It has been a while since my last post, however, I have been dutifully answering your questions and here go some of the questions I have answered...
1. How large are the introductory classes(e.g. calculus, chemistry,etc.)? do you find the size of the classes to be a problem or beneficial to you? Do professors in the classes actually teach(or do they just refer you to the student assistants) and keep "human" office hours so that you could ask them questions?
The Pre-med courses are normally the largest since on avg, about 60-80 out of a class are pre-med. Also, although the classes are somewhat harder than others, the professors, ACTUALLY teach, believe it or not, and there are many student assistants. Here we have GLG, which is guided learning group for biology taught by BIO majors, and right now I meet weekly with my Bio prof, just to chat about bio and various other things. The difference here is that Profs actually WANT you to learn this stuff. There is a huge emphasis on that.
2. How has the Honor Code benefited (and/or worsened) your college experience at Haverford so far?
To be completely honest, the honor code hasn't had that much of an impact on my experience here. I suppose the only tangible benefits are having the ability to take self scheduled final exams and take home exams more often than at other schools. Also many students take advantage of the fact that we can drink etc. here without security/administration punishing us. The whole idea is that we should self-govern, and I really like that idea. On the other hand, my one pet peeve is many people can take it too far and feel that they can "police" others for their language use etc. But I don't surround myself with those people.
3. Transferring from high school to Haverford, is there any changes in study habits that you made in order for your grades to continue their place in HS (or did your grades drop in Haverford)?
Well, my grades actually significantly improved from HS. I have changed my study habits some, but then again being pre-med, there are certain courses that you take that might be easier for you, so you take them.
4. Do you recommend exempting out of classes in the pre-med core curriculum by using AP Credits ( I understand Haverford is very restrictive with this.)???
Well, from what I understand most med schools want to see COLLEGE level sciences, and Haverford won't let you be exempt. They may put you in advanced classes if you have AP credit, for example in Chemistry or Calculus, but really if you don't want to be a chem/math major, and are just pre-med, I suggest taking the regular classes. And for pre-med/biology major YOU HAVE to take chemistry at Haverford to take bio.
Finally, the last questions are question related to pre-med classes. I hope you could answer them.
6. Which courses are "hard" courses for Haverfords pre-med students? I know that Chemistry may be hard (different from AP Chem. from what I heard). Any other classes to watch out for???
The chem is different here, as they prepare you for the next pre-med class BIO, so the end of chemistry will have some biochemistry. I think what you really need to watch out for is Orgo. Chem….Gen chem (freshman year) is not all that bad, but a lot of people are weeded out in the process. Don't forget that Haverford is a LAC so you will have to take other courses outside of Premed. When you get here…you will find out who to take and who not to take especially if you are premed!!
7. How is the student environment at HC?? Is cheating or damaging other's research projects often in this school?
I don't know if people cheat, on tests per say, every year there are incidences of plagiarism etc. I mean it is bound to happen. You can check out some of the honor code abstracts (summaries) online http://www.students.haverford.edu/code/community/abstracts.html. Also people aren't so COMPETITIVE here, which is good because there is a huge amount of respect for others' work and thoughts, but then again I meet a lot of Haverford Alums who are SO humble about the amazing things they do.
8. Haverford often advertises that 90% of its students get admitted to med schools. While that may sound hard to believe, the college attributes this rate to its strong advising. From other college students' responses, I haven't heard how advising really impacts them. When students actually survive the four years, which medical school is common among haverford students to be admitted after undergrad?
Well the deal is that it is 90% of the students that apply, and I don't know the figure, but it is probably around 50 or so, 5 years after graduation. Probably a lot lower though. I mean, we have a strong premed program. We are ranked number 13 out of the top 50 Feeder schools into the four most prestigious Med School Programsn, I really don't think the advising has much of an impact, so far, to be honest. I do however think that since Haverford is SUCH a small school, the recommendations are a lot better, and with the added attn in classes, students have better grades. I think it varies, I know a lot of kids go to UPENN, since we have a pretty good connection there, others into PCOM(osteopathy), also into the Ivies. Most students take a gap year or two which is what I plan to do.
Hope this helps, email me if you have any questions/want clarifications.
