<p>I’m hoping to follow a premed track and during orientation I was advised to take Cell101 during my first semester. However, when I looked at the freshman planning guide it suggested taking EBio101 first semester and then Cell101. My biggest worry is that the lab for Cell101 will have to be taken in my first semester of sophomore year, which is a long while. Is it a really bad idea to take Cell101 first semester?</p>
<p>What major are you thinking about?</p>
<p>Undecided as of now, but I’m leaning towards economics. I also wanted to pursue the Creative Medical Scholars thing, so I wanted to get my prereqs out of the way in my freshman/sophomore years.</p>
<p>Good question. My S is also signed up for Cell101. He was planning to take Physics but then got AP credit after registration so decided to take biology instead. EBio was filled up and there only is one sections of it. I have seen a few other freshmen with Cell101 on facebook but most seem to have EBio.</p>
<p>I would take CELL first semester just to get it over with. Its a lot harder and less interesting IMO than EBIO.</p>
<p>DD advised to take Cell bio. She is a neuroscience major with medical school hopes. If you spend any time on the Pre-med topics forum you will see that students who have taken the MCAT already recommend that you skip any bio related to enviroment and stick with cell instead. More helpful for MCAT. Just an opinion.</p>
<p>Probably best not to take Cell101 at the same time as organic chemistry then.</p>
<p>Take EBIO first semester. It is EXPONENTIALLY EASIER THAN CELL 101. First semester of college is an adjustment. Pace yourself into it. Cell is completely do-able, but you have to learn proper study habits first.</p>
<p>I’m in cell 101 and it really doesn’t seem that bad. No, we haven’t had a test yet, but Dr. V knows her stuff and is really friendly and helpful during office hours. Just keep in mind that if you sign up to take cell 101, be prepared to READ THE BOOK and attend class.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that ebio is kind of a joke and a waste of time if it isn’t an area of biology that you find interesting. I’m a neuro major and I can tell you right now that I will be avoiding taking ebio if i can help it!</p>
<p>Most students who are trying to pursue creative scholars take cell 101 there first semester freshmen year. Students thinking premed should be taking general chemistry in their first semester as well, because that class lasts a full year. You want to try and knock out cell, genchem, and ebio all before sophomore year because of the difficulty in organic chemistry. Most premed students then take the cell lab section and physics in alternate semesters during their sophomore year.</p>
<p>Ebio is a fairly easy class - very much based on memorization and recall to score well in the class. Lots of nonscience majors take this class to fulfill the undergraduate requirement for a science course with a lab section.</p>
<p>tulane14 - If you are premed: most, if not all, schools require 2 semesters of gen biology so you would have to take ebio eventually. Yes it is entirely memorization but you do learn a lot of taxonomy and the field of ecology in general, so it is not a “waste of time.” There are a lot of nonscience majors in that class, but that doesn’t mean that a science major is above it by any means. If it is easy for you, it will just pad your GPA!</p>
<p>Also, ebio is an elective for neuroscience so it really is not useless. </p>
<p>Dr. V does know her stuff, and she expects the same out of you. You’ll be fine with keeping up with the textbook, as her tests are both from the notes and text. She asks very specific questions and most people would agree you can’t rely on an AP background alone. You have to study.</p>
<p>I am sure ebio would pad my GPA, but since I’m doing research in a neuro lab, my prof wants me starting brain & behavior as soon as possible, which doesn’t leave room for ebio until later on.</p>
<p>For all those wondering, cell 101 is turning out to be really easy. I, as well as my friend, both made A+s on the first test. Yes, we did study quite a bit, but the test was actually much easier than what we had in AP Bio. The secret to why we both did so well, I think, is that we have really good study habits and didn’t procrastinate on this one. I would strongly suggest taking cell before ebio, since it seems like they are both pretty easy and that way you can get the cell lab in the second semester.</p>
<p>Tulane14, surely all the different neuro classes you will take would count for med. school bio requirement? My DD doesnt want to take ebio either.</p>
<p>I hope so…I really want to take brain and behavior or genetics next semester.</p>