How strenuous is Biology Major

iTransfer
Wed, 20 Apr 2011 23:54:55 +0000

whats the drop out rate for it and I hear its more difficult in UCI than even in UCLA

what makes it more difficult??



Lower division wise (first two years), the course load is more than you will get at UCLA. At UCLA you only have to take 4 bio classes your first two years LS1-4, while at UCI you have to take 6 consecutive quarters of bio your freshman/sophomore year. Also you HAVE to take chem and o-chem during that time. I emphasize the HAVE TO because you do since the co-req for bio 98 (winter quarter of sophmore year) is o-chem 2.

That means if you fail any series of the chemistry or biology during those 2 years, you are derailed from the series. It kinda sux if you fail bio 93. That means you can’t move on to 94 and have to take both 93 and 94 during the summer just to be back on track. This applies the same if you fail bio 97 in your sophomore year.

Another thing that sucks is that UCI forces you take biochemistry during your first 2 years. You have to take it without even completing the o-chem series. You actually it while taking o-chem. You go into with the knowledge of the first quarter of o-chem.
Honestly I think this is a big flaw in the system. In biochem, you will see structures where you haven’t even seen reactions for. Amides, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acid, etc. So you go through biochem just memorizing the reactions without really understanding the chemistry behind it. Then after you are done with the course, you will learn the reactions for those functional groups that you seen in biochem. I just think that this is ridiculous but it is what it is. They should seriously just make biochemistry and upper division class that you take in your junior year after finishing o-chem. They do this at all the other UC’s.

At UCLA if you fail any classes your first 2 years, you are okay since they offer the courses year round and only have to take 4 bio classes.

That is my take on UCI’s biology.

Difficulty-wise. It is not bad. If you put in the work, you will get the grade you deserve. If you choose UCI over UCLA because you think it will be a breeze at UCI than I would think again. You have to put in the work just like anywhere else to do well.