Pre-Vet Science Course Loads

[bluesails]

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So I was looking at the course offerings at my college and roughly planning out when I'll have to take things, and it looks like for most of the terms I'll have to take two science courses at the same time. Most people tell me that this is suicide and I shouldn't do it but obviously that's the only way to get all the pre-reqs done in time - in fact, I think on one of the terms I might have to take three sciences at the time.

Is it scary? Near impossible? Doable? Not as scary as people make it out to be? I really actually love Biology which is one of the reasons why being pre-vet is appealing to me but I don't want to kill myself. Any anecdotes? Personal advice? 🙂

 

[twelvetigers]

I'm taking 16 hours of nothing but science this fall. Granted, I'm a bit of an odd case, but I can't think of a single semester where I didn't have at least two science courses at once. Do yourself a favor and don't take, like, organic chemistry I, physics II, orgo lab, and genetics at the same time - that's probably nothing short of suicide - but taking any two of those things at once is certainly doable. Just try and pace yourself well from the beginning, don't save all the hard stuff for last... and remember, the chemistries have to go in order, so those will be one at a time anyway.

 

[Braki]

I don't think it should be too bad. In my first year, following the standard science undergrad schedule, I had bio, chem, physics, and math at the same time. In the first semester of my second year, I took genetics, ochem, and zoology. In the second semester, I took ochem II, zoology, biochemistry, and molecular bio (that was a very hard semester). I only took one non-science option in my third year, and I ended up enjoying that year a lot more than my fourth year, where I only took one science class per semester. I definitely think it's doable, and it's more interesting material as well.

 

[HopefulAg]

and it looks like for most of the terms I'll have to take two science courses at the same time. Most people tell me that this is suicide and I shouldn't do it

Erm, no that should be a cake walk in terms of things. For A&M I had no less than 3 science courses a semester and they still considered my course work only "slightly rigorous".

At one point I took Micro, Biochem, and Genetics at the same time and got a 3.2 that semester. The next one I took Biochem II, Anatomy, Pharmacology, a cloning class, and Immunology at the same time and got a 3.1. But on the flip side I took Ochem II, Physics, Nutrition, and Statistics (and a music class) one semester and got a 3.6. So yah, it's definitely possible to take 2 (and more) science courses at a time and do well, just depends on which ones you take.

 

[Tiktaalik]

Most people tell me that this is suicide and I shouldn't do it but obviously that's the only way to get all the pre-reqs done in time - in fact, I think on one of the terms I might have to take three sciences at the time.

Ignore them. In retrospect, most of the advice I received from peers like this was either totally uninformed or inaccurate bordering on sabotage. Do what works for you - 2 at a time is a fine start, you should have little trouble. You couldn't graduate on time with all your prereqs if you only took 1 science course a semester.

 

[milkmaid]

I can't think of a semester where I didn't have at least two science classes, usually three or four, and most semesters have had 16-19 credits. Last semester it was 19 credits of physics, genetics, immunology, diseases of food animals, etc, part-time work and I had a 3.7something. Definitely doable and I still have plenty of time for fun outside schoolwork. Maybe these "most people" aren't science majors?

As long as you take classes in a sequential order you should be fine. It's taking a class before you take its pre-req that causes problems. Otherwise they do build on each other and it makes learning a thousand times easier.

The only other thing is - you have to live with your choices. Take people's advice with a grain of salt, including your advisor's, and then remember that you're the one who has to take the courseload you've signed up for. 😛

 

[SocialStigma]

I've never had less than 2-3 science courses per semester. I thought this was the norm for most science majors?

Even with my most difficult semester thus far, where I was taking genetics, human anatomy & physiology I (+lab), organic chem I (+lab), health psychology, epidemiology, and biochemistry (+lab), I still managed to pull off As in everything except orgo, in which I got a C (doubt I would've gotten an A in it regardless, ha). But my GPA for that semester still came out to a 3.5 ish even with that hit.

So it's definitely doable if you work hard and put in the effort 🙂!

 

[lalzi22]

I agree with everyone else. I always took at least 2 science courses (4 credits each) plus a science lab (2 or 3 credits). You need to show adcoms that you can handle this since in vet school you will be taking 22-26 credits of pure science every semester. It's really not bad as long as you plan your studying and don't push everything till 2 days before the test. The problem with following the advise of others is that they may not be science majors, or may not be as motivated. They may all be partying every night and then pulling all nighters the night before an exam, and that is no way to get into vet/med/dental/whatever school.

 

[Nechochwen]

I agree with all of the above. Multiple science courses in a semester shouldn't be difficult and if it's your thing, it will be fun. I had the same doubts my first semester, wasn't sure how I was going to handle the college setting, so I took an elective philosophy class instead of the first chemistry class. Not taking the class messed up my chemistry sequence and I probably would not have been able to apply (or would have had to do an expensive move) if not for a biochemistry professor.

 

[Minnerbelle]

yeah don't worry about it too much. you can try out 2 of the easier courses when you start and see how it goes. i had at least 2 sci courses with lab every semester, and the only thing that sucks (esp with 3 labs) is that your schedule isn't as flexible... but it works out in the end. just don't overcommit to other activities in the beginning and focus on your studies. you'll slowly figure out how much stuff you can take on.

 

[bluesails]

Mm, okay, thanks for the replies, everyone. No one I spoke to was a pre-vet or pre-med so I understand that haha.

I guess I forgot to mention that I'll be going to a very liberal artsy school with tons of distributive / general education requirements that are non-science and a compacted quarter system where normal course load is three courses per term. That's probably why people were freaking out at me.

That said, after the basic prerequisites would admissions officers mind a biology track that's not strictly pre-health-ish? The reason is that I was thinking of choosing a more Ecology-based concentration for my bio major with a study abroad program + the courses that interested me so far.

 

[twelvetigers]

You can take whatever track you like as long as you get the pre requisite courses taken care of. Many major in bology or something similar out of convenience or general interest, but you could major in philosophy if you wanted to do so. So pick whatever you think is the most interesting!

 

[Tiktaalik]

Mm, okay, thanks for the replies, everyone. No one I spoke to was a pre-vet or pre-med so I understand that haha.

I guess I forgot to mention that I'll be going to a very liberal artsy school with tons of distributive / general education requirements that are non-science and a compacted quarter system where normal course load is three courses per term. That's probably why people were freaking out at me.

That said, after the basic prerequisites would admissions officers mind a biology track that's not strictly pre-health-ish? The reason is that I was thinking of choosing a more Ecology-based concentration for my bio major with a study abroad program + the courses that interested me so far.

A good study abroad experience vastly outweighs what little help a pre-vet focus might lend. We discussed my study abroad experiences for the majority of my interview - a successful study abroad intrigues adcoms and tells them a lot of good things about you. It's also a goldmine for good stories for the interview.

 

[UAmike]

First semester senior and I'' be taking 16 hours. 13 of which are all upper level science. Endocrinology, Virology, Histology of Vertebrates, and Plant Phys (plant phys is a space filler, nothing else will fit). You are pretty much going to have to take 2 science courses at one point or another, it's really unavoidable. Staying on top of everything is key. You can do it!

 

[HopefulAg]

I haven't studied abroad yet but all the adcoms were interested in my desire to study abroad (wrote about it in my PS), asking me about plans to do so, where I wanted to go, why I wanted to do it, etc.

 

[168135]

I'm debating whether or not to take 5 science credits next semester. My honours counts as a free though. I'm taking human anatomy and physiology with lab, invertebrate zoology with lab, biochemistry with lab and a religion course. I really want to take drugs and behavior instead of religion, but getting a good grade in religion will boost my average in the humanities/social science section of my AVC app.

So I don't know...

The most I've taken is 4 science credits (animal behavior with lab, entomology with lab, microbiology with lab and developmental psychology)... and C++ with lab. Psych and animal behavior ended up being super easy though. Ask people who have taken the classes you are interested in. They'll be able to tell you how they found it and you can judge whether you think you can handle it or not.

 

[bluesails]

A good study abroad experience vastly outweighs what little help a pre-vet focus might lend. We discussed my study abroad experiences for the majority of my interview - a successful study abroad intrigues adcoms and tells them a lot of good things about you. It's also a goldmine for good stories for the interview.

Thanks for this - I think I might start a new thread asking for more insight once I actually get to that point in my undergrad curriculum 🙂

 

[KKibo]

next semester I'm doing some genetics research, mammology, cellular biology, physics and latin.


I remember when I first went pre-vet and was taking gen chem 2 and bio 2 at the same time, the lady at the book store was like 😱😱 "are you crazy!!" and that was my hardest semester.

Taking two weed-out science courses can be *hard* try to find out what they are at your college, for instance at mine bio 122, chem 122, and genetics are weed out courses, the professors will even tell you that 🙄

Every upper level class I've had since those (Orgo, mycology, embryology, histo, etc...) were so easy it's a joke.

Just make sure you have *good* study habits and you'll be fine.