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I need some advice...
I've reached a point where I feel as if I'm taking Arts/Social Sciences courses because that is what I get better grades in and that will help me keep my scholarship.
But I feel like getting a B.Sc in Health Science or something would be of more interest to me. It would require me to work a lot harder and I don't know if I would be able to keep the 3.5 CGPA the scholarship I have requires, but it would allow me to do what I feel I should. I look at the future right now and think that Law is the only thing I have going for me. I love Criminology greatly, but don't see myself doing corrections or policing or anything. And, let's be honest, job prospects are much higher for those in the sciences. And with a B.Sc I could still even go for a minor in Crim or something.
So I'm at the point where I don't know what to do. Has anyone had a similar situation they've had to deal with? My mind is so divided it's not even funny.
If needed for reference, in high school I got an A in Chem 11 and Bio 11 and a high B (84%) in Bio 12. Never took Physics or Chem 12.
But I feel like getting a B.Sc in Health Science or something would be of more interest to me. It would require me to work a lot harder and I don't know if I would be able to keep the 3.5 CGPA the scholarship I have requires, but it would allow me to do what I feel I should. I look at the future right now and think that Law is the only thing I have going for me. I love Criminology greatly, but don't see myself doing corrections or policing or anything. And, let's be honest, job prospects are much higher for those in the sciences. And with a B.Sc I could still even go for a minor in Crim or something.
So I'm at the point where I don't know what to do. Has anyone had a similar situation they've had to deal with? My mind is so divided it's not even funny.
If needed for reference, in high school I got an A in Chem 11 and Bio 11 and a high B (84%) in Bio 12. Never took Physics or Chem 12.
Comments
Unless you don't have any money for education other than the scholarship, I'd say you should definitely switch to a Science major. At present, it seems that you are just getting a degree just for the sake of getting a degree, regardless of what it is. But if you're going to waste 4 years anyways to get a piece of paper, it would be more worthwhile to have something to show for, for your 4 years of effort (even if it will cost you money out of your own pocket), because even if you can get a piece of paper for free (from scholarships), what's the point if that piece of paper is next to useless? Spend some money and get a real paper IMO... You'd be lucky to get a job with an Arts degree (not impossible but very low chance). Most people in Arts take it because they like the subject matter and don't care about job prospects and if they do get one, it's just icing on the cake for them.
Suggest you begin boning up on your chemistry and physics anyway. Take CHEM 111 in the spring, and PHYS 100.
Also, if I do Health Science, I don't need to do any Physics. ;)
I'm kind of intimidated by PHYS 100, since I never took Physics before... but the advantage is I have a twin brother going to SFU as well (in Engineering) and he got an A in Phys 11 and 12 and is taking Physics classes right now, so that could work.
See, I don't know if Health Science would be a useless degree... I'm sure Biological Sciences or Biochem would be more useful.
Thanks to both of you for responding... cause this all is starting to worry me.
And NukeChem, thanks for the advice in that message.
Since I stupidly enrolled in CrimOne, I have to keep two Surrey classes, so I'm going to keep CRIM 135 and PSYC 100. I'm also going to take HSCI 160 for general interest (I got past the waitlist finally this morning). Will drop POL 241 DE if I get into Chem.
Would a class like CHEM 111 be helpful for teaching you how to do proper lab write-ups? I'm sure the standards are different here than in High School. Or are you launched right in without explanation?
One other thing. I really don't want to take Calculus, but I'd probably have to take 154 and 155 (since it's required for most science majors). Is it worth taking MATH 100 before to prepare? I got 81% in Math 12, so I meet the prereq, but I don't know if I should jump in or not.
If you work hard, I actually find it easier to get good grades in science courses. Just because it's not so subjective and based on your TA's opinion of your writing...on the other hand, it's also easier to not know what the hell the prof is talking about and be entirely confused.
I'm not sure if you're allowed to take Math 100 if you did well in Math 12. Calculus is completely different anyways. I'd just jump right in.
I didn't take Chem 111, so I can't give any insight on that. I took physics 100 because I didn't take physics 12, and that was fine. And then physics 120 was essentially a repeat of 100.
In the early chemistry courses, all you have are report sheets to answer questions and put results on, that you just hand in at the end of lab or the week after. By the time I had to write formal lab reports, I was always told what was expected of me.
I think though a B.Sc in Health Science would be better suited for me. I liked Bio and Chem in high school, but Math and Physics do not interest me in the slightest. And a B.Sc in Health Science doesn't require either.
http://www.fhs.sfu.ca/undergraduate-programs/BSc%20in%20Health%20Sciences/course-requirements
Looking at that page, does anyone have recommendations what to aim for? Like Environmental and Occupational Health, Infectious Diseases, or General?
If you're interested in Bio/Chem, I'd say go for it. When you graduate, people will care about your diploma, not your calculus mark.
I am taking a Health Science class next term and that area interests me greatly, so I'd love a B.Sc in Health Science. But if it doesn't hold much weight once you graduate, I think I'll just deal with the Physics and Math. Hell, Health Science even has PHYS 101 and MATH 157 as "recommended electives"
Chemistry is pretty good. Averages are low so marks are scaled like hell every single time.
If you're doing a BSc. Health, then your career options are probably something that involve epidemiology (and you would have to get a Masters of Public Health degree).
People with a BSc. in Health Sciences have a poorer prospect in research because there are better candidates who major in Chemistry, MBB, Biology, or Biomedical Physiology/Kinesiology.
Some people do Health Sciences to try to go to Med school, but in my opinion, it's the worst of the degrees to prepare for med, because the curriculum isn't very rigorous. I don't know what the situation is for law school. If you're thinking about law school, isn't a Health Sciences degree kind of the exact opposite of what you want to do career-wise? Poli Sci would sound like an interesting alternative.
What's the name of the scholarship are you trying to maintain, if you don't mind me asking? Gordon M. Shrum?
Also, be aware that when we say read the lab manual and associated references before coming to lab we really DO MEAN IT. And we really DO MEAN DO THE LON-CAPA IN ADVANCE AND NOT THE BLOODY NIGHT BEFORE THE LAB.
The best students in my lab sections were the ones that obviously took the time to do the work and prepare for the lab. The worst were the ones that half-assed their way through at the last minute.
soggy, it is the Gordon M. Shrum scholarship. Good call. But yeah, I completely get where you're coming at. I think Chem, Bio or MBB would probably be most beneficial.
NukeChem, what the hell is LON-CAPA?
And does anyone know what the best branch of Bio? I was thinking the Cell and Molecular Stream was a good place to shoot for, but I don't know. I don't think I could survive a Chem major on its own. Biology is by far my biggest area of interest in the sciences, so the more Bio the better. :)
Cell and molecular would give you access to fields where there's some fairly cutting-edge stuff going on, as I understand what's going on with things like designer bacteria and all that.
The same principles of chemistry apply to biology - do your assignments well in advance, not the night before, submit pre-labs and assignments comfortably in advance and prep for your labs properly.
I'm starting to think I might not make it into that Chem class though... I'm number 5 on the waitlist for it, but there's only 68 people that are allowed to enroll.
I'm not sure what "soggy bread" is talking about, but if you are in the BSc, you are pretty much taking the same classes as MBB; as a matter of fact, alot of students in the program are double majoring in MBB. I was considering doing the same thing, but didnt see the point because I have no interest in applying to med school and thats what these students are generally doing.
The BSc general option was tailor made for med school applicants as it meets all of the criteria for pretty much every medical school out there. Plus the faculty is fantastic, you have alot of new prof's who are ding innovative research in public health. I plan on going into research and will be pursing a graduate degree, along with other students that I know, but with a regular BA/BS you could easily get a job as an analyst or research assistant that pays very well. A crim double will also be good for policy analyst and even social work. So dont listen to these obvious hardcore chem and math students who want to put down health sciences...are classes are way more interesting and challenging!
However, in the SFU Calendar, it recommends taking PHYS 101 and MATH 154. How beneficial would it be to take those? I really don't want to... at all. But if I'll do bad in upper division and such without them, then I may have to suck it up.
Another note for everyone: What is your experience with waitlists? Am I unlikely to get into Chem 111 since I'm fifth on the waitlist?
And one for Chem students: How is Sophie Lavieri, if you've had her before?
@Anon: That may be bad for some people, but I think someone like that would be good for getting me adjusted to sciences at the university level.
As far as math and physics, you definately need to take stats courses regardless if you are in BSc or BA HS. If you are interested in occupational health as a career and plan on taking the occupational and environmental health stream (occupational/industrial hygiene), then yes, you definately need physics, in my opinion, because most grad schools that i have seen require it and it is a required course to become a certified industrial hygienist.
Anything to do with population health/epidemiology, you absolutely must take stats, it is a very integral part of doing research in this area. If you plan on doing the BSc, you need calculus so you have to take the required math courses. This is why im considering switching to BA and just doing biology classes because I absolutely hate math with the exception of stats.
It's not all that different from how I needed to take more physics courses than the chemistry major required because I was getting into some heavy-duty quantum mechanics as well as quantum electrodynamics.
Lavieri? Never had her but I've TAed for her and I agree that she can be somewhat ... overenthusiastic. :)
Also re what Blakpepa said - definitely! I found myself caught somewhat flatfooted because I lacked the necessary statistics knowledge to understand some of the reasons for analyzing data the way I did. I had to learn on my own, because the chemistry major program does NOT require students to take a stats course. Ever. What statistics we do need comes in CHEM 215 and 316. Also for the nuclear people it comes in 341 and 346. Still not enough...
So yeah, take that stats course too.
How bad will I be ripped apart by PHYS 100 (since I would need that before 101)? I never took Physics in high school, and it recommends Physics 11. I mean, my brother is great at physics and uses it a lot as he is doing the Mechatronics Engineering program at SFU Surrey, so I know he'd be able to lend me a hand if I don't understand something.
And for MATH 154, should I take MATH 100? I got a B (81%) in Math 12, but I definitely struggled a lot and put in a lot of effort to get that grade. I'm worried that calculus would rip me apart. Stats I'm not too worried about, as I enjoy that type of stuff.
I feel like, if I'm already going through the trouble of doing PHYS 101 and MATH 154, I should just do PHYS 102 and MATH 155 and do BISC or MBB or something (though I heard MBB is absolutely killer). Then again, I don't know what I'd do with those degrees either. For almost any degree I have no clue what type of job prospects they have. Any more advice is much appreciated. :)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7741642592253380643#
http://wihealthcareers.org/Career_occ_view.cfm?o_id=65
As far as math is concerned, ONLY take what you need and nothing more. If you decide to get the BSc, you need calculus, so take whatever is required to that you can take calculus. You dont need physics, but again, it depends on what you career interests are. You can always take it later, you dont need to take it in any type of chronological order.
Other career options with a health science degree includes health analyst (which the government is aggressively working to recruit new grads), researcher, epidemiologist. You can also go med school, pharmacy, nursing. There are many options, just research them and talk to profs.
And that blood flow in the human body can be modelled by equations which have derivatives, requiring calculus. :teeth:
Is it worth it to do it in the summer with Jungic, or wait until the fall and likely have Mulholland, who I've heard amazing things about?
Also, is it going to be brutal for me? I haven't done Math since January, so by summer it'll have been over a year and a year and a half or more by the fall. I did get a B+ in Math 12, so I meet the prereq.
I've had an awful headache the past 24 hours and I have a feeling it's cause I'm stressing out over stuff related to my degree when I shouldn't and just be enjoying the holidays. I'll figure everything out in the future and just drop it for now.
If you do 150, I'd find it hard to believe they wouldn't accept that for any other program. It's usually when you do something like 154 they're more reluctant to count it for a program that requires 151/150.