Hi,
so I am actually currently a York student, but need to decide very (very) soon about whether I want to transfer to Mac next year. I wanted to do the BioPsych program (in the faculty of Science) but the program was full, and so I got into Life Sci instead. If I went to Mac, they told me I'd have an opportunity to transfer into biopsych 3rd year (as long as I take the right courses).
My dilemma is really whether to transfer or not...I looove mac and unfortunately couldn't go there 1st year for some family reasons, but now that I'm able to I'm a little hesitant considering that I'm already used to York.
My main "academic" reason to go to Mac is to get the double major (bio and psych) and I can't do this at York...my (parents') main argument for staying at York is that I'll hopefully be able to get higher marks there (in theory I guess?)...oh yeah and I just finished 1st year in York's Biomed Program...

Any advice (really...any) is very welcome ...thought I know you guys all love mac...

i would definitely consider a transfer to mcmasters Biology. psychology. Both departments are well developed and have amazing professors. Especially the psychology department, the teaching methods and content are fairly intuitive

Originally Posted by AlinaBee

Hi,
so I am actually currently a York student, but need to decide very (very) soon about whether I want to transfer to Mac next year. I wanted to do the BioPsych program (in the faculty of Science) but the program was full, and so I got into Life Sci instead. If I went to Mac, they told me I'd have an opportunity to transfer into biopsych 3rd year (as long as I take the right courses).
My dilemma is really whether to transfer or not...I looove mac and unfortunately couldn't go there 1st year for some family reasons, but now that I'm able to I'm a little hesitant considering that I'm already used to York.
My main "academic" reason to go to Mac is to get the double major (bio and psych) and I can't do this at York...my (parents') main argument for staying at York is that I'll hopefully be able to get higher marks there (in theory I guess?)...oh yeah and I just finished 1st year in York's Biomed Program...

Any advice (really...any) is very welcome ...thought I know you guys all love mac...

Hmm, your program is one I was considering XD.. But you know.. maybe it would help to look at the courses you need to take for the BioPsych program.. and see which interests you more: BioMed or BioPsych

If you look here at the Level II-IV, and click on the course codes, you'll see a short description of each

Hope that helps!

I'm currently in the BioPsych program, although since I haven't done any of the second year courses I can't be that much help :o

But I've heard nothing but good things about the Psych and Bio professors and courses.

However, you will have to get good grades to be able to switch in. If you can find out what courses they would want you to take, we can tell you how good/bad/hard they are.

hey,
thanks for all the replies.
Yeah so if I did life sci as far as I've been explained to I should ignore all the life sci courses and just take as many bio/psych courses as I get into, that way I can actually transfer into 3rd year...so I'd pretty much be taking all the biopsych requirement....how hard are those courses? (cell bio, neural processes....stuff life that)
as for liking biomed vs biopsych as a program, I actually switched into regular biology and psych minor at york because biomed is a specialist degree with too many required courses (I basically couldnt pick anything...), but i think biopsych would fit my interests better...

You're going to need to take a few other courses as well. You'll need Chem 2OA3 and 2OB3 (Organic chem) by the end of your four years, and they may want you to take it in second year. However I've heard that course is pretty brutal, so it might be better to leave that until after you switch in, if possible

Depending on what Physics course you did at York, you may need to take Physics 1B03 as well.

Psych 2RA3 and 2RB3 (experimental design and statistics) is also something you should look into. Its technically only open to Psych students, but you might be able to get an exception made for you. They're the same as Orgo in that they may want you to take them in the second year, but it might be OK to take them once you switch. But I haven't heard about them being difficult or anything, so they might be good to bump your average with.

However, you will need to find out what courses are required before hand.

Hi,
yeah I have a pretty good understanding of the courses I have to take including physics ib03)...I was wondering what the difficulty level of the bio and psych courses is in general (i know organic chem is pretty difficult) but besides that...how fair are the profs and stuff?

thanks again!!

Well, that depends a lot on which ones you're taking.

I'm doing Psych 2TT3, 2F03, and 2E03 this year, and I've heard good things about the teachers who are teaching as well as about the material. I haven't really looked into any of the other ones too much, but they all seemed to cover less interesting material.

As for Bio, it varies a bit more. 2A03 (Animal Physiology) is taught by Wilson and Nurse. A lot of people dislike Wilson, but I personally like her. She can sometimes be a bit rude in class (but I've found that's usually with people who are asking stupid questions). If you prepare you should have no problems. I don't know anything about Nurse. The course itself is possibly the most difficult Bio, and has tough labs apparently.

2B03 (Cell Bio) is taught by either Dej or another prof whose name I cannot recall. I've heard good things about both of them, and supposedly the course isn't too difficult.

2C03 (Genetics) is taught by Dej and Dudley. From what I've heard its well worth trying to get into Dej's class, as Dudley isn't that strong of a lecturer and is a bit eccentric. But if you're going to be taking Psych 2RB3 you won't have a choice as it conflicts with Dej's class. The material looks interesting and sounds somewhat easy though, so whatevs.

I haven't looked at any of the other Bio courses in great depth. Hope that helps!

Since BioPsych is a double major there are more required courses than some other programs so you might have less space for electives.

You can look at the course reviews for a lot of the bio and psych courses here:

http://www.macinsiders.com/forumdisplay.php?f=98

Hi!
I was wondering whether everyone in life science/bio psych already picked their courses (and whether all the bio and psych course times are already full...)
I can't really see that information (since I'm not officially registered yet).

Thanks!!

yeh... our courses are already picked... and almost all the core courses are full!!! i'm short like 3 courses!!
you'll need to contact the faculty to get in.

thanks for the info
Is it generally hard to get into a course if its full? (ie: does the faculty like to give permission....specifi cally to life sci majors)

It depends. Usually the courses aren't actually full, seats are kept open for students who need them. But some courses can get filled to the point where no other students can take them.

If you know what courses you want to take I can check for you to see which ones are full.

hi, thanks so much. the ones id be interested in are bio2b03 physics 1bo3, bio2co3 (genetics), and a bunch of psych courses, namely: psych 2e03, 2f03, 2ho3, and 2ra3 and 2rb3.

once again, thanks so much!!

Bio 2B03- Full
Bio 2C03- Full
Physics 1B03- Full
Psych 2E03- Open
Psych 2F03- Open
Psych 2H03- Open
Psych 2RA3/2RB3- Both Open

I don't think you should have too much trouble switching into the full ones, as they're pretty large courses.