Is this overdoing it?

[vin5cent0]

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I just got done setting up my schedule for semester, and it looks pretty daunting. The pres of our pre-med club thinks it's ok, but my adviser thinks it's too much. I'm kind of torn in the middle.

Classes so far:

Cell Bio w/ Lab
O-chem 1 w/ lab
Physics 1 w/ lab
Calc 1
Energy - Physics (easy/fluff class)

Comes out to be 19 credits. I'm a bit behind since I switched majors after a year and a half of school. I'm doing three labs right now and it's overbearing at times. Next year, the classes are going to be twice as difficult. I had planned on taking calc 1 and another class over the summer, but I just found out the only teacher offering it is one I'd like to avoid.

I'd say I'm a pretty good student, but I'm just not sure if taking all those classes at once is a good idea or not.

 

[Bollywood Junkie]

I think it is entirely up to your own confidence level. I know some people who like to space their classes out and others who take killer loads. Think about your previous performance and the difficulty of classes at your school and determine if you could handle it. I know a person who took Orgo, Bio, Phys, and Cell Bio in one semester and did great.

 

[Handy388]

I just got done setting up my schedule for semester, and it looks pretty daunting. The pres of our pre-med club thinks it's ok, but my adviser thinks it's too much. I'm kind of torn in the middle.

Classes so far:

Cell Bio w/ Lab
O-chem 1 w/ lab
Physics 1 w/ lab
Calc 1
Energy - Physics (easy/fluff class)

Comes out to be 19 credits. I'm a bit behind since I switched majors after a year and a half of school. I'm doing three labs right now and it's overbearing at times. Next year, the classes are going to be twice as difficult. I had planned on taking calc 1 and another class over the summer, but I just found out the only teacher offering it is one I'd like to avoid.

I'd say I'm a pretty good student, but I'm just not sure if taking all those classes at once is a good idea or not.

you president does not want you to compete with him.

yeah, I say take 50% of the core requirement in one semester,real good way to stack stress on your shoulder.

I took those courses above in 4 separate semesters.

 

[vin5cent0]

^ He's already accepted into medical school

 

[GoSpursGo]

All the same, that seems like a disaster waiting to happen. I strongly advise against such a difficult semester.

Take your time. It'll be much better to apply half a year or a year later than normal with a great GPA still intact than to blow your GPA up and wind up taking years to repair it.

 

[COMBAT MEDIC172]

It is all up to whether or not you think you can handle it. I know of some that could, however I know far more people that would sink with those courses all crammed together like that.

 

[MassTransport]

Sounds rough. Gotta do what you gotta do.

 

[ksmi117]

All the same, that seems like a disaster waiting to happen. I strongly advise against such a difficult semester.

Take your time. It'll be much better to apply half a year or a year later than normal with a great GPA still intact than to blow your GPA up and wind up taking years to repair it.

I agree with Spurs. If you are overwhelmed now, why put yourself through it again? These classes will be harder and likely take more time. Spread the classes out and protect your GPA. It's better to take a bit more time than to hurt your chances with lower grades.

 

[BlueElmo]

How can you take Cell Bio without having taken Organic 1? Cell bio is an upper division biology course, no?

 

[redsquareblack]

How can you take Cell Bio without having taken Organic 1? Cell bio is an upper division biology course, no?

It is, but I see no reason why not having taken Orgo I would be a problem. Actually, I can't think of much of anything Orgo is good for; I defy you to show me where orgo comes in handy during medical school.

 

[Dwindlin]

It is, but I see no reason why not having taken Orgo I would be a problem. Actually, I can't think of much of anything Orgo is good for; I defy you to show me where orgo comes in handy during medical school.

Organic has helped me tremendously in Biochem.

Anyways to the OP. I took almost that exact same load fall semester before my MCAT. Though instead of an Energy course I was finishing up clinical rotations for my EMTP cert. (roughly 25-30 hours/week mostly grave yard shifts).

So it is doable, but it entirely up to you. It was rough, I had absolutely no social life but I got through it, did well in the courses, and it got me out of undergrad ~year earlier than I thought I would.

 

[ar2388]

do you need the fluff course for anything? I would drop cell bio with lab for this semester. its not a premed req or anything.

 

[Snarkalark]

There's no prize for cramming 19 science credits and 3 labs into a single semester. It's a GPA detriment waiting to happen. I would take my time and, in a worst case scenario, apply a year later.

 

[DrBeks]

I personally wouldn't do it. Five courses? That's a freaking lot.

I know some people taking O Chem, Physics, and Cell, and then some easy theatre class. They're exhausted with those and they're brilliant. Maybe just take those and the fluff class and maybe calc at another time. I just know that three labs plus their homework and the intensity of information is, as Spurs said, a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Natasha029]

I know what it feels like to be behind!

Physics and calculus is mostly math and learning formulas, not really much of a concept to understand like with cell biology. I don't see the problem in taking physics and calculus together. I hear ochem is a real kicker and that may require a lot of time, especially depending on how much busy work your professors assign. I would talk to each professor you are considering taking and get their opinion on the course load, that has worked well for me in the past. Ratemyprofessor.com is also handy.

 

[Slowpoke]

since when did this become a race?

is everyone reading the same thing here?

That load spells killer

 

[Gut Shot]

I'd say I'm a pretty good student, but I'm just not sure if taking all those classes at once is a good idea or not.

Let's do the good old risk-benefit analysis.

Risk: you will be completely overwhelmed and your GPA will be destroyed. This will kill your dreams indefinitely.

Benefit: none.

Looks like a pretty easy decision to me.

 

[GlamDoc]

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