Need some Guidance

[coookiemonster]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi all,
I guess ill start off by giving a bit of my background history before I ask all these questions. I am currently a freshman in college. I decided to go to a junior college first and then transfer to a 4 year university (I didn’t get in to where I wanted right out of high school, so I chose this route). Although I did get into some decent universities, I really want to go to UCLA as a biology major. So far, I have completed all of my gen. ed’s required to transfer and have just started working on the math/science classes for my major (in order to transfer, according to www.assist.org). Everything was going great until this semester. I think I took too many difficult courses at once thinking I would be able to handle it (18 units: physics 66, calc 1, stats 1, chem60 and working), and I ended up messing up (was also sick for over a week, fell behind and couldnt catch up) and dropping 2 classes (physics and calc).I dropped physics early on so it doesnt show up on transcripts, but the calc class shows that I dropped it. It’s too late to fix this semester and I am just going to buckle down and retake those 2 classes. (I will be taking Chem 101 and Calc 1 this summer.) Sorry about rambling on, I’ve just been a bit upset at myself for slacking off when I know I can do better.🙁
Long story short, the counselors at our jr. college aren’t helpful at all in helping us plan out our classes. What would be a good combination of classes to take each semester in order to finish up my requirements. Any other advice that could help guide me through this journey to vet school would also be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any help or advice 🙂

 

[twelvetigers]

A drop won't hurt you at all. Don't freak out! Just learn from what you did, and choose classes more wisely in the future.

I'm not sure what to tell you about planning your courses... there's no one good to help you with that?

 

[Mistoffeles]

In terms of general science classes (with the exception of biological sciences), I wish that my advisor had given me the advice to take physics first. I know that this discussion has been had on these boards in the past . . . but I truly feel that the physics gives you the best grounding for the chemistry, which in turn gives the the grounding for the component of biology that makes up much of the first half of the two-course general bio sequence (at least a taught at my school). so, if anything, my advice would be (if it's not too late) to take physics 1 over the summer instead of chem. especially if you're taking calculus - you'll be in the math state of mind. then physics 2 with chem 1 and bio 1 in the fall (all with lab, so that should be more than enough to keep you occupied), then bio 2, chem 2, and perhaps genetics in the spring. Next summer you can take organic chem 1 (quite enough for a summer session, especially if you're working or getting vet experience), then organic 2, cell/molecular (or another upper division bio) and microbiology in the fall, and finally, biochemistry and another upper division bio class in the spring.

bear in mind, that's just the basics for the vet schools that I applied to - YMMV, so start to think about where you want to go, and tailor your curriculum to those schools. also, once you get to UCLA, they'll have much better advisory staff (hopefully?), and can help keep you on track.

i agree with twelve tigers on the W - just be more aware of your limits. my undergraduate record is littered with Ws and other less savory letters . . . mostly because i had no business being in college at the age of 18, and my transcript reflects the emotional issues that ensued. the solution? a successful career in database design/programming and project management, a late decision to pursue vet med, and seven semesters (including 2 extended summer sessions) of intense concentration to ensure that my science grades were as good as possible.

 

[Caninerepro]

I agree, do not worry about a W or two as long as they are not W-Fs. Also, if you are just starting out at UCLA you will have plenty of time to make up for any past mistakes. Eventually you are going to need to take a gnarly semester or two loaded with tough classes, but for now just don't overextend yourself and do what you can do. It is more important to lay a good foundation and get good grades than try to take classes A, B and C immediatley. None of us can tell you exactly what load to take each semester, only you know your capabilities and your weaknesses, along with the requirements of your BS degree. Your BS is step one, then vet school. Hang in there, enjoy life for a little bit, and find your stride. Then start to focus on your last 45 GPA as the end draws near.

 

[coookiemonster]

thanks for the replies. It's only my first W, so hopefully i don't get any more. I was actually thinking of leaving physics for later, because i tried it out for a few weeks before I dropped it and it seemed kind of difficult. It might have been because I didn't know enough calculus or because our teacher was just horrible at explaining it.
I also might try emailing a counselor at UCLA and see if they can help me with my courses and helping me plan everything out.

 

[sumstorm]

Some of us do better in calc-based physics. I took calc based physics and TA'd non-calc physics, and I know I would not have done as well without calc, even though the professor was awesome. The calc made the actual physics concepts easier to grasp for me, vs the 'just trust me, this is how the world works' of non-calc based.

 

[DVMorBust]

Some of us do better in calc-based physics. I took calc based physics and TA'd non-calc physics, and I know I would not have done as well without calc, even though the professor was awesome. The calc made the actual physics concepts easier to grasp for me, vs the 'just trust me, this is how the world works' of non-calc based.

Agreed - and it makes sense because calculus and physics go hand in hand. Calc is the math that explains physics.

Granted, I took non-calc-based physics, and quite liked it, but after just a couple of calc lectures this semester, I realized physics would have been a lot less of a headache with a calc basis.

So for anyone who has the time to do so, I highly recommend taking a calc course and then calc-based physics.

 

[nyanko]

I agree with sumstorm and DVMorBust about calc-based physics being easier because physics is easier to explain via calc, but if your degree only requires calc I but requires physics II, you'll probably need to take calc II as well to take calc-based physics II. If you're mathematically inclined this isn't really a problem probably, but it's something to think about regardless.

 

[coookiemonster]

Ya, hopefully ill do better in calc I in the summer, which will prepare me better for physics66. Then ill take Calc II and physics 67 later on. Thanks again for all ur advice🙂