Advising 
Advice
for First Year Students
Deferring
Biology, Chemistry, Math:
To Defer Or Not To Defer
Scheduling Advice for First-Year Biological Sciences Majors
The majority of students who plan to major in biological sciences take biology, chemistry, mathematics, and a freshman writing seminar during their first year. If you're unsure that the biological sciences major is for you, or if you're worried that you're not prepared for this kind of course load, you may consider modifying your schedule to meet your needs.
Advantages of taking the "typical" schedule: gives you a good preview of the demands of the biology major and, more importantly, allows you the greatest amount of flexibility in later years because you will meet the prerequisites for upper-level courses as early as possible. Also, if you're thinking about doing some research in a professor's lab, you'll be eligible for a spot earlier.
Advantages of taking a "deferred" schedule: helps to lighten your course load as you're making the adjustment to college life (which could be a course in and of itself!), shifts a heavier course load to a later semester after you're an "experienced" college student, makes room in your freshman schedule for exploring electives or completing a language requirement, and it can make your schedule more diverse.
If you decide to delay biology or chemistry to the sophomore year, you need to think carefully about which Program of Study within the major you may pursue in the future. This may help you decide which course to defer. To assist you in this decision, faculty members in each Program of Study have prepared the guidelines that follow. An overall summary of the advantages and disadvantages of deferring specific introductory courses is also included. As you sift through this information, feel free to contact an advisor in the Biology Advising Center (216 Stimson Hall) if you need additional help in long-range program planning.
Deferring Biology, Chemistry, or Math
| Plan | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|
| Deferring Biology
(Freshman schedule will include chemistry and math.) |
taking chemistry in the first year allows earliest possible completion of chemistry course sequences (general and organic) that are prerequisite to biochemistry and some other upper-level biology courses. |
leads to possibility of becoming discouraged about a biology major because special-interest course is not in schedule provides less time for determining choice of Program of Study within major |
| Deferring Chemistry
(Freshman schedule will include biology and math.) |
taking biology in the first year provides opportunity to confirm interest in pursuing a biology major provides more time for determining choice of Program of Study within the major |
delays knowledge of chemistry ability at the college level postpones completion of chemistry courses (general and organic) that are required leads to possible difficulties in meeting requirements for an alternative major if student decides after introductory chemistry to change majors |
| Deferring Math
(Freshman schedule will include biology and chemistry.) |
adds fewer long-range scheduling problems for major can start an introductory math sequence in the spring, if desired |
math skills may be needed for other coursework confidence in math skills may diminish |
| Summer School * * Medical Schools prefer that students take pre-med requirements at their primary institution |
allows for completion of requirements for major upon approval of the appropriate department and Cornell College allows pre-med biology majors to take MCAT exam in the spring of their junior year because required coursework can be completed by then allows better balance of science and non-science courses in sophomore, junior, and senior years makes possible the selection of more advanced biology electives in undergraduate schedule makes possible the option of doing undergraduate research for credit before graduation |
increases cost of education reduces options for earning money during the summer leads to possible loss of interest in academic goals or burn out due to lack of break between semesters reduces time that could be spent gaining career-related experiences |
