Is my pre-health advisor trying to scare me?

[medbound13]

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Okay, so I went into my Pre-health advisor to discuss classes, application process, etc. I am on route to take 5 years for my bachelors and now, when I want to push to get my prereqs for med school done before I apply for transfer (CSU to UC, after my 3rd year) I get told that taking OChem w/ lab, General Physics w/lab, and General Bio w/lab in one semester is too much of a load. Is this really too much or, is my advisor trying to scare me? Although I realize that it will depend on what type of person I am and so on, in general can most people complete this course load and come out with good grades?

 

[Mazdave]

Okay, so I went into my Pre-health advisor to discuss classes, application process, etc. I am on route to take 5 years for my bachelors and now, when I want to push to get my prereqs for med school done before I apply for transfer (CSU to UC, after my 3rd year) I get told that taking OChem w/ lab, General Physics w/lab, and General Bio w/lab in one semester is too much of a load. Is this really too much or, is my advisor trying to scare me? Although I realize that it will depend on what type of person I am and so on, in general can most people complete this course load and come out with good grades?

Hmmm...we've had a rash of threads lately about terrible premed advisors lately, but at least on this topic your advisor is making sense. In general, taking three labs at one time is going to be a heavy load (and I assume you'll be taking more than those three classes as well) and given that all are prereqs and are also all MCAT topics, you want to do well in them. I'm sure someone has done exactly what you're proposing and it's been fine, but I would say that your advisor is not just trying to scare you.

 

[loveoforganic]

In general, can most premeds? Probably. Will they? No. In other words, the choice is yours 😉 it'd be a busy semester, but certainly managable if you feel you have solid study skills and discipline

 

[medbound13]

And to clarify these would be the only 3 classes I would be taking.

 

[kexy]

Better to err on the side of caution? It'd be easier to just take a class later than to repair GPA damage. I'm only taking two of those classes right now (orgo II and physics II) and, together with MCAT studying, it is destroying my will to live. Spare time is a good thing!! Even if you do have the discipline to pull it off... why do that to yourself if you don't have to?

 

[Tatastrophy]

you can do it, just be ready for A LOT of pain.

 

[kutlessrock]

3 labs aren't particularly fun. I am taking 3 labs right now (only 2 have lectures, but the other meets twice a week) and the labs really eat up a lot of time. With those I am taking an upper level math class. I like all of my classes, but the amount of time I spend in class can be hard. Labs take up time not just being in them, but all of the extra work. Am I pulling this semester off? Yeah, but it is not the most fun thing in the world. I wish I could put more time into my classes, because they are interesting, but I do feel like I am spreading myself thin at times (I also had a religion class the first half of the semester). I do enough work to do well in the classes, but I would like to invest more time into the material.

Oh, and I don't have orgo, I have Gen Chem. I consider myself to be pretty good at chem (not hard for me since I had AP), but Orgo (as I hear) is a different sort of beast that I wouldn't want to be tripling up on labs. I originally planned to do that schedule, but I will do my best to avoid 3 labs again. I am putting in a ton of work and easily see were things could get overwhelming and impossible to pull yourself out.

Again, it is up to you. Is it impossible? no. Could it be potentially GPA wrecking? for sure.

 

[normtheniner]

Okay, so I went into my Pre-health advisor to discuss classes, application process, etc. I am on route to take 5 years for my bachelors and now, when I want to push to get my prereqs for med school done before I apply for transfer (CSU to UC, after my 3rd year) I get told that taking OChem w/ lab, General Physics w/lab, and General Bio w/lab in one semester is too much of a load. Is this really too much or, is my advisor trying to scare me? Although I realize that it will depend on what type of person I am and so on, in general can most people complete this course load and come out with good grades?

The thought of doing such a thing makes me nauseous... I don't think you got bad advice at all.

 

[nickmx50]

Okay, so I went into my Pre-health advisor to discuss classes, application process, etc. I am on route to take 5 years for my bachelors and now, when I want to push to get my prereqs for med school done before I apply for transfer (CSU to UC, after my 3rd year) I get told that taking OChem w/ lab, General Physics w/lab, and General Bio w/lab in one semester is too much of a load. Is this really too much or, is my advisor trying to scare me? Although I realize that it will depend on what type of person I am and so on, in general can most people complete this course load and come out with good grades?

Not sure how the Ochem lab is at your school, but my school has a entire separate graded class for the Ochem lab. It's intense and as time consuming as the lecture. I would say the three lectures by themselves would be cool, but with the labs it's a ton of work. It certainly can be done, but your not doing yourself any favors in the long run if you don't do well in 1 or more of those classes. Trust your gut on this one because your the one whose going to have to put in the time.

 

[kutlessrock]

Oh. I just remembered something. I was talking to some Chem faculty about registering for classes. I was torn between putting off physics (a pre-req for pchem) and taking the last semester of the intro bio sequence (it's a 3 course sequence) and they all were telling me to take all three at once. The head of the chem dept was like "you may get an A- in one of them, but it'd be worth it." I was wondering if this was the norm-all of the upperclassmen I talked to (pre-meds in both bio and chem majors) thought that was suicidal. Granted that was with a fourth GenEd, but my eyes go wide with fear of having to take 3 labs, especially with the horror stories of Orgo. Listen to your advisor, skip taking the 3 at once if you can. You'll thank yourself later. If you want to take 3 pre-reqs take an english class if you really want to.

 

[two thirty]

Its manageable, but its going to be a crummy semester. I would avoid it like the plague.

 

[apumic]

Okay, so I went into my Pre-health advisor to discuss classes, application process, etc. I am on route to take 5 years for my bachelors and now, when I want to push to get my prereqs for med school done before I apply for transfer (CSU to UC, after my 3rd year) I get told that taking OChem w/ lab, General Physics w/lab, and General Bio w/lab in one semester is too much of a load. Is this really too much or, is my advisor trying to scare me? Although I realize that it will depend on what type of person I am and so on, in general can most people complete this course load and come out with good grades?

I think it depends upon who you are.

I think it sounds very doable if you're either not working or only working a few hrs/wk and learn efficiently. Labs do take up a good amt of time but if you work efficiently, they usually only require a few hrs/wk (like 3-4) outside of class. If you're strong in the sciences, you may only need 2-3 hrs/wk per science lecture (excluding class time). OTOH, if you're unsure, I wouldn't risk it. Start light and see what you're capable of. Watch your add/drop deadlines and don't feel bad if you have to DROP a class -- just be sure to do it before the deadline so you don't get a W!

 

[orthomyxo]

If you're going to take 3 labs in one semester, prepare to work your ass off. I did the same thing last semester and I don't recommend it. All the time you spend doing lab reports really cuts into the time you should be using to study the lecture material.

 

[gatorade848]

i took cell biology, orgo II, and physics I all in one semester... and




I still got good grades but I recommend not doing it

 

[raltima07]

I am doing Orgo, physio, and physics 2 this semester, with MCAT studying. Without the MCAT, it would be fine, but with it...

 

[toff4l]

Okay, so I went into my Pre-health advisor to discuss classes, application process, etc. I am on route to take 5 years for my bachelors and now, when I want to push to get my prereqs for med school done before I apply for transfer (CSU to UC, after my 3rd year) I get told that taking OChem w/ lab, General Physics w/lab, and General Bio w/lab in one semester is too much of a load. Is this really too much or, is my advisor trying to scare me? Although I realize that it will depend on what type of person I am and so on, in general can most people complete this course load and come out with good grades?

From experience I will tell you this. It looks nice when you plan out your schedule and you are able to take three lab sciences together. It's nice until you start taking the classes and then you realize the work is much more than it initially seemed. If you are a robot then you can just sign up for three or four lab sciences and ace them. As humans, most sane people would find it very hard to receive high grades in three lab sciences when taken over the course of one semester. I'm assuming you are also taking another class and that just makes it even harder.

So again, what looks doable in the beginning might look totally different once you start it.

My advice is to take orgo in the summer.

 

[UpQuark]

It's very possible if you put the effort into it, but I wouldn't recommend it. The lab's themselves are going to consume a ridiculous amount of time and on top of that you have to keep up with your lectures. You have 5 years, spread it out.

Fall quarter I ended up taking Advanced Cell Biology (600 Level course), Anatomy and Physiology (w/ Lab), Physics (w/Lab) and an upper division French course and studying for the MCAT. Not the easiest coarse load, but I managed (although I felt like ripping my head of hair off on multiple occasions).

 

[Signifier]

Cost-benefit. I recommend not doing it. What will you lose, really, by not doing it? What will you gain by doing it?

The above comments about the labs are very, very true. You might have the work ethic and the chops to master the material of three intense lectures, but three labs in one semester is just going to overload you with work.

 

[kansaskid]

I think your adviser is suggesting the right thing here. Three labs in one semester is certainly possible (I took three upper level bio courses one semester to finish my degree requirements), but it's incredibly unpleasant. You have a lot of time to do well in these courses and the stress of all three will definitely make it more difficult to do exceptionally well in all of them. Enjoying college was, for me, a huge part of being successful, and it is difficult for most people to really enjoy taking three introductory and work-heavy lab courses at once and still maintain the type of well-roundedness that makes for a good medical school applicant. Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[PressPforPi]

Okay, so I went into my Pre-health advisor to discuss classes, application process, etc. I am on route to take 5 years for my bachelors and now, when I want to push to get my prereqs for med school done before I apply for transfer (CSU to UC, after my 3rd year) I get told that taking OChem w/ lab, General Physics w/lab, and General Bio w/lab in one semester is too much of a load. Is this really too much or, is my advisor trying to scare me? Although I realize that it will depend on what type of person I am and so on, in general can most people complete this course load and come out with good grades?

I'm glad someone brought this up, because I was considering doing this myself while also making them my only classes. I guess it'll be onto intro to linear algebra with 2 sciences and a humanities then 🙁

 

[okal]

I don't think she's trying to scare you. She's just trying to tell you that, in her opinion, most students would have a hard time with that load. I think it depends on the professors you choose. I took Physics I with Chem I & Physics II with Chem II both times taking an upper division mathematics course and two humanities with them. It wasn't that bad. I got good grades. I vote you go with your gut.

 

[masterwares]

I'm doing cell bio, biochem1, phys2, and some GED next semester. I had to drop almost all of my extracurriculars this semester and now I'm applying for a job.

 

[gatorade848]

I would say best schedule for semester is take 2 pre-med/hard science classes, 1 easy science class, and 2 easy non-science class. preferably do one lab but if you can do it do two labs. that schedule and one lab is the max I can do while getting great grades, so like everyone says it depends on knowing your limits

 

[Syqers]

It's all about time management and sacrifice. I took both Orgo w/lab and Bio w/lab while working full-time. I had class 4 days a week, after work, and it sucked.

But I got A's in both - it's definitely do-able. But was I able to go out on the weekends? No. Did I barely hold on to my sanity? Yes. If you are determined enough though, I'm sure you can do it. That being said, I would be concerned if your pre-med advisor did not warn you about taking those three classes together. As long as you think you can get A's in all three, I would say go for it.

 

[DocTraveler]

I did it and you can too. I got A's in all classes and labs, and was working 15 hours a week. It can be done. Just have to manage your time very well. These were the only classes I took that semester btw.

 

[kashmirvie]

I took Physics I w/lab, Orgo I w/lab, Zoology w/lab & First Aid one semester (14 hrs) and got all A's. Then decided to take Phys II w/lab, Orgo II w/lab, Genetics w/lab, Ecology and Psychology I the next semester (17hrs) and got a B on Phys lab and A's on the rest.

IT WAS INTENSE. It's totally doable but if you want to have a life I recommend not doing it. Good luck!

 

[Propylene]

I asked my advisor the same thing, and they basically told me that once I'm in medical school I'd be taking the equivalent of what, 22 units of science? It helped put things in perspective. I ended up taking ochem phsyics and bio at the same time and it turned out ok. It is a lot of work, but it is manageable!

 

[Lil Mick]

I had a semester like that: Genetics, Biochem (lab), OChem II (lab), Neuroscience (grad), and medical anthropology (lab), plus work and extracurriculars. I did well despite that, but I don't recommend it. It was hell--lots of stress, little free time... Labs are killers. They take a lot of time and require a lot of writing/reports/presentations.