4 science labs in one semester?

[shameless]

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I am an incoming sophomore in undergrad and I am currently doing research in a microbiology lab this summer and plan to continue.

I am planning on taking Orgo 1, Anatomy and phys 1, Physics 1, and microbiology next semester.

I am worried that taking 4 lab science classes will be overwhelming. Last year I passed general chem and biology with As without taking up much time at all. The one physics professor at my undergrad is also very difficult, with a large amount of students failing each semester, so I've heard.

Orgo, A&P, and physics will need for the MCAT so I believe I should take them this year?
The only class I think I could drop would be micro but I would rather not because of my continuing research in that lab.
Would 4 difficult classes be overwhelming? I am not sure which, if any, classes could wait until next year if I take my MCAT spring of junior year.

I would appreciate any help! Sorry if I made this thread wrong this is my first post.


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[Catalystik]

I am planning on taking Orgo 1, Anatomy and phys 1, Physics 1, and microbiology next semester.

I am worried that taking 4 lab science classes will be overwhelming. Last year I passed general chem and biology with As without taking up much time at all. The one physics professor at my undergrad is also very difficult, with a large amount of students failing each semester, so I've heard.

Orgo, A&P, and physics will need for the MCAT so I believe I should take them this year?
The only class I think I could drop would be micro but I would rather not because of my continuing research in that lab.
Would 4 difficult classes be overwhelming? I am not sure which, if any, classes could wait until next year if I take my MCAT spring of junior year.

Yes, you will be overwhelmed. Your GPA will be at risk. Even three laboratory classes may be too much, let alone four.

 

[Boogy'sChick15]

4 labs are doable, but with those specific classes (especially orgo and phys) your GPA could take a big hit. You should be asking yourself, do you have the time to study for quizzes/tests and complete assignments in the lectures while also finishing about 4 lab assignments every week? Can you do all this while working, doing research, participating in ECs?

 

[Isoval]

I think your schedule is doable, but I question the microbiology lab in addition to the rest.

If there was one of them I'd cut, it would be that one.

 

[Lawpy]

I am an incoming sophomore in undergrad and I am currently doing research in a microbiology lab this summer and plan to continue.

I am planning on taking Orgo 1, Anatomy and phys 1, Physics 1, and microbiology next semester.

I am worried that taking 4 lab science classes will be overwhelming. Last year I passed general chem and biology with As without taking up much time at all. The one physics professor at my undergrad is also very difficult, with a large amount of students failing each semester, so I've heard.

Orgo, A&P, and physics will need for the MCAT so I believe I should take them this year?
The only class I think I could drop would be micro but I would rather not because of my continuing research in that lab.
Would 4 difficult classes be overwhelming? I am not sure which, if any, classes could wait until next year if I take my MCAT spring of junior year.

I would appreciate any help! Sorry if I made this thread wrong this is my first post.


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It's doable but not the best use of your time. It's more effective to have a balanced courseload where you can spend less time to do well/get a good GPA and use more available time to focus on research, clinical experiences, volunteering etc.

 

[pseud0]

Do 3 lab sciences max at once. Especially w both orgo and phys at the same time. Don't risk falling behind

 

[Jdoxis]

Labs eat up such a disproportionate amount of time compared to their credit hour worth. Honestly was irritating and part of why I limited myself to two labs. Don't take 3 if you don't have to.

 

[Kingsmen2018]

I've done it

 

[Isoval]

I've done it

As have I with a slightly different load (Genetics, A&P2, Immuno, and Biochem Lab). I promise it's doable, and even doable with some free time, but make sure you know what you're getting into. You're going to have some "hell weeks" for sure.

 

[Optimist Prime]

I wouldn't wish it on anyone lol not unless you're just a full academic person, and don't care about living the college experience.

 

[fouracle]

Honestly, I really, really think that it's unique to the both the person and the undergrad institution. How long are your lab blocks? Lecture blocks? How many total courses is it common for people to take? It varies between public vs. private institutions.

For example, liberal arts colleges may have labs that are 3.5 hours long and lectures that are 75 minutes, whereas a large, public university may only have labs that are 1.5 hours and lectures that are 45 minutes. Do you see where I'm going? In the former case, both labs and lectures will be more intensive and energetically draining, so it's probably not as doable to take so many afternoon labs (which will inevitably take from studying time, which can then cause either your grades or your social life to suffer). In the latter case, where a lab is just a 2-hour block at night, it probably won't affect you as much to take more labs.

It also depends on what other activities you have that semester (sports, college gov, etc may take more time). Just adjust as needed and you should be fine.

 

[RYost234]

Yes, you will be overwhelmed. Your GPA will be at risk. Even three laboratory classes may be too much, let alone four.

Do you think 3 lab courses with only one being a science would still be too much?

Ex) The labs i'm registered in the fall for are orgo lab, psych stats lab, and some other psych lab.

I have no idea how rigorous the psych labs will be as it will be my first year at the 4 year (transferred from CC)

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Don't do it. I was naive and did it, but don't recommend.

 

[Catalystik]

Do you think 3 lab courses with only one being a science would still be too much?

Ex) The labs i'm registered in the fall for are orgo lab, psych stats lab, and some other psych lab.

I have no idea how rigorous the psych labs will be as it will be my first year at the 4 year (transferred from CC)

My knee-jerk reflex is to agree that you should be fine, but those labs at your school may be completely different from those at mine. Your best bet would be to talk to someone who had already taken those labs at your school. Psych isn't necessarily a cakewalk.

 

[SpoiledMilk]

As someone who also transferred from CC to a 4 year, you will need time to adjust to the more rigorous curriculum. Don't get ahead of yourself and become overwhelmed. Take courses that will allow you to make that adjustment the first semester so that you don't live to regret a bad grade that will harm your GPA down the road.

 

[DBC03]

Everyone told me not to take three science classes at once, but I survived. HOWEVER, I got really, REALLY sick for over six weeks. That was just three. I definitely recommend talking to students who have already taken the labs to see how much work they require. Organic Chemistry lab at our school is two credits per semester for good reason - the lab reports were over 10 pages long and were due every week (I took it over the summer, so think two per week). Good luck!

 

[RYost234]

Everyone told me not to take three science classes at once, but I survived. HOWEVER, I got really, REALLY sick for over six weeks. That was just three. I definitely recommend talking to students who have already taken the labs to see how much work they require. Organic Chemistry lab at our school is two credits per semester for good reason - the lab reports were over 10 pages long and were due every week (I took it over the summer, so think two per week). Good luck!

Every lab I have taken at my CC's lab reports were only like a page of calculating things based off of the data from the lab... is 10 page long lab reports the norm at 4 years?

 

[fouracle]

Every lab I have taken at my CC's lab reports were only like a page of calculating things based off of the data from the lab... is 10 page long lab reports the norm at 4 years?

Nope! Mine were like 1-2 pages max. I did have to write like a 10-12 page paper for the class though...
The most time consuming thing I had to do for lab was solving extremely difficult NMR spectra.

 

[DBC03]

Every lab I have taken at my CC's lab reports were only like a page of calculating things based off of the data from the lab... is 10 page long lab reports the norm at 4 years?

I have no idea! I was completely floored by the amount of work required. And it was my first time back in school in 13 years. It was the norm at my school - and that report DIDN'T include a multiple page handwritten prelab that we worked on after the lab lecture. This was at an ordinary state school, so it wasn't at some exclusive private university. That's why anyone looking into multiple labs definitely needs to ask others about the amount of work. I took two bio labs and had only three lab reports in each, but one was well over 25 pages (for both classes - due the same week - and due the day of the final - yes, a LAB FINAL).

 

[PreMedMissteps]

I am planning on taking Orgo 1, Anatomy and phys 1, Physics 1, and microbiology next semester.

Too risky

 

[RYost234]

I have no idea! I was completely floored by the amount of work required. And it was my first time back in school in 13 years. It was the norm at my school - and that report DIDN'T include a multiple page handwritten prelab that we worked on after the lab lecture. This was at an ordinary state school, so it wasn't at some exclusive private university. That's why anyone looking into multiple labs definitely needs to ask others about the amount of work. I took two bio labs and had only three lab reports in each, but one was well over 25 pages (for both classes - due the same week - and due the day of the final - yes, a LAB FINAL).

Yikes... I'm hoping my psych labs aren't too time consuming but I have no idea what to expect from them.

 

[esob]

Depends on the difficulty of the professors at your school and what else you have going on in your life. If single and not working it should be doable. If even one of those professors had a > than 30% distribution of A's it would be fine. However, if you have 4 profs with < 10% distro of A's and work or other activities that eat up a significant portion of your time, then it would be unwise.

 

[DrivenAndDangerous]

I took 3 labs one semester and then biochem, orgo2, microbiology, and two tough engineering classes the next. This was in the fall and I had a January MCAT date. I was overwhelmed at times, yes, but I reminded myself how helpful it would be to have biochem, orgo, and biology fresh in my mind immediately before the MCAT. I had very little free time, but taking the courses was like studying for the MCAT (or so I convinced myself), which was what I was filling most of my free time with anyways.

I think it can certainly be done, but realize the commitment you're making. If you have other significant commitments with EC's, I'd hesitate.

I think the consensus so far is mixed, but I agree with most others... it really depends on your institution. For me, 3 labs in a semester meant 9 hours a week of lab, BLECH... but I soon realized not all of my labs really went the full three hours, so it didn't turn out to be that bad overall. Luckily, if we were able to finish the lab sooner, we were allowed to leave. I know this isn't the case at most places and even so I never once was able to leave a physics lab early, haha.

 

[aldol16]

Four labs a semester is too much - even three is pushing the envelope. It's not that the material is too demanding to handle (although I'm assuming you're taking organic chemistry lecture with the lab - orgo is a big time sink for most students) but rather that the simple time demand of being in labs will be too much - especially since you're also doing research in a microbio lab. If your labs are 3 hours a week as they typically are, that's 12 hours right there just in lab. Don't count on being able to finish early and leave - if you're really good you might be able to finish early but if only a few things go wrong, you could be spending even more time in lab. Is there a reason you're taking so many labs in a semester? In other words, why wouldn't you just spread these time-intensive courses out more?

 

[UBLI-EINSTEIN]

It's insane.

 

[DBC03]

Isn't A&P unnecessary for MCAT

I self-taught A&P and had no problem. That is something I would definitely put off.


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[shameless]

Four labs a semester is too much - even three is pushing the envelope. It's not that the material is too demanding to handle (although I'm assuming you're taking organic chemistry lecture with the lab - orgo is a big time sink for most students) but rather that the simple time demand of being in labs will be too much - especially since you're also doing research in a microbio lab. If your labs are 3 hours a week as they typically are, that's 12 hours right there just in lab. Don't count on being able to finish early and leave - if you're really good you might be able to finish early but if only a few things go wrong, you could be spending even more time in lab. Is there a reason you're taking so many labs in a semester? In other words, why wouldn't you just spread these time-intensive courses out more?

The reason I would like to take microbiology now is because of my involvement in the research. Also I should have mentioned I am not going to do research during the academic year. I plan on working there in the summer and winter and using credits to work in the lab junior and senior year (10 or 12 credits max I think, so that's why I wanted to save them). I hope to also TA this class, which would be awesome.

Orgo, physics and A&P I would preferably like to complete before my MCAT so that's why I would want to take them this year.
I heard physics is death (a lot of self learning) and Orgo is easy at my uni.




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[esob]

The reason I would like to take microbiology now is because of my involvement in the research. Also I should have mentioned I am not going to do research during the academic year. I plan on working there in the summer and winter and using credits to work in the lab junior and senior year (10 or 12 credits max I think, so that's why I wanted to save them). I hope to also TA this class, which would be awesome.

Orgo, physics and A&P I would preferably like to complete before my MCAT so that's why I would want to take them this year.
I heard physics is death (a lot of self learning) and Orgo is easy at my uni.




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If orgo is easy at your uni that is a bad thing. Without a good understanding of it the concepts in genetics and biochem can be murky. Also, I always thought orgo was a topic you would never encounter again after undergrad but since I started doing tox shadowing I realize that it is still very relevant in the daily activities of some doctors.

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

Unless you are a science wiz and multiple disciplines come easy to you...I can't really advice this. Some people can do this and excel but it doesn't sound like you know your limits well enough to risk this.