17 units and part-time job possible?

[premedtim]

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I asked this over on OPM but SDN simply has far more users so I figure I might as well ask it here too so I can get a lot of feedback. Basically, I think I've figured out a way to transfer to UC Davis next school year instead of screwing around with the CC bull**** for another year (to say I'm disgusted with my CC and their financial aid office is an understatement) by transferring as a psych major and then double majoring in bio/psych later as opposed to transferring as a bio major and doing the exact same later. Either way I want to double major in bio/psych and if I can transfer as a psych major, atleast one benefit outside of transferring earlier is that I can take all of my pre-med reqs at a four-year.

Specifically, I'm transferring from Shasta College to Davis, and according to assist.org, since I've already done bio sci 10 and psyc 1, I think if I do stats, anthro 1 and intro to sociology next semester then I'll be good to go on lower division reqs (Shasta has no equivalent to psyc 41 so I don't have to complete that prior to transferring from my understanding). The 17 units comes from me not quite being one semester away from 60 units. Right now I have 36 done and 7 are non-transferrable, so 29 + 14 from this semester and that leaves me 17 short of 60. Another 6 units aren't related to either major in any way but they're transferrable so I'm hoping they'll count.

So in short, statistics, introduction to sociology, physical anthropology, elementary spanish, and some sort of art class as well as a part-time job if I get it. Possible? Enough time to devote to each subject? Any constructive feedback is welcome.

 

[Depakote]

I asked this over on OPM but SDN simply has far more users so I figure I might as well ask it here too so I can get a lot of feedback. Basically, I think I've figured out a way to transfer to UC Davis next school year instead of screwing around with the CC bull**** for another year (to say I'm disgusted with my CC and their financial aid office is an understatement) by transferring as a psych major and then double majoring in bio/psych later as opposed to transferring as a bio major and doing the exact same later. Either way I want to double major in bio/psych and if I can transfer as a psych major, atleast one benefit outside of transferring earlier is that I can take all of my pre-med reqs at a four-year.

Specifically, I'm transferring from Shasta College to Davis, and according to assist.org, since I've already done bio sci 10 and psyc 1, I think if I do stats, anthro 1 and intro to sociology next semester then I'll be good to go on lower division reqs (Shasta has no equivalent to psyc 41 so I don't have to complete that prior to transferring from my understanding). The 17 units comes from me not quite being one semester away from 60 units. Right now I have 36 done and 7 are non-transferrable, so 29 + 14 from this semester and that leaves me 17 short of 60. Another 6 units aren't related to either major in any way but they're transferrable so I'm hoping they'll count.

So in short, statistics, introduction to sociology, physical anthropology, elementary spanish, and some sort of art class as well as a part-time job if I get it. Possible? Enough time to devote to each subject? Any constructive feedback is welcome.

Depends on how you manage your time, but I think you'd be overloaded...

 

[smcin001]

definitely possible, just try to find a way to successfully manage your time or you'll get behind in school, and no part-time minimum wage job is really worth that.

 

[premedtim]

definitely possible, just try to find a way to successfully manage your time or you'll get behind in school, and no part-time minimum wage job is really worth that.

I agree...hence why I'm applying to a part-time job that pays $13-14/hr plus commission. 😛 My brother used to have the same job (he's in a higher position at the same company now) so I know for a fact it pays $1600-2400 a month after taxes based on how much I sell.

 

[deleted36260]

I always do 16 hours and work 35-45/wk. It can be done, but it requires a lot of dedication. You slack for more than a day and you can throw everything off until the next test.

EDIT - looking at your classes planned, you'll be fine.

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

If at any time you feel that the job is starting to weigh you down, drop it like a bad habit, because your grades are most important. You don't save any money in the long run if it turns out you do poorly and have to invest in postbacc or SMP

 

[LolaGene]

I asked this over on OPM but SDN simply has far more users so I figure I might as well ask it here too so I can get a lot of feedback. Basically, I think I've figured out a way to transfer to UC Davis next school year instead of screwing around with the CC bull**** for another year (to say I'm disgusted with my CC and their financial aid office is an understatement) by transferring as a psych major and then double majoring in bio/psych later as opposed to transferring as a bio major and doing the exact same later. Either way I want to double major in bio/psych and if I can transfer as a psych major, atleast one benefit outside of transferring earlier is that I can take all of my pre-med reqs at a four-year.

Specifically, I'm transferring from Shasta College to Davis, and according to assist.org, since I've already done bio sci 10 and psyc 1, I think if I do stats, anthro 1 and intro to sociology next semester then I'll be good to go on lower division reqs (Shasta has no equivalent to psyc 41 so I don't have to complete that prior to transferring from my understanding). The 17 units comes from me not quite being one semester away from 60 units. Right now I have 36 done and 7 are non-transferrable, so 29 + 14 from this semester and that leaves me 17 short of 60. Another 6 units aren't related to either major in any way but they're transferrable so I'm hoping they'll count.

So in short, statistics, introduction to sociology, physical anthropology, elementary spanish, and some sort of art class as well as a part-time job if I get it. Possible? Enough time to devote to each subject? Any constructive feedback is welcome.

Are you getting involved in ECs? It will make things more difficult but still possible. I will tell you this: I have taken 17 hours before when I had a part time job and did fine. You get used to being all over the place and even grow to like it in a masochistic way... I am also a philosophy/biology double major and have always had a full course load. One semester I took 18 and began research which meant I was in the lab 25-30 hours, and I was beginning a student org. I almost went crazy, but what doesnt kill you makes you stronger, right? Anyway, just get a big planner with lots of writing space and be prapared to know what day of the month falls on what day of the week, one semester from now as well as where you will be at 1:23pm November 26...😀 But hey, thats what we signed up for, exciting stuff!🙂

Good luck!!

 

[aliziry]

Its very possible, Ive worked fulltime and at least 15 hours a semester my entire college career. However, I lack much of a social life so I guess its a tossup.

 

[thegross1]

17 units and a part-time job possible? Yes it is, I've taken 15-17 units per semester and have continued to work full-time but like others have said already you will no longer have a social life. I would try to get yourself a job that is some how related to the medical field so you can gain some experience. If anything I would recommend that you really think about it because it gets pretty stressful towards the end of every semester. I miss the days when I didn't have to go to work of school. All of us here are striving for something bigger for ourselves, so if it helps you get there then go for it.

 

[wickd]

You better optimize your time, and be able to learn new stuff quickly.

 

[szhao]

surely, my friend is doing that at OSU, but i don't get to talk to him much anymore so yea.

 

[lina123321]

def. possible; i did 22credits one sem + 20hrs/week working

 

[west nile]

I think you can do those classes no problem, they are all GE.
Also, you did not sign the TAA with Davis? I did and Davis said I only needed to complete calc II and finish my bio series, I am just going to do stats up there in summer.

 

[xpinchx]

I'm taking 17 credits right now and work part-time as well. It can be done best if you get all your class into 4 days, hopefully with a few hour-long breaks between classes to finish up homework and/or review (not study) for tests if you have multiple tests in one day. That leaves Friday and the weekend to work and/or study ahead of time for the upcoming week (If you don't already, it's important to pick up this habit. If you have a test on Wed and Thurs, do most of your studying the weekend before.)

I'm taking:
College Algebra
Plane Trig
Bio I
Gen Chem II
Literature

Plus I work 16-24 hours a week.

Just be aware of what you're getting yourself into. If I'm lucky I might get to hang out with friends twice a month (rest of free time with my girlfriend.) If you feel at any point that your work is starting to affect your grades or mental health, just quit. If you really need the money to live (rent, food, gas, etc.) just get some more loans. A good GPA has no monetary value, and you'll be making plenty of money in due time.

That said your classes are considerably easier. You should probably be fine. Art and sociology are both easy A's, and elementary spanish is just vocab. (No science classes?)

Statistic
Sociology
Anthropology
Spanish I
Art

 

[PZMO]

I'm a senior and I have taken 16-18 credits and worked two part-time jobs throughout my undergrad career. I haven't had a choice; I have to fund my education and bills. I've kept a great gpa and a social life. That being said, something has to go. For me, it's sleep. 👎

 

[Natatiap]

Possible. I worked part time 24-30 hours a week but I worked a slack job where I could study, listen to the radio and talk my whole shift. Its a lot of work being a full time student and premed..period but you will have to be focused but its possible, depends on u

 

[st2205]

It really depends on the courses you're taking. Over the summer I worked 18-24 hrs/week and was taking 20 credits (Physics I and II, College Algebra, and a couple LA classes). I had no problem at all and maintained great grades. I got confident in doing 25 credits + work for the fall semester and it went well for the first month and a half. Now it's awful. I'm taking Chem and Bio and find it much more difficult that the physics. Judging by your course load, you should do fine. The pattern I find myself in right now is dropping chemistry for an entire week so that I can study for my bio test on Friday, then the next week drop biology to study for the chem test that week, then continue a vicious cycle where I do awful on both tests, and then doing the bare minimum in all of my other classes. Avoid that like the plague.

 

[blargh]

i'm a bioengineering major who works 20 hours/week during the school year. i've been taking 16 units/quarter ever since freshman year. it's definitely doable, but i'm also don't have a stellar social life...

 

[JourneyRn-MD]

you are good at managing your time and can stay on top of all the due dates!

i am taking 22 hours this semester and working full-time, and it definately gets a little crazy. i am glad its going to be over soon! BUT i feel like it was worth it because it helped me get to the position of being able to apply this next cycle instead of pushing it off another year.

good luck : )

 

[premedtim]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. I talked to the counselor at my "college" today and apparently it's a no go because 9 of the units I've taken which are supposed to be transferrable actually aren't. So because of that, instead of being 17 units away, I'm 26 units away. And even if it was feasible to do 26 units in one semester if I don't get the job and just have school, part of those 26 units are spanish 1 & 2 and I obviously can't take them both in one semester. Oh well, I'll just have to transfer to a real CC down in Sac and do one more year there.

Hey Pinch, you mentioned Spanish 1 is just vocab...could you give kind of a general idea of what to expect? I've never taken a language class before so I'm curious.

As it stands now, after this semester I only have 34 UC transferrable units. I highly doubt there's anyway to avoid taking some BCPM classes at a CC since I only have 13 units left of GE to do and 9 units of lower division prep (if I do still go in as a psych major). Although if anyone has any ideas, hey, again I'm all ears.

 

[xpinchx]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. I talked to the counselor at my "college" today and apparently it's a no go because 9 of the units I've taken which are supposed to be transferrable actually aren't. So because of that, instead of being 17 units away, I'm 26 units away. And even if it was feasible to do 26 units in one semester if I don't get the job and just have school, part of those 26 units are spanish 1 & 2 and I obviously can't take them both in one semester. Oh well, I'll just have to transfer to a real CC down in Sac and do one more year there.

Hey Pinch, you mentioned Spanish 1 is just vocab...could you give kind of a general idea of what to expect? I've never taken a language class before so I'm curious.

As it stands now, after this semester I only have 34 UC transferrable units. I highly doubt there's anyway to avoid taking some BCPM classes at a CC since I only have 13 units left of GE to do and 9 units of lower division prep (if I do still go in as a psych major). Although if anyone has any ideas, hey, again I'm all ears.

I did something similar to you. I basically took 2 years full of GE's (ending up taking all but two literature classes that I need) and now I have 3 full years of sequential science classes and upper-level bio electives. Just save your pre-reqs (chem, bio, organic, physics) for a 4-year college and you should be fine. Keep your grades up though, AMCAS factors in all your grades during undergraduate, including community college. So take your time and do everything right.

As for Spanish, I took Spanish I. It was mostly vocab and basic verb conjugation. If you took Spanish in highschool it should be a breeze. If not it might take some time to wrap your head around the concept of conjugation and how they use their adjectives in front of nouns, stuff like that. It's not a hard class by any means, though.

 

[MossPoh]

I had 19 credits (German literature, Logic/discrete mathematics, Java, Advanced german grammar, physics, french 1, and a 1 credit thing for my major) and worked 25 hours a week fairly easily.... one of my better semesters actually. So yea it is doable. I didn't work pleasant hours by any means. A lot of 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. shifts and then all day sunday.

 

[premedtim]

I did something similar to you. I basically took 2 years full of GE's (ending up taking all but two literature classes that I need) and now I have 3 full years of sequential science classes and upper-level bio electives. Just save your pre-reqs (chem, bio, organic, physics) for a 4-year college and you should be fine. Keep your grades up though, AMCAS factors in all your grades during undergraduate, including community college. So take your time and do everything right.

As for Spanish, I took Spanish I. It was mostly vocab and basic verb conjugation. If you took Spanish in highschool it should be a breeze. If not it might take some time to wrap your head around the concept of conjugation and how they use their adjectives in front of nouns, stuff like that. It's not a hard class by any means, though.

Never took Spanish in high school...taught myself some German with a language program but that's about it. About the only prep I could do beforehand is the same with Spanish, buy a language program and try to learn as much vocab as possible so I can focus on the grammar part. Good to know though, thanks.

 

[tncekm]

So in short, statistics, introduction to sociology, physical anthropology, elementary spanish, and some sort of art class as well as a part-time job if I get it. Possible? Enough time to devote to each subject? Any constructive feedback is welcome.

Its doable. I worked and took 20 units, easy lower division ones similar to those, before.

I couldn't do that now with Ochem, Physiology, and my other classes (including research lab hours), but with that load, its doable. Just be prepared to keep busy.