Anyone take physics and organic in the same year?

[b-real]

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Hey all. I was just thinking about my schedule for next year and I'm thinking about taking both physics and organic at the same time. Has anyone here done this? Pros and cons? BTW, I would have to take a 1 credit hour physics lab both semesters and a 2 credit hour organic lab second semester. This is my greatest concern, the amount of time spent in lab. Any feedback would be great. Thanks.

 

[Original]

I didn't do it but I took Organic chem and advanced calculus at the same time. It wasn't bad. I actually struggled more with physics/Gchem combo than I did with Ochem/advanced Cal/biochem combo. I don't know your classification, but I think coming out of highschool, the college science courses can be rough. It takes a while to find one's bearing. If you're used to the work load then it wouldn't be a problem. If however, you're attempting such a stunt for the 1st time, I think you should proceed with caution (i.e maybe study longer hours). It's certainly doable. Tons of people do it. Hope this is helpful. Go knock some physics teeth out.
F = ma dude! Good luck.

 

[El Jefe]

I took physics and ochem at the same time. I didn't think it was any worse than any other 2 class combo. Physics lab at my school is pretty much a joke - just go to lab for 1-2 hours a week and do some lame experiments with no writeups or quizzes or exams or anything. Chem lab will definitely be a greater time committment.

 

[lamyers1]

I think any pre-medder trying to actually finish in four years ends up taking several tough courses at once. I remember taking Calc, Organic and Physics, History and Lit in the same semester. Just be prepared to buckle down. Remember, if this is too tough, it is indicative of how you would handle med school. If you take both, just throw in two or three easier classes, like speech, computer, etc. Good luck!

 

[otter]

I never thought that Physics was a time-consuming class. There's not much memorization and, at least at my school, the labs were laidback and kind of dumb.

The one simultaneous combination you do want to avoid is Biology-Orgo. Both of those classes are very time-consuming and requires intensive memorization. Can't imagine taking both those classes at the same time and acing them.

 

[vyc]

so it really does depend on your school.
bc like some others have posted, physics lab at my school was a 3.5 hour/week committment. all lab write ups were done IN lab and we were out of there.
most other labs don't work this way.

in my opinion, physics is the best science to take as a second science class bc of this.
but if at your school, physics labs are more involving, then obviously, it might be another story.

i don't think any other bio course could be more though... so this might be your best bet.

 

[dukeblue01]

I agree with the school issue. At my school, if you took physics and o-chem at the same time, you wouldn't b-real you would b-f@#$%ed. Good luck. :wink:

 

[sandflea]

i agree that it depends on your school and how rigorous physics and orgo are. at my college, physics lab wasn't really time-consuming, but orgo and bio labs were. i took orgo and bio simultaneously my sophomore year and i'm lucky i didn't jump off a bridge that year, i was so stressed--those classes were absolutely killer. it also depends on your personal strengths, i would think. did you take physics in high school? did it come pretty naturally to you then? i think physics is one of those classes where either you catch on really quick or you just don't get it, EVER. alternatively you could take physics over the summer or something, to avoid having to take two pre-med requirements at the same time.

 

[MorningLight2100]

Hi b-real,

Do you know any upperclass pre-meds to whom you can talk, who've taken such a class combination in the past? As others have mentioned, how difficult the schedule will be depends heavily on the structure of both classes at your university. Also. . . how comfortable do you feel with the sciences? Did you struggle in general chem, or in other science courses you've taken? That should help you gauge whether or not it will be too much work to handle gracefully. I've taken some pretty killer courses simultaneously...e.g., one semester junior year I took a three-credit Analytical Chem Lab, 3.5-credit Biochem, and calculus-based Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics...but I was a junior Biochem major, so I had adjusted to the rigor of science courses at my college by then.

A lot of premeds have to double up on courses for at least one year. I took chem & physics (& then organic & physics) together...others have taken the chemistry sequence by itself, then doubled up bio and physics. It really depends upon how comfortable you feel with such classes. Also, how difficult will the remainder of your classes be? Are there other courses about which you're concerned? In addition...do you work, or are you deeply involved in extra-currics? It's difficult for anyone here to give you a concrete answer, because just knowing "ochem and physics together" doesn't tell us anything else about your schedule, in terms of its flexibility.

So to make a very long-winded post...well, still long 🙂 , talk to others at your college, and then think about what else you have planned for next year, and how much time you predict you might have to devote to the classes. Good luck!!! 😀

 

[jofrbr76]

It definetly depends on the school you're at, and how much time you can donate to studying/work outside of the classroom.

Normally i wouldn't post a reply and repeat what everyone else has all ready said, it's just that i took o-chem and physics together, and it's VERY DOABLE, just stay on top of things.

 

[Original]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by jofrbr76:
• VERY DOABLE, just stay on top of things.•••••I see your point; but if she'd rather be on top, I don't have a problem with it.

 

[b-real]

Many thanks to those who have replied. I'll see if I can ask around about the time commitment in physics lab. I'm taking general chem right now, and it's not too bad. To those who are curious, I'm a freshman sophomore (advanced standing). Thanks again everyone :wink:

PS: Do you think anyone will care if the physics is algebra or calc-based? I haven't taken calculus since HS and I'm afraid that I won't remember enough to get by.

 

[Original]

No one cares whether it's algebra or calc based. As long as you remember that F=ma, you'll be fine in the class and on the MCAT as well.

 

[marleybfour]

B-real,

I am taking Organic II, Physics II and Medical Bacteriology right now. I think it is manageable, but I had my teachers sign me out of the labs. I will take them over the next year. I too, find them very time consuming and since I work also, I just couldn't squeeze them into my schedule.

 

[Doctora Foxy]

Don't take calc based unless you have to for your major...it's much harder and I doubt med schools appreciate the difference for the amoutn of extra work you'll have to do.....however in my school for a biochem major, you must take calc based, so be careful or you may have to take two physics classes

 

[different strokes]

"Remember, if this is too tough, it is indicative of how you would handle med school." -Lamyers

I say no way is this true...I am a med student and you can't compare the coarse loads of medical school and pre-med because the courses are VERY DIFFERENT. For me physics and calculus will always be harder than anything in med school.

Some pre-meds found organic chem to be like pulling teeth. When they took this with other challenging classes, it was a constant struggle. But, when they went to med school, they had no problems with biochem, histo, pathophysio, etc.

 

[Artois]

Like others have said, it depends on what school you're at, but I think you need to look at what comes easy to you. I took both semesters of physics and OCHEM together and did fine in both, in fact I only ended up going to about the first month of the physics classes then did the rest on my own. I wouldn't take the calculus based unless for some insane reason your a physics major. The physics information you'll need on the MCAT isn't that tough. Good Luck

 

[buffy]

I took organic, general chem, and physics at the same time in a post-bac program. It was a lot of work, but I finished with a 4.0 and really learned the material well. I was also glad I finished all the coursework I needed in one year. Good luck! 😎

 

[Firebird]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by otter:
•

The one simultaneous combination you do want to avoid is Biology-Orgo. Both of those classes are very time-consuming and requires intensive memorization. Can't imagine taking both those classes at the same time and acing them.•••••I took Bio, Organic, and Physics all at the same time...that included 2 hours per week in a physics lab and 2 per week in bio lab. This was a mistake.

I aced Bio with a very high A. I got a B in physics, which I can believe, but after getting A's on the first two tests, it really surprised me.

I got a C in organic...it was a high C, though. I'm now repeating organic for a couple reasons. Primarily because I didn't think I knew the material well enough to get a better grade in ORganic II and secondly because I would prefer the ADCOMS to see that I am capable of getting something higher than a C in organic.

 

[Elysium]

I'm taking Physics II and Orgo II (with labs for both) and preparing for the MCAT. The physics lab at my school is a joke. The Orgo lab is something else alltogether. Prelab, quiz, lab write up, and a final. For 1 credit. Boy, I hate these chem labs. I'm ready for them to be over!!
As far as the course load is concerned, I think you'll be able to do it, provided the other classes you're taking are less time intensive.