My Class Strength of Schedule

[Tac86]

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Right now, I am planning on taking about 15 credits this semester. I want your opinions on the classes Too much, too little? Should I make any changes?

Here is my Schedule

PHSCS 105 Physics 1 (w/ lab)
MATH 112 Calc 1
ECON 110 Econ Principles & Problems
HIST 220 US History

I'm going into my second year right now. I have currently taken the first half of Bio and Chem, but unfortunately where I'm going to be taking classes doesn't offer the second parts this semester... Should I maybe try to take them online and drop another class or what. Thanks!

 

[ChymeofPassion]

All depends on how smart you are or what you're good at. Physics 1/Calculus took me less than 2 hours a week to do homework and prepare for class/tests. A class like American literature took me 15 hours a week.

Overall it seems like a pretty easy schedule, with 3 100 level classes.

 

[fi3451]

I don’t see anything inherently wrong with your schedule. I would recommend against taking your medical school pre reqs online. Some schools may not accept pre reqs taken online. If you have questions about individual courses at the school you attend feel free to DM me. Judging by the cours titles/numbers, I attend the same school as you and likely have taken many of the courses you will have to take for medical school.

 

[LizzyM]

No comment on your schedule but your avatar reminds me of the typical GPA curve of pre-meds. You may end up being atypical because you aren't taking o-chem this year.

 

[MyOdyssey]

No comment on your schedule but your avatar reminds me of the typical GPA curve of pre-meds. You may end up being atypical because you aren't taking o-chem this year.

Is taking O Chem later than sophomore year considered a negative atypicality?

 

[getdown]

Is taking O Chem later than sophomore year considered a negative atypicality?

No, as long as you "just do it".

 

[LizzyM]

Is taking O Chem later than sophomore year considered a negative atypicality?

Not a negative... just unusual. Most folks take Chem as freshmen and o-chem as sophomores. O-chem is almost always the toughest course and usually contributes to a dip in GPA during 2nd year that then bounces up the following year. Just watch for what could look like a downward trend if you hit that o-chem bump later in your college career.

 

[deleted938090]

Is taking O Chem later than sophomore year considered a negative atypicality?

Taking OChem junior year means you have to take Biochem junior year as well, giving you less time to prepare for MCAT, which has two large sections of biochem. I'd advise you to take ochem as early as you can.

 

[MyOdyssey]

Taking OChem junior year means you have to take Biochem junior year as well, giving you less time to prepare for MCAT, which has two large sections of biochem. I'd advise you to take ochem as early as you can.

What you say is true but I was forced to take OChem as a junior for somewhat institution specific reasons. At my undergrad you're not allowed to take the "real" general chemistry sequence unless you have AP chemistry, calculus from high school or score high enough on a chemistry placement test. And you're not allowed to take OChem until you've first taken 2 semesters of the "real" general chemistry sequence (ie the general chemistry for chemistry majors).

Anyway, it's not affecting MCAT prep as I'm planning to take at least 1 research related gap year and can afford to wait until I complete biochem.

 

[raiderette]

What you say is true but I was forced to take OChem as a junior for somewhat institution specific reasons. At my undergrad you're not allowed to take the "real" general chemistry sequence unless you have AP chemistry, calculus from high school or score high enough on a chemistry placement test. And you're not allowed to take OChem until you've first taken 2 semesters of the "real" general chemistry sequence (ie the general chemistry for chemistry majors).

Anyway, it's not affecting MCAT prep as I'm planning to take at least 1 research related gap year and can afford to wait until I complete biochem.

As long as you don't have to worry about taking MCAT before senior year, your schedule is fine.

 

[$haBoy]

Taking OChem junior year means you have to take Biochem junior year as well, giving you less time to prepare for MCAT, which has two large sections of biochem. I'd advise you to take ochem as early as you can.

Why would OP have to take Ochem and biochem the same year?

 

[raiderette]

Why would OP have to take Ochem and biochem the same year?

In order to take MCAT and apply before senior year, the chemistry sequence should be done. I will never recommend taking MCAT before biochem on the new MCAT.

 

[$haBoy]

In order to take MCAT and apply before senior year, the chemistry sequence should be done. I will never recommend taking MCAT before biochem on the new MCAT.

Understandable, but not my point. @Sophist is making it seem like you need Ochem as a prerequisite or corequisite to biochem, and I'm wondering why, unless I'm misunderstanding.

 

[MyOdyssey]

In order to take MCAT and apply before senior year, the chemistry sequence should be done. I will never recommend taking MCAT before biochem on the new MCAT.

@raiderette speaks to the applicant who wants to go straight into med school out of undergrad. The latest you can apply is summer/fall between junior and senior years. That means you have to complete your MCAT by then at the latest.

Biochemistry is probably the most heavily tested part of the new MCAT or so I've read; biochem also follows from O Chem. So non-gap year applicants who take O Chem in the junior year should take biochem no later than spring of junior year while simultaneously taking orgo 2. This is non-optimal because orgo 1 and orgo 2 set the table for biochem.

 

[$haBoy]

@raiderette speaks to the applicant who wants to go straight into med school out of undergrad. The latest you can apply is summer/fall between junior and senior years. That means you have to complete your MCAT by then at the latest.

Biochemistry is probably the most heavily tested part of the new MCAT or so I've read; biochem also follows from O Chem. So non-gap year applicants who take O Chem in the junior year should take biochem no later than spring of junior year while simultaneously taking orgo 2. This is non-optimal because orgo 1 and orgo 2 set the table for biochem.

I understand how knowing organic could be beneficial for biochem, but by no means is it necessary to take it first.

 

[MyOdyssey]

Understandable, but not my point. @Sophist is making it seem like you need Ochem as a prerequisite or corequisite to biochem, and I'm wondering why, unless I'm misunderstanding.

At the very least, Orgo I is a prerequisite to biochem. At my undergrad, the chemistry department's biochem course wants 2 semesters of orgo. The bio department is willing to take only 1 semester of orgo.

You should check your school's requirements but there's no question orgo 1 and orgo 2 teach you things that you need for biochem.

 

[MyOdyssey]

I understand how knowing organic could be beneficial for biochem, but by no means is it necessary to take it first.

I've had friends who took the bio department version of biochem and did fine with Orgo 1 and a prerequisite and Orgo 2 as a corequisite but the same friends felt that that flavor of biochem was inadequate for the MCAT.

Few, if any, attempt the chem department's biochem course without first completing orgo 1 and orgo 2. The chem department's biochem course is regarded as more rigorous and better prep for the MCAT.

 

[deleted938090]

Organic chemistry is mandatory for an adequate biochemistry course, no exceptions. I made a post before about what you need for biochemistry: Things to Know Before Taking Biochemistry?

 

[$haBoy]

Organic chemistry is mandatory for an adequate biochemistry course, no exceptions. I made a post before about what you need for biochemistry: Things to Know Before Taking Biochemistry?

I'm just an entering freshman so by no means am I claiming that I know everything about anything, but at my school at least the first biochemistry class that has an organic prereq is a 300 level class.

 

[MyOdyssey]

I'm just an entering freshman so by no means am I claiming that I know everything about anything, but at my school at least the first biochemistry class that has an organic prereq is a 300 level class.

Then that's the one you need to prepare you for the MCAT. I agree with @Sophist 100% on that.