Hi, I was wondering what most health students take as electives first year? I wanted to take Physics 1B03 AND 1BB3, but then i realized i also need to take MATH 1A03 or MATH 1LS3. The problem is i only get one elective first sem, so that would have to be the calc course. So for second semester i can only take 1B03. Do most health sci kids take physics in the summer then if they want to take the full year physics? and how long would one term in the summer be (how many weeks)? Also, which out of MATH 1A03 and MATH 1LS3 is easier? Sorry i realize this is a lot of questions but any help would be really appreciated, thanks!

You don't have to take all those courses in first year. My housemate in health sci going into third year, for example, is only now going to be taking Math 1A03 and Physics 1BB3 this coming school year.

your going to get flamed. bad idea talking about health sci here.


but yeh physics 1L03 (BIRD), math 1LS3 (BIRD), are what most health sci kids take. Some take 1B03 in summer, some don't. You can just take it in your second year if anything. If you get a 10 in math 1LS3 it neglects 1A03.

Originally Posted by Cassanova

your going to get flamed. bad idea talking about health sci here.


but yeh physics 1L03 (BIRD), math 1LS3 (BIRD), are what most health sci kids take. Some take 1B03 in summer, some don't. You can just take it in your second year if anything. If you get a 10 in math 1LS3 it neglects 1A03.

That's hysterical...since you're the one doing all the flaming. It's almost pathetic how much you find the need to mention your personal hatred against health sci's at every possible moment. Health Sci is a program at McMaster University and people should be able to discuss it here as much as any other program at mac.

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To the OP, honestly, go with your personal interests. A lot of health scis take languages if they are interested, maths (1a03 or 1ls3), physics(1ls3 or 1b03), anthro, gerontology, social work, psych, econ.. honestly the list goes on and on because everyone has different interests.

If you want to take math and physics, you'll probably have to take the math the first semester, physics the second semester. If you want, you can take another semester of physics during second or third year(because there's a lot of room for electives), but I know of a few people who have taken it during the summer after first year. I think the summer classes are about 6 weeks. Some people find it easier to take it in the summer because that class is the only thing they have to focus on.

If you want to take math 1aa3, then I'd say to take 1a03 because it prepares you a lot more for 1aa3. If you just need to fulfill the physics 1b03 requirement, then I think you'll be okay with math 1ls3.

Good luck with course selection!

If you want to take math 1aa3, then I'd say to take 1a03 because it prepares you a lot more for 1aa3. If you just need to fulfill the physics 1b03 requirement, then I think you'll be okay with math 1ls3.

A lot of people I knew who took math 1LS3 struggled with the math-y part of physics 1B03--especially because the uncertainties part is multivariable calc that you don't even learn until the very end of 1AA3 :|
In general, I just think 1A03 is much better (which I've posted a LOT about on here, so I'm not gonna re-hash it anymore ).

However, if you really really really want to take 1LS3 instead, and then 1AA3, it is definitely possible to do that and still get a 12 in 1AA3, but it will make 1AA3 much more difficult than it needs to be, and will require a LOT more work and some self-teaching.

yea if you're really interested in physics and calc, take them. i took math1a03 as I was thinking of taking math1aa3 and wanted to prepare myself better for it, but i never ended up taking math 1aa3 because i found myself so bored in calc. i heard 1ls3 was definitely easy though. in terms of physics, many people take it during the year, but also in the summer (a summer term is from may to june). ive never met any healthsci who took 1b03 in first sem though b/c i think almost all the spots were full before we even got to pick last year. in first year, i would really suggest taking some interesting humanities, socsci, language courses , you'll appreciate a nice break from all the science.

Don't take what others in your program do, simply because you feel pressured to. Electives are your opportunity to elect to branch away from the cores and do your "own thing", if you will. This is the opportunity where you can pursue courses required for higher education interests or for your own personal passions. One of my Health Sci friends took Russian and Classics in her first year and didn't take another math or another Physics. Some people might take music or literature - it's up to you.

Thanks for all the advice everyone The only reason why I am choosing to take a math is because it's a prerequisite for physics. Would MATH 1LS3 be sufficient for Physics 1B03? Oh and this is kinda unrelated but when you register for courses on solar do you get to pick the core you want to be in or does it automatically assign it to you?

As I said above, many people struggled with the math-y part of physics after only taking 1LS3...it is doable, though, especially if you're strong in math.

No, you just pick the term you want the course in. You'll get assigned a timetable in august, and shortly after SOLAR will reopen so you can attempt to change your sections to the ones you want.

Originally Posted by Cassanova

your going to get flamed. bad idea talking about health sci here.


but yeh physics 1L03 (BIRD), math 1LS3 (BIRD), are what most health sci kids take. Some take 1B03 in summer, some don't. You can just take it in your second year if anything. If you get a 10 in math 1LS3 it neglects 1A03.

Obvious troll is trolling again.
Lame.

Just take 1A03.

It was an easy 12.

^ Dunno about that. It wasn't too easy in 09-10..

Originally Posted by nerual

A lot of people I knew who took math 1LS3 struggled with the math-y part of physics 1B03--especially because the uncertainties part is multivariable calc that you don't even learn until the very end of 1AA3 :|

Haha, the partial derivatives bit - they didn't even tell us that calculating uncertainties for certain (most) equations required partial differentiation...

Originally Posted by Mahratta

Haha, the partial derivatives bit - they didn't even tell us that calculating uncertainties for certain (most) equations required partial differentiation...

Yeah, we were supposed to learn/figure out uncertainties on our own from the lab manual, but then everyone failed it on the first test so the day before the second test our prof attempted to teach it to us, but no one had any clue what he was doing--just that it was some sort of derivative. He assumed that we had learned enough calc to be able to follow, which we definitely hadn't. My friend took math 1AA3 though, and it's the last thing you learn in that course, so the day before the physics exam she taught a bunch of us how to do it

Originally Posted by Mahratta

^ Dunno about that. It wasn't too easy in 09-10..



Haha, the partial derivatives bit - they didn't even tell us that calculating uncertainties for certain (most) equations required partial differentiation...

Probably because of the new curriculum in high schools. If you're good at math and have a solid foundation, most of the material was review or easy enough to figure out.

Then again, I thought 1AA3 was a joke as well.

Originally Posted by goodnews.inc

Obvious troll is trolling again.
Lame.

hehe thanks