Freshman Course Load

[MyBlsflHrt]

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What do you guys think of this schedule for Freshman year? Too heavy, too light, or just right?

I understand that taking 3 science classes, especially in Freshman year, is usually discouraged, but I am very strong in the sciences and have already taken AP Bio, Chem, and Physics and gotten 5s on the tests. The reason why I am trying to take so many science classes in my first year of college is that I will most likely become either a Bio major and also I want to try to graduate in 3 years because of financial reasons.

Would it be possible to also do some research at the same time with this course load? I have already done a couple years of research in a Bio lab at the local university while still in high school.

Summer
• English

Fall
• Bio 1 w/ lab
• Chem 1
• Physics 1 w/ lab

Spring
• Bio 2 w/ lab
• Chem 2
• Physics 2 w/ lab

Summer
1st session
• Organic Chem 1 w/ lab
2nd session
• Organic Chem 2 w/ lab

Note: I took Calc 2 and Calc 3 at a local university while still in high school and received A+s in both classes, so I do not plan on taking any math classes in college.

 

[map37692]

Are you also going to be taking some of your general requirement classes at the same time or only the classes that you have listed?

 

[Compass]

Have you already taken your English class? Or is this for next year?

 

[FT 9]

don't you have to take chem 1 w/ lab as well? unless you have ap cred or something. i did this with bio and bio lab - just took the lecture (but med schools prefer you take a lab regardless of ap credit and because of that i'm in a fix).

and don't take orgo I and II during the summer, your brain will be fried. pace yourself, don't have to take all those prereqs at the same time

 

[MyBlsflHrt]

This schedule is for next year. I will also be taking one or two general requirement classes at the same time. Unfortunately, I am required by my college to take the English class the summer before my Freshman year.

For Chem, my school offers 2 labs with Organic Chem, instead of one lab to go along with each class.

 

[Compass]

While we're on this topic, what do you plan to do in your 2nd year in addition to orgo

 

[MyBlsflHrt]

Fall
• Cell Biology
• Molecular Biology

Spring
• Genetics
• Biochemistry

In addition, I will also probably be taking one or two general requirement classes and doing some research on the side. I hope to be able publish a paper.

 

[MyBlsflHrt]

Is taking Organic Chem over the summer really that bad? I mean, a lot of people take it over the summer and get A+s, right?

 

[Compass]

Orgo is not easy stuff. You could easily get smushed by it. Lots of memorization and concepts.

 

[JJMrK]

That's too heavy, IMO. For your freshman year, I'd limit it to 2 science classes with lab and a few GEs. If you do well you could bump it up your second semester.

You say that you don't have a general chemistry lab?

 

[bigbad]

That's too heavy, IMO. For your freshman year, I'd limit it to 2 science classes with lab and a few GEs. If you do well you could bump it up your second semester.

You say that you don't have a general chemistry lab?

Not to hijack your thread but while we're on this topic...

I'm only taking 1 science class my first year (bio). My school has a lot of other lib arts requirements so I'm taking history, etc...

Is this a bad idea and should I be putting most of my non-sci classes off until after the MCAT?

 

[bravofleet4]

course load sounds pretty heavy. Then again I only double majored b/c I thought my senior year would be too easy then. Keep in mind, though, that if it proves too much it'll go entirely to waste. If you end up dropping one of your classes to salvage the rest, you'll fall a year behind. Are you going to commute as well? It might take a while for you to adjust to college courses. Your AP courses might give you enough an edge to get past the first-year courses but don't try to overdo it in the upper-divisions.

 

[JJMrK]

Not to hijack your thread but while we're on this topic...

I'm only taking 1 science class my first year (bio). My school has a lot of other lib arts requirements so I'm taking history, etc...

Is this a bad idea and should I be putting most of my non-sci classes off until after the MCAT?

You should be OK. I'm pretty sure I only took one science class the first semester of my freshman year.

 

[insane]

Is taking Organic Chem over the summer really that bad? I mean, a lot of people take it over the summer and get A+s, right?

Umm, yeah its really that bad, and no lots of people don't get A+s during the summer, I don't think lots of people get A's in the summer. Orgo itself in a regular semester is tough, and has a ton of concepts you need to know inside out, use your summer for something productive, get a core out of the way or take another class if you really want. stay away from orgo in the summer.

 

[siliso]

Is taking Organic Chem over the summer really that bad? I mean, a lot of people take it over the summer and get A+s, right?

If you are determined and know you are badass, sure you can do it. The curve is likely to be massive as well.

At first I was going to type something like, slow down and get used to college first, but if you're sure you're familiar with the level of expectation and can ace it all, then why not. If you don't need to spend a huge amount of time studying, you'll be in class 15-20 hours a week, which leaves time for other work.

 

[MyBlsflHrt]

The thing is my school doesn't have a lot of general requirement classes (only English, which I am required to take the summer before), so my first year I will only really have 3 classes (Bio, Chem, and Physics). Assuming that those are my only classes, will my course load really be that heavy?

 

[MyBlsflHrt]

If I do take another class, it will most likely be Literature Humanities (both semesters). Considering that I will have 2 easy A+s for Chem and Physics as I have taken the AP classes and received 5s both tests, how hard would this course load be for the first year of college?

 

[cubssox2000]

Way too heavy. There is no reason to take all those classes freshman year. You stand a very good chance of burning yourself out. Even if you want to graduate in three years you can spread the courses out more.

Orgo over the summer is still very difficult. If you really want to take a summer course I suggest physics as that is mostly equations (still not easy though).

I have known many students who aced their aps and then thought that they would be able to handle a heavy college load. Almost all of them had to drop at least a course or the semester. Even more changed their minds about going into medicine. I don't want to scare you, but burnout is a serious issue to be wary of, both starting college and med school.

 

[cubssox2000]

Way too heavy. There is no reason to take all those classes freshman year. You stand a very good chance of burning yourself out. Even if you want to graduate in three years you can spread the courses out more.

Orgo over the summer is still very difficult. If you really want to take a summer course I suggest physics as that is mostly equations (still not easy though).

I have known many students who aced their aps and then thought that they would be able to handle a heavy college load. Almost all of them had to drop at least a course or the semester. Even more changed their minds about going into medicine. I don't want to scare you, but burnout is a serious issue to be wary of, both starting college and med school.

 

[cubssox2000]

Way too heavy. There is no reason to take all those classes freshman year. You stand a very good chance of burning yourself out. Even if you want to graduate in three years you can spread the courses out more.

Orgo over the summer is still very difficult. If you really want to take a summer course I suggest physics as that is mostly equations (still not easy though).

I have known many students who aced their aps and then thought that they would be able to handle a heavy college load. Almost all of them had to drop at least a course or the semester. Even more changed their minds about going into medicine. I don't want to scare you, but burnout is a serious issue to be wary of, both starting college and med school.

 

[cubssox2000]

Way too heavy. There is no reason to take all those classes freshman year. You stand a very good chance of burning yourself out. Even if you want to graduate in three years you can spread the courses out more.

Orgo over the summer is still very difficult. If you really want to take a summer course I suggest physics as that is mostly equations (still not easy though).

I have known many students who aced their aps and then thought that they would be able to handle a heavy college load. Almost all of them had to drop at least a course or the semester. Even more changed their minds about going into medicine. I don't want to scare you, but burnout is a serious issue to be wary of, both starting college and med school.

 

[cubssox2000]

Way too heavy. There is no reason to take all those classes freshman year. You stand a very good chance of burning yourself out. Even if you want to graduate in three years you can spread the courses out more.

Orgo over the summer is still very difficult. If you really want to take a summer course I suggest physics as that is mostly equations (still not easy though).

I have known many students who aced their aps and then thought that they would be able to handle a heavy college load. Almost all of them had to drop at least a course or the semester. Even more changed their minds about going into medicine. I don't want to scare you, but burnout is a serious issue to be wary of, both starting college and med school.