<p>
</p>
<p>In terms of GPA and (hard) materials that may be not much useful for bio/premed students, the first two terms are P/F and not graded and thus they should not be as stressful as you may worry. The classes that may be challenging but not really a required learning for bio majors are, IMO, Ph/Ma 1c (E&M, Vector calculus) and Ph/Ma 2a (Quantum Mech, ODE), because I think Statistics and Application (Ma2b) and Thermodynamics/Stat Phys (Ph2b) are very important for bio/premed majors. </p>
<p>So, it just boils down to the two terms (1c and 2a) that are challenging for bio majors. If Cal requires two terms of Phys and Math that are graded competitively, then really the difference in course requirements between the two schools may not be that big for premeds. Being premed at other schools where the classes are graded from the first term/semester (like Cornell where you can easily do badly in the first semester or year unless you are careful), caltech and MIT are really at an advantage because they give you time to ease into college life. If caltech is different, it may be the student body that are truly into their learning (as opposed to Cal’s many students who are not that into academics) and the ample research opportunity with generous funding. Kids do go to Harvard med and other prestigious medschools from caltech premed course. I think if you will make to a top med school from Cal, you will have to stay focused and work really hard on academics and ECs and research; and with such a focus and effort, you can as easily be successful at caltech as premed making as good or better medschool. Just my opinion.</p>