Is this schedule a bad idea?

[orthomyxo]

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My school has an outline of the curriculum for bio majors, and the way they structure junior years looks really lopsided to me. I'll be registering for fall classes in the next week or so, and so far I have:

Biochemistry w/ lab
General Physics I w/ lab (non calc based)
Genetics
Problems in Genetics (No idea what this is, but it's a co-req for genetics lecture. Doesn't seem like a lab from the course description.)
Abnormal Psych.

Total = 16 credits

Bad idea, or what? The only thing is that none of these classes are offered in the spring, so I'm not sure if what changes can be made. If it matters, they recently changed Genetics from a 300 level class to a 200 level, but I'm not sure if that has any effect on its difficulty.

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

My school has an outline of the curriculum for bio majors, and the way they structure junior years looks really lopsided to me. I'll be registering for fall classes in the next week or so, and so far I have:

Biochemistry w/ lab
General Physics I w/ lab (non calc based)
Genetics
Problems in Genetics (No idea what this is, but it's a co-req for genetics lecture. Doesn't seem like a lab from the course description.)
Abnormal Psych.

Total = 16 credits

Bad idea, or what? The only thing is that none of these classes are offered in the spring, so I'm not sure if what changes can be made. If it matters, they recently changed Genetics from a 300 level class to a 200 level, but I'm not sure if that has any effect on its difficulty.

Sounds painful.

 

[orthomyxo]

Sounds painful.

Plus side is that, if everything goes according to plan, I'll have classes 4 days a week. I'm pumped.

 

[firecloak]

It's not that bad. Definitely doable, though it may depend on your teachers.

Biochemistry will require a lot of memorization though, so watch out for that one. Study often.

Problems in Genetics is basically the "lab" that goes with the lecture. I say "lab" loosely cause you're not really going to be working with fruit flies or anything like that. You'll probably just do math/genetics/probability problems from your textbook.

 

[bookfreak89]

My school has an outline of the curriculum for bio majors, and the way they structure junior years looks really lopsided to me. I'll be registering for fall classes in the next week or so, and so far I have:

Biochemistry w/ lab
General Physics I w/ lab (non calc based)
Genetics
Problems in Genetics (No idea what this is, but it's a co-req for genetics lecture. Doesn't seem like a lab from the course description.)
Abnormal Psych.

Total = 16 credits

Bad idea, or what? The only thing is that none of these classes are offered in the spring, so I'm not sure if what changes can be made. If it matters, they recently changed Genetics from a 300 level class to a 200 level, but I'm not sure if that has any effect on its difficulty.

Bio majors at my undergrad take Genetics & Biochemistry at the same time as well. Only difference is that we don't have lab with biochemistry. Anyways, this schedule (w/Physics) was apparently the 'schedule of death' and all the MolBio advisors were basically told to talk out any student who wants to do these 3 classes at once. I know of some people who did it and survived, but it was tough for them. Granted, I don't know how these classes are in terms of difficulty, professor, precepts (discussions), labs, TAs, etc at your university, so the experience could be vastly different. I was going to do this schedule (+ 2 other classes), but chickened out and took Japanese instead of Physics. 😀

 

[orthomyxo]

Problems in Genetics is basically the "lab" that goes with the lecture. I say "lab" loosely cause you're not really going to be working with fruit flies or anything like that. You'll probably just do math/genetics/probability problems from your textbook.

I think you're right. The description said something like "focus will be placed on probability" or something like that.

 

[MeowMeowCAT]

Abnormal Psychology - should be an easy A/B.
Genetics - is information heavy but manageable. Read the textbook! A lot more focus on understanding than memorization. A lot of "If you have _____, then what should be ______?" type of questions. I ended up with a B+ through most of the semester.
Problems in Genetics - Have no experience with a specific class, but I am assuming it will just be covering what you are learning in the regular class.

I am assuming most of your issues will be with the Physics and Biochemistry. Even though the Physics is not "calc-based", it will still be tough work. I am not sure about BioChem since I will be taking that class this Fall as well, coincidentally also in a very packed semester(17 credits, all science )

Have you looked into taking any classes over this coming summer? If anything you can probably take the psych course during one of the summer semesters, and maybe even genetics. Mostly because that will ease up your fall's schedule in terms of time. Because even if you have an easy class, that still is something that will take up your time to some degree.

16 credits will be tough. If not in terms of difficulty then most likely in terms of time.

 

[orthomyxo]

Anyways, this schedule (w/Physics) was apparently the 'schedule of death'

 

[orthomyxo]

Abnormal Psychology - should be an easy A/B.
Genetics - is information heavy but manageable. Read the textbook! A lot more focus on understanding than memorization. A lot of "If you have _____, then what should be ______?" type of questions. I ended up with a B+ through most of the semester.
Problems in Genetics - Have no experience with a specific class, but I am assuming it will just be covering what you are learning in the regular class.

I am assuming most of your issues will be with the Physics and Biochemistry. Even though the Physics is not "calc-based", it will still be tough work. I am not sure about BioChem since I will be taking that class this Fall as well, coincidentally also in a very packed semester.

Have you looked into taking any classes over this coming summer? If anything you can probably take the psych course during one of the summer semesters, and maybe even genetics. Mostly because that will ease up your fall's schedule in terms of time. Because even if you have an easy class, that still is something that will take up your time to some degree.

16 credits will be tough. If not in terms of difficulty then most likely in terms of time.

I realize that taking 13 credits of science will be hard, but I don't really want to reduce my course load. The past two semesters, I only took 13 credits and then 12 credits, so I'm looking to step it up.

The only thing I'm worried about is when the hell I'm going to study for/take my MCAT. 🙁

 

[bookfreak89]

LOL pic

Funny pic.

'Schedule of death' at my undergrad. Your experience could be very different.

 

[bookfreak89]

I realize that taking 13 credits of science will be hard, but I don't really want to reduce my course load. The past two semesters, I only took 13 credits and then 12 credits, so I'm looking to step it up.

The only thing I'm worried about is when the hell I'm going to study for/take my MCAT. 🙁

😱

 

[orthomyxo]

bump

 

[phnerd1105]

If you're aiming to study for your MCAT in the fall semester, taking those classes isn't really a good idea. Originally, I was going to take my MCAT in the summer before junior year but had to delay it. I thought I could handle it with my Fall courseload, which included biochem, cell bio,and a vertebrate anatomy lab. BIGG MISTAKEEE. I don't think I ever did a minute of studying that semester, I was too overloaded. You most likely will be too. That just means you have to study for your MCAT during spring semester/summer of applying, which is more advisable since you haven't finished physics yet.

 

[Geekchick921]

Sounds really interesting to me! Abnormal psych, when I took it, was a really fun class, and not very difficult.

When are you planning on taking the MCAT? I can't imagine before the spring, since you're only taking Physics 1 in the fall. Since you said it looks lopsided, is spring a lighter courseload? That would make studying for the MCAT in May or June a lot easier for you, right?

 

[Kaustikos]

My school has an outline of the curriculum for bio majors, and the way they structure junior years looks really lopsided to me. I'll be registering for fall classes in the next week or so, and so far I have:

Biochemistry w/ lab
General Physics I w/ lab (non calc based)
Genetics
Problems in Genetics (No idea what this is, but it's a co-req for genetics lecture. Doesn't seem like a lab from the course description.)
Abnormal Psych.

Total = 16 credits

Bad idea, or what? The only thing is that none of these classes are offered in the spring, so I'm not sure if what changes can be made. If it matters, they recently changed Genetics from a 300 level class to a 200 level, but I'm not sure if that has any effect on its difficulty.

Sounds like my fall schedule for sophmore year except replace biochem w/lab with Organic Chem w/lab. I definitely did it wrong (scheduling wise) and took physics way too early . It sounds doable, but abnormal psychology sounds like a bitch, imo. Genetics/Problems in Genetics sounds awesome! Is Problems a course dealing with genetic developmental diseases? If so - WIN. 👍

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

IMO abnormal psych should be interesting and not too difficult. At my school genetics is the hardest upper level bio, and many great students struggle with it. So, I suppose the difficulty of your schedule depends on how rigorous the sciences are at your school, as well as the particular prof that teaches each class.

 

[BlitzSleep]

I had a schedule similiar to that, except I took a gen ed instead of abnormal psych. It was intense. It really depends on what kind of professors you have.

 

[orthomyxo]

Sounds really interesting to me! Abnormal psych, when I took it, was a really fun class, and not very difficult.

When are you planning on taking the MCAT? I can't imagine before the spring, since you're only taking Physics 1 in the fall. Since you said it looks lopsided, is spring a lighter courseload? That would make studying for the MCAT in May or June a lot easier for you, right?

I don't really know when I'm going to take my MCAT. Ideally, I'd like to have taken it before the spring semester of my senior year. Then again, I'm not exactly sure if I'm going to apply right away or take a gap year, so I guess it's not that big of a deal yet. But yea, spring semester looks like it's going to be around 13 credits, so I could potentially start studying then.

Sounds like my fall schedule for sophmore year except replace biochem w/lab with Organic Chem w/lab. I definitely did it wrong (scheduling wise) and took physics way too early . It sounds doable, but abnormal psychology sounds like a bitch, imo. Genetics/Problems in Genetics sounds awesome! Is Problems a course dealing with genetic developmental diseases? If so - WIN. 👍

My feelings are the exact opposite. I'm looking forward to Abnormal Psych and absolutely dreading Genetics. I honestly have no idea what Problems in Genetics is...I just hope it's not anything close to a lab. The course description is super vague, but it seems like it's going to have something to do with math and probability. 👎 Not win.

IMO abnormal psych should be interesting and not too difficult. At my school genetics is the hardest upper level bio, and many great students struggle with it. So, I suppose the difficulty of your schedule depends on how rigorous the sciences are at your school, as well as the particular prof that teaches each class.

I don't really know anything about the genetics course here lol. I just hope it's not extremely difficult.

Also, can somebody tell me what biochem is like? The whole organic chem pre-requisite thing is scaring me. Is it mostly memorization? Please tell me I won't be seeing syntheses of biomolecules....