Physics, revisited...

[Olddodger]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi everyone!

I'm a non-trad doing damage control/pre-recs, and I've come across a quandry:

UF CVM requires 2 semesters of Physics, both with labs.

I got a B in Physics I ages ago (19 years ago) and a C in Physics 2.

The physics I class I took included a lab, as it was in the College of Arts & Sciences, but the Physics II did not, as it it was in the College of Engineering (strange, but they figured there would be more than enough other lab exposure in other classses).

I don't think Physics I grade is going to be improved much even if I get an A. Physics 2 is mostly different (light and electromag vs force and vector analysis), and I NEED to take it for the lab section.

So do I take Physics I again for the review or no? I figure if I take it again, I could potentially improve my grade, and it takes 1 semester. If I jump to II, and find out I NEED the review and drop, then I've wasted a BUNCH more time, but now the sequence is going to take 2 semesters.

Any opinions?

Oldie

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

i'm in physics 2 now (took 1 last semester). I also did organic chem 2, 7 years after orgo 1. If the time/money thing bothers you, just do a review of vectors and lba stuff and take phys 2. If not, then go for the A in Phys 1. I've found it's more lab technique/calculations that I need Phys 1 recall for. As far as class goes, vector addition and basic equations (like KE=1/2mv^2, etc) are all we use from last semester. Either option is very do-able. Oh, and taking Phys 2 while studying for the MCAT is actually really helpful since it keeps you practicing your problems! 👍

 

[FrkyBgStok]

i personally think that the only similarities between the two are the basics which you can review during the class. Other than that they didn't build off of each other a whole lot, but maybe it was my college.

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

Hi everyone!

I'm a non-trad doing damage control/pre-recs, and I've come across a quandry:

UF CVM requires 2 semesters of Physics, both with labs.

I got a B in Physics I ages ago (19 years ago) and a C in Physics 2.

The physics I class I took included a lab, as it was in the College of Arts & Sciences, but the Physics II did not, as it it was in the College of Engineering (strange, but they figured there would be more than enough other lab exposure in other classses).

I don't think Physics I grade is going to be improved much even if I get an A. Physics 2 is mostly different (light and electromag vs force and vector analysis), and I NEED to take it for the lab section.

So do I take Physics I again for the review or no? I figure if I take it again, I could potentially improve my grade, and it takes 1 semester. If I jump to II, and find out I NEED the review and drop, then I've wasted a BUNCH more time, but now the sequence is going to take 2 semesters.

Any opinions?

Oldie

How do you feel about your knowledge of Physics I material? If you don't feel very confident, I'd recommend taking it again, because it WILL come back to haunt you on the MCAT. However, you could also review the stuff on your own (for both the MCAT, and for Physics II.)

I had the same problem (my Undergrad. Engineering Physics Courses didn't have labs) but I got around it by getting credit-by-exam for the "Science" Physics Courses + Lab. TX Medical Schools don't care if the credit is credit-by-exam. Some other Medical Schools do.

 

[kate_g]

Oldie, if you're doing real full-on engineering (i.e. doing math on a regular basis, rather than administrative/management), I think you'd be fine jumping into Physics 2 and reviewing what you need to along the way. You know, having taken the non-lab course, that the material covered in Physics 2 is not all that related to Physics 1 (1=mechanics, 2=E&M seems to be pretty standard). Sure, there's some basic similarity in the math and lab skills, but 10 years in engineering has probably kept you fresh enough as far as those are concerned.

As far as re-taking Physics 1, that depends on how vet schools look at re-takes. Most everyone else here seems to be going for med school, and allopathic and DO schools differ on whether they average all your grades or take your most recent (best?) grade. I actually haven't looked whether there's a consistent policy among vet schools or whether each school sets its own policy. Personally, if they average I wouldn't re-take, because an A averaged with a B is not that different from the B. But if they take your most recent grades, it might be worth considering depending on how the rest of your GPA is doing, particularly if you think you'll have a pretty easy time getting an A.

(Another med/vet difference, the GRE doesn't have physics on it, so the point about physics on the MCAT from the post immediately above mine is not so relevant.)

 

[Olddodger]

Hi all,

Thanks for the input. I've got all summer to mull it over.

I'm taking Bio 2 (1st time), Chem 2 (repeat) and Stats (1st time) over the summer, plus teaching the Chem 1 lab (TAing) is going to leave me pretty full up for the summer time.

The fall is Genetics, OrgoChem 1 and MicroBio, all for the first time, so I'm not sure if I want to drop another bomb on myself in the fall.

I've done the GRE with pretty good results (nicely above average), so that's one thing off my mind.

I'll technically meet the requirements as far as (pre-recs) for applying as of the spring 2007 semester, but I'd like to do a bit more damage control...my overall undergrad GPA is weak, but I have a nice 4.0 from my master's program (not that it counts for much, but hey, a win is a win).

I'd feel more comfortable with 45 new undergrad credits with a 4.0, some nice letters of rec from the TA gig, and maybe a shiny new degree in biology, but I'll probably we'll see. I'll probably toss something their way just to test the waters. You can't win if you don't play!

Thanks for the advice!

Oldie

 

[FrkyBgStok]

don't forget that the GRE is NOT used for med school. you probably knew that but just making sure as you made no mention of the MCAT.

 

[pdavis68]

I got a B in Physics I ages ago (19 years ago) and a C in Physics 2.

Wow, I was going to post an almost IDENTICAL question. I got a B in General Chem 1 (honors) and a C in General Chem 2 (about 20 years ago).

So, I'm in precisely the same spot. I'm going to retake both. I plan on getting As in them and frankly, since I have to take organic chemistry, the refresher wouldn't hurt.

I've already read half the general chem book and a good chunk of organic (I taught myself a lot of organic chem between my junior and senior years of high school), so I know the stuff, but why keep myself with the disadvantage of having gotten the B & C? Not that this is going to undo that, but it's going to be hard enough to do this as it is. I'll take whatever advantages I can get.

That's generally my approach to all of this. Anywhere I see damage from my past, I'm going to try to undo it as much as possible and, in this case, that means re-taking general chemistry.

Pete

 

[Olddodger]

don't forget that the GRE is NOT used for med school. you probably knew that but just making sure as you made no mention of the MCAT.

Hi Frky,

I'm planning on doing the DMV, not MD, and almost all Vet schools use the GRE.

Thanks for checking, though..

Best,
Oldie

 

[FrkyBgStok]

right on. good luck than.

 

[kate_g]

I got a B in Physics I ages ago (19 years ago) and a C in Physics 2.

I've been looking at the Davis DVM prereq. guidelines - they won't count a re-take of a required science course if you got better than a C minus! (But repeat grades replace original grades, which is good news.) Curriculum requirements seem to vary a lot school to school, so definitely check the policies for your schools. You need the Physics 2 with lab either way, but if they won't count a re-take of Physics 1, then it hardly seems worth taking.

 

[cs300m]

Does it matter if it is an algebra or calculus based physics?