Hi, so my name is Kay again and congratulate to everyone who got accepted to Barnard. Barnard is such a great place to be in and you should definitely put alot of time to your decision. I can't wait to see more faces coming to Barnard because Barnard welcomes you all.
I decided to write up some things I have been doing/ classes I am taking/will be taking to prepare myself for the premed track. I know that a number of you will be premed so I think this might be helpful for you so you can get a feel of how a premed student would be like.
Well, I took Professor Hertz 1500 level class and the accompanying lab during my fall semester. Even if the suggestion is that AP Biology is preferred before taking this class, you will do fine in this class. Basically in this class, study the lectures and the textbook. Spring semester, I am taking professor Wallenfang's cellular biology class 1503 with the accompanying lab. In my perspective, this class is so much better and it is so much interesting too. Next year in the fall semester, I will be taking genetics and gen chem I and two more classes, maybe a chinese class and another class that fulfills the 9 ways of knowing (requirements for graduation).
Asides from classes, I do other extracurricular things that is associated with premed too. I was in AMSA the american medical students association in the fall and I'm deciding to join again next year. I am also part of Barnard's student government: the Student Health Advisory Committee in which we help and corroborate with health services. I am also in CU Operation smile where we fundraise money for children with cleft lip. In addition, to get myself more interested in the medical field, I volunteer at the nearby hospital St. Lukes doing Patient Rounding. Next year I plan to volunteer again, maybe join more clubs, health related and not health related :)
One question I wanted to ask before coming to Barnard for the bio/chem requirement was that should i take biology or chemistry first. Either way is fine, but I felt like I wanted to do biology in freshman year more.
That's it for now, please leave a comment or question if you want more info about the premed track, I am more than happy to answer your comments.
In the meanwhile, I should look for an additional roommate for my suite next year!
I wanted to post up pictures of barnard's campus but I don't have my camera with me, I will try to bring it and snap pics for the next post.
Good luck!
Monday, April 5, 2010
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Hey Kay, my name is Salma and I was also considering taking premed. I think reading about all the things you've done has gotten me excited about it. I wanted to ask you if you think taking premed classes and coupling them with a non-science major would be a good idea.
ReplyDeleteMost premeds have either Bio or Chem as their major, but I was hoping to major in English/Writing. I'm just concerned that doing that wont help me with my science classes. Thank you!
Hi Kay! Thanks for your advice; that was really helpful. I'm planning to be a premed, and I heard somewhere that in order to be truly ready for the MCAT you should take bio, chem, organic chem and physics before your junior year...which would mean doubling up on sciences for the first two years. Is this true? And if it is, is it really hard to double up on sciences at Barnard?
ReplyDelete-Rashmi
Hi Salma,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, congrats to getting into Barnard. I'm glad to hear that you're premed too!! You do definitely major in something you are interested in and I think majoring in English and doing premed classes are totally fine. Alot of my friends now are not majoring biology/ chemistry and they are also premed too. One of the members i know from the shac committee was an english major, is premed and is a senior graduating this year. She said it was great doing an English major along with premed classes and she's so glad that she made it into Columbia's medical school! So I think it is perfectly fine to major in writing/english and be premed at the same time!
Hi Rashimi,
ReplyDeleteAlso, congrats you to getting into Barnard. It's so exciting to hear from the two of you that are premed! For the premed requirement, we are supposed to take biology, gen chem I and II, organic chem I and II physics I and II. Yes, you do have to double up on some classes. For example, this is how my schedule is worked out. I took Biology 1500 level classes in my freshmen fall and spring. Since I will be a biology major, I will take genetics and for premed, gen chem I with lab the fall of my sophmore year. Then in the spring of my soph year, I will take a upper level bio course (major requirement for bio) and organic chem I with lab. In junior year its where doubling up happens. I will take physics I and organic chem II (no lab). Actually, I will be tripling up on sciences fall of my junior year because I will also take another upper level biology class. It is definitey hard to double up on sciences, but I think it is doable at this point. There are tons of workshops going on in Barnard that helps students with biology, chemistry and physics. If you don't want to major in biology/chemistry, you don't have to triple up in junior year (depending if you take chemistry or biology freshmen year)
This might seem a little confusing or tedious, but don't worry too much. You should have fun for the rest of your senior year at high school and definitely look forward to your summer. Then orientation, and everything else.
Do not worry because I am sure that everything will work out fine.
Don't hestitate to leave me a comment again if you have any other questions!
Hi Kay,
ReplyDeleteI wanted to ask you about the professors, meaning how tough they are and how hard it is to maintain a 4.0 GPA(or around that). Furthermore, how prepared do you feel for the MCAT. And can you tell me about what percentage of the pre-med undergrad are accepted to medical school, (i mean the real good ones). Also please tel us about some of your research experiences.
Hi Kay.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Andrea and I wanted to thank you so for the helpful advice. I'm planning on majoring in economics and follow a premed track. Usually are there slot of Barnard girls doing premed? Also do you take any of your premed requirements at Columbia?
Thanks for the help,
Andrea
Hi Kay,
ReplyDeleteYour blog was very helpful. I am an accepted student at Barnard for September 2010 and I am so excited. I too am majoring in Biology, pre-med. I was wondering what classes I take during my fall semester? Am I required to take English classes or anything? Also, if I continue and remain strong at Barnard, what are my chances of getting into Columbia medical school? Thanks so much :)