How cautious should I be?

[chessguy]

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Hello, I need to retake two classes. One of them an elective course, another is General Chemistry w/lab.

I failed chemistry before and I'm considering taking it alone one semester to gain my confidence. With that said, I'm not sure that is worth doing. I'm much better at math so I'm considering taking calculus with the elective course just to keep the pace up.

I've been out of school for a while and eventually I will need to take difficult classes together. (Chem 2 w/lab, calc 2, physics next fall.) I like the idea of starting slow, but I would like to get your input. Thank you.

EDIT: Also, as a side note. Biology seems like the quickest path to a B.S., but I don't think that would stand out enough. Does that even matter?

I was considering a degree in history.

 

[QueenJames]

I came back from a UC barely graduating. It was my last shot and I took my first semester of my DIY post-bacc super serious. Retook a semester of calc 2, and retook o-chem 1 and also threw in a psych class as I was short on units for behavioral sci for some med schools.

Got a 4.0 for 12 units because I took every class seriously. Went to every lecture, asked the teacher for extra help on some concepts, started going to the gym and eating healthier and also made time for ECs on the side but most of all, I STUDIED and TOOK IT SERIOUSLY.

Took another 10 units my second semester with human bio and my second semester retake of O-chem and also aced those as well.

Just take it slow and make sure YOU ACE EVERY RETAKE FROM NOW ON and SHINE ON THE MCAT.

You'll be fine amigo. Just go in and study and be confident. Work hard and that's it. You got this!

 

[chessguy]

I appreciate the response, but I'm not sure what you are suggesting. I think you are saying I should take them both, but you also said "take it slow." Do you mean something else by take it slow (concentrate harder, study smarter, ect). Are you saying that as long as I take my coursework seriously I'll be alright?

Also, even though it might be the quickest B.S. to get, and perhaps the most fun, do you think a B.S in Biology will stand out enough?

Sorry for my confusion and scrupulousness.

 

[AlteredScale]

Hello, I need to retake two classes. One of them an elective course, another is General Chemistry w/lab.

I failed chemistry before and I'm considering taking it alone one semester to gain my confidence. With that said, I'm not sure that is worth doing. I'm much better at math so I'm considering taking calculus with the elective course just to keep the pace up.

I've been out of school for a while and eventually I will need to take difficult classes together. (Chem 2 w/lab, calc 2, physics next fall.) I like the idea of starting slow, but I would like to get your input. Thank you.

EDIT: Also, as a side note. Biology seems like the quickest path to a B.S., but I don't think that would stand out enough. Does that even matter?

I was considering a degree in history.

If you complete a biology degree then you'll also be hitting your pre reqs for med at the same time. If you do any other degree you will have to take additional classes to complete the necessary pre reqs.

I think its better to do 1 hard class with 2 easy classes. Don't push your classes back to where you need to take many difficult courses together because it will be difficult.

The degree in biology doesn't matter to med schools. As long as you complete the necessary pre requisite courses that are considered mandatory by the schools you should be fine. A major in biology will probably help prepare you for medical school, especially if it's in human biology or biomedical sciences.

Oh btw: if you are planning on apply for medical school in a few years don't forget that there are now courses in sociology, psychology, and upper division biochemistry that are now required.

Best of luck!

Edit: not sure of sociology and psychology are required courses or highly suggested.

 

[chessguy]

If you complete a biology degree then you'll also be hitting your pre reqs for med at the same time. If you do any other degree you will have to take additional classes to complete the necessary pre reqs.

I think its better to do 1 hard class with 2 easy classes. Don't push your classes back to where you need to take many difficult courses together because it will be difficult.

The degree in biology doesn't matter to med schools. As long as you complete the necessary pre requisite courses that are considered mandatory by the schools you should be fine. A major in biology will probably help prepare you for medical school, especially if it's in human biology or biomedical sciences.

Oh btw: if you are planning on apply for medical school in a few years don't forget that there are now courses in sociology, psychology, and upper division biochemistry that are now required.

Best of luck!

I've already took a sociology and psychology. I remember about 20% of psychology and my sociology class was taught poorly. They seem like strange requirements and topics for the MCAT, but that won't be a problem. Thank you for warning. I had no idea it was changing.

 

[QueenJames]

I appreciate the response, but I'm not sure what you are suggesting. I think you are saying I should take them both, but you also said "take it slow." Do you mean something else by take it slow (concentrate harder, study smarter, ect). Are you saying that as long as I take my coursework seriously I'll be alright?

Also, even though it might be the quickest B.S. to get, and perhaps the most fun, do you think a B.S in Biology will stand out enough?

Sorry for my confusion and scrupulousness.

Well the thing is that I have no idea about your work ethic and how bad you want this... your "working hard" may be different than my "working hard" u know? But what I was trying to say is study harder (and smarter) and just be really adamant of wanting an A and WORK FOR IT!

Take Calc 2 (which is what.. 4-5 semester units?) and physics (another 5 units?) and chem (another 5 units?) for a total of about 14-15 units?

That is more than enough. I took 19 units one semester of calc, chem, bio, and physics together and I got a 3.7 (ended up with a B in calc).

I would NEVER do that ever again. I tried doing that with my second semester and I was so burnt out from the first semester (and decided to be in a relationship around this time) that my GPA shot down to 2.5 (ended up with a D in calc 2, a C in bio 2, a B in chem 2 and an A in physics 2)

Just go with what you know you can handle I guess.

As for your degree question... it doesn't matter what you major as long as you get good grades in it.

A 3.8 in history with an A in all your pre-reqs is hella better than a 3.2 in a bio major, given you also have the MCAT score to back it up. There are many factors in this whole game of apps. Just do as best as you can.

 

[AlteredScale]

I've already took a sociology and psychology. I remember about 20% of psychology and my sociology class was taught poorly. They seem like strange requirements and topics for the MCAT, but that won't be a problem. Thank you for warning. I had no idea it was changing.

Yes the 2015 MCAT will now have sections in these two courses in order to be up to date with the expectations of health care.

It'll be different that's for sure, but I think the new grading scale will help give balanced people a better chance.

 

[frosted_flake]

When I took a semester off (after a bad semester) I took an upper level pathophysiology course which not only challenged me, but it also eased me back into school and gave me the confidence to do well.
Take it slow! No sense in overloading and screwing up your GPA!!

 

[chessguy]

When I took a semester off (after a bad semester) I took an upper level pathophysiology course which not only challenged me, but it also eased me back into school and gave me the confidence to do well.
Take it slow! No sense in overloading and screwing up your GPA!!

I think I'm going to take this approach because it seems the most logical.

As a side note. It looks like I might not even need to take calculus 2. I was under the impression that I needed it for physics, but I noticed that there are two types of physics. One calculus based and one algebra based. I did a google search and there are many people on this forum telling people not to take the calculus based physics class.

Is this true or has something changed? If it is true that is a little disheartening because I was looking forward to the challenge. There is a lot of debate about which one will prepare you better for the MCAT on here, but it looks like the consensus is that taking the algebra based class does a better job at preparing you for the MCAT and is easier. If that is the case my decision on what class to take has been made for me.

 

[frosted_flake]

I think I'm going to take this approach because it seems the most logical.

As a side note. It looks like I might not even need to take calculus 2. I was under the impression that I needed it for physics, but I noticed that their are two types of physics. One calculus based and one algebra based. I did a google search and there are many people on this forum telling people not to take the calculus based physics class.

Is this true or has something changed? If it is true that is a little disheartening because I was looking forward to the challenge. There is a lot of debate about which one will prepare you better for the MCAT on here, but it looks like the consensus is that taking the algebra based class does a better job at preparing you for the MCAT and is easier. If that is the case my decision on what class to take has been made for me.

You will hear it both ways. I took algebra based. IMO physics will likely be awful either way, so go the less painful route 🙂

 

[chessguy]

I've been thinking about the physics class. Isn't radiology almost all physics. Wouldn't you need a pretty high level of physics knowledge? Not that I want to be a radiologist necessarily. Just a thought.

 

[coolingglasses]

I've been thinking about the physics class. Isn't radiology almost all physics. Wouldn't you need a pretty high level of physics knowledge? Not that I want to be a radiologist necessarily. Just a thought.

I don't think it matters in the context of your choosing algebra or calc based undergrad physics.

 

[Dreamstoo]

I don't think it matters in the context of your choosing algebra or calc based undergrad physics.

Yeah calc based undergrad physics is mostly engineering concepts. Mostly life science majors took algebra based physics. I know for both classes that they both often had curves at the end.

 

[coolingglasses]

Yeah calc based undergrad physics is mostly engineering concepts. Mostly life science majors took algebra based physics. I know for both classes that they both often had curves at the end.

Oh yeah, I forgot. I think the engineering majors had less flexibility in the decision.

 

[polylux]

I've been thinking about the physics class. Isn't radiology almost all physics. Wouldn't you need a pretty high level of physics knowledge? Not that I want to be a radiologist necessarily. Just a thought.

Yes, but even in Rad Onc, you rarely do the math yourself. That's what they hire Medical Physicists to do.

 

[Dreamstoo]

Oh yeah, I forgot. I think the engineering majors had less flexibility in the decision.

Yes, it wasn't so bad though to take to be honest. For the most part I liked all my calc based physics professors

 

[coolingglasses]

Yes, it wasn't so bad though to take to be honest. For the most part I liked all my calc based physics professors

I took Calc for Life and Social Sciences or whatever it's called. I have to be honest, I think I would've liked it a lot more without the business element to it. Anything involving inventory I just couldn't bring myself to care about.

 

[Dreamstoo]

I took Calc for Life and Social Sciences or whatever it's called. I have to be honest, I think I would've liked it a lot more without the business element to it. Anything involving inventory I just couldn't bring myself to care about.

I wasn't great at calculus but when it was applied to physics I had no problem acing exams but struggled to get decent grades in the 1.5 years of calculus I took.

 

[chessguy]

Well turns out the only way I can get physics lab credits at my college is to take the calculus based physics. So I guess I do have to take calculus 2 after all. yay?