I'd really appreciate some insight
So far, I'm planning on taking:

BIOLOGY 1A03, 1M03
CHEMISTRY 1A03, 1AA3
MATH 1LS3, 1B03
PHYSICS 1L03, 1BO3
PSYCH 1X03, 1XX3

I'm hoping on enrolling in honours biochemistry or molecular biology+genetics second year.

As well, I was looking through the required courses and under admission notes, it says that i'm required to complete some environmental science courses? If someone could clear that up.

**Should I drop PYSCH 1XX3 and replace it with ECON 1B03/1BB3 instead? What's the difference between the two economics courses... which one is easier basically?

***Okay so I was just looking up the requirements of some med schools and some seem to require/recommend a full year course or english or some sort of social science. Would economics fall under social sciences? :S I'm worried now... is it possible for me to stick with my schedule for now and fulfill those needs second year?

Courses look good - I would stay with that. Psych is good, especially 1XX3 and it'll probaly be more relevant/interesting than some random econ course (unless you LIKE econ).

I've never heard about needing Enviro Sci...it doesn't fit at all, unless you want to do the combined degree with Envrio and Bio.

I was accepted into both the programs your looking into at the end of this year taking these courses: Bio 1A03, 1M03, Psych 1X03, 1XX3, Phys 1L03, Math 1LS3, History 1BB3, English 1A03, Chem 1A03, 1AA

Just a question - why are you planning on taking physics 1L03 and 1B03? If you're just looking for a physics requirement, you only need one of the two. However, if you really like physics, I would recommend taking PHYSICS 1B03 and 1BB3. I'm not saying you shouldn't take 1L03 and 1B03, I was just wondering if there's a particular reason.

In reference to your social sciences, I do believe ECON 1B03 and 1BB3 are under the Faculty of Social Science, yes. And yes, you can keep the schedule you have listed now and can take the English/soc sci requirements over the summer or next year. As long as you have them when you apply to med school (if your particular med school requires them), that's fine.

I also have never heard of needing an enviro sci credit for med school. You must have the wrong information there.

Good luck.

Do you have grade 12 physics? If you do, I'd recommend against taking 1L03, and just going straight into 1B03. 1L03 is pretty pointless if you've already taken gr12 physics, and this way you can take another elective (like english or econ that you mentioned). If you haven't, then you have to take 1L03 though.

Also, if you have any interest in math (which I assume you do because you're taking 1B03 also), 1A03 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>1LS3 . I found 1LS3 to be a total rehash of high school math, starting with y=mx+b and barely covering integration. It's a very very easy course, and 1A03 will require more work, but you end up learning so much more from it. I really regret listening to the academic advisors who had me switch math 1A03 to 1LS3. It was a total waste of money and time.

For biochem and molecular bio & genetics, you should NOT need enviro sci. I looked through the course calendar for those two programs, and I couldn't find any reference to enviro sci, so I'm not sure where you were looking?

If you're interested in neuroscience, then psych 1XX3 is a good course. If you hate it, then you might as well drop it and take a different elective

Alright so, I've always been a bit weak in physics, that's why I'm contemplating taking PHYS 1L03 before jumping into 1BO3 second term... and I've heard that's it's beneficial to take 1BO3 as it covers some physics that will be tested on the MCAT apparently? As well, I've heard that MATH 1A03 is tough and you should only take it if you really enjoy math which, I personally do, however, I just don't want to devote much of my time to this one course.
I don't know of what I should do, any more advice?
& I am interest in neuroscience, I'm not sure as of yet if I'd want to go further with that but it's a possibility so I'm thinking of taking PSYCH 1XX3 to keep my options open.

The physics on the MCAT is covered by 1B03 and 1BB3--you won't learn it all by just taking 1B03. If you feel 1L03 will benefit you, then go for it. For me, even though I got a lower mark in 1B03 than I would have liked, I'm still really really glad I didn't take 1L03, both because I don't think it would have helped me THAT much, and because I was able to take another elective that I really enjoyed, much more so than I would have enjoyed physics

1A03 doesn't take that much time. I haven't taken it, but it can't have been THAT much harder than 1LS3, since I was able to go from 1LS3 to 1AA3 with little difficulty--I just had to really stay on top of things for 1AA3. The difference is that you spend so much more time actually learning new things in 1A03, whereas most (if not all) of 1LS3 was review from high school. If you're just looking for a bird course, then 1LS3 is it. I fell asleep during one of the tests, still managed to finish it 15mins early and got a 95 on it. Even though I didn't have to put much effort into it, I still regret taking it. Don't be afraid to take courses that other people say are hard--no one knows you as well as yourself. You're paying good money to learn something, so you might as well actually learn!

^ I realize that so I was planning on taking phys 1BB3 next year. I think I'd like to keep math1LS3... have you taken 1B03?

Nope, but I do want to at some point

There's a pretty good course review on here for it!

I was always a bit weak in physics, too. To be honest, a lot of 1B03 is review from high school. There's a little bit at the end where you get into some new stuff, but as long as you keep on top of it I don't think there should be too much of a problem. My professor was also really good about explaining things (I had Professor Sills) so if you can manage to be in his class (if he's teaching that again this year), you'll enjoy it. He's really funny and has great demos and examples.

I don't know how valid my opinion is for math, because I'm a huge math geek and I was in AP math in high school, but quite honestly all of 1A03 was review for me, and even some of 1AA3. I don't think you should have a problem with 1A03 if you choose that. I had a friend in 1LS3 and she really didn't enjoy it. She didn't find anything that was taught was actually applicable for science and her professor didn't explain it very well. In my experience, 1A03 is often a better choice - it's more similar to the math you would learn in high school. 1LS3 teaches stuff like cobwebbing... It's an entirely different language. If you enjoy math as much as you say, I highly recommend 1A03/1AA3.

I have a question aren't Psych 1X03 and 1XX3 considered social science courses as well? So shouldn't they satisfy the 1 year of social science needed?

Originally Posted by vp15

I have a question aren't Psych 1X03 and 1XX3 considered social science courses as well? So shouldn't they satisfy the 1 year of social science needed?

The department that the course belongs to at McMaster doesn't mean anything if you are applying at a different school. You would have to check with the school you are applying to in order to find out if they consider Psychology a social science or a science (or both).

I personally took physics 1B03, however I had friends who were taking physics 1L03 at the same time, and as I remember, not much from 1L03 relates to 1B03. In one 1L03 you learn about torque, center of mass, and some other stuff that has absolutely nothing to do with 1B03. Also, depending on your high school, about half of 1B03 will be review from high school (mostly kinematics questions).

If you're planning on taking 1AA3 i suggest you take 1A03 instead of 1LS3 because there is some material in 1AA3 not covered in 1LS3. That being said, it is still possible to do very well in the course without taking 1A03. I myself took 1LS3 and then 1AA3. The transition is a little difficult, but had I known ahead of time that I needed 1AA3 I would have taken 1A03.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Originally Posted by Pay919

I personally took physics 1B03, however I had friends who were taking physics 1L03 at the same time, and as I remember, not much from 1L03 relates to 1B03. In one 1L03 you learn about torque, center of mass, and some other stuff that has absolutely nothing to do with 1B03. Also, depending on your high school, about half of 1B03 will be review from high school (mostly kinematics questions).

If you're planning on taking 1AA3 i suggest you take 1A03 instead of 1LS3 because there is some material in 1AA3 not covered in 1LS3. That being said, it is still possible to do very well in the course without taking 1A03. I myself took 1LS3 and then 1AA3. The transition is a little difficult, but had I known ahead of time that I needed 1AA3 I would have taken 1A03.

Hope this helps and good luck!

I believe Physics 1L03 is equivalent to grade 12 physics. I learned all that stuff in Physics 1L03. Physics 1L03, 1B03 and 1BB3 are all unrelated to each other. I believe McMaster made it this way in order to cover everything the MCAT covers for physics.

If you're gonna do math 1ls3 and math 1b03, may as well do math 1a03 and math 1b03 and give yourself more options.