Ok, so I am a chemistry major now and am thinking of changing to a BCH major. I am in BCH 451 right now with Sylvia. What are you opinions of the rest of the BCH classes and do you think I would be prepared for them having taken Sylvia instead of Knopp?

10/24/2006 1:51:52 PM

as long as you have a basic understanding of the concepts then you should be fine. You will forget most of the stuff you learn in that class anyway, you just have to remember basics.

Material is way different in the next two classes...especially the way you're tested. Its much more about understanding than pure memorization.

[Edited on October 24, 2006 at 2:54 PM. Reason : ]

10/24/2006 2:54:16 PM

What about the difficulty of them? I'm interested in the stuff, but I just want to go to Optometry School, not be a biochemist, so I don't how much people like this stuff that aren't purusing biochemistry...

10/24/2006 5:10:49 PM

i don't understand why people choose hard majors to go into medical school

the majority of people that get into medical school complete way easier undergrad majors

10/24/2006 5:50:40 PM

^yea, like biology.

10/24/2006 5:58:31 PM

I don't think 452, 453 or 455 are hard. They are different from 451 though. I think 451 is very much memorization while the others are more learning and understanding concepts.

I am going to optometry school next fall so I think having a different degree (other than biology) was beneficial to make you stand out, but wasn't necessarily needed.

10/24/2006 6:58:46 PM

Quote :

"What about the difficulty of them? I'm interested in the stuff, but I just want to go to Optometry School, not be a biochemist, so I don't how much people like this stuff that aren't purusing biochemistry..."

you dont need to be a biochem major to get into optometry school. Just take all of the pre-requisites and be done with it. Unless you're unsatisfied with your chemistry major, I wouldn't switch. You can major in business and get into medical school if your grades are good and you take the pre-reqs.

and if you're not interested in the material then dont bother. 452 and 454 are long labs and 453 and 455 require a good understanding of the material for a good grade.

[Edited on October 24, 2006 at 7:08 PM. Reason : ]

10/24/2006 7:06:00 PM

I know I dont NEED to be a Biochem major but being a Chem major just isn't for me anymore. I'm not interested in all of the upper level material. Biochemistry fits the prereqs better than what I'm taking now and I think the material in 451 is much more interesting and applicable than the rest of the classes I am going to have to take for a Chem major.

10/24/2006 7:13:28 PM

just take the prereqs and apply

10/24/2006 7:15:18 PM

having a degree is almost required (they says its not, but then 98% of people who are accepted have degrees). Anyway, that is besides the point, I'm getting a degree because I didn't apply this year, so I wouldn't start until 2 falls from now, so I might as well get a degree instead of sit around for a year.

10/24/2006 7:17:47 PM

that doesnt make any sense


you need a degree in SOMETHING, plus the pre-requisites. Depending on how close you are to graduating in your current major, it might not be worth it to switch. I mean you're probably going to have to take all 5 biochem courses, plus two biology electives, plus GN411, MB351, and a few other courses. Its not going to be easy to switch and will probably make it harder to graduate when you're trying to. Loading up on all of these science electives at the same time is a bad idea. I'd just stick it out in your major and make sure you have the pre-requisites. If you're not interested in upper level biochemistry, then it will be no different from taking upper level chemistry classes, except less math.

10/24/2006 8:32:33 PM

^ I know, I plan on getting a degree. Either way, I am still going to graduate on time (3 more semesters). The only difference is taking a few bch classes and a couple of bio electives or taking a bunch of chemistry classes. Most of the stuff I have taken this far applies to both majors. I am already taking 451 and 452, so I would only have 453 and 455 left to take for biochem. (Instead of the 454 lab, I am going to do an external learning experience).

10/24/2006 9:12:34 PM

aight


well the question will be would you want to

1). Not be interested in what you're doing and major in chemistry or

2). not be interested in what you're doing and major in biochemistry

Just a little food for thought....if you want to go to a professional school where science is your life, you probably want to enjoy what you're studying a little. I'm in the process of applying to medical school, I just had an interview.... its a serious committment. Good luck with your decision.

10/24/2006 10:05:04 PM

Quote :

"I think the material in 451 is much more interesting and applicable than the rest of the classes I am going to have to take for a Chem major. "

10/24/2006 11:22:43 PM

I was going on something you said earlier, but good luck anyway. Biochem might be better if thats the case.

10/25/2006 12:00:44 AM

If you do like biochem a little more than chemistry (and you won't have to stay longer in school than need be), I think you should make the change. Biochemistry allows you to get that degree while completing the pre-reqs as part of your degree. (To me, it seems like you would have to use a lot of free electives to meet the pre-reqs with a Chemistry degree.) I'm not sure what optometry school you are applying to (some have a little bit different pre-reqs) but biochem covers most of the pre-reqs within the curriculum.

10/25/2006 9:55:35 AM

I was a biochem major and not currently work in a lab.

I think there are two things to consider:

1) Does biochem fit your pre-reqs much better? If so then maybe the leap is good. But if BIO fits it then I would just go with that....the reason being:

2) With the BCH major you have to take alot of labs. This lab work does supplement the coursework but I think it can be a burden to someone that doesn't plan to work in a lab after finishing school b/c it require much more work than any normal major w/o labs (BIO labs are much easier and less time consuming). Also I don't remember being able to substitute BCH454 with BCH492 (external learning experience)- I actually did both- but I may be wrong about that since I also did a Biotechnology minor.

Though I think BCH will look better on your opt school application- I think if you find the material at all difficult then your GPA will suffer from that of just being a regular BIO major. BCH451 with Knopp is harder and I'm also not sure if he will be keen on you switching after having Silvia b/c majors are required to take the Knopp. When I was a major we only had to take BCH453 (we did not have to take 455 at that point)- but the class is substatially different from that of 451 and people are right when they say you have to apply stuff. There is only one professor per semester and there use to be no easy professors- but I heard there is an easy one now (she taught last semester and one of my friends had her). I did well in the class but it was a MWF class so I never finished a test and felt somewhat cheated that I should have done a bit better but just couldnt finish the test in the time given b/c once again you have to apply your knowledge and figure out problems on a test.

that is my 2 cents

10/25/2006 10:28:37 AM

i think pchem is harder than the upper level biochem courses, if that's what you're trying to avoid

but i only had to take 453 when i was at ncsu

10/25/2006 1:15:48 PM

the fact that bch major, u cant have any D'sin majority of your classes..while in biology, u can get d's in major classes is already evidence that bch is harder

[Edited on October 25, 2006 at 3:54 PM. Reason : ;]

10/25/2006 3:54:27 PM