Course load advice...

[jos05]

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Hi all, I was wondering if those more experienced with me help me out with something..
I am about to graduate with my Masters in Finance, but I've already decided I need to at least try to follow my dream of being a Vet, and go back to school once I'm done and try to see if I can do well enough in the pre-reqs to even have a change. Just for background, I've worked at a small animal clinic for over a year, loads of hours with horses, and I know for sure this is something I would love doing.
My question is, since I need to do every science pre-req there is, what would be a good way to spread out the course load? I'll be working about 25-30 hours a week so a full schedule wouldn't be a problem, I just don't know if it would be suicide to try and take 4 or 5 tough science classes at a time just to be done in a year.
Any advice? Thanks!!

 

[Tech2Vet]

Hi jos05-
I went back to school after graduating to complete my pre-reqs as well. I had to complete most of my big science classes and I set it up to finish in about 2 yrs. I would suggest packing in the lower-level sciences and then spreading out the harder ones - like Biochem/Organic Chem. Last summer I took Organic I and II and it was a breeze. I'm so glad I pushed through and finished it quickly! I found Biochemistry to be my hardest pre-req. and I was glad I took it alone while working about 25 hrs/week.
Also, don't forget that you can apply in the fall even if you still have a few pre-reqs you're working on. Most schools don't mind if you have 1 or 2 classes to complete in the spring semester after you apply. Hope this helps! good luck!

 

[jos05]

Thanks for replying! On one had I want to be able to apply as soon as possible, just don't know if it would be possible to have a bio, chem, physics and possibly one more class all in one semester. It sounds a little intimidating!!lol

 

[cerealrhapsody]

I'm not sure you should take all those classes at once while working 25-30 hours a week. Not saying it's impossible - it all depends on how much you personally can accomplish - but for me it would be a very bad idea.

Also, keep in mind that you'll have to go through the following sequence (more or less, varying a little depending on which schools you plan on applying to):

Chem 1 --> Chem 2 --> Orgo 1 --> Orgo 2 --> Biochem

Since you can't take more than one of those chem classes simultaneously, it would take you at least 5 semesters to finish all your pre-reqs regardless of course load intensity.

 

[racccjlm]

Chem 1 --> Chem 2 --> Orgo 1 --> Orgo 2 --> Biochem

Since you can't take more than one of those chem classes simultaneously, it would take you at least 5 semesters to finish all your pre-reqs regardless of course load intensity.

This is generally true - though I know someone that doubled up in chem 2 and orgo 1, and orgo 2 and biochem (...if you happen to be REALLY good at chemistry...). I've done 5 science courses in a semester and I didn't have much time for anything else...especially 25-30 hours for a job! Only you can know what you can handle. Good luck!

 

[turnbackhelly]

As several others have already said, only you can decide what you are personally able to handle, but in terms of scheduling it is possible to complete all of your prereqs within 12-14 months provided you are able to find a school that offers summer sessions. I went back to school to complete my prereqs after getting a degree in an unrelated field, and was able to get everything in in just about a year. My timetable looked something like this:

Summer 2008 - Gen Chem 1 + lab (1st 5-week session), Gen Chem 2 + lab (2nd 5-week session)
Fall 2008 - Calc, Orgo 1 + lab, Physics 1 + lab, Intro Bio + lab
Spring 2009 - Orgo 2 + lab, Physics 2 + lab, Zoology + lab, Cell Physiology + lab, Genetics
Summer 2009 - Microbio + lab and Biochem (1st 5-week session), Statistics (2nd 5-week session)

Of course I had already completed my more general prereqs (ie, English and Social Sciences) as part of my bachelors degree. I was also working 20 hrs and volunteering 4-8 hrs per week during that year. I applied this past cycle and continued taking upper level bio courses while my applications were pending. Obviously this course load is not for everyone, but I was able to manage it without a problem. So it's possible, it just depends on what you think you'd be able to handle.

Honestly, as somewhat of a non-trad student myself, I really believe that tackling the prereqs in this (completely crazy) way helped me to gain admission this cycle. Coming from an unrelated field, adcoms would have had no way of knowing that I would be able to handle the academic rigor of vet school - but I think going balls to the walls with the prereqs like I did was a good way of proving to them that I could do it. Good luck! 🙂

 

[Crazy Hippos]

It all depends on what you feel comfortable with. I worked around 30 hours a week and took 4 courses each semester. It wasn't easy, but definitely doable. I also didn't have much of a social life, so if that's important to you, then you might want to consider taking less classes. Good luck!

 

[jos05]

Thanks so much for the help guys! As far as my working schedule, I am thinking of making sure I only have 15-20 hours next year, and that is spread out over 6 days-so it's not too bad. I will defitely trying to be getting extra volunteer hours in as well-looking for an equine vet in the area to maybe shadow but there aren't many. We also have a very very tiny zoo I might try to get in at as well, better than nothing.

TurnbackHelly- That schedule sounds tough but thanks so much for making me see its possible!! I already took calc and stats so that should help me out as well. I might steal that lineup though 🙂

 

[marycatherine]

I'm about to graduate this May with a degree in Hispanic Studies and English and am immediately starting science stuff. Here's my game plan:

Spring 2010 (right now!)
Bio 1
Primate Behavior (for research hours)

Summer 2010:
Gen Chem 1
Orgo 1

Fall 2010:
Orgo 2
Bio 2
Physics 1
Calc

Spring 2011:
Chem 2
Physics 2
Biochem
Animal Phys?

Summer:
Stats (1st 5 week session)
internship or just work 2nd session

Fall 2011:
Molecular Genetics
Calc
Online Nutrition class?

Spring 2012:
Microbiology

I have to take mine in 2 years only because my school only offers certain classes at certain times. I know I'm going to be so antsy and frustrated the 2nd year, but I'm hoping to get a ton of hours and bank some money while I'm applying for vet school that year, so that I can help offshoot some loans and be super prepared.

 

[luplodw]

I'm about to graduate this May with a degree in Hispanic Studies and English and am immediately starting science stuff. Here's my game plan:

Spring 2010 (right now!)
Bio 1
Primate Behavior (for research hours)

Summer 2010:
Gen Chem 1
Orgo 1

Fall 2010:
Orgo 2
Bio 2
Physics 1
Calc

Spring 2011:
Chem 2
Physics 2
Biochem
Animal Phys?

Summer:
Stats (1st 5 week session)
internship or just work 2nd session

Fall 2011:
Molecular Genetics
Calc
Online Nutrition class?

Spring 2012:
Microbiology

I have to take mine in 2 years only because my school only offers certain classes at certain times. I know I'm going to be so antsy and frustrated the 2nd year, but I'm hoping to get a ton of hours and bank some money while I'm applying for vet school that year, so that I can help offshoot some loans and be super prepared.

Don't you have to take Chem 1 and 2 before you start on Orgo? There is no way you can start Biochem before you have Chem 1 and 2. At my school I have to have physics before Biochem too

 

[marycatherine]

Don't you have to take Chem 1 and 2 before you start on Orgo? There is no way you can start Biochem before you have Chem 1 and 2. At my school I have to have physics before Biochem too

My school is really weird (annoying) about pre-reqs. I only have to have Gen Chem 1 before Orgo 1, and they grant overrides for Bio Chem while you're in Gen Chem 2. (I've emailed all the appropriate profs already and they've assured me they will help me find places in classes.)

 

[luplodw]

My school is really weird (annoying) about pre-reqs. I only have to have Gen Chem 1 before Orgo 1, and they grant overrides for Bio Chem while you're in Gen Chem 2. (I've emailed all the appropriate profs already and they've assured me they will help me find places in classes.)

That's awesome!! Honestly, I didn't need those classes for Orgo or Biochem anyway.

 

[marycatherine]

That's awesome!! Honestly, I didn't need those classes for Orgo or Biochem anyway.

Haha, that's good to hear! When I first was planning I thought all the pre-reqs were going to take 3 years and was pretty disappointed, but luckily I've got pre-med friends and nice professors who showed me it can be done even if it looks weird.

 

[runner2002]

Hi all, I was wondering if those more experienced with me help me out with something..
I am about to graduate with my Masters in Finance, but I've already decided I need to at least try to follow my dream of being a Vet, and go back to school once I'm done and try to see if I can do well enough in the pre-reqs to even have a change. Just for background, I've worked at a small animal clinic for over a year, loads of hours with horses, and I know for sure this is something I would love doing.
My question is, since I need to do every science pre-req there is, what would be a good way to spread out the course load? I'll be working about 25-30 hours a week so a full schedule wouldn't be a problem, I just don't know if it would be suicide to try and take 4 or 5 tough science classes at a time just to be done in a year.
Any advice? Thanks!!

I'm doing something similar to you. I already have a B.S. degree (in accounting) and I'm going back for my science pre-reqs. This is my 1st semester of taking pre-reqs, I'm taking General Chem and freshman Bio. I'm also work about 10-20 hours a week at a vet hospital, in addition to volunteering at a farm, and a few other places. It's kinda hectic trying to juggle it all..🙄..but I think it really depends on the person. I tend to work best under pressure and time-challenged, makes things more interesting!😀

I am trying to get it all done in 2 years. I have no choice but to take only science classes and nothing else every semester (including summer) until I apply to vet school. I plan on taking 2nd half of general chemistry in the summer as well as animal bio or microbiology, then physics I, organic chem I, and an upper bio course in the fall.

I would start with 2 science classes to get your feet wet. I don't know how it is at your school, but at mine the labs that go with the chem and bio classes are like separate classes, with quizzes and tests too, so really I should be saying I'm taking "4 classes" this semester. 😀 The max number of science classes I'll be taking a semester is probably 3, 4 would be pushing it..lol.

Good luck.🙂

 

[Myotis]

As others have said, it really depends on the person. I tend to work better under pressure, unfortunately, whoever comes up with class schedules for my school, and specifically the science departments, likes to make things hard for people who want to take more than two science classes per semester (they like to schedule everything at the exact same time), so I've only taken two science classes at a time so far, in addition to other gen eds that my school requires. But for me, it also depends on what kind of science classes I'm taking. Chemistry and physics are MUCH harder for me than biology, so I think I could handle three or four biology classes at a time, but if I was taking chemistry or physics at the time, I'd probably only take one or two other science classes at the same time.

 

[OliveOyl]

A lot of schools also offer the Chem I/Chem II and Physics I/Physics II as shortened "fast track" classes during the summers. That will help to knock out those in one semester. My first summer in school I knocked out my gen chems and the summer before applying (or during applying, I guess you could say 🙂) I knocked out my Physics. Just don't forget that you will also have to take labs for most of those classes too and they are generally 3 hour (per week) labs. Mostly simple, but they do (sometimes waste) 3 hours of time when you could be taking another class. You may also look at going to 2 different schools to work the schedule in. I went to a university for most of my classes, but was able to find a Bio I/II class at the community college next to my house so that I could easily knock those out while also taking some higher sciencs classes. Sometimes the community colleges may have some night classes that fit into your schedule better.