3 semester plan?

[t5Nitro]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey all,

I'm on the downward slope toward graduation, and I've made a three semester plan based off of what I have yet to take.

My fall 2012 semester looks like this:

1. Organic Chem 2 (3 days/week, 55 min/day)
2. Organic Chem Lab (separate class - 2 days/week, 3 hrs/day)
3. Ecology (no lab - 2 days/week, 85 min./day)
4. Microbio gen. ed. (global impact of infectious disease 3 days/week, 55 min/day - no lab)
5. Animal bio (2 days/week, 55 min/day) + Lab (1 day/week, 2 hrs)


Spring 2013:

1. Genetics + lab
2. Biochemistry (survey) + lab
3. Fundamentals of microbiology + lab
4. Some english literature gen. ed.

Fall 2013:

1. Cell Biology
2. Endocrinology
3. Analytical Chemistry
4. Capstone Seminar

Just looking for some insight as to whether this looks manageable. My previous semester comprised of: 1. A&P2, 2. Ochem1, 3. Botany, 4. Music gen. ed. I achieved a 4.0.

I'd also like any tips on my fall '12 semester.
I'm not sure whether I should keep the Ochem lab or toss it for a later date.

I figured:

animal bio replaces botany
ochem 2 replaces ochem 1
ecology replaces A&P (easier? no lab)
microbio gen ed replaces music gen ed

And then the added ochem lab. I don't want to weigh myself down to the point where I cannot achieve a 4.0. I've been working hard to bring my GPA up by maintaining a high grade point.

I know this is probably a common topic on this board, but I'd greatly appreciate any feedback regarding my 3 semester plan to graduate (whether it's too crunched or ready to go).

Thanks in advance.

 

[ShenanigansMD]

If you are a biology fanatic, then you could do all of that. Otherwise it might drag you down, since all of the topics just overlap (which could be a good thing).

Be prepared though when you're hitting on girls (or if you're a girl, I guess flirting or whatever it is girls do), be aware that the bio vernacular will definitely sneak into your conversations...

 

[t5Nitro]

Nope, I'm the guy lol.

What I've rediscovered is how much I actually enjoy bio after this physics 2 summer course (ended yesterday!).

Is Ochem lab recommended prior to taking the MCAT? I had originally planned, based off of this schedule, that I would have the summer 2013 off and I would follow sn2ed's study schedule and take the test that summer. But, now I'm debating whether I'm crunching in order to get a few (hopefully only need one) shots at the MCAT before it changes in 2015.

Otherwise I could simply put something like analytical chemistry into the summer 2013 slot and ease up on my last semester. Either that or Ochem lab to ease up on the incoming fall semester. Thoughts?

 

[ShenanigansMD]

The only thing I got from ochem lab (or orgo whatever) that helped me with the MCAT was knowing the IR bands and their functional groups, and maybe connecting common reactions to actual applications (like grignards and some other dudes).

But you can memorize the IR/UV/Mass Spec/Magic Compound Reader when you're at the beach getting a tan, and drinking a few cold ones. Just google image IR frequency functional groups and you're all set with that.

 

[t5Nitro]

Very good to know. My schedule is already set for the fall. I'll probably keep it as is and decide soon after classes begin whether I want to keep with it or not. I've never dropped a class but I think most places give you a week or two before they slap a W on your transcript.

 

[t5Nitro]

I've got a quick question, according to amcas, microbiology is calculated toward the sGPA. Does this include all microbio even the gen ed microbio I've enrolled in this fall?