Does this class count towards BCPM gpa and other fun questions

[Auron]

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hey guys,

1.) I'm thinking of taking this class: Biochemistry 100 - The Impact of science and and technology on society. Will this count towards the bcpm gpa?


2.) How difficult do you think it'd be to take biochem with orgo? too much chemistry? And is it worth taking cell bio as an elective?

3.) Is it worth taking genetics lab (not required but If I ace it, it will raise my bcpm gpa) and is just 1 credit bringing me to 17 hrs for the semester (see below schedule)

4.) Does this schedule seem like too much?

Organic 2 w/lab
Principles of Biochemistry
Genetics
Impact of science and technology on society (classified under biochem)
Humanities class (prolly a lot of writing)

16 hrs total.



I'd appreciate any advice,

thanks.

 

[Thewrongstuff]

hey guys,

1.) I'm thinking of taking this class: Biochemistry 100 - The Impact of science and and technology on society. Will this count towards the bcpm gpa?


2.) How difficult do you think it'd be to take biochem with orgo? too much chemistry? And is it worth taking cell bio as an elective?

3.) Does this schedule seem like too much?

Organic 2 w/lab
Principles of Biochemistry
Genetics
Impact of science and technology on society (classified under biochem)
Humanities class (prolly a lot of writing)

16 hrs total.



I'd appreciate any advice,

thanks.

1. Most likely yes
2. I'd personally kill myself if I had to do that, but many people do double up crazy sciences
3. Yes unless you are used to handling a hard cirriculum and are good at genetics. Exception being that this is one of your "gauntlet" semesters.

 

[HumidBeing]

That class sounds more like a humanities class, and shouldn't be included in the BCMP, BUT since it's under the Biochem heading, you might get away with sliding it in there, if that is your plan. Talk to people who have already taken it, because it might surprise you by being super heavy on the writing end.

The schedule sounds okay to me IF you are already accustomed to carrying multiple science courses. Of course, you could sign up, check out the courses, and drop one if it seems more than you can safely handle in a semester.

Oh, genetics is either 'easy' or way difficult, depending on the course and who is teaching it.

 

[spicedmanna]

1.) I'm thinking of taking this class: Biochemistry 100 - The Impact of science and and technology on society. Will this count towards the bcpm gpa?

Seems doubtful to me. Remember, what decides if it belongs with BCPM is not the title of the course, or the issuing dept, but the CONTENT of the course itself. Naturally, the only sure way to know is to call up, or email AAMC.

2.) How difficult do you think it'd be to take biochem with orgo? too much chemistry? And is it worth taking cell bio as an elective?

I can't speak toward difficulty; that's too individual for me to assess. You'll just have to feel out your own academic ability. I didn't find biochem that bad, but others have. However, it might be a good idea to take cell biology, eventually (when it seems reasonable to do so).

3.) Does this schedule seem like too much?

Organic 2 w/lab
Principles of Biochemistry
Genetics
Impact of science and technology on society (classified under biochem)
Humanities class (prolly a lot of writing)

16 hrs total.

Again, I can't speak about whether it is too much, if the schedule is right for you, because that depends on you. However, it seems reasonable to me. Don't rely on our opinions, you know yourself a lot better than us.

 

[Auron]

That class sounds more like a humanities class, and shouldn't be included in the BCMP, BUT since it's under the Biochem heading, you might get away with sliding it in there, if that is your plan. Talk to people who have already taken it, because it might surprise you by being super heavy on the writing end.

The schedule sounds okay to me IF you are already accustomed to carrying multiple science courses. Of course, you could sign up, check out the courses, and drop one if it seems more than you can safely handle in a semester.

Oh, genetics is either 'easy' or way difficult, depending on the course and who is teaching it.

that schedule is definetely more then I want to take - the problem is that I will be applying to med school my senior year, (currently a junior) and my gpa's are a bit low, so I'm desperately trying to take as much as I can and raise the gpa as much as possible (should be about 3.4-3.5) by the time I apply. To raise it to this level requires 17-18 hrs per semester from now on.

A problem for me now is taking too many hrs and doing bad, or taking an extra semester or something which will be financially difficult and something I don't want to do. I have no room for error...and its really stressing me out.

 

[Thewrongstuff]

that schedule is definetely more then I want to take - the problem is that I will be applying to med school my senior year, (currently a junior) and my gpa's are a bit low, so I'm desperately trying to take as much as I can and raise the gpa as much as possible (should be about 3.4-3.5) by the time I apply. To raise it to this level requires 17-18 hrs per semester from now on.

A problem for me now is taking too many hrs and doing bad, or taking an extra semester or something which will be financially difficult and something I don't want to do. I have no room for error...and its really stressing me out. I regret not working harder my early years.

I am in the same exact position...(my gpa will drop a lot with orgo etc..) Have you thought about taking 2-3 classes at CC?

 

[Auron]

I am in the same exact position...(my gpa will drop a lot with orgo etc..) Have you thought about taking 2-3 classes at CC?

I'll be taking physics 1 and 2 over the summer at my university..but wish I could take them at a CC because its so much cheaper.

Also, I heard med schools look down upon CC classes when you're enrolled at 4 year university. I don't think they care if the class is not a pre-med pre req but if it is, they question your motives (mine are financial and to be able to graduate on time).

can anyone comment on this??

 

[HumidBeing]

Yeah, they'll question it. That doesn't mean that you CAN'T if you have a good reason. Money isn't the best reason, but it's not an awful one. Combine that with a full regular class schedule & I think you've got a decent explanation. Do not expect the classes to be easier at a CC. Sometimes it's the exact opposite - and with no curve. You won't be rejected for having taken summer science courses there, but you would have to be comfortable explaining the reason.

You need to find out about the reputation of the genetics class at your school. Your proposed schedule would be fine if you were already accustomed to such a schedule and had been excelling. Since you are trying to bring up that GPA, the outlook is different. Biochem, genetics, and ochem II all at once, plus 2 other classes could pull you down. Can you take the biochem AFTER the ochem & still fit everything in that you need? As I said earlier, you could sign up & check out the classes long enough to get a feel for the professors and drop one, if necessary. If you do it during the drop period it won't show on your transcript.

If it comes down to it, grades are more important than time. I know there is financial pressure to finish on time, but the cost of an extra semester is worth it compared to blowing your grades by taking on more than you can do well with & then having to do a post bacc AFTER spending the money and stressing over a failed first application cycle. Don't just leap in to multiple upper level courses until you've shown yourself that you can handle the load. When you gradually work your way up, it's not nearly as stressful.

That's just my opinion.

 

[HumidBeing]

Oh, do they have any astronomy courses? Those DO fall into the BCMP category because they are considered "physics".

 

[spicedmanna]

If it comes down to it, grades are more important than time. I know there is financial pressure to finish on time, but the cost of an extra semester is worth it compared to blowing your grades by taking on more than you can do well with & then having to do a post bacc AFTER spending the money and stressing over a failed first application cycle. Don't just leap in to multiple upper level courses until you've shown yourself that you can handle the load. When you gradually work your way up, it's not nearly as stressful.

That's just my opinion.

👍

 

[FinchHead]

1.) You can probably go either way. If it helps in your science GPA, then add it in. Worst case scenario, they take it out.

2.) Depends on you, and how difficult the classes are. I would personally not take them together.

3.) For me, yes. Unless you have successfully done an equal or larger schedule before, it is not worth it. Take it slow and get the best GPA you can. Nothing else matters.

 

[dontwakeme]

These questions were not as fun as anticipated.

 

[FinchHead]

These questions were not as fun as anticipated.

Want to go to ride a carousel?

 

[dontwakeme]

Want to go to the moon?

If only I knew what that meant.

 

[FinchHead]

Forget about the moon, a carousel is slightly more fun.

 

[dontwakeme]

Carousels scare the **** out of me.

 

[husky10501]

wait..so do astronomy classes go into the BCMP GPA? One of the posts above said that they do, however, I was told that they aren't considered physics classes. Does anyone know?

 

[FinchHead]

Carousels scare the **** out of me.

You should try the one on the Santa Cruz boardwalk. It goes really fast, and you have to snatch this metal ring off a ring dispensing mechanism, to throw at this clown... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass_ring) I'm always worried about tearing my finger off moving at such high speeds.

But I digress! What was this thread about?

 

[husky10501]

wait..so do astronomy classes go into the BCMP GPA? One of the posts above said that they do, however, I was told that they aren't considered physics classes. Does anyone know?

forget what i said..i found out that they do. 🙂