Class Conflicts!! Help!

[Somerset]

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Help! Does anyone have any good advise as to what to do when ALL the classes you need to take (undergrad) conflict?

Here's my sitution. I am a non-traditional student. I received a BS from TCU many years ago and have gone back to school to pursue my childhood dream of being a vet. I began taking a class or two while I was still working full time at my old job (self employed for 10 years) and last fall I finally quit the job and returned to school full time. Since I already have a degree, I am not required to repeat any core classes so the only ones I have to take are the sciences. The only classes I have left are a couple of chemistries, physics, and a few biologies. I was hoping to take 2nd semester organic w/ lab, physics w/lab, ecology and evolution (bio) w/lab, and calculus. But I can't get the schedule to work out. I know the admissions committees want to see that I can take 17+ hours in a term but there is no way. All the classes seem to be offered M & W am or T & R late afternoon. My bio classes are only offered once so I have to organize the others around them. At this point I can only schedule 8 hrs that don't conflict with each other. It's absolutley ridiculous! If I had core classes to take I could make it work, but since everything is science I'm really limited.

Does anyone have any advise as to what I should do? Should I only take the 8 hours I can schedule and up my volunteer hours that I do each week to make up for it? Help please!! Thanks!

 

[nyanko]

Can't you take science electives too if it's really about trying to prove you can handle a full science courseload?

 

[BlacKAT33]

yea i agree, why not take science electives? upper level courses. Taking the pre-req courses together so you have a full 15+ credits doesnt mean too much because most freshman are required to take that exact same schedule (chem, bio, calc) so everyone applying will have the same semester. When they talk about full course loads i think they usually mean during your jr and senior year when you take a lot of upper level courses.

i would look into the suggested courses like anatomy, physiology, pathology, virology, immunology, parasitology, endocrinology, nutrition, etc....

 

[Somerset]

Those are actually great ideas and I've looking into them. I have already taken 2 semesters of A&P (to help fill in the gaps), genetices, cell, etc... The problem is that here, Ecology & Evolution and Plant & Animal function are required pre-req's for any upper level bio. Ecology is offered in the fall and Plant in the spring. Ecology also requires calculus (which I'm taking this fall). So, it kills the option to take them at the same time. Therefore, I can't do virology or any of the others yet even though I would love to. It's so frustrating!!

 

[lalzi22]

Ecology also requires calculus (which I'm taking this fall). So, it kills the option to take them at the same time. Therefore, I can't do virology or any of the others yet even though I would love to. It's so frustrating!!

I would talk to your school about that ASAP. We had some classes that required pre-reqs. but if you talked to the school or professor, sometimes they would be lenient and allow you to take the pre-req at the same time. Sometimes they wouldn't, but it couldn't hurt to ask. Especially since you are a non-trad, they might take that into consideration.

 

[VeganSoprano]

If you were full-time when you earned your degree, you don't necessarily have to go full-time now. If you take 8 credits and work full-time, that's fine too - and it will save you a lot of money.

 

[moosenanny]

I'd definitely check into how strict they are about their pre-req policy. At my undergraduate institution, for instance, pre-req classes were merely a "suggestion" and nobody cared if you didn't fulfill them, i.e., you could take upper-division classes without the required lower-division ones, but at your own risk.

 

[Whyevernot55]

Ditto what others have said about looking into by-passing prereqs. As a post-bacc student (I already had an English degree when I started my science classes for vet school), I can typically convince the professors that they should let me take their class anyways. Saves SO much time.

 

[Somerset]

Thanks everyone for your ideas and support. VeganSoprano...I was full time when I got my BS at TCU so thanks for your advise. It makes me feel alot better. I also like the idea that was given about taking 15+ of upper level bio when I can and not stressing about it now. I'm just so limited since I am a non-traditional student. I only need specific classes to meet the entry requirements so it's been a challenge to put together a full schedule. Thanks again everyone for your help!! I appreciate it!

 

[milkmaid]

Depending on what you feel comfortable with, you may consider taking the classes you want and just dealing with the class conflicts... it's not ideal, but it can be workable. I had a TR class (pathogenic micro) and a MWRF class (anatomy/physiology) that conflicted, took both, attended both TR classes and only MWF for the second class. Ended up with high A's in both.

 

[sunnyshine]

Don't forget to exploit classes offered by nearby colleges and also the plethora of online courses that are available. Many of the courses you listed were rather general so I would think at least one or two similar classes are being offered by other colleges.

 

[StartingoverVet]

I'm completely with VeganSoprano on this one. I didn't take a full courseload for my prereqs as a non-trad and none of the schools I applied to blinked an eye. Just make sure you are getting great grades on the classes you are taking.

The full course-load question is mainly for traditional undergrads to make sure they aren't taking the easy way out. Non-trad route is definitely not the easy way out.

If you have a solid app then the course load won't matter and if you have a weak app then the course load is probably not the issue you should be focusing on.

 

[BlacKAT33]

Depending on what you feel comfortable with, you may consider taking the classes you want and just dealing with the class conflicts... it's not ideal, but it can be workable. I had a TR class (pathogenic micro) and a MWRF class (anatomy/physiology) that conflicted, took both, attended both TR classes and only MWF for the second class. Ended up with high A's in both.

LOL that is hilarious. i guess no exams ever overlapped. At my school our class schedule sign up was electronic and it would not allow you to overlap any classes

 

[twelvetigers]

Mine too, but you could get signatures from the professors of both classes and take the forms to the Union to get enrolled manually into the courses. I actually have a pretty henious course conflict this fall - I'll miss 1/2 hour twice a week from my micro lab, plus half of my parasitology lab once a week. I think the parasit lab is specimen based, so my plan is to go in there with my camera and take pictures, pictures, pictures!