Advice for First Year and Sophomore Students
Find your Niche, Get involved, But Don’t Overload!
As a new student you will be encouraged to pursue your interests in the classroom and beyond. However, premedical students should be careful not to over-commit. In high school you might have found time for a long list of activities. Remember that college is different, so be careful with your time commitments. Try one or two activities in your first year, and if you find that you have time for more, go for it.
Do Well Academically!
As a premedical student it is important that you perform at a high level academically. This is why it is essential for all premedical students to develop good study habits and a college lifestyle that is conducive to academic achievement. This includes (but is not limited to) setting aside enough time in your schedule to study and getting a good night’s sleep. If you have trouble in your first semester try to pinpoint your difficulties and remedy them. Many resources are available to you on campus if you need help including your professors and teaching assistants, your class advisor, the Office of Student Enrichment Services, Roosevelt Fellows and the Writing Center.
Get to Know your Professors
Members of the faculty at Brandeis are your greatest resource. They will not only help you academically, but also will provide you with letters of recommendation when you apply to medical or other health professions school. Make a point of stopping in to meet some of your professors during their office hours, even if you are in a large-introductory level course. You don’t have to have a major question to ask as a pretense to visiting with a professor; any specific question about a course, curiosity about your course work, or questions about a professor’s research interests are all legitimate reasons for visiting with a professor during his/her office hours.
Special Considerations for the Sophomore Year
Taking both Organic Chemistry and Biology in the Sophomore year. Many students choose to take Organic Chemistry and Biology in their second/sophomore year of study. If you plan to apply to medical school for admission in the fall following your graduation from Brandeis, it will be necessary to take two of your three premedical courses during the Sophomore year. However, it is not necessary to do this if your plans are more flexible (for example, if you plan to take some time off after you graduate). In addition, you may be able to take Organic Chemistry or Physics through summer school at Brandeis University or elsewhere. Overall, you should plan your program of study carefully before deciding which courses to take during any given semester.
Non-science majors. You should feel free to select a non-science major if this is what you are interested in (in fact, it might help you stand out somewhat in the application process). You should be aware, however, that as a non-science major it is imperative that your grades are in the A-B range. Since you will have no upper-level science courses you may not be able to compensate for low science grades in the basic premed courses (Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biology, Physics). Your overall goal should be to combine a good, solid performance in your chosen non-science discipline with excellence in the sciences. Meeting this challenge takes good planning and, perhaps, some sacrifices, but it can be well worth it.