What's your math ability look like?

 

[Nantes]

I've never been that great with math, but I'm taking Statistics now and finding it pretty easy.

 

[236116]

If you suck at alg/trig, I'd see about taking them before calc- you could do them over the summer or as audit or something.

There's no reason why you can't delay your sequences. You should do the math before/with physics. Alg usually comes in handy for chem.

 

[Maygyver]

Here's what I did. I am a bio major so it might be a little different but it's a general idea.

Freshman: Bio + gen chem + math
Sophomore: Organic + (Physics)
Junior: (Physics)

I did physics both Sophomore and Junior, but it's probably not a bad idea to get it out of the way Sophomore year.

As far as the setbacks, most people will do their MCAT Junior year. If you are doing both Ochem and Physics junior year, you will be missing quite a bit of the material on the MCAT and/or be taking tough classes while you study for it. I would definitely do Bio and Gen chem freshman year.

 

[xnfs93hy]

Here's what I did. I am a bio major so it might be a little different but it's a general idea.

Freshman: Bio + gen chem + math
Sophomore: Organic + (Physics)
Junior: (Physics)

I did physics both Sophomore and Junior, but it's probably not a bad idea to get it out of the way Sophomore year.

As far as the setbacks, most people will do their MCAT Junior year. If you are doing both Ochem and Physics junior year, you will be missing quite a bit of the material on the MCAT and/or be taking tough classes while you study for it. I would definitely do Bio and Gen chem freshman year.

Have you applied to medical school yet? Are you are senior now?

 

[RySerr21]

anthropology is NOT the study of the human body....... 😕

 

[Maygyver]

Have you applied to medical school yet? Are you are senior now?

I'm a Junior at the moment. I'm taking a year off so I'm going to be applying next year. I figured it would give me more time to figure out what I really enjoy and also get some more experiences in.

As far as medical school, I'm probably going to be applying to Dental school not medical school, but I'm still not completely sure. That's another reason for taking a year off. I've got an internship this summer with a dentist so that should seal the deal on what I want to do. 🙂 I hope.

 

[xnfs93hy]

Anthropology-The study of human beings, everywhere and throughout time.

 

[RySerr21]

Anthropology-The study of human beings, everywhere and throughout time.

thank you wikipedia. Thats not the study of the human body.

 

[ksmi117]

Anthropolgy studies the human being... culture, evolution, social structure, etc. Anatomy is the study of the human body.

As far as pre-reqs go...

I'd try to get Bio, GChem, and OChem all in the first two years definitely. Physics would also be good to throw in there. I'm not a Bio/Chem/whatever other science major, and I did it. I don't think it'll be as hard as you think. Calculus, you can hold off on if you want. You don't need that to study for the MCAT. Although, being proficient in math will be helpful in you math-y classes (GChem, Phys). I'd take pre-calc or trig to refresh your math skills.

I know as a non-Bio major how frustrating it is not being able to take the classes for you major like recommended, but you can catch up after the pre-reqs are done. And if you're for sure pre-med, then switching your major later in the game won't hurt you as much because you'll have taken less courses in your major.

 

[Maygyver]

About what ksmi said, if you aren't doing calc in HS, waiting for calc definitely isn't a bad idea at all. If you are doing calc in HS, then it's pretty nice to get it out of the way while it's fresh.

 

[medstar21]

Heres what I did, and it seemed to work out pretty well for me:

Freshman: Gen. Chem (w/lab) & Calc 1/2
Soph: Bio + Orgo - both w/ labs
Summer btwn Soph & Junior: Both Physics +lab
Junior: Biochem & Physiology

I am not sure what bio is like at your school, but at my school, it does not nearly cover the "bio" that is on the MCAT. I think the best thing I did was to take Physiology my junior year. MCAT bio has a lot on organ systems and such, basic stuff that most physiology classes cover, but my bio class did not. I would look into it if I were you. In my opinion, if bio at your school is like mine, it would be well worth it to take physio. Biochem is also a good background to have. Those two probably arent required for your major, but in my opinion are good pre-reqs for the MCAT which is also very important. Even taking a 1 semester condensed course of each junior year would be bennificial in my opinion.

As for math, I would agree with the previous post that if you have taken calc in HS, it would be best to take it first year while it is still in your head. I took AP calc in HS, and instead of taking the AP test, I just took calc 1 in college, it was a breeze.

Good Luck!

PS sorry for such a long post!

 

[GlamDoc]

I wouldn't wait till junior year to get pre-reqs done. The math possibly, but not the sciences. Reason: Just in case you do decide to switch over to a biology major, you might see that many of the classes that you are wanting to take at an upper level (perhaps for degree required electives for your major) require a prereq. Ex: Junior year you want to take upper level biology electives, but they all require organic chemstry. You might be able to get some of that waived, but not all. So get the foundation laid by taking your pre-reqs beforehand. In terms of pre-reqs, I did:

Freshman year
Gen Chem I & II w/ corresponding labs
Biology I
Physics I w/lab
Calculus I & II

Soph year
Organic I & II w/corresponding labs
Statistics
Biology II w/ lab
Physics II w/lab

In the end, it's whatever suits you best. Good luck! 👍