Organic 2, Biochem, and Physics?

[YummyOstrich]

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Hello all,

I've done some searching on my own already but I was hoping to get some input on my personal situation. I'm graduating in the spring with a clinical public health degree. I have a three classes left for public health and only one will really require any effort. I am also repeating a nursing chemistry course that I failed my first semester of college (this will not cause me any problems). I am considering taking Organic II (there is no lab option for me this spring), Introductory Biochemistry, and Physics I and the lab online this spring. Is this too much? Organic I was no trouble for me and I took a year of Physics in high school and still remember quite a bit. I am wanting to do all of this in the spring so that I can do physics II this summer while I study hard for the MCAT. I do not want to apply too late in the cycle because some of my preferred schools having rolling admission. Should I maybe save biochemistry for the fall semester after I have already taken the MCAT and applied to programs?

Thank you all for your input.

 

[NecrotizingFasciitis]

If you think you can take on that monster schedule in the spring semester while getting A's, go for it. Just remember, anything you don't actually learn (the one online class I took was a complete joke...) will come back to haunt you on the MCAT, and any class you don't perform well in will come back to haunt you when you apply to medical school (or you'll end up retaking it.)

One thing to note about physics: I took it in high school as well and I still had to work my a** off to ace Physics I & II. It is a ton of work.

Also, definitely take biochemistry before you take the MCAT. It is, debatably, the most important subject on the exam. You will see it in the first section (chem/phys) and you will see it in the third section (bio/biochem.)

Takeaway message: don't rush your pre-med experience. You will end up having to take things over again, and not learning what you are supposed to learn for the MCAT. Use your better judgement; only you know if you can handle a spring semester like that. Don't push yourself to the point where your academics will suffer just so you can apply to medical school sooner.

 

[deleted244469]

If you think you can take on that monster schedule in the spring semester while getting A's, go for it. Just remember, anything you don't actually learn (the one online class I took was a complete joke...) will come back to haunt you on the MCAT, and any class you don't perform well in will come back to haunt you when you apply to medical school (or you'll end up retaking it.)

One thing to note about physics: I took it in high school as well and I still had to work my a** off to ace Physics I & II. It is a ton of work.

Also, definitely take biochemistry before you take the MCAT. It is, debatably, the most important subject on the exam. You will see it in the first section (chem/phys) and you will see it in the third section (bio/biochem.)

Takeaway message: don't rush your pre-med experience. You will end up having to take things over again, and not learning what you are supposed to learn for the MCAT. Use your better judgement; only you know if you can handle a spring semester like that. Don't push yourself to the point where your academics will suffer just so you can apply to medical school sooner.

Intro Biochem combined with those two shouldn't be that bad, tbh. Just manage your time wisely.

 

[YummyOstrich]

If you think you can take on that monster schedule in the spring semester while getting A's, go for it. Just remember, anything you don't actually learn (the one online class I took was a complete joke...) will come back to haunt you on the MCAT, and any class you don't perform well in will come back to haunt you when you apply to medical school (or you'll end up retaking it.)

One thing to note about physics: I took it in high school as well and I still had to work my a** off to ace Physics I & II. It is a ton of work.

Also, definitely take biochemistry before you take the MCAT. It is, debatably, the most important subject on the exam. You will see it in the first section (chem/phys) and you will see it in the third section (bio/biochem.)

Takeaway message: don't rush your pre-med experience. You will end up having to take things over again, and not learning what you are supposed to learn for the MCAT. Use your better judgement; only you know if you can handle a spring semester like that. Don't push yourself to the point where your academics will suffer just so you can apply to medical school sooner.

That's some great information about having biochemistry done before I take the MCAT. I have noticed there seems to be a lot of biochemistry in the practice problems I've looked at. I'll be sure to put in the extra work to learn the material if I can tell that it's too simple so that I can get the grade and the knowledge.

 

[YummyOstrich]

Intro Biochem combined with those two shouldn't be that bad, tbh. Just manage your time wisely.

Thanks for the input. My university actually recommends taking ochem II and biochem concurrently. My only concern was the sheer amount of homework I've experienced in my math based classes. I've noticed it tends to be more when it's online. It would be a shame not to do well on something I understand just because I had too much time tied up in homework. I'm sure I'll be able to make a more informed decision when I get the syllabus.

 

[deleted244469]

Thanks for the input. My university actually recommends taking ochem II and biochem concurrently. My only concern was the sheer amount of homework I've experienced in my math based classes. I've noticed it tends to be more when it's online. It would be a shame not to do well on something I understand just because I had too much time tied up in homework. I'm sure I'll be able to make a more informed decision when I get the syllabus.

Yeah, I forgot to add this part: Don't take Physics online. If you do, prepare for a hellish semester.

 

[Two Sides]

Yeah, I forgot to add this part: Don't take Physics online. If you do, prepare for a hellish semester.

This. I did ok in physics thanks to partial credit. I can't imagine taking an online multiple answer test.

 

[gamieg]

oh man, biochem was killer on the mcat for me. for the old exam where there was no biochem to the new one with biochem, my "PS" (I know it's not called physical sciences anymore, but the first section) went down ~3 points. my heart still hurts when I think about it because it's all thanks to lovely biochem.

organic chem II builds on organic chem I pretty significantly. it's a lot more mechanisms if I remember correctly. if you did well in newtonian physics during high school (did you take AP physics by chance?), physics I should be fine.