Fall semester begins!

[NuttyEngDude]

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So what are you guys taking?

I'm doing some mcat studies along with my regular courseload and taking:

• Biochem
• Microbio
• Genetics
• Bioethics

16 credit hours

I expect the first three to be my toughest, with bioethics being a low-stress class.

 

[MaenadsDance]

Ecology, Evolution, Biodiversity (4)
General Chemistry I + Lab (5)
Calculus II (4)

Pretty easy semester in terms of credit hours, but no fluff. Apparently the first one will involve memorizing a lot of cladograms. It's a good thing I like taxonomy??

 

[qwerty2012]

I am taking

-it easy (0 credits)

thinking of registering for microbio, genetics, anatomy at maybe a local university.

 

[EE12BMD]

Nutty, are you also working full time?

I'm retaking Chem 1 since it's been like 14 yrs...
Also, taking some humanities (Psyc, Soci) since I plan on taking advantage of the Texas fresh start program... and statistics...
Took Bio 1 & 2 over two 5 week sessions over the summer while working full time and having a 2 month old at the house.... it was killer.....

 

[NuttyEngDude]

Nutty, are you also working full time?

Nope, not working at all. Completely 100% fulltime student. No way I could do this with the all-consuming job I had before. The monkey wrenches in my schedule are the research hours and volunteer hours and of course, staying motivated to work on MCAT stuff knowing I have other obligations.

 

[EE12BMD]

Cool.

Get those A's man.

 

[7175pank]

This semester:

- Histology x 3
- Orgo I + Lab x 4
- Quantum Mechanics and Relativity x 4
- Parasitology x 3 (might have to settle for Genetics though due to wait list)

14 credits

The content should be fun. The pulling my hair out trying to get A's maybe not so much.

 

[JennWolf]

I start on Monday =) excited to get going and get some of these pre reqs out of the way!

Chem 1 + lab - 5 credits
Bio 1 + lab - 4 credits
Stats - 4 credits
Non-west Phil - 4 credits
Yoga - 1 credit (doesn't count to GPA)

+ possibly volunteering at the domestic abuse and child advocacy organization.

Looks scary but I have already taken classes in bio chem/anatomy and other sciences so after looking at the books this semester should actually be a breeze and hopefully help repair my bad gpa from years ago as an art student. D=
Good luck to everyone!

 

[CastleG8]

I also start Monday.

13 credit hours here because the Physiology lab seats filled up.

Human Physiology 3
Statistics 3
Genetics 3 Genetics lab 1
Organic Chem 3

My goal for this semester is to always stay ahead of the material and get a 3.5+ while managing to start some volunteering and shadowing. I don't have to work this year because of my GI Bill allowances are enough.

Stay positive.

 

[StudyShy]

Happy fall semester to everyone! 🙂

 

[The_Sunny_Doc]

Yup, happy fall semester!

Second year of post-bacc, woot! 👍 Feeling much more confident than I was starting out, having As under my belt. Still, there's that sense of dread in the pit of my stomach... 😛 Y'all inspire me so I'll be lurking 'round this forum quite a bit during study breaks.

I also start Monday.

13 credit hours here because the Physiology lab seats filled up.

Human Physiology 3
Statistics 3
Genetics 3 Genetics lab 1
Organic Chem 3

My goal for this semester is to always stay ahead of the material and get a 3.5+ while managing to start some volunteering and shadowing. I don't have to work this year because of my GI Bill allowances are enough.

Stay positive.

Our schedules are super similar! I took Stats last semester. It was cake. 😀 I hope the course is just as easy at your school.


NuttyEngDude, when are you taking the mcat? That's a great idea about having one low stress class. Hoping the zoology class I'm taking is like that.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

January (or march+), just depends on how ready I feel and also what all the class syllabus dates say their test dates are, I wont know this until January though.

 

[dmf2682]

Taking a break from vacation to check sdn, how odd is that? Guess it points to being bored at work, ha ha!

I start on Monday:

English lit
Medical biochemistry (at local allo school for graduate credit!)

Plus getting ready for the mcat a la nuttyengdude

Good luck all!

 

[mcdtheta]

I am just starting back in again at completing my undergraduate degree. Starting in late September at Northwestern I will be taking Chemistry and English Comp class. Excited to get back into the swing of things!

 

[The_Sunny_Doc]

This semester:

- Histology x 3
- Orgo I + Lab x 4
- Quantum Mechanics and Relativity x 4
- Parasitology x 3 (might have to settle for Genetics though due to wait list)

14 credits

The content should be fun. The pulling my hair out trying to get A's maybe not so much.

Quantum Mechanics and Relativity! How cool. Is there a lot of calc involved in that? Wish my school offered more physics. Good luck with that!

 

[LMac]

One week down, 14 to go

Honors Organic Chem - 4
Organic Chem Lab - 2
Organic Calculus Problems - 1
Calculus - 4
Honors Thesis Research - 3

14 hours total + 20 hours a week working in a research lab and have my first hospital volunteer shift in Immunology on Monday!

 

[Eccesignum]

Longtime lurker, first-time poster. It's a little surreal to be posting out loud, finally having waded through over half a year of trying to figure out how to get this all done. The marathon can begin!

Bio I + Lab (4)
Chem I + Lab (4)
Trig (3)

Light on the load for now, but with two jobs to work right now I figure it's best not to tempt a crash and burn right out of the gate.

 

[MaenadsDance]

One week down, 14 to go

Honors Organic Chem - 4
Organic Chem Lab - 2
Organic Calculus Problems - 1
Calculus - 4
Honors Thesis Research - 3

14 hours total + 20 hours a week working in a research lab and have my first hospital volunteer shift in Immunology on Monday!

Ooohhh, pretty. What do you get to learn for that?

 

[7175pank]

Quantum Mechanics and Relativity! How cool. Is there a lot of calc involved in that? Wish my school offered more physics. Good luck with that!

Thanks 🙂

And it is awesome.

There is a fair amount of calc. From what I've read, *most* of the calc comes in when you get into Schrodinger's equations but it's peppered throughout (mostly in proofs though which you don't necessarily *need*).

 

[HipChick]

Orgo and bio, total of 8 credits working full time. No time for shadowing. I go to class or am on the road to class m-r 8-2 then work 2-10...

 

[Fuji Diamond]

Org I + lab
Physics II
Studying for MCATs

Starting my second year of post-bacc, it all seems much less scary. Good luck everyone!

 

[Deadlifts]

Finishing up my year of bio this summer (one of those "cram everything into a summer" classes) with a 3.85 so far in my post-bacc sciences (yay for upward grade trends although my 4 years of undergrad were just fine).

Fall term:
-Physics
-OChem
-Playing around with throwing Anatomy or a Med Humanities class on the schedule.

I work 1-2 12 hour shifts a week which is doable with the two classes. Winter and spring terms will be another story entirely...

Good luck!

 

[mdambitions]

Good luck everyone! We're one semester closer to our goal! I started last Monday as well, and am pretty excited for this semester. When its finished I'll only have 1 prereq left!

Bio 2 + Lab
Genetics + Lab
Ochem 1 + Lab
Cell bio research -(ongoing, 3rd semester now)

Wish I could quit working, but it looks like I'll have to manage the FT job for one more semester. Also, the hubby and I just found out we're expecting, so this semester is sure to be my most logistically and physically challenging yet. Wish me luck!

 

[derpymd]

Just General Chem I for me this Fall semester. I had a Saturday Bio 2 class that got canceled due to low enrollment....(bleh)

Working full time and having a 5 hr course + lab makes it hard to schedule other classes around it! Gave me a chance to look at weekend volunteer oppurtunities though.

 

[johnnyscans]

Organic Chemistry I w/ lab (4)
Anatomy and Physiology I w/ lab (4)

On top of:
Teaching Assistant for Physics I (8 hrs/week)
Volunteer research, nearing completion of my project, hopefully publication soon (30 hrs/week)
Hospital Volunteering (3 hrs/week)
Shadowing and random assorted non-clinical volunteering

 

[Freesia88]

Calc I
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
Gen Chem II

Total 15 credits plus, full time job and volunteering.

Good luck everyone!

 

[The_Sunny_Doc]

mdambitions, castleg8, and nuttyengdude - How are y'all liking Genetics? I'm already tired of it, LOL! It involves Statistics, the horror! Feels kind of like IB Bio in high school with the fruit flies and onion root tip lab. That's gonna be the class with the most busy work for me.

Human Phys and Animal Behavior are awesome so far. Orgo II is... more interesting than Orgo I, but we're still reviewing a bit.

What are your impressions of classes?

 

[NuttyEngDude]

Quite honestly my fall schedule is heaven right now. My toughest class looks to be microbio and with all the bio i've studied for the MCAT, everything is review so far. I guess it would have really helped me to take my current schedule before starting to study for the MCAT, but oh well.....

Genetics is not bad at all so far. We are still doing review, with meiosis/mitosis but with a more in-depth study of prophase (leptonema, zygonema, pachynema, diplonema, diakinesis). From what I understand from upper classmen, it will get surprisingly hard later after everyone has been lulled into complacency.

But right now I have ample time to volunter, study for school, study for the MCAT and not feel stressed, hurried, or overly busy at all.

 

[ArmyWife1153]

Bio 2
Chem 2 plus lab
Precalc
Shadowing
Clinical research study

 

[CastleG8]

mdambitions, castleg8, and nuttyengdude - How are y'all liking Genetics? I'm already tired of it, LOL! It involves Statistics, the horror! Feels kind of like IB Bio in high school with the fruit flies and onion root tip lab. That's gonna be the class with the most busy work for me.

Human Phys and Animal Behavior are awesome so far. Orgo II is... more interesting than Orgo I, but we're still reviewing a bit.

What are your impressions of classes?

My favorite course so far is Genetics. The professor makes all the difference in my case. Also, Genetics appears to be the most challenging course, and I have been warned by graduate students about this class taught by my current professor. I expected Human Physiology to be my favorite but the lectures are just following powerpoint! I can do this from home. Ugh.

Organic chemistry is better than I expected and Statistics is so dull. Most of my Statistics classmates are non-Biology majors and the class just has a very different feel to it. My genetics lab has only 6 students and a professor + TA. I am loving the personal time we get with the TA and professor. We haven't really got too much into the work yet.

I am attempted to get ahead until I figure out which courses are going to give me the most issues. I have never been good at the molecular level stuff. I just struggle with understanding and retaining it. Also, I don't like the sound of this Lab Math talk from the genetics lab.

 

[mdambitions]

mdambitions, castleg8, and nuttyengdude - How are y'all liking Genetics? I'm already tired of it, LOL! It involves Statistics, the horror! Feels kind of like IB Bio in high school with the fruit flies and onion root tip lab. That's gonna be the class with the most busy work for me.

Human Phys and Animal Behavior are awesome so far. Orgo II is... more interesting than Orgo I, but we're still reviewing a bit.

What are your impressions of classes?

Genetics is also my favorite class; it was the first class I wanted to take, before naively realizing that bio 1 and 2 had to come first. So far, the statistics have been minimal, and any decent calculator can make that aspect easier. The first two weeks have been alot of review of the basics. Judiging from the quizzes and structure, the class will be more than manageable...but I think most classes are manageable if you enjoy or can find a way to relate to the material.

 

[CajunMedic]

All downhill for me since finishing organic

intermediate Cajun French
Physics 1 with Lab
Environmental Toxicology
Principles of Management

Plus,
Working full-time
Starting an MCAT prep course next month
Just got picked up to be a TA for a Disaster Anthropology course
Serving on the Local DMAT

And trying somewhere to clean up my yard after Hurricane Issac!

 

[MissionalMed]

First semester postbac here:

Gen Chem 1 + lab (5); Gen Bio + lab (5); Anatomy/Physiology + lab (5).

Just completed on Friday my first major A&P exam, have first major Chem exam Wednesday and Bio on Friday. The labs are really tough--especially Chemistry at 3 hours each, twice a week.

Along with this I'm a standardized patient at the local medical school and I'm in a major leadership role with a local health clinic.

I hope that being stressed about all of this right now doesn't mean I'm not cut-out for medicine.

I wish everyone here the absolute best!

 

[Equestrian]

Can't quite decide - feedback welcome!!!

So, any of you who've read my other posts may have surmised that I'm having trouble jumping into things... Getting started is scary! However, I have registered for 3 courses this fall, but realistically plan to take just 2. I don't want to take on too much, too soon.

I'm definitely planning on General Chemistry.

My dilemma: Biology or Physics? (both with labs)

I'm taking classes at Harvard Extension, where they recommend pairing Physics with General Chemistry, but if I take Biology instead, then I can start on upper-level bio that much sooner... (I've registered for all three so that I don't chicken out and wait another year to get started.)

Any thoughts on which way I should go?

 

[lovesfall]

I'm taking genetics, physiology, and my first of two masters thesis classes. 9 credits total, which is normal-high for me, but I also work 40-60 hours a week and volunteer a lot so it's all I can do.

 

[lovesfall]

Can't quite decide - feedback welcome!!!

So, any of you who've read my other posts may have surmised that I'm having trouble jumping into things... Getting started is scary! However, I have registered for 3 courses this fall, but realistically plan to take just 2. I don't want to take on too much, too soon.

I'm definitely planning on General Chemistry.

My dilemma: Biology or Physics? (both with labs)

I'm taking classes at Harvard Extension, where they recommend pairing Physics with General Chemistry, but if I take Biology instead, then I can start on upper-level bio that much sooner... (I've registered for all three so that I don't chicken out and wait another year to get started.)

Any thoughts on which way I should go?

I'd say physics with gen chem - you will probably find that some of the material applies across both classes. Plus you need a lot of chem (organic, biochem).

 

[rangoon1984]

Just college algebra as a pre req to Gen Chem. I'm going to go full time to do my pre reqs starting this summer and go until next spring.

I'm also working 50 hours a week, volunteering 4 hours a week at a hospital and 2 hours a week at an animal shelter.

 

[curt656]

Good luck everyone! For me, it's:

Orgo 2 w/Lab
Immunobiology
Microbio Lab (took lecture last semester and couldn't get a lab)
English Lit
Spanish 1


I had to throw a couple of softballs in there because I not only killed myself with a difficult schedule last semester, I spent my summer break studying for and taking the MCAT. I need a little breather, lol.

 

[wholeheartedly]

1st day of the semester. taking grad stuff, epi 3 epi 3 lab and a couple global health classes.

Not sure what to make of it. The epi stuff will be hard but the rest is going to be a lot of paper writing. Wed. are gonna suck. Leave home at 9 a.m. for commute, class at 11-1:10 (but he'll always go over) then 1:25- 3:20, then 3:30-5:30, then 6 - 8:30 then drive back home, arrive at 10 pm ish. bleh. I only left myself fifteen minutes for a lunch break and hike across campus, oops.

 

[The_Sunny_Doc]

I'd say physics with gen chem - you will probably find that some of the material applies across both classes. Plus you need a lot of chem (organic, biochem).

2nd this awesome advice! I wish I would've taken Physics with Gen Chem the first time around instead of Gen Chem by itself. Chem makes SO much more sense when you take it with Physics. 👍

Mdambitions, CastleG, NuttyEng - Glad y'all are liking Genetics!! I think it really is the prof that makes all the difference. Ours is a bit all-over-the-place with assignments and deadlines. 😛

 

[MaenadsDance]

Though I suppose I'm a nontrad, I'm young for this forum. I was wondering whether you older and more experienced folks could give me some advice about maintaining concentration throughout long days. For the first time in my life I'm getting up consistently early - around 6 am most days - and commuting to school, rather than rolling out of bed ten minutes before class and walking cross campus, and then working a night job. I find that I'm tired by 12 pm, very tired by 4pm, and exhausted by 8:30. And yet I also find I need to be studying or otherwise usefully occupied until ten or eleven each night.

For the first time in my life I'm consuming large quantities of caffeine to get by, and I'm not too happy about this new habit/dependence. I'm sure at some point this will be "normal" for me, but I'm still adjusting psychologically to not being an on campus student, not having campus life at my fingertips, but instead being a commuter student, a nontraditional student, etc.

TL;DR: what are some tips for focusing and working efficiently when you're tired? caffeine alternatives?

 

[The_Sunny_Doc]

Though I suppose I'm a nontrad, I'm young for this forum. I was wondering whether you older and more experienced folks could give me some advice about maintaining concentration throughout long days. For the first time in my life I'm getting up consistently early - around 6 am most days - and commuting to school, rather than rolling out of bed ten minutes before class and walking cross campus, and then working a night job. I find that I'm tired by 12 pm, very tired by 4pm, and exhausted by 8:30. And yet I also find I need to be studying or otherwise usefully occupied until ten or eleven each night.

For the first time in my life I'm consuming large quantities of caffeine to get by, and I'm not too happy about this new habit/dependence. I'm sure at some point this will be "normal" for me, but I'm still adjusting psychologically to not being an on campus student, not having campus life at my fingertips, but instead being a commuter student, a nontraditional student, etc.

TL;DR: what are some tips for focusing and working efficiently when you're tired? caffeine alternatives?

Sleep is the only way! If you're taking memorization courses like Phys you can stay hopped up on stimulants (coffee ftw!), but I find that calculation based and heavily theoretical subjects like Physics and Orgo can't be done well on a sleepy brain. Honestly, you gotta make it a priority if you want to cram the most into each hour during the daytime. Even if your social life or work out regimen suffers, get that shut eye!

I feel ya on the commute. 40 minutes each way, and there's no where at school to nap! Try to catch up on the weekends for sure.

 

[jones4campn]

Started 2 weeks ago:
Ochem 1 + Lab
Physics 2 + Lab
Gen Bio 2 + Lab
4 hrs/week volunteer at hospital

Work full time (plus some) and have 4 young daughters (who I obviously don't see enough). This semester will be tough....
I need help trying to find and fit research opportunities with schedule. Any tips???

 

[Intellex]

Biochem (3 units)
Ochem 2 (3 units)
Physiology (4 units)

Working full time as well. Only one more semester to go after this.

 

[wholeheartedly]

MaenadsDance,

Hey, so I work night shift and commute about 1.5 hrs one way to school a few times a week. Starting on year 3 of this schedule. With my crazy shift/sleep schedule I definitely hear you on the getting sleepy thing. I'm also supposed to steer clear of caffeine for medical reasons so I've had to learn to do without. Plus caffeine tends to get you into a vicious cycle where it can throw you enough to disrupt you so you have to keep drinking it.

One important thing to note is that your body runs better when properly fueled. The better I eat, the less I drag. Don't need to be on a diet, just make sure you eat food that will give you lasting energy not empty calories. Drinking lots of water is good too. Sounds simple, but the days I go for junk are days I struggle most to stay awake.

Sleep is key too. One of the hardest things to train myself to do is realize that taking an hour and half to take a nap when I'm tired is going to lead to me getting significantly more done studying-wise than trying to study effectively for several hours when I'm dragging. So even though I wind up studying less time when I give in and sleep, I get more done and retain stuff better.

Due to my work schedule I've usually had one day a week each semester where I'd wind up being awake for >24 hrs straight if I didn't take a nap on campus. Library or student lounge can be a good place, but I actually keep a blanket and pillow in my car and crash there cuz it's quieter.

Try combatting that afternoon slump with some exercise to give you a little pickup. Don't need to hit the gym, just a brisk walk outside in the sun, jog, rollerblade for a few.

Oh, and I'm not a health nut. I struggle to do this stuff consistently so it's easy for me to notice the pattern on the weeks I follow these ideas vs weeks I don't. 😛

 

[MissionalMed]

Though I suppose I'm a nontrad, I'm young for this forum. I was wondering whether you older and more experienced folks could give me some advice about maintaining concentration throughout long days. For the first time in my life I'm getting up consistently early - around 6 am most days - and commuting to school, rather than rolling out of bed ten minutes before class and walking cross campus, and then working a night job. I find that I'm tired by 12 pm, very tired by 4pm, and exhausted by 8:30. And yet I also find I need to be studying or otherwise usefully occupied until ten or eleven each night.

For the first time in my life I'm consuming large quantities of caffeine to get by, and I'm not too happy about this new habit/dependence. I'm sure at some point this will be "normal" for me, but I'm still adjusting psychologically to not being an on campus student, not having campus life at my fingertips, but instead being a commuter student, a nontraditional student, etc.

TL;DR: what are some tips for focusing and working efficiently when you're tired? caffeine alternatives?

Look into Cogmed Training. It is an evidenced-based memory and focus tool developed for people with ADD and ADHD. I have been doing the 30min/day training for the last 3 weeks and my focus has sharpened, recall is the best I've had my entire life, and attention span has improved tremendously.

It's expensive ($1,500), but you get 6 months of training and a local psychologist as a mentor through the program.

YMMV, but it has been a godsend for me as a 28-year old whom has not had to do sciences courses like this since high school.

 

[LaEsponja]

Thinking I've bitten off WAY more than I can chew.

Chem 2 4hrs
Opera (easy A) 3hrs
Intermediate Spanish 1 3hrs
Cultural Anthropology 3hrs
Calc 1 4hrs
Chem 2 study hall (attend based) 1hr

I'm a reservist. Two kids. In Karate with my oldest. Tutor for the chem club twice a week. Getting divorced. Stressed is my new middle name. I'm thinking by the end of the semester I'm going to switch it to my first.

 

[kdavidlee25]

Can't quite decide - feedback welcome!!!

So, any of you who've read my other posts may have surmised that I'm having trouble jumping into things... Getting started is scary! However, I have registered for 3 courses this fall, but realistically plan to take just 2. I don't want to take on too much, too soon.

I'm definitely planning on General Chemistry.

My dilemma: Biology or Physics? (both with labs)

I'm taking classes at Harvard Extension, where they recommend pairing Physics with General Chemistry, but if I take Biology instead, then I can start on upper-level bio that much sooner... (I've registered for all three so that I don't chicken out and wait another year to get started.)

Any thoughts on which way I should go?

Physics 1 is quite difficult if youve been out of school for a bit: lots of trig involved. i recommend chem with bio. you will find that most of Bio 1 has lots of Chem topics.

 

[Equestrian]

Thanks for the feedback! In the end, I decided to take all three classes. So far, I've found physics to make a lot of sense, so I'm hoping that continues...

 

[kdavidlee25]

Thanks for the feedback! In the end, I decided to take all three classes. So far, I've found physics to make a lot of sense, so I'm hoping that continues...

If kinematics and newton's second makes sense to you, you're way ahead of the curve than most of the people here. Cheers.