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Looking for some advice scheduling for Spring 2012

Started by pritomd
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pritomd

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Hello..so here's the situation: I've already graduated and have a 9-5 job. I have to retake Orgo I and II for grade replacement (no labs, just lecture). I'd also like to possibly take Biochemistry and one other upper level science class. Although this seems tough with a full time job, I feel confident because I spent most of the summer/fall studying for my MCAT which included doing well on the BS section, and namely, studying organic chemistry, so I don't see it being difficult (plus I've taken them both before).

Here are the options I'm facing:
Orgo I:
Community college, Tuesday or Saturday
Night school at UMD, Monday

Orgo I:
Community college, Monday, Tuesday, or Saturday
Night school at UMD, Monday

Biochemistry:
Night school at UMD, Monday
Online at U Minnesota (these online classes don't differentiate on their transcript that they were online I believe, but in an interview I'm sure they'll ask why I took a class at Minn and then I'll have to say it was online)

Upper level science:
Night school at UMD, usually Monday or Tuesday (Histology)
Online at U Minnesota (Genetics)

So as you can see, I'm sort of in a pickle since most of these classes want to be on M or T. Even moreso, I'd like to get a recommendation letter from one of these, since my current ones are sort of outdated and none from science faculty. Leads me to this question: do med schools frown upon rec letters from CC faculty?

Basically, I can take one orgo on saturday via CC, but I'd need to give up a Monday or Tuesday for the other. If I did that, I could take histology in person, and then biochem online (and if I'm daring, genetics online with that but it's already crowded), with orgo being through UMD. I could also make it so I'd take biochem in person, and then genetics online, and orgo being through CC.

Yeah, I'm in sort of a mess. I'd like to get this done this semester rather than wait until the summer (like postponing the upper sciences to the summer) since I want to get my app out early. Also, I'd say taking organic chem would be more important than the upper level sciences because I took those 2 years ago and didn't do well, and I think the grade replacement would be valuable for applying to D.O. schools..does this sound right?

Well thanks in advance for any help.

EDIT: okay, it seems like my situation is a lot more wacky after reading it, lol. Anyway, there's another option: take Organic Chem I/II via UNE online. This would allow me to take histology and biochem with UMD. Furthermore, it is a work at your own pace class, with a max of 8 months to finish so it'd be more lenient. That being said, it also eliminates all CC coursework. However, it's listed as a DPPP course, not a CHEM course, so I think that's a giveaway for being online. However, UNE's program was reccomended to me by VCOM when I was emailing them, so maybe they're okay with it.

Also, FYI, I am planning on applying to some in-state M.D. schools as well in VA, so I still think these upper-level courses are important since retaking Organic Chemistry won't have as big of an impact without grade replacement.
 
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Make sure the UNE biochem class matches the name and # of credits you're planning on replacing.
I think schools look more favorably on in-person classes than online classes. But I don't really know everything, so take it with a pinch of salt.

I took A&P with labs on Saturday mornings at 8:00am for a whole year (oh, the joy...) while working 50+ hours a week. It's doable. Also, why histology/genetics in particular? There's plenty of other upper-division science classes, even in disciplines like zoology and health sciences.