Daunting Semester Ahead...Advice Please!

Started by ChrisM07
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ChrisM07

ChrisM07

Dental Student
15+ Year Member
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Hello!

I need a little advice here. I will be entering my (undergrad) Sophmore year at Temple this year. When I was chosing my schedule I thought it would be great to keep myself on a strict science and math diet for the fall semester but I am starting to re-consider. I will be taking:

-biology
-bio lab
-organic chemistry
-orgo lab
-calculus

Should I have chosen all this for one semester do you think (maybe I am over thinking it)? I am afraid it will be un-managable and my GPA will suffer because of it. I am a dental school hopeful and dont really want to do things to hinder my chances. I have already re-taken one class already and cant really afford to re-take another (should I need to).

What do you think? Any input would help!

Thanks!
😕
Chris
 
i got ur same scheduel except im taking cellular biology and not general biology and im also taking english 🙂 not too big of a deal, all you gotta do is study every day , 2 labs in a week really isnt a big deal... lab isnt somethin you really list in your courses.. your scheduel is bio, calc, and orgo, only 3 classes.
 
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It shouldn't be that bad. Just manage your time well. :luck:
 
Well, Laundry, there was suposed to be a question mark after my title but I was in a hurry and didnt really re-read everything. Being as I've never been in these courses before, I have just heard that they were all very difficult, which is fine, but I just wanted to see what everyone else thought (maybe some have taken these courses before).
 
Where are you all attending undergrad?

At my school every science course is accompanied by a 2-4 hour lab each week with a required lab write up. Is this not the norm?

Even at 4 science courses and an elective a semester i'm positive most people on this board could handle the load and do well in courses.
 
shane. said:
Where are you all attending undergrad?

At my school every science course is accompanied by a 2-4 hour lab each week with a required lab write up. Is this not the norm?

Even at 4 science courses and an elective a semester i'm positive most people on this board could handle the load and do well in courses.
Click to expand...


I agree...but then again, it's probably just people on SDN. I think in most schools 3 science classes are the correct load that need to be taken every quarter in order to graduate on time, but I maybe wrong.

Just make sure you don't slack off and study until the last minute. Otherwise, I think the load is pretty doable.

Good luck!
 
I'm planning on doing Ochem, Bio, and Physics all next year, very similar load to yours. I'm a tad scared too, but my friend just got accepted after doing a similar load.
 
I'll be taking calc II, gen chem II, calc based physics I, and stress management this fall lol. not too bad but im not excided about it cause when thats over my spring semester will start and ill be in orgo. just take it one step at a time you will do great 👍
 
You will do fine. The key is time management. I often wondered if I could handle similar courseloads. It seemed that the semesters I might have considerably overwhelmed myself, were the semesters that I made the best grades. When you are taking a rigorous courselaod, all you have to do is study, and so for me, it was much easier to focus, because that's all I did. Like someone else already said, don't fall behind in organic chemistry.
 
Chris,

I'm sorry if that came off arrogant. My point is that you need to change your mentality and start thinking of that course load as normal/easy. It's lot easier if you set your mind tht way vs. thinking how terrible it's gonna be.

So here's my advice: Biology is like a foreign language - not much concept to understand, but rather memory. So, how do you learn a foreign language? repetition, repetition, repetition. Spend an hour with your notes everyday and that class should be cake. Also, make sure you understand the format of lab practicles and focus on learning those structures, taxonomy, etc during the lab period. Never leave lab early just because you've already finished the "assignment". Rather, use that time to study.

Orgo: make a reaction sheet and a mechanism and add to it. It will make life easier when it's time for the test. I had a painting sheet written up front-back for each test and after I understood the concepts, all i had to study was that one sheet. My peers begged me for a copy each time. Orgo is not as bad as everyone claims it to be. Some even find it enjoyable...reminds me of the line from Good Will Hunting: "So you just do organic chemistry for fun...-Yea, for kicks...-mhm, for kicks ARE YOU MAD? NO ONE LIKES ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE FUN!!!" or something along those lines...:laugh::meanie: The lab portion is, well, like a big rash on your ass...just pisses you off...and eats a good 5 hours of your life each week. Plus, all those ether labs gave me a headache. One advice, make sure you hvae a good parter, otherwise there is a good chance that A. you'll have to do half of your experiments 2-3 times...B. you may blow up.

Calculus...I'll let you know once I get out of denial that I actually have to know it :laugh:

So...if that's all that you're taking you have plenty of time. Good luck 👍

P.S. Hope this makes up for the arrogance earlier. People, I think this forum has gotten a bit a-holish...So I call on all of you to be a lil nicer....

P.P.S. No, I'm undergoning a hormonal disbalance!!!!
 
I'm in summer taking orgo II, calculus and 3 other classes, and working-it just forces you to manage your time well.
 
I agree with laudry, and I don't believe it was a shot at you.

Start changing your mindset, and viewing things in broader context. You have a few courses that will take time to learn, but in a broader context, you have it easy. Thank God, you are not a mechanical engineer or even worse, a physics major! 🙂

Nothing wrong with either of those, but they would put me through the ringers.

Now to the helpful part of this post,
For Biology, I agree about the repetition and try to draw connections with everything you learn. Enough said.

For organic chemistry, I highly suggest getting the book "The nuts and bolts of organic chemistry" by joel karty. This book is written in a very easy to understand style, his progression makes sense, and this is the kicker, it helps you UNDERSTAND organic chemistry and not just memorize. This is very important, because when you have a reaction that you've never seen, you will be able to reason the movement of electrons around the molecules in order to form the most stable structure!

calculus is a different type of class, but put in your time and you'll be alright. Just go in open-minded and try not to get in a frantic mindset when you are being taught something you don't understand, just keep working on understanding the material. Of course that last sentence applies to every subject, not just calculus.

So many classes come down to confidence, be ready for the fight ahead, and remember the countless students that have journeyed the road ahead, you'll be fine.

For reference (I want to be able to talk about my classes too 🙂 )

This fall, while finishing my studying for the DAT, I'll be taking:

Biochemistry
Comparative chordate anatomy <--- the hardest course in our biology program, or so I've heard
Microbial Parthogenesis
Elementary Japanese
Social Psychology

This is not to impress, because I have seen some schedules posted on here that would break me down, but to show you that everyone has a difficult schedule, it's about confidence and time management/ priorities.

Good luck
 
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Thanks for the great suggestions (no hard feelings Laundry), they all sound great. I'll have to get that book for O-Chem. I'll just take it one class at a time and hope for the best. I'll also try not to freak out so fast this semester 😳.
 
you should be fine, I had a similar load my sophomore year. With a little time management, you'll see it isn't too bad. I myself am freaking out about this coming semester:

physical chem
microbiology
some physiology topic course
psychology
human gross anatomy

hopefully i get into a dental school before the semester ends! good luck to all.
 
I think you will do fine...try working a 40+ hour work week, then coming home and studying while trying to keep your marriage going strong...

I think Laundry has the best idea of the year for ochem...make that reaction sheet and make sure it is your best friend! I love labs, so they were super easy for me...we did miniscale reactions...all by ourselves...which kinda sucked, but it made sure you know what the hell you were doing!

Bio is gonna be easy compared to everything else...don't slack in it though...

Calc, I HATE calc...just do the practice problems until your brain bleeds...then, thank God that it isn't on the DAT!

You have a good reason to be apprehensive...don't let it get the best of you...
 
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