How tough is this? Calc II, Orgo I, & Physics I and studying MCAT: Biol & Chem

[rox1co]

i need some advice on my following semester bc i really can't afford to screw up. i will be taking calculus 2, organic chemistry 1, and physics (calculus-based) along with working as a tutor at most 20 hours a week + 4 hours a week volunteering, and volunteer events here and there.

i will also be studying the MCAT: Biology & Chemistry since i'm pretty much done with those 2.

would you say that i'm ok in terms of having enough time to study, i did not take calculus or physics in high school so it will be new territory. i have confidence in myself, but it's also nice to hear it from people who have done it before me ... it's always best to be realistic!

by next Spring, i will be studying the MCAT: Organic & Physics portion.

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[CardiacIntensivist]

Depends, how well have you been doing in your college science classes before? Are you willing to do dedicate hours upon hours of doing problems, as Calculus, Orgo and Physics require that practice? Are you extremely confident in your ability to understand those sciences?

If your answers are anything other than:
-Very well, all A's
-I will put in the hours no matter what
-Very confident

Drop one of them. From what I've seen, many people who took AP Physics and/or AP Calculus still did very poorly in the respective course at my school. Unfortunately there is no way to gauge how well you'll do in Organic Chemistry until you're in. Some people like GChem and hate Orgo, some people hate GChem and love orgo, some like both and some hate both. You really have to be certain that science will not be a problem for you if you want to do well. That courseload is very doable, but it will require a fair amount of dedication. 🙂

 

[epr1]

I'll pray for you buddy. It's going to be rough but it doesn't seem incredibly ridiculous. I know someone who had a similar semester as yours while still working as a paramedic, a father of 3 kids and a husband at the same time.

The nice thing is that some of your subjects will overlap for the MCAT so they'll be fresh in your head... physics, org for mcat... calc and physics together will be convenient.

Maybe you can add a GPA booster class in the mix... i'm not sure how many credits you will be taking... maybe 12-13?

One semester I did Genetics, physics, and orgo, plus psych 100, music 100
and an EMT-basic class (10 hours a week) and I ended up with a 3.9 that semester (the GPA boosters were nice, but it was 17 credits through the school, and that EMT class only gave me 2 credits, but some count it as 6!), so you might consider adding an easy class to ensure a high GPA still. I obviously didn't have a social life that semester but it was worth it. good luck!

 

[AeroNat13]

Your situation sounds similar to mine, for fall quarter next year.
I was going to take physics+lab, genetics, psychology, 10 hrs. a week of research, 4 hrs. a week of tutoring high school kids, probably a 4 hr. volunteer shift at the hospital, +MCAT studying.
I realized it might be doable...but still you have to know when to say its too much, the MCAT is too important a test to not be taking it seriously by added all the extra stuff.

So I'm just going to take physics+lab, genetics, not psychology plus 4 units of research 10 hrs. a week for credit. I'll do the tutoring- but cutting out the volunteering...it just takes too much time. Spend a quarter/semester with valuable studying for the MCAT instead...its worth it more than maybe 50-60 extra volunteer hrs. will be in the end...you probably know that too.
You can always make it up later...breaks and summers to get some more hours you don't have to sacrifice for your MCAT study semester.

As for the classes, 3 is a good number...stick with those 1 math, 2 science

goodluck

 

[Nasrudin]

That sounds like some serious work. It would demand perfection in time management. Zero room for error or slack.

 

[rox1co]

well i'm assuming that Orgo will be my toughest class, so Orgo > Physics > Calc

could you give me an estimate on how much time i should devote per day for each class

 

[scrubsaresexy]

If it makes you feel any better:

Orgo I with lab
Genetics with lab
Human A&P with lab
2 different choirs
Orchestra
private voice and cello lessons
Plus probably volunteering with one of the local rescue squads since I will (hopefully) be an EMT-B by the end of the summer

Oh yeah, and I'm an RA, I sail recreationally, dance in the dance show that we have every semester, and am probably going to start skeet shooting on weekends.

And to be perfectly honest, I can't wait for the semester to start! 😀 If you really want to do something, you'll find a way to make it work.

 

[prmdbeach17]

I wouldn't worry about not having had physics or calc in high school..most people in my physics class that had it in HS said they weren't similar and it really didn't help that much. I didn't have either and it wasn't that bad.
Maybe don't tutor so much or cut out the volunteering, but your class schedule sounds reasonable enough to keep up. Definitely orgo>physics>calc in terms of the work...

 

[rox1co]

i appreciate all the support and feedback, it has helped settle me down a bit ... though i won't start this rigorous schedule till fall, i'm already feeling the pressure.

this is my situation, i have a chance of getting a spot in MD Anderon's B.S. program but it's not the program i want so i'm giving it another shot. i really need to score nothing lower than a B, and an A will definitely be better. i am applying to their Medical Dosimetry program and i will enter as a senior with 90 credits (though i have that much already, "too many blow off courses") so i will only need a year to get my degree.

i want to get in bad!

 

[carn311]

To OP:

Getting into medical school is 65% planning. Risking success on the MCAT as well as two highly scrutinized courses (orgo I and physics I) is NOT advisable. Can it be done? Hell yeah. But in my opinion it's much too high of a risk.

 

[realitybias]

Well... look at it this way, man...

I've got for next quarter..


Thermo, Orgo I, Calculus III, Human Anatomy/Physiology, Brit Lit, and Bioengineering principles.

 

[kittalin]

You're all crazy...it makes me wonder how I got through it all. I guess this is what taking a year off will do to you. Hope I can get back into it this fall when I start med school...

 

[deuce924]

TO OP, this sounds like your biggest test will be time management. I don't know if I would risk taking those classes while still studying for the MCAT but if you have to, then you have to. I wish the best of luck to you.

 

[LifetimeDoc]

You're all crazy...it makes me wonder how I got through it all. I guess this is what taking a year off will do to you. Hope I can get back into it this fall when I start med school...

I agree...the OP is INSANE. Course, you might be this super genius that can do it...but you risk screwing up and having to make up for a stupid decision like this. You're an adult though and can make your own decisions. Good luck.

 

[TheRealMD]

What kind of physics is this if you are taking Cal at the same time? Algebra-based?

 

[MedGrl@2022]

i need some advice on my following semester bc i really can't afford to screw up. i will be taking calculus 2, organic chemistry 1, and physics (calculus-based) along with working as a tutor at most 20 hours a week + 4 hours a week volunteering, and volunteer events here and there.

i will also be studying the MCAT: Biology & Chemistry since i'm pretty much done with those 2.

would you say that i'm ok in terms of having enough time to study, i did not take calculus or physics in high school so it will be new territory. i have confidence in myself, but it's also nice to hear it from people who have done it before me ... it's always best to be realistic!

by next Spring, i will be studying the MCAT: Organic & Physics portion.

stay focused and work hard... I think you can do it... if not you can always retake... but I think you will at least get a 30 if you keep it up

 

[MedGrl@2022]

You're all crazy...it makes me wonder how I got through it all. I guess this is what taking a year off will do to you. Hope I can get back into it this fall when I start med school...

Yeah.. I will probably feel the same way... I managed pretty well in Undergrad... my very last day of exams I almost quit though... but other than that its all about time management... something i still need help with

 

[Abilene85]

It's possible. Won't be particularly fun, but possible.

I can easily see someone keeping pace for a few weeks, then coming to a point when they feel the need to pick classes or MCAT studying. I would focus on my GPA and then study for the MCAT later. But since I don't know you, maybe you're super pre-med kid and can keep up with all that work the entire semester. Good luck.

 

[LifetimeDoc]

It's possible. Won't be particularly fun, but possible.

I can easily see someone keeping pace for a few weeks, then coming to a point when they feel the need to pick classes or MCAT studying. I would focus on my GPA and then study for the MCAT later. But since I don't know you, maybe you're super pre-med kid and can keep up with all that work the entire semester. Good luck.

This is classic pre-med syndrome. Thinking you are super-human, can do anything, fill yourself up with unrealistic class AND trying to study for the MCAT. All because you feel you need to get into medical school before your 21st birthday. You'll learn, probably the hard way, that you need to plan carefully and intelligently so that you can be successful in your grades. You can easily slip up with this scenario and screw your GPA and MCAT if you aren't careful.

 

[Sir Buckethead]

I couldnt do it. Not and get As.

Maybe you can, who knows.

 

[mave]

Sub out the MCAT for the worst econ class on the planet, and you've got my sophomore year. It's possible, but you'll hate yourself by the end.

 

[DrReo]

Not too bad. Just as well get acclimated to the hard work you'll be doing down the road. That's only two labs and less than 14 credits, so not bad.

I did 20 hrs of work, organic II w/ lab, calc II, research, genetics w/ lab, english II last semester. It kept me busy, but wasn't too bad....


Time management...

i need some advice on my following semester bc i really can't afford to screw up. i will be taking calculus 2, organic chemistry 1, and physics (calculus-based) along with working as a tutor at most 20 hours a week + 4 hours a week volunteering, and volunteer events here and there.

i will also be studying the MCAT: Biology & Chemistry since i'm pretty much done with those 2.

would you say that i'm ok in terms of having enough time to study, i did not take calculus or physics in high school so it will be new territory. i have confidence in myself, but it's also nice to hear it from people who have done it before me ... it's always best to be realistic!

by next Spring, i will be studying the MCAT: Organic & Physics portion.

​

 

[Arc]

i need some advice on my following semester bc i really can't afford to screw up. i will be taking calculus 2, organic chemistry 1, and physics (calculus-based) along with working as a tutor at most 20 hours a week + 4 hours a week volunteering, and volunteer events here and there.

i will also be studying the MCAT: Biology & Chemistry since i'm pretty much done with those 2.

would you say that i'm ok in terms of having enough time to study, i did not take calculus or physics in high school so it will be new territory. i have confidence in myself, but it's also nice to hear it from people who have done it before me ... it's always best to be realistic!

by next Spring, i will be studying the MCAT: Organic & Physics portion.

Gee I'm doing a similar course load this summer (Except Im taking Sociology and Theater instead of O Chem) and I have to say, it could be possible in the fall, but assuming this is going to be all new material to you (Calc 2 Im retaking becuase I got a D) its going to be overwhelming for you,and unless you are keen on staying in all day studying, I'd recommend that you drop one of the classes. All the classes require you to memorize a lot of things, so doing this and studying for the MCAT will be a bit overwhelming for you. Better yet, why don't you study the Organic and Physics section of the MCAT to make things easier on yourself? That sounds like a good way to do good in your aforementioned class list, and study for MCAT.


And you shouldn't rush yourself to take the MCAT unless you are keen on scoring a 25.

 

[CAS97209]

I wouldn't take the calculus and physics at the same time as orgo simply because you said that you didn't take calculus or physics in high school. I know kids who took calculus, physics, and intro chem, and scored 5's in AP Chemistry, Calculus (AB), and Physics (B) and only did average in those classes because each of those classes takes up so much time. I would drop at least one of those three classes. For example I am taking 24 credit hours next semester, but of those 24 only 8 credit hours are in the sciences. The rest are in foreign languages in which I am practically fluent 😀, and some other general education courses. There's no need to cram all these BCPM courses into one semester. Have a couple each semester in which you can concentrate on doing your best. Then fill the rest with classes in which you know you will get an A.