Can you help me with my courses?

[IseeYou]

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Hello SDN fellas!!!! I'm in my last quarter as a sophomore in college @ UCSD. I heard a lot of students taking their MCAT before senior year, or summer of their junior year. Since I am going to be a junior after this summer, I'm looking forward to taking my MCAT. But the problems are my courses to take before I move on to my upper division core or whatever course I need to take to graduate.

Here's what I have left :
Physics 2A & B
physics 2BL - lab
Ochem 1 & 2
Ochem 143A - lab
Metabolic biochemistry
Genetics
Molecular bio

I was planning to take Physics 1 & 2, Ochem 1 & 2, along with Molecular bio and metabolic biochemistry for Fall and Winter. For spring, since I'm going to take the MCAT, I kind of remember someone saying do not take courses or full load when you are studying for it. In that case, I will just take Genetics and Ochem lab. Spring begins the last week of March and ends the first week of June. If I want to take the MCAT around june, do you think I have enough time or should I just drop Spring quarter to study for it? I work 6 hours for 5 days (Mon - Fri) and volunteer 6 hours a week (Sat & Sun). I'm just worried about the time, I am not really that smart, so I spend alot of time studying, and doing practice test. Anyone from UCSD who encountered the same thing?

 

[IseeYou]

Bump....

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Ok question. How are you going to take 4 majorly huge classes over the winter ( a 5 week period).

 

[Ischemic]

A better question would be how you going to get through those classes (including labs) AND study for the MCAT too?

If your answer is I'll learn the stuff on the MCAT by studying for my usual classes... WRONG. Unfortunately, I don't see you pulling this off. It's better if you focus on the coursework first, do MCAT studying over the summer after junior year and take it before senior year. Apply a year later and utilize the year off to do non-academic stuff.

 

[Tots]

UCSD is on the quarter system. He means winter quarter.

 

[IseeYou]

Ok question. How are you going to take 4 majorly huge classes over the winter ( a 5 week period).

I'm sorry I wasn't clear enough. I meant to say is to take Physics 1, Ochem 1, and Genetics for fall (49 days of instructions - 60 days in Quarter) and Physics 2, Ochem 2, and Mol. Bio for Winter (48 days of instruction - 55 days in Quarter). So I can take OChem lab and meta.biochem. for Spring ( 49 days of instruction - 57 days in quarter) while im getting ready for MCAT. Which would be the right combination though? Saying that I work 6 hours a day, 5 days a week and with volunteers every weekend 6 hours, am I killing myself? or should I just drop spring or just enroll in 1 class and drop volunteer so I will have time to study for MCAT.

 

[IseeYou]

UCSD is on the quarter system. He means winter quarter.

Right, Sorry!

 

[IseeYou]

A better question would be how you going to get through those classes (including labs) AND study for the MCAT too?

If your answer is I'll learn the stuff on the MCAT by studying for my usual classes... WRONG. Unfortunately, I don't see you pulling this off. It's better if you focus on the coursework first, do MCAT studying over the summer after junior year and take it before senior year. Apply a year later and utilize the year off to do non-academic stuff.

Not that. Im asking which would be a better combination for Fall and Winter quarter to take and Drop spring quarter or take 1 course. Basically, I need to take 8 classes this year. I will take 3 for fall, 3 for winter and maybe take 1 class for spring or just drop it and do 3months of studying every material that is covered for MCAT.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

UCSD is on the quarter system. He means winter quarter.

Ah I see. But I thought that under a quarter system you need to take 3 quarters of physics and o-chem.

 

[IseeYou]

Ah I see. But I thought that under a quarter system you need to take 3 quarters of physics and o-chem.

For physics, A-C and Ochem I & II only + 143A (which im planning to take spring quarter) which is lab. I can take Physics C after junior or if it doesn't fit my senior schedule, maybe summer of senior year. I just want to get rid of meta.Biochem / Genetics / Mol.Bio this year and now I am trying to figure out how without bothering my spring quarter, 3months review for MCAT.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

For physics, A-C and Ochem I & II only + 143A (which im planning to take spring quarter) which is lab. I can take Physics C after junior or if it doesn't fit my senior schedule, maybe summer of senior year. I just want to get rid of meta.Biochem / Genetics / Mol.Bio this year and now I am trying to figure out how without bothering my spring quarter, 3months review for MCAT.

I'm going to just say that make your schedule so that you don't get overwhelmed. Because then you'll do major damage to your gpa. Better to take your time then rush it all.

 

[Jasgop]

Wouldn't be that too much? Prioritize and don't overwhelmed yourself. Make sure that your grades do not suffer.

 

[IseeYou]

Another year off then? So would you recommend this schedule for me Fall to Spring? Or these classes will kill me? Is it smart to take Ochem with anything but physics?

F - Ochem1, Genetics, Physics I + ?
W - Ochem2, Meta.Biochem, Physics 2 + ?
S - Ochem lab, Molecular biology, Physiology + ?
Summer - 3months MCAT studying, take the test on September and apply next cycle.

How's that?

 

[IseeYou]

I'm going to just say that make your schedule so that you don't get overwhelmed. Because then you'll do major damage to your gpa. Better to take your time then rush it all.

Basically, im taking 12units per semester. Most people take 15+. But if your talking about the combination of classes that im taking then do you have any suggestion? Because even if I don't take the test this summer, I still have to finish all 8 courses in my junior year. So that means F/W/S = 3+3+2 courses.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

It's do able, but be careful is what im saying.