Yay! I am a Freshman. please help.

[Swiss Medical]

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Hi everyone. I need a little bit of advice. I have started taking summer classes at a CC and I will continue to do so for the fall and spring semesters. For my summer 1 and 2 sem., I am taking dev. math to bolster my math skills, algebra 1, eng 1, and eng 2. That's fine.My REAL problem comes into play during the fall and spring and it regards whether to take chemistry AND biol in the same sem. My mother advised me not to take it because she said it would be too intense. She said I would study until I burn out....etc. However, I feel that I am capable for Biology, because I took ap in HS, but I am not so sure about chemistry. I will probably get some supp. material abd check it it out within a day or two.....I am also pursuing certification as a CNA so I can start shadowing and working part-time. Apparently, my parents think I need certification to shadow a doc 🙄.....Anyways, if biology and chemistry do not work out for me this fall, when will I get the chance to take it again.........

I told my mommy Chen and bio freshman year, orgo and physics soph, biochem, micro, genetics, junior year
...

Comments...? Questions..Concerns?? Thanks for helping me guys.

 

[Tapepsi]

I think it's best to have bio, gen chem, o. chem, and physics finished before the beginning of your junior year so that you will have everything you need before studying for the MCAT (assuming you're planning on taking it towards the end of your junior year).

I took bio and chem together and while it is time consuming, it's definitely doable.

 

[blizzah]

Don't most life science students all have to take physics, chemistry and bio first year?

 

[Swiss Medical]

Don't most life science students all have to take physics, chemistry and bio first year?

See what i mean. My mom thinks that bio majors "dont take this much". However, she knows that I MUST make As in them. I am a little worried about chem though .......DURING that time, I will also be geting my CNA certification so I can get that experience and join a few clubs at my school to build on leadership ladder...

 

[deleted357625]

Hi everyone. I need a little bit of advice. I have started taking summer classes at a CC and I will continue to do so for the fall and spring semesters. For my summer 1 and 2 sem., I am taking dev. math to bolster my math skills, algebra 1, eng 1, and eng 2. That's fine.My REAL problem comes into play during the fall and spring and it regards whether to take chemistry AND biol in the same sem. My mother advised me not to take it because she said it would be too intense. She said I would study until I burn out....etc. However, I feel that I am capable for Biology, because I took ap in HS, but I am not so sure about chemistry. I will probably get some supp. material abd check it it out within a day or two.....I am also pursuing certification as a CNA so I can start shadowing and working part-time. Apparently, my parents think I need certification to shadow a doc 🙄.....Anyways, if biology and chemistry do not work out for me this fall, when will I get the chance to take it again.........

I told my mommy Chen and bio freshman year, orgo and physics soph, biochem, micro, genetics, junior year
...

Comments...? Questions..Concerns?? Thanks for helping me guys.

I advise you to take bio and chem at the same time because the two intro courses kinda coincide.

I took both at the same time with total of 20 credits and did well. Bio is just memorization and knowing structure/function. Chem, you just gotta know the equation and apply it to a problem given, basic algebra skills is needed for such things as re-arranging equations etc.

Besides all the its pretty easy.

 

[Swiss Medical]

I advise you to take bio and chem at the same time because the two intro courses kinda coincide.

I took both at the same time with total of 20 credits and did well. Bio is just memorization and knowing structure/function. Chem, you just gotta know the equation and apply it to a problem given, basic algebra skills is needed for such things as re-arranging equations etc.

Besides all the its pretty easy.

WAIT. What about the lab portion. how is that like...😱

 

[Tapepsi]

I wouldn't necessaily say it's easy. It depends on the school, the teacher, and the individual him/herself. But as long as you're willing to put in the time you will most likely do well.​

 

[deleted357625]

WAIT. What about the lab portion. how is that like...😱

Before you think about registering, it all depends on the professor, i should of mentioned that. That goes for every class you take in college, pick the right professor.

My bio lab was really boring, a lot of microscope work and paperwork. Lab stations are set up etc.

Chem lab, you set up experiments, mix chemicals, and all that good stuff. You have a lab book and turn in worksheets etc.

Every school is different

 

[afreaknamedpete]

Don't most life science students all have to take physics, chemistry and bio first year?

At least in my school, those are requirements but it's not forced (or even recommended) that you take three "core" science classes in one semester. General consensus at my college is that three core natural science classes/semester, factoring in labs, is a pretty bad idea unless you're EXTREMELY confident.

For the topic creator, if you plan on doing your MCATs by junior year you should try to pace it out so that you take classes for all the material in the MCATs by the end of junior year. That would mean Chem, Orgo, Bio, Physics, Biochem, Genetics and Physio (if it's offered). You're going to basically have to double up on hard sciences, though you're also pursuing a CNA certificate at the same time, which will possibly be another significant time sink.

This is something I would suggest you talk to students in YOUR university (if you haven't already) - probably other pre-meds, or even biology students looking into grad school (similar requirements). They would have an idea of what courses tend to be hardest (bad professors, weed-out practices) and provide better advice for how to space out your courseload. Sometimes the "hard" courses can be really easy due to factors totally independent of the material itself, but it varies greatly by institution.

 

[Slowpoke]

its great that you are starting your exposure to medicine so early. i think course loads are really school dependent, are there any suggestions given by the school (i.e. a list of courses you would need to transfer to a university etc.) that you can go off of? I remember when I started community college a counselor helped me figure out a projected timeline of what courses to take and when in order to improve my chances of successfully transferring to a UC.

 

[Swiss Medical]

its great that you are starting your exposure to medicine so early. i think course loads are really school dependent, are there any suggestions given by the school (i.e. a list of courses you would need to transfer to a university etc.) that you can go off of? I remember when I started community college a counselor helped me figure out a projected timeline of what courses to take and when in order to improve my chances of successfully transferring to a UC.

First of all, yes!! I know exactly what to take to transfer successfully.

Next, I probably will not be able to take the certification course since my parents are being wierd. They think they know what premeds do.....🙄....and at what time. I told them being late or not EVEN getting any clinical exposure is a very dangerous thing that anyone applying to medical school can do. So here is my plan:

My parents have "approved" of me taking bio and chem together, so I will look for the best professors at my college to take it with. I also plan on taking US History 1 and 2, algebra 2 and precal, and some fine art courses to chill in. As for leadership and ECs, I will make sure that I will try to join some meaningful clubs that show my leadership proponent on paper.....and I cannot forget volunteering.........😀 THEN, during the summer time, I will try again with certificaton and begin working as a CNA, shadowing, etc...

 

[FSUseminoleEM1]

So far no one has mentioned that you don't NEED CNA certification to shadow. I've shadowed plenty & I'm not certified in anything.

What you NEED to do, is assess yourself. With AP Bio under your belt, you should be used to a semi-demanding course load. Take Bio & Chem together. They're entry level courses anyway, and it gets harder from there. Pretty much every semester (depending on how you spend your summers) you will need to double up on sciences to graduate on time. In my opinion, if you don't start conditioning yourself now for a heavy course load, medical school is going to be a gigantic train wreck.

 

[Slowpoke]

First of all, yes!! I know exactly what to take to transfer successfully.

Next, I probably will not be able to take the certification course since my parents are being wierd. They think they know what premeds do.....🙄....and at what time. I told them being late or not EVEN getting any clinical exposure is a very dangerous thing that anyone applying to medical school can do. So here is my plan:

My parents have "approved" of me taking bio and chem together, so I will look for the best professors at my college to take it with. I also plan on taking US History 1 and 2, algebra 2 and precal, and some fine art courses to chill in. As for leadership and ECs, I will make sure that I will try to join some meaningful clubs that show my leadership proponent on paper.....and I cannot forget volunteering.........😀 THEN, during the summer time, I will try again with certificaton and begin working as a CNA, shadowing, etc...

Great, sounds like you're off to a great start. Don't lose the motivation. 🙂

 

[Swiss Medical]

So far no one has mentioned that you don't NEED CNA certification to shadow. I've shadowed plenty & I'm not certified in anything.

What you NEED to do, is assess yourself. With AP Bio under your belt, you should be used to a semi-demanding course load. Take Bio & Chem together. They're entry level courses anyway, and it gets harder from there. Pretty much every semester (depending on how you spend your summers) you will need to double up on sciences to graduate on time. In my opinion, if you don't start conditioning yourself now for a heavy course load, medical school is going to be a gigantic train wreck.

To the bolded, I commend you. 🙂 My parents think that you must have something in order to shadow, that why I have to move my clinical experiences to the summertime. THEN, when I am at UTA, I can gain more experience and start my clinical research as well without their disturbance...

 

[FSUseminoleEM1]

To the bolded, I commend you. 🙂 My parents think that you must have something in order to shadow, that why I have to move my clinical experiences to the summertime. THEN, when I am at UTA, I can gain more experience and start my clinical research as well without their disturbance...

It sounds to me like your parents are straight clueless about this process. I've come a long way doing my own research with little parental involvement. Please use a university advisor - this is what they are for.

Good luck! It goes by fast...

 

[Swiss Medical]

It sounds to me like your parents are straight clueless about this process. I've come a long way doing my own research with little parental involvement. Please use a university advisor - this is what they are for.

Good luck! It goes by fast...

Absolutely. My father and I were talking in the car recently about a family friend who matriculated to Ross Univ. ( in the carribean) and he just began to praise her.....he gushed and gushed..until I started telling him that the carribean can be a very dangerous option for those who are not VERY careful. I began to explain the process of matching into residency...and daddy just rejected me. He outright told me that that is not how it works...He also mentioned that I should make friends with the premeds at my church so we can network and all succeed....🙄😱

I told him "why" and he yelled at me, "No Man is an island...blah, blah".....

They are both girls, so maybe..we could.......no it just could not work out

He said that I would have to network with other people, since THAT IS HOW OUR LITTLE FRIEND GOT INTO ROSS....

 

[paul411]

It's a well-known fact that you can't get into Ross University without having a large network of pre-meds behind you.

On that note: A network of pre-meds huh... that sounds like a brilliant idea. If only someone would facilitate such a thing.

 

[Swiss Medical]

It's a well-known fact that you can't get into Ross University without having a large network of pre-meds behind you.

On that note: A network of pre-meds huh... that sounds like a brilliant idea. If only someone would facilitate such a thing.

The sarcasm in your post is so strong, I almost spilled my big red on my keyboard....

She went to uta, was a bio major, 3.4gpa, 27mcat.....I suggested the DO version to her, but she refused..becuase "they are not real doctors...."

sad girl. I really hope she matches...

 

[rexxx]

wouldn't worry about your courseload so much.

as far as taking chem, bio, and physics freshman year... at my school physics is more of a junior-year thing.

here its usually:

• freshman year - gen chem. people usually start bio either SECOND semester of freshman year or first semester of sophomore year
• sophomore year - ochem and finish bio
• junior year - physics

obviously you take other classes in the meantime here, but thats how it goes at my school for prereqs.
do it how you want though ... you just want them finished before the MCAT (end of junior year).

personally i'm taking bio, physics, and ochem both semesters this year.

 

[Elpenor]

I took 4 pre-reqs freshman year (chem, bio, calculus, and English) and it was no problem

 

[Swiss Medical]

I took 4 pre-reqs freshman year (chem, bio, calculus, and English) and it was no problem

I have knocked English out for the summer....In fact, here is my schedule for this summer and fall

S1 and 2
Dev. Math and english 1
College Algebra and English 2

Fall
Bio
Chem
Hist 1
Fine art
Communications...

...I think i'll hold calc for sohpmore year 😛

 

[SN1]

I have knocked English out for the summer....In fact, here is my schedule for this summer and fall

S1 and 2
Dev. Math and english 1
College Algebra and English 2

Fall
Bio
Chem
Hist 1
Fine art
Communications...

...I think i'll hold calc for sohpmore year 😛

When I first entered college(CC) I was advised not to take 2 labs for my first semester. I ended up taking gen chem, algebra, english, and history. I breezed through them and stepped it up a notch and took gen chem II, gen bio I, Trig, and an elective.

My suggestion is that start out with an average schedule and then gradually build up the difficulty.

good luck and HIGH FIVE, I am a CC student too.

 

[Juicec]

The best advice I think anyone can give you at this point is to grow up and stop listening to the obviously clueless parents you have, at least in regards to med school admissions. As a parent I am sure they are simply trying to help in what THEY THINK is correct. Unfortunately as many people in this world fall victim to, they just blabber out useless nonsense that will do more harm then good, from what your saying MUCH more harm then good.

Take the praise, take the congradulations, but under no circumstance take the advice. As a side bar, most advisers do **** all to put it bluntly. You need to sleep with SDN under your pillow and do the reasearch on your own just like all of us. Its the uphill battle that is med school admissions.

And as far as gen chem and gen bio in the same semester, that will be paradise compared to whats coming your way in the near future.

Good luck.

 

[BlackHouse]

What's the point of taking both Biology and Chemistry the same semester?
You're a freshman, don't sabotage your self.

 

[Swiss Medical]

The best advice I think anyone can give you at this point is to grow up and stop listening to the obviously clueless parents you have, at least in regards to med school admissions. As a parent I am sure they are simply trying to help in what THEY THINK is correct. Unfortunately as many people in this world fall victim to, they just blabber out useless nonsense that will do more harm then good, from what your saying MUCH more harm then good.

Take the praise, take the congradulations, but under no circumstance take the advice. As a side bar, most advisers do **** all to put it bluntly. You need to sleep with SDN under your pillow and do the reasearch on your own just like all of us. Its the uphill battle that is med school admissions.

And as far as gen chem and gen bio in the same semester, that will be paradise compared to whats coming your way in the near future.

Good luck.

Excellent post. thank you for all your kind words...🙂