York BioMed? What do you think?

[kidjake28]

I'm about to apply to uni's and wanted to know about the York BioMed program.

 

Is anyone taking it/taken it? If so how difficult is it and would you recommend it to ultimately get into med school?

 

 

Any info appreciated.

[lolelol]

I'm about to apply to uni's and wanted to know about the York BioMed program.

 

Is anyone taking it/taken it? If so how difficult is it and would you recommend it to ultimately get into med school?

 

 

Any info appreciated.

 

1. Do bio, not biomed. Biomed's name sounds cooler, but in bio you have much more freedom with your courses.

2. "easiness" can't be gauged by anyone but yourself.

I think it's really easy and makes high school look like a joke but I'm the only one that seems to think that. I think if your high school average was >90 you should be fine

[lolelol]

if your highschool average was above 90 w/ all math and science you should be fine for everything, anywhere.

 

Not necessarily

My friend had a 94 average, governer general's award, went to mcgill, is barely pulling of B+'s whilst working her ass off.

[kidjake28]

1. Do bio, not biomed. Biomed's name sounds cooler, but in bio you have much more freedom with your courses.

2. "easiness" can't be gauged by anyone but yourself.

I think it's really easy and makes high school look like a joke but I'm the only one that seems to think that. I think if your high school average was >90 you should be fine

 

 

Thanks for the reply. I do have a >90 average.

 

The issue is that I really like Biomed and not Bio (hate ecosystems).

 

As with everyone here, my ultimate goal is to get into med school and I have some dr's telling me to take pschyc (which is what they did) so that I can get a high average. I don't like pschyc either but I have to look at the big picture??? Really not sure what to do.

[lolelol]

Thanks for the reply. I do have a >90 average.

 

The issue is that I really like Biomed and not Bio (hate ecosystems).

 

As with everyone here, my ultimate goal is to get into med school and I have some dr's telling me to take pschyc (which is what they did) so that I can get a high average. I don't like pschyc either but I have to look at the big picture??? Really not sure what to do.

 

lol I thought that too when I applied. Turns out there's nothing "medical" about biomedical science

with bio you don't have to take anything with ecosystems, the only course involving ecology and all that crap (that I hate too) is Biol 1001, but both biomed and bio majors have to take that. After that, in both bio and biomed you don't have to do any more ecology. With biomed though you're forced to take certain classes in the upper years, while with bio you're pretty much free after 2nd year.

Also, psych is definitely not an easy course. The tests aren't that bad, but the volume of material you need to know makes it intolerable. The fact that you don't like psych is icing on the cake. You're going to hate it, find another course to take.

[Let'sGo1990]

Thanks for the reply. I do have a >90 average.

 

The issue is that I really like Biomed and not Bio (hate ecosystems).

 

As with everyone here, my ultimate goal is to get into med school and I have some dr's telling me to take pschyc (which is what they did) so that I can get a high average. I don't like pschyc either but I have to look at the big picture??? Really not sure what to do.

 

If you can take the more physiology oriented psych courses or neuroscience courses I would honestly just do that. If UWO had a neuroscience program I'd be enrolled in it in a heartbeat.

 

If you do that you'll end up with a good working knowledge of sensory systems (auditory, visual, vestibular, etc. depending on which courses you take) and a good understanding of the brain and it's functions.

[kidjake28]

Not necessarily

My friend had a 94 average, governer general's award, went to mcgill, is barely pulling of B+'s whilst working her ass off.

 

But that's my point. Should I be looking for the easy route w/highest marks (if not pschyc; some other walk in the park major) or something I might enjoy w/uncertain mark outcome?

[kidjake28]

taking a look at the BSc stream of psychology at york - it actually doesn't look too shabby.

 

they say lots of research opportunities, and the ability to focus on a few specialized streams such as neuroscience!

 

i wonder how many seats they have for the psych BSc each year, if its any harder to get into than biology...

 

http://futurestudents.yorku.ca/program/psychology

 

Is there anyway of finding out more about the neuroscience aspect?

[kidjake28]

Bottom line is this. I don't like Pschyc. I do like Bio and BioMed (excluding ecology).

 

I don't want to cripple my chances of getting into med school by majoring in a subject I enjoy but can't get the marks. Yes I'm getting >90 now but reading about 3rd year chem scares the crap out of me!

 

Are there any 3rd year Bio/BioMed's out there? Appreciate a ring back!

 

Here's another question. Will Bio or BioMed prepare me for MCATS?

[lolelol]

But that's my point. Should I be looking for the easy route w/highest marks (if not pschyc; some other walk in the park major) or something I might enjoy w/uncertain mark outcome?

 

I don't think psych is a walk in the park major.

It's not so black and white.... each major has it's pros and cons. It really comes down to what you're interested in.. it sounds cliche, but you will do better in subjects you enjoy. Here's why (for me at least): nothing's hard, you will understand everything in both psych and biology, the only determinant of your mark is going to be how much crap you can remember.... so your mark's going to be directly proportional to to the amount of time you spend studying.

you can either spend your 4 years loathing what you study and having to read things over 12 times because it's so boring you can't concentrate on it, or the opposite of that, which I will not type out because my coffee wore of hours ago.

Ask captaincrunchman if u wanna know more, he did psych at york

[lolelol]

Bottom line is this. I don't like Pschyc. I do like Bio and BioMed (excluding ecology).

 

I don't want to cripple my chances of getting into med school by majoring in a subject I enjoy but can't get the marks. Yes I'm getting >90 now but reading about 3rd year chem scares the crap out of me!

 

Are there any 3rd year Bio/BioMed's out there? Appreciate a ring back!

 

Here's another question. Will Bio or BioMed prepare me for MCATS?

 

LOL what 3rd year chem dude stop freaking out

The only chem you'll be taking in bio is chem 1000/1001 and organic chemistry (Which i hear is horribly difficult)

 

http://ugbio.apps01.yorku.ca/index.php/BIOLOGY/specialized-honours-in-biology-biomedical-science-stream-bsc.html

http://ugbio.apps01.yorku.ca/index.php/BIOLOGY/specialized-honours-in-biology-biology-stream-bsc.html

[kidjake28]

dont forget york doesnt have a 3.9 or 3.7 - so it might end up hurting you

 

Sorry Ryan but what do you mean by this?

[lolelol]

the bachelor of ARTS program has less writing?

 

the arts has less writing than the science?

 

 

as for what the guy said about going for the easier program to get high grades - dont forget york doesnt have a 3.9 or 3.7 - so it might end up hurting you

 

 

or it can end up saving your ass...

If you get a mark thats 80-85 you'll end up with a 3.8 rather than a 3.7

[Morzan]

I'm 2nd year biomed. not bad. i like.

Do not, and I mean do not, take 1013/1014 math. Take 1505. Med/dent/dogs accept 1505. Dont do 1013/1014 unless you're going to take upper year chem courses or ur gonna go for pharm.

[kidjake28]

I'm 2nd year biomed. not bad. i like.

Do not, and I mean do not, take 1013/1014 math. Take 1505. Med/dent/dogs accept 1505. Dont do 1013/1014 unless you're going to take upper year chem courses or ur gonna go for pharm.

 

Hey Morzan! Thanks for the reply and thanks very much for the tip.

 

I'll definitely stay away from Calc.

 

Is there any other words of wisdom you can give me. Hows the workload, difficulty level (for you), profs?

[lolelol]

is that the higher calculus stuff?

 

i definitely wont

 

i plan on taking ONE semester of calc, then do statistics or something (is that what 1505 is?)

 

i just dont want calc to be missing from my application

 

then yeah as the other guy said, you're only looking at one year chem one year orgo

 

Math 1505: calculus for life and social sciences

it's a whole year course

[kidjake28]

It's true. But anyways it just means using a different strategy. If you want a 3.9, then you need to work hard to get 90 in half your classes, and you can slack in the other half and get 81, 82. Only time it's really annoying is when you finish with and 88-89....I try not to do that.

 

I can see myself doing that 88-89!!

[kidjake28]

Math 1505: calculus for life and social sciences

it's a whole year course

 

Is that good or bad?

[lolelol]

Is that good or bad?

 

lol neither I was just answering his question.

The course is really easy so far, you cover grade 12 adv functions + calculus in the first half

the second half is new stuff

[kidjake28]

med schools look at the percentages you got in each class (or letter grade) and translate it to a GPA score, which is then averaged out

 

for MOST universities, an A+ will give you a 4.0, an A (85-89%) will give you a 3.9, and an A- (80-84%) will give you a 3.7

 

at york, they get rid of the 3.7 and 3.9, and just give you a 3.8 if you get any percentage in the 80's

 

so if you are someone who sees themselves getting mostly 80-84% it will help you, 85-90% it will be worse than at a traditional scoring university

 

By the way I had NO IDEA about this. Thanks for the info.

[lolelol]

right here brother

 

http://www.ouac.on.ca/docs/omsas/c_omsas_b.pdf

 

yeah i saw some class statistics for the former calculus courses that were mentioned (not the 1505) and yeah freaking everybody was bombing

 

so all i'll have to take is the 1505 and then i can say goodbye to calc forever?

 

yippekayay!

 

i wonder what makes orgo chem supposedly so hard...

 

Yessir

As for organic chem, I don't know. People said the same about chem 1000, scared the crap outta me, but when I got there I did just fine...

If I take it in the summer I'm gonna have to take a night class since I'm working 40 hrs/week, and that sounds aweful

Anyone have any input on this?

[lolelol]

taking things during the summer i hear is risky business with med schools

 

they want full course loads

 

unless im ignorant to something here

 

I never said I'm not gonna have a full courseload the year after lol

I'll take some kin/psych classes or physics (my favourite- no sarcasm) to fill in the 6 credit gap lol

[IamIDP]

I go to York for biomed (2nd year) and tbh it sucks even though I got decent grades which are starting to slip.... If you ask anyone, 1st year isn't that bad and you can get a good GPA...BUT 2nd year gets incredibily difficult especially after this year since they redesigned all the 2nd year bio courses. 3rd year courses are even harder...

 

So unlike other schools where the difficulty is level between all the year is almost even (still difficult of course), at york it gets exponentially harder.

Another downside to going to york is the commuting (believe me 2-4 hours of commuting a day drains the life out of you, especially with bus strikes....it can be as much as 3-6 hours of commuting/ day). And of course, york doesn't have that many courses offered upper year compared to other schools and so your restricted to taking only a few courses.

 

Biggest advise: Don't listen to false stereotypes that some schools are easier than others. Look at each individual program and and decide to go to a school based on the program and not the school's reputation...

 

Edit: If you come to york, expect to write a few essays by the time you graduate.

[lolelol]

i assume theres a ****-ton of calc in physics? i never took it in high school

 

which brings me to another question --

 

i'm gonna take the bare minimum physics too (whatever the 1505 equivalent of physics is)

 

do you need highschool physics to do this? i see its part of their common year 1 curriculum

The physics you're talking about (that's in the biology/biomed curriculum) isn't the bare minimum. I'm not sure if you need high school physics for that

There's a bare bare minimum physics that's basically grade 12 physics for people that haven't taken it before.

Also, in terms of physics you get a choice between physics and psych, so there's a way to avoid it.

[lolelol]

I go to York for biomed (2nd year) and tbh it sucks even though I got decent grades which are starting to slip.... If you ask anyone, 1st year isn't that bad and you can get a good GPA...BUT 2nd year gets incredibily difficult especially after this year since they redesigned all the 2nd year bio courses. 3rd year courses are even harder...

 

So unlike other schools where the difficulty is level between all the year is almost even (still difficult of course), at york it gets exponentially harder.

Another downside to going to york is the commuting (believe me 2-4 hours of commuting a day drains the life out of you, especially with bus strikes....it can be as much as 3-6 hours of commuting/ day). And of course, york doesn't have that many courses offered upper year compared to other schools and so your restricted to taking only a few courses.

 

Biggest advise: Don't listen to false stereotypes that some schools are easier than others. Look at each individual program and and decide to go to a school based on the program and not the school's reputation...

 

Edit: If you come to york, expect to write a few essays by the time you graduate.

 

any thoughts on organic chemistry?

Also, are there night calsses in the summer like there are during the sept-april terms?