Please help me decide for classes

[doctorsj]

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Hey guys I will be a sophomore next fall and I was thinking of taking the following classes. Will really appreciate if you could advice me what to do based on your past experiences with these classes and the like.
-Organic chem I
-Principles of Physics I(Calc based) with lab
-Calculus II
-Principles of Bio II
-Organic Chem Lab I (Probably not but maybe)
Next spring I plan to take Org II, Phy II, and a bunch of Bio classes so I can start preparing for the MCAT next summer.
I dont want to see my advisors because they are useless.
Thanks a lot......

 

[silas2642]

Hey guys I will be a sophomore next fall and I was thinking of taking the following classes. Will really appreciate if you could advice me what to do based on your past experiences with these classes and the like.
-Organic chem I
-Principles of Physics I(Calc based) with lab
-Calculus II
-Principles of Bio II
-Organic Chem Lab I (Probably not but maybe)
Next spring I plan to take Org II, Phy II, and a bunch of Bio classes so I can start preparing for the MCAT next summer.
I dont want to see my advisors because they are useless.
Thanks a lot......

Yeah, you should be fine if your freshmen year went well. The only thing is that O-chem, physics, and bio II are all pre-reqs so you want to make sure that you ace all three of these courses-- if your first year was a struggle, then clumping all three of these classes together with calc II could be disastrous if you're a weaker student. The other thing to consider is that these are somewhat on the "dry" side of life. You may want to kill yourself by the end of next year; are you sure you want to have this kind of sophomore year, or would you rather throw in a class that is actually enjoyable?

 

[doctorsj]

Yeah, you should be fine if your freshmen year went well. The only thing is that O-chem, physics, and bio II are all pre-reqs so you want to make sure that you ace all three of these courses-- if your first year was a struggle, then clumping all three of these classes together with calc II could be disastrous if you're a weaker student. The other thing to consider is that these are somewhat on the "dry" side of life. You may want to kill yourself by the end of next year; are you sure you want to have this kind of sophomore year, or would you rather throw in a class that is actually enjoyable?

Well. I want to get rid of physics and organic so I can start my MCAT preps. Calculus II came in the way because I HAVE to take it to take Physics II as it is calculus based. I definitely didnt want that kinda sophomore year but I dont see any other way as taking these clzsses over the summer would be way too much and I dont want to risk my GPA.

 

[ryouland]

It's doable for sure, but it just depends on the kind of lifestyle you want to have next year. After a 17 credit semester in BME, which for some probably isn't bad but I didn't enjoy it, I decided to take a couple summer classes and take two semesters (Fall and Spring) of a lighter load.

Basically if you want to do it, and you've succeeded so far and haven't quit yet, you probably can. At my University, which may differ greatly from yours, Ochem wasn't bad at all and Calc II/III (a joint class for engineers) was actually enjoyable.

I bet you could put Ochem lab off though if you wanted to, at least until the next semester and take the 4 classes and have a life and be able to get all A's more easily. It may be different for your school but mine's a 3 credit Orgo lab that can be put off.

 

[mvenus929]

Hey guys I will be a sophomore next fall and I was thinking of taking the following classes. Will really appreciate if you could advice me what to do based on your past experiences with these classes and the like.
-Organic chem I
-Principles of Physics I(Calc based) with lab
-Calculus II
-Principles of Bio II
-Organic Chem Lab I (Probably not but maybe)
Next spring I plan to take Org II, Phy II, and a bunch of Bio classes so I can start preparing for the MCAT next summer.
I dont want to see my advisors because they are useless.
Thanks a lot......

It sounds like an impossibly dry semester. I know one girl in my classes that is currently taking three science classes (O Chem II, Genetics, and Physics II) all with labs.

Personally, I'd drop one of the science classes in favor of a non-science class, just to mix things up a bit.

When are you planning on taking the MCAT? When do you plan on graduating? If you're not going to graduate until... 2010 (4 years in), then I'd suggest you take the MCAT January of 08 and take one of your courses off track (if possible; either o chem or physics... I'd push ochem off personally, but that's just me).

 

[doctorsj]

When are you planning on taking the MCAT? When do you plan on graduating? If you're not going to graduate until... 2010 (4 years in), then I'd suggest you take the MCAT January of 08 and take one of your courses off track (if possible; either o chem or physics... I'd push ochem off personally, but that's just me).

I dont think i will be able to take the MCAT Jan 08 which is next spring because I will not be done with org II, Phy II, and other bio classes that can help me prepare for the MCATs. I plan to take Aug 09- is that too late???

 

[etsuprinthead]

Hey guys I will be a sophomore next fall and I was thinking of taking the following classes. Will really appreciate if you could advice me what to do based on your past experiences with these classes and the like.
-Organic chem I
-Principles of Physics I(Calc based) with lab
-Calculus II
-Principles of Bio II
-Organic Chem Lab I (Probably not but maybe)
Next spring I plan to take Org II, Phy II, and a bunch of Bio classes so I can start preparing for the MCAT next summer.
I dont want to see my advisors because they are useless.
Thanks a lot......

you don't have to take orgo lecture and lab together? i would... partly because i'd want to make organic a part of my life for as little time as possible.

i took orgo, non-calc physics,upper-division biology, and some honors humanities classes my junior year, and i hated my life. however, taking all those classes right before the MCAT did lower the MCAT stress for me -- basically i just studied for classes and didn't have to study much for MCAT. remember, though -- MCAT isn't usually taken until spring of junior year, so you don't have to cram all this in at once -- it would be nice to get MCAT done, but scores are only 'good' for 3 years, so keep that in mind when taking it early.

 

[mvenus929]

I dont think i will be able to take the MCAT Jan 08 which is next spring because I will not be done with org II, Phy II, and other bio classes that can help me prepare for the MCATs. I plan to take Aug 09- is that too late???

Sorry, I'm getting my dates confused. I meant Jan 09... a semester into your junior year (you should be done with all your prereqs by then, plus you'll have another semester to take any additional bio classes you feel will help you). You'll be done with your junior year in May 09 (or thereabouts), so August of 09 probably is too late to take it, assuming you're applying for matriculation in 2010. If you took it in August, then you wouldn't get your scores back til September, which means you wouldn't be complete until September, which puts you 3-4 months behind the people who apply in June, which means you might not get interviews until the spring, and you'll end up on waiting lists. Unless, of course, you have an otherwise stellar application. I'd take the MCAT June after your junior year if you want some time to study. Do informal studying the semester before while you're still in school, and then crack down in the month before the test.

If you have a solid gen bio class, you don't need upper division bio classes to help you.

 

[SurferDocAli]

I didn't think you needed Calc II for calc based physics. i thought it was just calc I.. .maybe my school's different?

 

[doctorsj]

I didn't think you needed Calc II for calc based physics. i thought it was just calc I.. .maybe my school's different?

My school does require it. Even I was under the impression thaty I dont need Calc II, but I do unfortunately

 

[doctorsj]

If you have a solid gen bio class, you don't need upper division bio classes to help you.

Is physiology as important as genetics?

 

[variablistic]

I actually found taking Physics I&II my junior year far more helpful for preparing for the MCAT. I would recommend holding off on the physics and taking o-chem, bio, and calc. Throw in something fun for your last class.

 

[mvenus929]

Is physiology as important as genetics?

There are more physiology topics than genetics topics. Honestly, the genetics material I see I knew when I took bio in high school. I haven't taken the MCAT though, so I couldn't give you an impression on how much one over the other helps.

 

[mongrel]

Hey guys I will be a sophomore next fall and I was thinking of taking the following classes. Will really appreciate if you could advice me what to do based on your past experiences with these classes and the like.
-Organic chem I
-Principles of Physics I(Calc based) with lab
-Calculus II
-Principles of Bio II
-Organic Chem Lab I (Probably not but maybe)
Next spring I plan to take Org II, Phy II, and a bunch of Bio classes so I can start preparing for the MCAT next summer.
I dont want to see my advisors because they are useless.
Thanks a lot......

I think you'll do fine. Just make sure you don't get behind. My soph/fall semester I took Physics II&lab, Orgo I, Calc III, Chemical Eng Material Balances, and Cell Bio. If I survived then anyone can! 👍

 

[SurferDocAli]

My undergraduate school suggests taking Alg-based Physics only. Is that totally lame?

 

[mvenus929]

My undergraduate school suggests taking Alg-based Physics only. Is that totally lame?

That's what everyone in my organic class would recommend taking.