I'll be going into Hons. Biology (Physiology) program next year and it seems that the second year bio and orgo schedule will be pretty hectic. For people in upper years, how did you organize and spread out your course load to even it out with Bio 2A03/2B03/2C03/2D03, orgo and electives? For people also going into second year, what courses do you plan to take and how will you spread them out?
thanks!

Originally Posted by mac-sci

I'll be going into Hons. Biology (Physiology) program next year and it seems that the second year bio and orgo schedule will be pretty hectic. For people in upper years, how did you organize and spread out your course load to even it out with Bio 2A03/2B03/2C03/2D03, orgo and electives? For people also going into second year, what courses do you plan to take and how will you spread them out?
thanks!

I honestly didn't have much of a choice, my schedule only fit one way.

First term I had: Bio 2D03, Bio 2EE3, Biochem 2B03, Econ 1B03 and Chem 2OA3
Second term: Bio 2A03, Bio 2B03, Bio 2C03, Biochem 2EE3, Chem 2OB3.

It's really not as bad as it looks though. You just need to manage your time. I had a lot of extra time, you just have to stay on top of the material.

Jeremy - how challenging were the biochem courses (in terms of content / marks/ workload)?

Originally Posted by kritters91

Jeremy - how challenging were the biochem courses (in terms of content / marks/ workload)?

Biochem 2B03: Pretty challenging to me, it was good to learn all that material because it comes up in pretty much all my courses. I didn't do too much work in this course except for the project which was summarizing and presenting an article.

Biochem 2EE3: useless course, just memorization, super easy.

Take this information at your own discretion and just know that it's not my fault if your interest and difficulty in the course is different from mine.

Originally Posted by mac-sci

I'll be going into Hons. Biology (Physiology) program next year and it seems that the second year bio and orgo schedule will be pretty hectic. For people in upper years, how did you organize and spread out your course load to even it out with Bio 2A03/2B03/2C03/2D03, orgo and electives? For people also going into second year, what courses do you plan to take and how will you spread them out?
thanks!

I ended up taking Chem 2OA3 in the summer, I took 2OB3 in the winter term though. I minored in psychology which explains all of the courses.

First term I took:

Comp Lit 1A03, Bio 2F03 & 2C03, Psych 2C03, and Psych 2F03

Second term I took:

Biochem 2EE3, Bio 2A03, Bio 2B03, Psych 2TT3, Orgo 2OB3

Ecology and Cell Bio are really really easy. 2A03 isn't that bad if you can grasp concepts and extrapolate that knowledge. Orgo is time-consuming and requires lots of practice, but it's possible to do well. Second organic chem is a lot easier than the first because there are only 3 main reactions that you need to memorize.

Imo, 3rd year was more heavy in terms of course work.

how are psych 2c03 and 2f03???
and between psych 2c03 vs. psych 2ap3 which would u suggest?? (2 c03 is taught by ostovich and 2ap3 by day)

Originally Posted by sanju

how are psych 2c03 and 2f03???
and between psych 2c03 vs. psych 2ap3 which would u suggest?? (2 c03 is taught by ostovich and 2ap3 by day)

I've only taken 2C03, but I definitely recommend it.

I adore Ostovich. I think she's one of the best professors at Mac. Dr. Day is also good, but I hate his textbook questions which are based off of random facts from the book.

Dr. O prefers being able to "tell a story" and looking at the forest rather than the trees. Her tests are short answer and MC. They're tough, but it's possible to do well.

Originally Posted by Jay

I ended up taking Chem 2OA3 in the summer, I took 2OB3 in the winter term though. I minored in psychology which explains all of the courses.

First term I took:

Comp Lit 1A03, Bio 2F03 & 2C03, Psych 2C03, and Psych 2F03

Second term I took:

Biochem 2EE3, Bio 2A03, Bio 2B03, Psych 2TT3, Orgo 2OB3

Ecology and Cell Bio are really really easy. 2A03 isn't that bad if you can grasp concepts and extrapolate that knowledge. Orgo is time-consuming and requires lots of practice, but it's possible to do well. Second organic chem is a lot easier than the first because there are only 3 main reactions that you need to memorize.

Imo, 3rd year was more heavy in terms of course work.

Thanks for the reply. Did you take Orgo 2OA3 in the summer after first year? I was thinking of taking both in the summer after second year but I don't know if that would be too late. Do you recommend it?

Originally Posted by mac-sci

Thanks for the reply. Did you take Orgo 2OA3 in the summer after first year? I was thinking of taking both in the summer after second year but I don't know if that would be too late. Do you recommend it?

I took it the summer after first year.

The prof that I was taking it with was a bit of a d-bag, so my mark was abysmal (sup cGPA killer). I actually found it easier to take during the year because you have more time to absorb information.

You'll need 2OA3 to register in cell physiology in 3rd year. You might be able to get a waiver though. One of my friends didn't take orgo during 2nd year and he was ineligible for 3G03. Summer should be fine, but you'll have to deal with a lot of waivers.

I'm in Physio too and this is how my semesters went down:

Term 1 - Cell Bio 2B03 (pretty easy), Ecology 2F03 (really easy and the tutorials were a lot of fun), Chem 2OA3 (I found this really hard), Religious Studies 2HH3 (super easy, but I don't think it's offered this year), and French 1A06 (full year course - really easy).

Term 2 - Bio 2A03 (not too bad if you read the textbook thoroughly), Genetics 2C03 (do lots of practice questions like the ones in the tutorials and you'll be good to go), Physics 1B03 (the exam was killer, but the midterms weren't too bad), and Biochem 2EE3 (messed up the first midterm because I didn't put in the effort, but I learned my lesson and the course went super smooth after that).

I'm taking Orgo 2OB3 this summer, so hopefully that's not too brutal.

Since I don't have that prerequisite yet, I was able to get a waiver for Biochem 3G03. Email Kathy McIntosh a few weeks before course registration and she'll do it for you. She's awesome!

Thank-you guys so much - this info was really helpful!!
I was planning to enter Biology (Physiology Specialization), is this list for second year okay?
First Semester
Bio 2F03
Bio 2B03
Chem 2OA3
Kin 2C03
Stats 2B03

Second Semester
Bio 2A03
Bio 2C03
Chem 2OB3
Kin 2CC3
Anthro 2U03

Thanks!

Looks good to me, Sana!

Thanks so much!
Did any of you guys take Bio 3MM3?
Do you know if this course is offered every other year/ every year.
Thanks!

Sana - did you take Kin 1Y03 / 1YY3 in first year?
They say it's recommended for Kin 2C03 and 2CC3 and i'm not sure if i should or not...

I'm going with Bio 2A0, 2C0, 2B0, Chem 2OA, 2OB, Psych 2F0, Psych 2TT, Stats 2B0 and two history courses (I hope). I'll probably see you guys!

BTW, why are all the classes soooo late? I hate it.

I'd like to know about 3MM3 too, I'm thinking about taking it. You guys have any courses you'd recommend (from the Physio list)? It's hard to decide.