How intense is this schedule?

[Gallix23]

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Hey everyone,

I'm starting my first college semester in January and I just got my class schedule. I was only allowed to pick one class (the rest were pre-determined for Bio majors) and they basically just threw me into College Writing since it's a requirement. Here is my class list:

Biology w/ lab
Gen.Chem w/lab and recitation
Calculus and diff. equations for Bio majors
Biology&Biochemistry (I think this is a survey course?)
College Writing

It all totals to 19 credit hours. I guess I just want some encouragement and for someone to tell me it isn't as busy as it seems 😀 What would you guys suggest I do in terms of studying in order to stay on top of everything?

Thanks for any help!

 

[dmoney2010]

my first semester was similar...just as long as you realize that you need to spend lots and lots of hours studying youll be fine. I screwed myself my first semester because I kinda blew off my finals, thought I knew the material (went to all the classes haha), that was a mistake. just study hard and that shouldnt be too crazy. Read the material before you go to class, then read it again before the tests, that is my secret to success. also dont blow off finals

 

[MTD52]

Why not just drop College Writing and not worry about it?

 

[Gallix23]

I actually wasn't planning on taking College Writing, they said either pick a core or an elective class, so I was going to pick a easier music class or something for fun. However when we broke up into majors, the person helping us looked at my schedule, asked if anyone had the one similar to mine, and said we all needed to take an English course. Thus, we all got signed up for CW regardless. I'm not sure if I need to take it or if it was just a suggested "get it out of the way" type situation, but it would definitely ease things if I could drop it. Wouldn't that put me under the required credits or something though?

my first semester was similar...just as long as you realize that you need to spend lots and lots of hours studying youll be fine. I screwed myself my first semester because I kinda blew off my finals, thought I knew the material (went to all the classes haha), that was a mistake. just study hard and that shouldnt be too crazy. Read the material before you go to class, then read it again before the tests, that is my secret to success. also dont blow off finals

Thanks for the advice, I never had to study much in HS and I realize that, so I'm going to try to study a lot (if not over study) the first few weeks and adjust it from there. The reading notes before class/before test is a good idea too, my memory tends to work best when I physically see the notes I wrote often.

 

[MTD52]

Find out about credits. In most schools (actually, in all of them that I know of) 12 credits is full time, so anything at or beyond that is fine. A "normal" workload in undegrad is usually 15-16 credits. I took 16 a semester, 17 once. I'm gonna guess that dropping CW for you would put you at 16, which would definitely be fine. Find if if you NEED to take it now or not, and then decide. If you are required to take all those other science classes, I'd hold off on the writing if you can, especially since it's your first semester.

 

[Gallix23]

Find out about credits. In most schools (actually, in all of them that I know of) 12 credits is full time, so anything at or beyond that is fine. A "normal" workload in undegrad is usually 15-16 credits. I took 16 a semester, 17 once. I'm gonna guess that dropping CW for you would put you at 16, which would definitely be fine. Find if if you NEED to take it now or not, and then decide. If you are required to take all those other science classes, I'd hold off on the writing if you can, especially since it's your first semester.

Yeah, when I got my schedule I was like 😱 I am pre-registered for every course but CW, but I suppose that's alright since it's really only Bio Chem and Calc that I'll have to worry about (I'm assuming). I think I'm going to go to my advisor and see if I can drop CW, or take it during the summer or something. If you take like one or two classes during the summer, does that hurt you at all in the eyes of admissions? That's definitely a route I'm looking into and wouldn't mind because it would be much more managable.

 

[MTD52]

I don't see why that would hurt you at all, but I guess someone who has done that and/or is in dental school already would have a similar opinion. From my experience, taking summer classes is the new "thing to do" in college, strange as that sounds. Everyone was always asking me if I was taking summer classes and I know A LOT of people that have (none that applied to dental though, so not sure how that plays in). Personally, I'm working hard every semester for 4 years, so I want that damn summer to myself 🙂, but to each his own.

 

[2014orbust]

I honestly don't think that schedule is too difficult.. But you always have the option to take classes in the summer, or try out the workload and withdraw if it is too diffucult

 

[Gallix23]

I honestly don't think that schedule is too difficult.. But you always have the option to take classes in the summer, or try out the workload and withdraw if it is too diffucult

Yeah I mean class wise they aren't the most difficult, but it is my first semester so I'll have to adjust to other things as well. I'd much rather drop the class now and end up doing really well in my other classes then makeup that class over the summer or whatever than get overwhelmed and start to do poor you know?

I don't see why that would hurt you at all, but I guess someone who has done that and/or is in dental school already would have a similar opinion. From my experience, taking summer classes is the new "thing to do" in college, strange as that sounds. Everyone was always asking me if I was taking summer classes and I know A LOT of people that have (none that applied to dental though, so not sure how that plays in). Personally, I'm working hard every semester for 4 years, so I want that damn summer to myself 🙂, but to each his own.

Hahah yeah I know what you mean, the idea of summer classes makes me bum out a little but on the other hand it'd only be one or two classes and I live near my school anyways so the commute would be a cinch.

 

[2014orbust]

the most important is doing what is best 4 u

 

[cyrano]

Depends what school you will attend. At some schools that might be very difficult and at other schools it could be a breeze. It also depends on your motivation. Also, if you're a very social person you might find yourself spending more time with new friends and less time with your books than you expect.

 

[BiomajorPreDent]

Thats an intense workload for your first sem.

Whats the credit breakdown for each class?

I would get rid of the biochemistry class personally. 2 sciences in one semester is enough.

 

[Tini]

I don't see why that would hurt you at all, but I guess someone who has done that and/or is in dental school already would have a similar opinion. From my experience, taking summer classes is the new "thing to do" in college, strange as that sounds. Everyone was always asking me if I was taking summer classes and I know A LOT of people that have (none that applied to dental though, so not sure how that plays in). Personally, I'm working hard every semester for 4 years, so I want that damn summer to myself 🙂, but to each his own.

I was predental and took summer classes 2 summers. Summer after freshman year, I took Calc, and summer after junior year I took both Physics with labs. I even took them at an easier school by my home and just got them transferred to the school I graduated from. Taking core classes during the summer was never brought up in my interviews, and I had no problem getting accepted into dental school (First time applying) And my stats aren't that great (DAT). Now I wouldn't recommend taking required courses during the summer, but CW won't be an issue!!

Good luck to you! And you will do fine!

 

[salem21]

That schedule could be tough...my first quarter I had the same schedule but no bio, and it was still time consuming. My first year I only took 3 classes per quarter (9 total). Taking more than 2 math/science courses per quarter is always difficult and I recommend trying to avoid it if possible. Sophomore and Junior year I took 4 classes per quarter, but stuck with only 2 sciences each time. I did have to take summer courses before my senior year, but not because I wasn't on schedule to graduate (I took a business minor and had to complete 4 quarters of foreign language because I didn't test in). Basically I'm saying start out too easy rather than too hard. You can always add an extra course sometime in the future. Start out with confidence and a good GPA.

 

[Gallix23]

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I'm actually going to stop by my advisor's office in a little while to discuss things. The credit breakdown of my courses is like this:

Biology/Biochem (the intro survey course) - 1 credit
Biology - 4
Bio Lab - 1
Gen Chem - 4
Chem Lab - 1
Chem Recitation - 0
Calculus & Diff Eq. - 4
College Writing - 4
19 Credits

Hopefully I'll be able to drop CW for now, the rest I can't do much about unfortunately beceause they were pre-registered for my major.

 

[tendram]

That's a pretty heavy first schedule but it's a really good start (getting alot of your sciences done early is better IMHO). I'm sure you'll do fine, just keep ur nose in the books and go to class. I was the same way in that I never had to study much in HS so take this bit of advice along too: don't wait until a week or less til the test to start studying. Take a little bit of time to review your notes the same day you took them and get a good feel of the material. If something is a bit difficult for you to understand, take look at it every time you get a chance and study it until you know it like the back of your hand. That way, when test time comes around and you start studying, it will be more like a review than trying to learn all you need to in one week or so. That and making note cards helped me out big time this last semester. It has taken me almost 2 years or so to finally figure this out and actually do it You'll do fine tho 👍