HELP! Is this a manageable course load?

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I think it may be a bit too much. Not impossible but do remember that you want to get great grades in your classes and awesome scores on the DAT. Those should absolutely be your priorities and if it means taking a little longer to achieve greatness, then so be it
 
I think it may be a bit too much. Not impossible but do remember that you want to get great grades in your classes and awesome scores on the DAT. Those should absolutely be your priorities and if it means taking a little longer to achieve greatness, then so be it

I agree. It sounds like a lot on your plate. Calc II isn't an easy course, and neither is Org Chem II. And you're adding Microbio to that - as well as trying to study for the DATs. Have you taking a similar course load in the past? What does your advisor think?

But if you're good with math (Calc II) and memorization (Microbio), then maybe this semester will be fine for you.
 
Nobody here can properly answer because we don't know what you're capable of and we don't know what your professors are like. Every school is different like at my school for example micro is one of the toughest courses I've taken because the teacher is crazy but I have buddies at other schools who say it was cake so there are a lot of factors to consider.
 
definitely doable if you have enough discipline
 
Hi guys,

I really value input from everyone on here so I encourage you guys to post as much as you can on this thread. All the help I can get is really appreciated 🙂

So I will be a junior next year and I am planning on taking the DAT during december of 2014. My schedule will look something like this:

Organic Chemistry II
Calculus II
Microbiology
Industrial Technology (Writing intensive class)
Art appreciation
Orgo lab II
Micro lab
-All together 17 credits.

From experience, I know Orgo will take a lot of studying (I probably studied for orgo I my previous semester 2 hours give or take each day).

My main concern is studying for the DAT at the same time. I've already planned out a schedule for each day where I allot a specific amount of hours for studying for the dat and a specific amount of hours for school work. Also, I'll be following the 10 week dat study plan (courtesy of Ari's bootcamp website). So basically I will be studying 4 hours a day for the dat and 4 hours for studying and doing hwk for school.
Yes I realize that I will have absolutely no life. I mean I won't even have time to watch a 30 minute show on tv! But that is okay 🙂

Anyways what I want to know from you guys is that if this sounds realistic? Also is microbiology a hard course to study for? Im not too familiar with the how much studying is involved in that class.

Once again, any feedback is appreciated! Particularly im interested if there are any people that had a semi-heavy course load (or similar to mine) and were able to study for the DAT at the same time


If you have no other responsibilities, but school work.

Then yes it is doable.,


But adding the dat study might be a little too much!

IMO

Get ready for a lot of lab reports.
 
Without any other commitments, I'd say it's manageable (but still difficult!) You'll be studying a lot, I can guarantee it.

Keep in mind that it's not all about the grades. Stay sane, be involved! But if you know what you have to do, then by all means...
 
Ive taken microbio and it is a very intense class. alot of memorization. Use flash cards and have good time management skills. I agree with J777. you wont exactly be setting yourself up for success. Back when I was in pharmacy school we had to take 19 credits of life sciences and it was a doozy!!!! If you manage to do well though I can tell you will do great in dental school because this is similar to a typical kind of courseload you will see in grad school.
 
It's doable but you have to be on top of everything. I just completed 21 credits while studying for the DAT.
Ochem II & Lab
Pathogenic Microbiology & Lab
Physics II & Lab
Genetics
Anatomy & Physiology II & Lab
And 1 credit of research with a professor. I got a 3.6 GPA and my DAT breakdown is...
20 AA
23 PAT
21 TS
21 BIO
18 OC
16 QR
20 RC
24 GC
I didn't work but I had to do something every night everyday. Stay on top of every class and don't get behind!
 
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