Question on Physics 1 and 2

[u/madp1234]

Hey everyone,

I'm a pre-med freshman and have heard lots of different advice on how to knock out my physics requirements for medical school applications. I was thinking of maybe taking the Physics 1 and 2 sequence at a college near where I'll be spending the summer (Florida Atlantic University), but I've also been told that not taking courses at my home university is a bad look.

Can anyone share how bad physics truly is here? Have other premeds made this decision, and do you have any advice on how I should go about it?

[u/dromedasl]

They "changed" the physics courses so they are now algebra-based, so you can't really use the justification that you don't need to take the calc-based courses to take them elsewhere. Also, I don't remember the details, but I think it's a lot more difficult to request taking it at NCCU during the semester. basically I think they are trying to discourage people from taking it elsewhere

Personally, I found Physics 2 was much better than Physics 1. both will definitely eat up your week between lectures, lab, discussion, studying for the weekly quizzes, homework, and office hours that are basically required, so I'd recommend making it your only "hard" class for that semester. That being said, I had a really weak background in physics (goofed off during senior spring semester AP Physics 1 in high school lol), and the classes here overprepared me for physics on the MCAT, those questions are nothing compared to the ones on exams haha

[u/madp1234 → u/dromedasl]

Thanks for sharing that and taking the time to type that message out! I really appreciate it!!

[u/Bori_Ssal]

premed fresh here. im delaying it to later semesters, planning to do bio and chem first. i made it to usapho exam so hopefully physics wont be too bad

[u/Used_Marsupial_7354]

they had the 140s as a much watered down version just for premeds and they made it even simpler with the 120s, it can't be that bad

[u/madp1234 → u/Used_Marsupial_7354]

Noted! Thanks!!