Post Baccs: When is a good time to take upper level science courses?

[SpagoBMS]

---

Members do not see this ad.

With the general chem and physics series in fall and spring and orgo and bio in the fall and spring the following year, when is a good time to take upper level sciences courses?

Do most of these courses require that you've taken certain pre-reqs beforehand? Is the summer a good time to take this if they're offered? Just curious as to when people have taken these.

I wouldn't want to taken them at the same time as orgo or studying for MCATs but ideally, I'd want to have them on my transcript before I apply to med school and not take them during my glide year.

 

[johnnyscans]

Here is my past/planned schedule
Spring 11: Chem 1 and Bio 2 (since it did not require Bio 1)
Fall 11: Physics 1 and Bio 1
Winter 11/12: Psychological Resilience
Spring 12: Physics 2, Chem 2 and Cell Bio
Summer 12: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Fall 12: Organic Chemistry 1, Calc 1 and Anatomy 1
Winter 12: Undecided + Start MCAT prep
Spring 13: Orgo 2, Anatomy 2 and MCAT studying (Plan on taking late April MCAT. Only first semester of Orgo is tested, and Biochemistry should help with anything else)

Apply. Maybe pick up another summer course depending on where my GPA is. Leaves me free to volunteer, continue research, maybe TA during my glide/application year. I also have the spring to complete any outstanding matriculation requirements.

My advice. Mix them in (if you're confident you can handle the courseload) and take them over the summer. Winter courses are also an option.

 

[Sciengee]

Fall 12: Organic Chemistry 1, Calc 1 and Anatomy 1

Don't mean to take over the thread with an irrelevant comment, just a quick question to johnnyscans: Are you planning to take Calc 1 someplace other than HES? Because both Calc and Orgo are scheduled for the same day and time. I've been trying to figure out a way to take calc before the glide year... Thanks!

And SpagoBMS, from what I've seen many of the upper-level science courses do require that you've taken some pre-recs, but it may not be the case everywhere. Any pre-req requirements for each course should be listed in the course cataloge.

 

[johnnyscans]

Don't mean to take over the thread with an irrelevant comment, just a quick question to johnnyscans: Are you planning to take Calc 1 someplace other than HES? Because both Calc and Orgo are scheduled for the same day and time. I've been trying to figure out a way to take calc before the glide year... Thanks!

And SpagoBMS, from what I've seen many of the upper-level science courses do require that you've taken some pre-recs, but it may not be the case everywhere. Any pre-req requirements for each course should be listed in the course cataloge.

Hmm, good catch. I didn't notice that. I took Calc way back when (grade: C-) so I wanted to retake to prove I can get an A in it. I'll probably just end up picking up another elective and taking it during the glide year if need be.

 

[SpagoBMS]

Thanks, great info. Wish I was starting this spring too but I'm planning on the fall.

What exactly is a Winter course? I can't imagine it's a course crammed into the 3 week break?

 

[deleted248403]

What exactly is a Winter course? I can't imagine it's a course crammed into the 3 week break?

Thats exactly what it is - its not that bad IMO

 

[johnnyscans]

Thanks, great info. Wish I was starting this spring too but I'm planning on the fall.

What exactly is a Winter course? I can't imagine it's a course crammed into the 3 week break?

That's exactly it. Meets 4 days a week, 3 hrs a day for 3 weeks.

This winter I'm taking psychological resilience. First assignment is to read a biography of an individual we consider to be resilient - topics we learn in class will then be used as a case study for this individual.

For the most part it's a good chance to take a class outside of the hard sciences. 4 credits, 3 weeks, looking at the syllabus seems like I stand a fair chance to earn an A.

 

[SpagoBMS]

That's exactly it. Meets 4 days a week, 3 hrs a day for 3 weeks.

This winter I'm taking psychological resilience. First assignment is to read a biography of an individual we consider to be resilient - topics we learn in class will then be used as a case study for this individual.

For the most part it's a good chance to take a class outside of the hard sciences. 4 credits, 3 weeks, looking at the syllabus seems like I stand a fair chance to earn an A.

Wow 4 credits in three weeks! That sounds intense.

If you took a writing winter course, would that fulfill the second semester of writing that some schools require or is that wishful thinking?

 

[johnnyscans]

From my understand a semester means 3 or 4 credits worth of class.

 

[deleted248403]

whether its winter or summer or not - as long as its an accredited 4-yr university, who will award u a full 3 (or 4) credits (or CUs or whatever a regular fall/spring class credit load is) then its legit

bottom line - If its the same credit awarded as a fall/spring, then its fine

 

[SpagoBMS]

This is sort of related to this thread, just wondering if I could get some advice.

I took Gen I and Gen II as a freshman in undergrad with a B+ and A- respectively however, this was over 7 years ago. Then I switched majors.

I'm debating whether I should retake this once I start my post bacc.

I think the pros of retaking both is easing myself back into classes and being better prepared organic chem since I've pretty much forgotten most of Gen Chem.

The cons would be the cost and time of retaking them. I could be taking other pre-reqs sooner and eventually take more upper level sciences.

I'm wondering what other people's opinions are on this? I'm sure there are a lot more cons to retaking these. I can always review gen chem I and II on my own and start with orgo my first semester back in school but this seems a little daunting.