Post-Bacc Pre-med Scheduling

[parkwaydrivefan]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

To the good people of SDN:

I have the following pre-medical requirements to knock out:

Physics I
Physics II
General Chem I
General Chem II
O.Chem I
O.Chem II
8 more hours of Biological Sciences.

What would be the best order to take these classes? I'd like to get them knocked out by Fall 2019, but it's not looking very hopeful.

 

[Siromas]

To the good people of SDN:

I have the following pre-medical requirements to knock out:

Physics I
Physics II
General Chem I
General Chem II
O.Chem I
O.Chem II
8 more hours of Biological Sciences.

What would be the best order to take these classes? I'd like to get them knocked out by Fall 2019, but it's not looking very hopeful.

If you're starting now (Spring 2018), you can definitely finish them all up by Fall 2019.

-Are you open/available to taking classes over the summer?
-Are you doing anything else while attending classes? (working part/full-time, volunteering, other personal activities)
-Have you struggled with any of these subjects/topics previously or have any strengths within the subjects?

 

[parkwaydrivefan]

Thanks for the reply Siromas, congrats on being accepted to Med School.

- I am open to taking classes over the summer, but the only pre-req classes offered at my college are Physics I and II with lab, and O chem II.----not sure if it'd be a good idea to take any of those at such a fast pace.
- Working 16 to 24 hours a week, volunteering at a hospital on weekends.
- Haven't had much science since Freshman year of college, had a B in Bio 101, and had to drop Anatomy (was a long time ago, so I plan on retaking Anatomy).

 

[PreMedMissteps]

Physics I
Physics II
General Chem I
General Chem II
O.Chem I
O.Chem II
8 more hours of Biological Sciences.

What are you taking this spring? Gen chem I and ??
What bio sciences do you need? Biochem and any prereqs? Is cell bio a prereq for biochem? Anything else?

 

[parkwaydrivefan]

This Spring I'm taking Physics I and a BIO class (The Cellular basis of life). I need 8 more hours of bio sciences, I'm going to retake Human Anatomy to make up for a dropped course several years ago. I don't have to take biochem as a requirement for the Osteopathic Schools I intend on applying for.

I'm taking Physics II this Summer, then Anatomy and Chem I in the Fall

 

[willow84]

The chem sequence is going to take four semesters. You have to do Chem 1 & 2 before starting orgo, and at my school orgo 1 & 2 were required for biochem. If you're not in chem 1 this semester you could do chem 1 over the summer, chem 2 in fall 2018, orgo 1 spring 2019, orgo 2 summer 2019, and then biochem fall 2019 to finish by that time?

 

[parkwaydrivefan]

The chem sequence is going to take four semesters. You have to do Chem 1 & 2 before starting orgo, and at my school orgo 1 & 2 were required for biochem. If you're not in chem 1 this semester you could do chem 1 over the summer, chem 2 in fall 2018, orgo 1 spring 2019, orgo 2 summer 2019, and then biochem fall 2019 to finish by that time?

Thanks for the advice Willow. I don't plan on taking Biochem, only 2 semesters of Organic Chemistry to fulfill the prerequisites of several Osteopathic schools I am interested in.

 

[willow84]

Thanks for the advice Willow. I don't plan on taking Biochem, only 2 semesters of Organic Chemistry to fulfill the prerequisites of several Osteopathic schools I am interested in.

You'll need biochem for the MCAT though... keep that in mind!

 

[chappikachu]

I would highly recommend taking biochem before taking the MCAT. Biochem material shows up in more than one section.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[parkwaydrivefan]

My current plan:

Spring 2018:
Physics I
The cellular basis of life (Bio credit)

Summer 2018:
Physics II

Fall 2018:
Human Anatomy (Bio credit)
Chem I

Spring 2019:
Chem II
O. Chem I

Summer 2019:
Basic Biochemistry

Fall 2019:
O.Chem II



Does this plan seem solid? Would taking Chem II with O.Chem I be too brutal? Do you all recommend that I rearrange some of these classes?

Chem I is not offered during the Summer. O. Chem I is not offered during the Summer.

Thanks for the advice guys and girls 🙂

 

[binky23]

My current plan:

Spring 2018:
Physics I
The cellular basis of life (Bio credit)

Summer 2018:
Physics II

Fall 2018:
Human Anatomy (Bio credit)
Chem I

Spring 2019:
Chem II
O. Chem I

Summer 2019:
Basic Biochemistry

Fall 2019:
O.Chem II



Does this plan seem solid? Would taking Chem II with O.Chem I be too brutal? Do you all recommend that I rearrange some of these classes?

Chem I is not offered during the Summer. O. Chem I is not offered during the Summer.

Thanks for the advice guys and girls 🙂

It looks good however I think it would be more advantageous for you to start taking o chem after you finish Gen chem 1 and 2, taking Gen chem 2 and o chem 1 isn't the best thing to do.

 

[chappikachu]

My current plan:

Spring 2018:
Physics I
The cellular basis of life (Bio credit)

Summer 2018:
Physics II

Fall 2018:
Human Anatomy (Bio credit)
Chem I

Spring 2019:
Chem II
O. Chem I

Summer 2019:
Basic Biochemistry

Fall 2019:
O.Chem II



Does this plan seem solid? Would taking Chem II with O.Chem I be too brutal? Do you all recommend that I rearrange some of these classes?

Chem I is not offered during the Summer. O. Chem I is not offered during the Summer.

Thanks for the advice guys and girls 🙂

Are you even allowed to take Chem II at the same time as OChem I? At my school, I'm pretty sure you had to take both Chem I and II before taking the OChem sequence. If this is an issue, the following schedule may work:

Spring 2018:
Physics I
Chem I
Summer 2018:
Physics II
Fall 2018:
Human Anatomy (Bio credit)
Chem II
Spring 2019:
The cellular basis of life (Bio credit)
O. Chem I
Summer 2019:
Basic Biochemistry
Fall 2019:
O.Chem II​

This depends on whether Chem I is offered in the spring at your school.

I don't know if this is something to consider, but at my school, the first of two classes in a sequence (e.g., Bio I) was typically more popular to take in the fall, while the second class in the sequence (e.g., Bio II) followed in the spring. So, Bio I in the spring during the "off" semester was in a different format (online rather than traditional in-person lectures), involved a smaller class (for better or for worst--grading curve is affected), and sometimes the professor was different and wasn't as good. Your school may be different, but just wanted to throw that out there.

 

[parkwaydrivefan]

Are you even allowed to take Chem II at the same time as OChem I? At my school, I'm pretty sure you had to take both Chem I and II before taking the OChem sequence. If this is an issue, the following schedule may work:

Spring 2018:
Physics I
Chem I
Summer 2018:
Physics II
Fall 2018:
Human Anatomy (Bio credit)
Chem II
Spring 2019:
The cellular basis of life (Bio credit)
O. Chem I
Summer 2019:
Basic Biochemistry
Fall 2019:
O.Chem II​

This depends on whether Chem I is offered in the spring at your school.

I don't know if this is something to consider, but at my school, the first of two classes in a sequence (e.g., Bio I) was typically more popular to take in the fall, while the second class in the sequence (e.g., Bio II) followed in the spring. So, Bio I in the spring during the "off" semester was in a different format (online rather than traditional in-person lectures), involved a smaller class (for better or for worst--grading curve is affected), and sometimes the professor was different and wasn't as good. Your school may be different, but just wanted to throw that out there.

Now that's some great advice Chappikachu.

Chem I has been full for months, I checked a second ago and now there is ONE spot open. I think we may be dealing with the supernatural here.

 

[chappikachu]

Now that's some great advice Chappikachu.

Chem I has been full for months, I checked a second ago and now there is ONE spot open. I think we may be dealing with the supernatural here.

It was meant to be! 😛

 

[parkwaydrivefan]

Update:

Contacted the Chemistry Professor, and I am lacking a pre-req for Chem I. No way to avoid it, the prof. tells me I must take it.

It is a trigonometry class (I am a post-bacc business major, so no trig was needed previously.)

This throws a wrench into my perfect schedule for the moment.

My new Schedule is looking like this.

Spring 2018:
Physics I
Trigonometry
Summer 2018:
Physics II
Fall 2018:
Human Anatomy (Bio credit)
Chem I
Spring 2019:
The cellular basis of life (Bio credit)
O. Chem I
Summer 2019:
O. Chem II
Fall 2019:
Basic biochemistry
Chem II


Thoughts Chappikachu?

 

[chappikachu]

Update:

Contacted the Chemistry Professor, and I am lacking a pre-req for Chem I. No way to avoid it, the prof. tells me I must take it.

It is a trigonometry class (I am a post-bacc business major, so no trig was needed previously.)

This throws a wrench into my perfect schedule for the moment.

My new Schedule is looking like this.

Spring 2018:
Physics I
Trigonometry
Summer 2018:
Physics II
Fall 2018:
Human Anatomy (Bio credit)
Chem I
Spring 2019:
The cellular basis of life (Bio credit)
O. Chem I
Summer 2019:
O. Chem II
Fall 2019:
Basic biochemistry
Chem II


Thoughts Chappikachu?

... what. Why do you need trig for chemistry...????
Can you take Trig at the same time as Chem I? Or is that not allowed?

 

[parkwaydrivefan]

... what. Why do you need trig for chemistry...????
Can you take Trig at the same time as Chem I? Or is that not allowed?

My prereq options: Either College Algebra and Trigonometry (two separate classes) -Or- Algebra and Trigonometry (One Class) with a grade of "C" or higher in each

I'd rather tackle the one class than the two classes separately.

I don't believe I'll be able to take it at the same time as Chem I, the professor sounded pretty serious when he told me that I had to have the prerequisites before taking Chemistry.

 

[rdyotz]

My prereq options: Either College Algebra and Trigonometry (two separate classes) -Or- Algebra and Trigonometry (One Class) with a grade of "C" or higher in each

I'd rather tackle the one class than the two classes separately.

I don't believe I'll be able to take it at the same time as Chem I, the professor sounded pretty serious when he told me that I had to have the prerequisites before taking Chemistry.

Many schools have a math test which can determine your placement into classes, if you score high enough, it could allow you to take the class. I never actually took a pre-calc class (required for my GenChem) as the test said I should go into calc (never even took that). Have you talked with an advisor rather than the professor?

 

[chappikachu]

My prereq options: Either College Algebra and Trigonometry (two separate classes) -Or- Algebra and Trigonometry (One Class) with a grade of "C" or higher in each

I'd rather tackle the one class than the two classes separately.

I don't believe I'll be able to take it at the same time as Chem I, the professor sounded pretty serious when he told me that I had to have the prerequisites before taking Chemistry.

Oh, I see. Interesting--maybe we had a math pre-req too, but I never noticed it since I was exempt from college calc with my AP score.
I'm not sure if it's wise to take Chem II in your Fall 2019 semester after taking OChem I and II in previous semesters. The sequencing is off.
If you want to finish by Fall 2019, the only way to do so at the moment (while having the right sequence) is by taking Chem II and Ochem I at the same time... not ideal, but I think it should work (unless your school has Chem II as a pre-req for Ochem I). OR find a different university that offers Chem I in the summer and transfer your credits.

Suggested new schedules:
OPTION 1

Spring 2018:
Physics I
Trigonometry
Summer 2018:
Physics II
Fall 2018:
Human Anatomy (Bio credit)
Chem I
Spring 2019:
Chem II
O. Chem I
Summer 2019:
O. Chem II
Fall 2019:
The cellular basis of life (Bio credit)
Basic biochemistry​

OPTION 2

Spring 2018:
The cellular basis of life (Bio credit)
Trigonometry
Summer 2018:
Physics I
Fall 2018:
Chem I
Physics II
Spring 2019:
Chem II
O. Chem I
Summer 2019:
O. Chem II
Fall 2019:
Basic biochemistry
Human Anatomy (Bio credit)​

Idk how I feel about putting biochem and anatomy together--both are tough classes. Is the class called "cellular basis of life" cell biology? Or is it an intro bio course (what's the course number)?

 

[chappikachu]

Many schools have a math test which can determine your placement into classes, if you score high enough, it could allow you to take the class. I never actually took a pre-calc class (required for my GenChem) as the test said I should go into calc (never even took that). Have you talked with an advisor rather than the professor?

This is a good idea--@parkwaydrivefan, can you ask if you can take a math placement test?
(Did you take any math in high school?)

 

[parkwaydrivefan]

Oh, I see. Interesting--maybe we had a math pre-req too, but I never noticed it since I was exempt from college calc with my AP score.
I'm not sure if it's wise to take Chem II in your Fall 2019 semester after taking OChem I and II in previous semesters. The sequencing is off.
If you want to finish by Fall 2019, the only way to do so at the moment (while having the right sequence) is by taking Chem II and Ochem I at the same time... not ideal, but I think it should work (unless your school has Chem II as a pre-req for Ochem I). OR find a different university that offers Chem I in the summer and transfer your credits.

Suggested new schedules:
OPTION 1

Spring 2018:
Physics I
Trigonometry
Summer 2018:
Physics II
Fall 2018:
Human Anatomy (Bio credit)
Chem I
Spring 2019:
Chem II
O. Chem I
Summer 2019:
O. Chem II
Fall 2019:
The cellular basis of life (Bio credit)
Basic biochemistry​

OPTION 2

Spring 2018:
The cellular basis of life (Bio credit)
Trigonometry
Summer 2018:
Physics I
Fall 2018:
Chem I
Physics II
Spring 2019:
Chem II
O. Chem I
Summer 2019:
O. Chem II
Fall 2019:
Basic biochemistry
Human Anatomy (Bio credit)​

Idk how I feel about putting biochem and anatomy together--both are tough classes. Is the class called "cellular basis of life" cell biology? Or is it an intro bio course (what's the course number)?

First off, thanks for the help chappikachu, you've been freaking awesome in helping me construct a solid gameplan.

The Class is BIO 115, so an intro biology course.

As far as biochem and Human Anatomy, Anatomy is a fairly demanding course at my school, not sure about Basic Biochem.

The Math prereq will be my biggest hindrance. I'd rather not go another semester, but it won't kill me if I do.

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."- Winston Churchill

 

[chappikachu]

First off, thanks for the help chappikachu, you've been freaking awesome in helping me construct a solid gameplan.

The Class is BIO 115, so an intro biology course.

As far as biochem and Human Anatomy, Anatomy is a fairly demanding course at my school, not sure about Basic Biochem.

The Math prereq will be my biggest hindrance. I'd rather not go another semester, but it won't kill me if I do.

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."- Winston Churchill

Glad to be of help!

Given that anatomy is a demanding class and biochem will probably be rigorous too (at least it was at my school, maybe you can ask around about class difficulty), I would probably choose the Option 1 schedule as written above. Taking a 100 level bio course with biochem is doable. And this way, you'll be able to be done by the end of Fall 2019.