junior year abroad?

[hnbui]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Has anyone here spend their junior year abroad? I really want to go study in london for a year, btu the problem is that i'm doing premed, majoring in cell and mol bio and minoring in German, and i want to graudate in 4 years. Has anyone gone through a similiar situation? If so what did you do or what do you recommend i should do?

 

[chapinsita]

Has anyone here spend their junior year abroad? I really want to go study in london for a year, btu the problem is that i'm doing premed, majoring in cell and mol bio and minoring in German, and i want to graudate in 4 years. Has anyone gone through a similiar situation? If so what did you do or what do you recommend i should do?

I did, graduated in 5 because I went abroad twice (1 year each time), but would have been 4 if I had only done it once. I majored in bio too. How did I do it? Took full course loads during the summer and up to my unit max during the year. I fulfilled most of my science requirements before going, and did 2 upper divs abroad 3rd year (the rest of classes went towards my minor), and came back to do the upper div science labs that had to be taken on campus. Basically you need to take as many classes as possible before going, and while abroad make sure you can get at least 1 class approved for your major. I took the MCAT in April of my 4th year.

What do I recommend you do? Stop stressing about graduating in 4, and take your time to explore the world. Nothing compares to going abroad for a year (A COMPLETELY different story than going abroad for a semester, or worse yet, just a summer). About 90% of my class (at a top 10 school) studied abroad, admissions commitees love that stuff.

 

[futuremsfdoc]

if you're minoring in german, don't go to london, go to germany. not only will it help you really solidify the language and learn about the culture, germany has great programs in sciences that would likely transfer back to your home university. oh and i would recommend going for fall semester junior year, and then planning on being in the states spring semester jr. year to take the mcat that april. you don't want to be studying for the mcat in europe.

 

[hnbui]

i've just really been interested in studying in england. I am sure they offer mcat testing over there right?

 

[futuremsfdoc]

yeah, i'm pretty sure they do, but here's the problem: you're going to do one of two things if you have to take the mcat abroad. either you'll forgo studying as much as is required to take advantage of the new country you're in and soak up the history/culture or you'll study and sacrifice learning all that stuff you went over there to learn in the first place. the primary reason for going abroad is to experience a different culture and meet people with a unique perspective, and if you're stuck in your room/library studying, you won't be able to do that.

still, i would look into germany as admissions committees look favorably upon depth, and your command of german could be seen as a huge positive in the admissions process. you could always travel to england, but i'd study in germany.

 

[mrcdsbenz2000]

yeah you can take the mcat in london

 

[DieselPetrolGrl]

OH MY GOD i went to london for a study abroad course!
haha PM me i will send u my pics!
i recommendzzz it --- it was awesommmmme!!!

 

[skiracer90]

I recommend going abroad also. I went to Australia during my junior year and it was a life-changing experience. It is completely worth loading up the rest of your semesters and taking summer classes if that's what you need to do to graduate on time. Think about it: you're only young once and for most people this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to actually live in another country, travel, and truly take in another culture. And here comes nostalgia in 5....4....3....2....

 

[hnbui]

i really can't take summer courses that's why i'm stressing over it. At my university there's a stupid rule that requires you to take summer school there..... which is 2 grand for a 3 credit hour class. They don't let you take your courses else where.

 

[Avenue Q]

I am currently spending the semester abroad in Vietnam and am having a great time!

I am pre-med/Jewish Studies Major... I worked it out this way:

Freshman year: 2 Semesters bio, 2 semesters chem, 1 semester english
sophmore year: 2 semesters orgo, 2 semesters physics
Summer before jr year: MCAT!!

I am studing development in vietnam, with a program that allows for independant study projects (check out the school for international training if you are at all interested, they even have pre-med/health related semesters in really amazing countries all over the world), and I am studying the #1 public health threat here - motorbike accidents (treatment and prevention, specifically for children), and am getting clinical experience while I am here.

I was able to spend this semester doing something unrelated to both premed and my major and will graduate on time - no problem. However, my school has no core curriculum or distribution requirements, so this helps greatly.

Let me know if you have any questions...

 

[Doc.Holliday]

i really can't take summer courses that's why i'm stressing over it. At my university there's a stupid rule that requires you to take summer school there..... which is 2 grand for a 3 credit hour class. They don't let you take your courses else where.

you dont have to take it there. it just doesnt count towards your gpa if taken elsewhere (meaning it wont help/hurt you in trying to get departmental honors etc).

youre a freshman right? you seem to have most things planned, so i assume youre taking cell or maybe tested out of it, if so you can easily study abroad, even skipping out on sciences all together while in england. if you need to you can double up a semester with genetics and molecular (its tough, but doable, if you think thats an option only do it with Thien, doing that with Mullin would be suicide. Take orgo, physics, and bio all next year. im doing that now, its not bad. apply for the creative premedical scholars program if you like tulane's med school, then you wont have to worry at all.

if youre planning your schedules intelligently youll have no problem. youll only have to double up if you dont take any bios while abroad (i dont remember whats offered there). doubling up isnt so bad, you should be taking three math/science courses each semester right now, and by junior/senior year youll be done with math, physics, and chem so it wont be a change, plus later bio classes are pretty easy, it all just builds upon itself and makes even more sense the further along you go.

anyway, if you have any questions or whatever, ask here or pm me

 

[hnbui]

you dont have to take it there. it just doesnt count towards your gpa if taken elsewhere (meaning it wont help/hurt you in trying to get departmental honors etc).

youre a freshman right? you seem to have most things planned, so i assume youre taking cell or maybe tested out of it, if so you can easily study abroad, even skipping out on sciences all together while in england. if you need to you can double up a semester with genetics and molecular (its tough, but doable, if you think thats an option only do it with Thien, doing that with Mullin would be suicide. Take orgo, physics, and bio all next year. im doing that now, its not bad. apply for the creative premedical scholars program if you like tulane's med school, then you wont have to worry at all.

if youre planning your schedules intelligently youll have no problem. youll only have to double up if you dont take any bios while abroad (i dont remember whats offered there). doubling up isnt so bad, you should be taking three math/science courses each semester right now, and by junior/senior year youll be done with math, physics, and chem so it wont be a change, plus later bio classes are pretty easy, it all just builds upon itself and makes even more sense the further along you go.

anyway, if you have any questions or whatever, ask here or pm me

from what i understand i am only allowed to take courses at uno or else where during the summer if the course is not offered at tulane. Since i am a new orleans resident i am restrictied to taking tulane summer school.

Yeah i'm trying to do creative scholars. I'm taking general chem and eeob 101 next semester. I'm planning to sit in on dotson's genetics class this semester so when i take it next year it'll be easier (I'm really bad at genetics).

Yeah i'm going to try and go over 18 credits next year. Can i ask you a question? Who's your advisor?

btw i'm thinking about imperial, bristol, or manchester.

 

[DieselPetrolGrl]

if you dont go you will regret it!
come bk and take the mcat in august
thats what i dids!..um " did "

 

[Xandie]

I spent two quarters abroad my junior year (fall and winter) and wouldn't change a thing. I studied for the MCAT on the beaches of Australia (tough life, right?) and then took it two months after coming back to the States.
I majored in biology and creative writing and graduated in four years, but I went to a school that has a curriculum designed for study abroad. My advice would be to go ahead and study abroad, and if you can't graduate in four years, then who cares? Don't sacrafice your life in your rush to get on to the next step.

 

[Doc.Holliday]

from what i understand i am only allowed to take courses at uno or else where during the summer if the course is not offered at tulane. Since i am a new orleans resident i am restrictied to taking tulane summer school.

Yeah i'm trying to do creative scholars. I'm taking general chem and eeob 101 next semester. I'm planning to sit in on dotson's genetics class this semester so when i take it next year it'll be easier (I'm really bad at genetics).

Yeah i'm going to try and go over 18 credits next year. Can i ask you a question? Who's your advisor?

btw i'm thinking about imperial, bristol, or manchester.

thats bs. i have never heard such a thing. if its from an accredited college it counts, though with community college credits etc you may run into some problems.

DO NOT take eeob next semester. why would you? youre a cell major! youll only be putting yourself behind. They only recommend EEOB 101 for non science majors who are looking to fullfill their 2 bio classes as premed reqs. but if youre a cell major youll have that more than covered. I made the mistake of just doing what the premed advisors said and i took eeob first semester. take genetics this spring, dotson is a cool guy (hes my advisor). some consider him slightly difficult, but it was my favorite bio class thus far. Just read ahead and youll do fine. are you taking 2 semesters of calc? test out? or taking prob/stat?

 

[hnbui]

thats bs. i have never heard such a thing. if its from an accredited college it counts, though with community college credits etc you may run into some problems.

DO NOT take eeob next semester. why would you? youre a cell major! youll only be putting yourself behind. They only recommend EEOB 101 for non science majors who are looking to fullfill their 2 bio classes as premed reqs. but if youre a cell major youll have that more than covered. I made the mistake of just doing what the premed advisors said and i took eeob first semester. take genetics this spring, dotson is a cool guy (hes my advisor). some consider him slightly difficult, but it was my favorite bio class thus far. Just read ahead and youll do fine. are you taking 2 semesters of calc? test out? or taking prob/stat?

It's true though. My advisor told me. It sucks though....... I mean the only time they allow a student, who is an neworleans resident, to take summer courses elsewhere and receive credit for it is if the course is not offered by tulane, even then all courses taken not at tulane will only be given credit, (On your transcript it will appear as CR), and no grade will be given for the class. I mean i really rather pay UNO $1500 to be a full time stuent during the summer than chalk up $2000 for a 3 credit hour course at tulane.

As for eeob.... Well i need it for creative scholars. plus some fo the med schools i'm reading up on require some zoology.
I am registered for eeob 101+111, apms 221, chem 108 +118 with burin, germ 102, and math 111 prob and stats w/ shalit.

 

[Doc.Holliday]

It's true though. My advisor told me. It sucks though....... I mean the only time they allow a student, who is an neworleans resident, to take summer courses elsewhere and receive credit for it is if the course is not offered by tulane, even then all courses taken not at tulane will only be given credit, (On your transcript it will appear as CR), and no grade will be given for the class. I mean i really rather pay UNO $1500 to be a full time stuent during the summer than chalk up $2000 for a 3 credit hour course at tulane.

As for eeob.... Well i need it for creative scholars. plus some fo the med schools i'm reading up on require some zoology.
I am registered for eeob 101+111, apms 221, chem 108 +118 with burin, germ 102, and math 111 prob and stats w/ shalit.

i still say thats bs, there has to be a way around that. if you havent figured this out already some of the college advisors are crackpots, so maybe you should set up an appointment with someone other than you are assigned to. you need to argue with them about that.

if some that you want to apply to require it than ok,but thats a pretty light schedule, id say taking another bio would be definitely doable... but i dont know what your grades are like for this semester. Gen chem II is easier than one, and Burin isnt as bad as it could be. EEOB is straight memorization, and Fleury is a cool guy so that comes easy. and prob/stat is cake (none of the schools youre looking at require 2 semesters of calc right?) maybe look into adding genetics in there too.

and you dont need eeob for creative scholars. you just have to finish the normal premed prereqs before end of sophomore year, it doesnt matter what bios you take.

 

[hnbui]

i still say thats bs, there has to be a way around that. if you havent figured this out already some of the college advisors are crackpots, so maybe you should set up an appointment with someone other than you are assigned to. you need to argue with them about that.

if some that you want to apply to require it than ok,but thats a pretty light schedule, id say taking another bio would be definitely doable... but i dont know what your grades are like for this semester. Gen chem II is easier than one, and Burin isnt as bad as it could be. EEOB is straight memorization, and Fleury is a cool guy so that comes easy. and prob/stat is cake (none of the schools youre looking at require 2 semesters of calc right?) maybe look into adding genetics in there too.

and you dont need eeob for creative scholars. you just have to finish the normal premed prereqs before end of sophomore year, it doesnt matter what bios you take.

yeah i just switch my advisor friday so i'm going to go discuss some of the stuff that's been going on in my head monday with my new advisor john halbrooks.

Who's your advisor? also how lenient are advisors on letting freshmen overload? what about regular student overloading? Like i mentioned eailer i just swicth advisor so i really don't know much, since my last advisor was a total offensive bastard.

 

[Doc.Holliday]

yeah i just switch my advisor friday so i'm going to go discuss some of the stuff that's been going on in my head monday with my new advisor john halbrooks.

Who's your advisor? also how lenient are advisors on letting freshmen overload? what about regular student overloading? Like i mentioned eailer i just swicth advisor so i really don't know much, since my last advisor was a total offensive bastard.

halbrooks is probably the best. or at least the most down to earth. im assigned to ms deem, shes a ditz. but i have an ok relationship with her, so she basically just does what i tell her to. just this past week i got her to ok my overload even though she can get into trouble for doing so.

it all depends on your grades, if youve got them then its ok, if not then youll need to do a good bit of talking to convince them youre capable of handling it. cant remember if its a 3.5 or 3.3...

declare your major as soon as possible, major advisors are much more helpful in planning schedules etc.

 

[hnbui]

halbrooks is probably the best. or at least the most down to earth. im assigned to ms deem, shes a ditz. but i have an ok relationship with her, so she basically just does what i tell her to. just this past week i got her to ok my overload even though she can get into trouble for doing so.

it all depends on your grades, if youve got them then its ok, if not then youll need to do a good bit of talking to convince them youre capable of handling it. cant remember if its a 3.5 or 3.3...

declare your major as soon as possible, major advisors are much more helpful in planning schedules etc.

okay yeah i'm planning to declare my major by the end of this year. I believe it's a 3.5 I had Robert Carrier and he was a bastard, man.

 

[hnbui]

does anyone know any website that ranks UK schools? Or european schools?