Need schedule advice.

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Lingz

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I am a sophomore in college. My spring courses are the following:

genetics + lab 4
ecology 3
ochem II 3
french 3

I feel that 13 credits is a little low. Do you think it would be possible to take an online world literature course through a local college (3 credits)?
Or would it be too much?

I haven't shadowed any vets yet, nor do I have many animal experience. I've only had hamsters and gerbils as pets in the past. Through a pre-professional club at school, I was able to get hours at a spay/neuter clinic whenever the event was offered. I also have not started working in a lab at school.
If I take these 5 classes, would I have any time to gain experience?

The ochem final will be from ACS. Anyone taken it? How is it?

I would like to study abroad in the summer for 5 weeks. When I come back I'll be in time for my university's third summer session.
Is studying abroad worth it? If I were not to go abroad, I would take both semesters of physics during summer.
 
Is there an Ochem lab? (Have you looked at vet school requirements to make sure you have enough ochem credit hours? )

I don't think anyone here can tell you if you'll have enough time to take these classes and get experience. That all depends on you! For what its worth, I usually had 16-18 credits plus a job and a horse. Time management is key.
 
This type of question gets asked all the time in the pre-med forum and the problem is you can't compare credits between universities. Every school does them differently. You also have to consider what your school has as "full time" so you don't go below that (it can mess with your financial aid). If your schedule is too light, take an easy course that fulfills a graduation requirement or do research for credit.
 
I took between 17-20 credits pretty much every semester, worked PT (15 hr a week in a lab) and did two club sports. For me it actually came down to more of what time of day my classes fell and how close a veterinary office was. I didn't have my own car and couldn't always borrow a friends, so I got most of my vet experience during the summer and now (I'm in the middle of taking a year off). I probably could have made it work, but I wasn't willing to give up my job on campus since it was part of my financial aid and I think it separates me from other applicants. So you can always look into getting experience during your breaks if it's something you're worried about.

But what it really comes down to is whether or not you think doing an extra class and getting experience at the same time is going to hurt your grades. I'm one who does better when my schedule is more full and I'm constantly going, so a heavier course load works better for me. That's obviously not what works best for everyone else.

As for studying abroad, I think it's definitely worth it, even if it's only for 5 weeks. I spent my entire junior year abroad and I think it made me grow up more quickly and become more responsible. It also gave me some unique experiences that I can bring up in admissions essays. I was actually told last year by one school that they really liked my essays since they were not related to animals in any way, but still showed how my experiences would be good for vet school. However, again that is your call, especially if you are considering how it will impact your classes. I was lucky enough that my abroad program allowed me to take a full year of Physics along with 4 other biology classes, so I didn't have to worry about falling behind in my coursework. That is definitely not the same for every program.


ETA: Just reread my post and didn't mean for it to sound like I'm bragging or anything because that was not my intention. The main point I was trying to get across is that if you took a similar credit load last semester and felt it didn't challenge you, take on another course to give yourself a little challenge this semester. If you felt that you were struggling the previous semester and were taking similar classes in regards to demands, then maybe hold off. You don't want to harm all your grades just to add one extra.
 
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This type of question gets asked all the time in the pre-med forum and the problem is you can't compare credits between universities. Every school does them differently.

I hope this is the case because I'm taking 14 credits and have absolutely no time for extras because it's 3 lectures and 3 labs and it's very time consuming (plus I study more than most people because it takes more for it to stick, I guess).
I see how many activities, jobs, and credits people juggle on SDN and I feel like crap because I'm nowhere near their level. So I'm hoping the credits are arranged differently and I'm not just really lame. :laugh:
 
I hope this is the case because I'm taking 14 credits and have absolutely no time for extras because it's 3 lectures and 3 labs and it's very time consuming (plus I study more than most people because it takes more for it to stick, I guess).
I see how many activities, jobs, and credits people juggle on SDN and I feel like crap because I'm nowhere near their level. So I'm hoping the credits are arranged differently and I'm not just really lame. :laugh:

Don't worry about it. Someone earlier said they took up to 20 credits all the time, while my undergrad did not allow you to take above 18. Like I said before, what each university counts as a credit is different and there is no sense comparing yourself to other people (whether you're feeling insecure or superior haha). That said, remember that vet school will be at least 2 times the amount of coursework as undergrad and that you want to learn to be efficient now - not halfway through your first semester of vet school.
 
Is there an Ochem lab? (Have you looked at vet school requirements to make sure you have enough ochem credit hours? )

The lecture and lab are separate here. Unfortunately all lab times conflicted with my schedule. I plan to take the ochem II lab this summer, along with another required course.

12 credits is considered full-time. I only have 13.
I'd be content with my schedule if I was able to fit in the lab this semester. I'd have 14 credits which I also had in the fall.

Since I couldn't, I felt like I had to take up another class. The online literature class would fulfill a graduation requirement.

I appreciate the inputs. I am really leaning towards going abroad.
 
That said, remember that vet school will be at least 2 times the amount of coursework as undergrad and that you want to learn to be efficient now - not halfway through your first semester of vet school.

Yeah, that's always in the back of my head. My study skills are improving. Thanks bunnity!
 
Lingz -- I would go for the online course if you think it will be easy and you're one of those people who can make yourself do the material on your own time. Getting those grad requirements out of the way early is great IMO. You may still have plenty of time to do some shadowing, etc. even with the extra course depending on what your daily schedule is like.

Also -- I would go abroad. I had planned to do a semester abroad when I was doing my undergrad, and decided not to do it because I wanted to graduate early. If I had it to do over again, I think I would have stayed the extra year and gone abroad. But thats just my 2 cents.
 
I am a sophomore in college. My spring courses are the following:

genetics + lab 4
ecology 3
ochem II 3
french 3

I feel that 13 credits is a little low. Do you think it would be possible to take an online world literature course through a local college (3 credits)?
Or would it be too much?

I haven't shadowed any vets yet, nor do I have many animal experience. I've only had hamsters and gerbils as pets in the past. Through a pre-professional club at school, I was able to get hours at a spay/neuter clinic whenever the event was offered. I also have not started working in a lab at school.
If I take these 5 classes, would I have any time to gain experience?

The ochem final will be from ACS. Anyone taken it? How is it?

I would like to study abroad in the summer for 5 weeks. When I come back I'll be in time for my university's third summer session.
Is studying abroad worth it? If I were not to go abroad, I would take both semesters of physics during summer.

Genetics and Ochem are tough, but if you're confident you can study enough, and that you have time to read/write for the Lit, I'd take it (course I was an English major, so Lit classes were easier for me, but try to see the reading list/syllabus to see how much you'll be doing). I haven't studied abroad, but I'd say go for it!
 
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