Question Regarding Classes

[ktachiba]

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Hi All,

I just started taking pre-req courses, and these science courses are a lot to handle compared to econ. Would it look bad if I only took anatomy for the Fall semester, and no other courses, as I heard anatomy is very time-consuming. I planned on taking Chemistry 1A and Anatomy together, but a professor who teaches anatomy said that I shouldn't take any other science courses with it. However, I am concerned on how schools would view this. Is it better to take anatomy only and get an A, or take both anatomy and chemistry and risk getting lower than an A in both?

Thanks!

 

[Nailey13]

Hi All,

I just started taking pre-req courses, and these science courses are a lot to handle compared to econ. Would it look bad if I only took anatomy for the Fall semester, and no other courses, as I heard anatomy is very time-consuming. I planned on taking Chemistry 1A and Anatomy together, but a professor who teaches anatomy said that I shouldn't take any other science courses with it. However, I am concerned on how schools would view this. Is it better to take anatomy only and get an A, or take both anatomy and chemistry and risk getting lower than an A in both?

Thanks!

I certainly hope that this isn't the case. I've signed up to take 4 science courses this fall at a community college (including anatomy) and sincerely hope that I haven't gotten in over my head. I know, though, that others on this forum have succeeded (i.e. have gotten all A's and A-'s) while taking a full course load. I think the trick is to go into taking classes as you would with any job. Do it to the best of your ability and devote yourself exclusively to your academic endeavor. Working and taking more than 1-2 classes is asking for trouble in my opinion.

I hope that others join in though and provide their opinions as I am very much in the same position as the OP.

 

[Nailey13]

Thanks!

Oh, and mods, I think this would be better placed in the pre-physical therapy forum.

 

[markelmarcel]

When you get into PT school you aren't going to get to only take one class; I think it would be better to see if you can handle the rigor of multiple science classes before you apply to a program and get in over your head there.

FWIW, I took Anatomy (A), Bio 1 (B... just missed an A) and Chem 1(A) all at the same time, and then Physiology(B), Bio 2(A) and Chem 2(A) at the same time.

 

[TheOx777]

I am going to move this to the pre-PT forum, but before I do I will add my two cents. I definitely agree with the poster above me. Your ability to take multiple science classes at one time is important, because PT school will typically follow that model. That said, we all move at our own pace and if you want to just get your feet wet this semester then taking Anatomy might be a better option. From here on out, it may behoove you to take 2-4 pre-req science classes together. I know it can be tough, but from here on out try to think of school as your job. You are embarking on an academic career that essentially will lead to you becoming a "professional student", thus the time one would spend working a typical 8-5 or 9-5 job should be reserved for class time and studying. Obviously it would be different if you were working, but you still have to dedicate a considerable amount of time.

 

[WolverinePT]

Like everyone else said, you should be able to take more than one science at a time. And honestly, undergrad anatomy and Chem 1 should not be difficult to take together. They are completely different. I think you should do both and see if you can handle multiple courses that are time consuming.

 

[mirifical]

I agree that you should probably try to take both Chem and Anatomy together. It is better to get the prerequisites done earlier than later so that when you apply they aren't pending. I also agree that even though they are both science courses, they are totally different. Chem has a lot of calculating and Anatomy is mostly a lot of memorization. I took both last fall and got A's, so it is possible. All you can do is put your best effort into it, and I'm sure you'll get a good result. So good luck!

 

[jgold72288]

Schools won't really care one way or the other when you get them done as long as they get done. And yeah, you should be able to hack multiple science courses in PT school at a time, but at the same time, if you lump science courses in together during undergrad then you will have a year with no science classes at all another year, which could take you "out of the groove", if you know what I'm saying. Anyway, in my experience A&P was the easiest of the science prereqs so if you do go with the balls-to-the-wall route then I would say this is the semester to do it.

 

[ktachiba]

I think I will try and take both chemistry and anatomy this semester. If worst comes to worst, I can always drop one before the deadline. I am working about 10 hours a week at a PT clinic, but I think I should be able to handle 2 courses and working 10 hours a week. However, anymore input would be helpful! I forgot to mention my working hours.

 

[jlconner2]

My best advice for you would be to go in prepared. I decided last year to change my major to pre-PT and I was a Junior. I had not taken any of my pre-requisite courses and I had to get them done asap. I decided to take Anatomy, Chemistry, Biology and Physics all in the same semester. I loved anatomy but I was not able to put enough time into my coursework. I also learned that I hated Chemistry and I struggled A LOT because I was not prepared. I made my first C EVER that semester. The only reason that happened was because I did not have my head on straight. I did not say to myself that I would have all of this work to get done and studying to do because they were all intro courses but when you put them all together it is a lot and you have to be prepared for that. I think it was a learning experience and I think it has helped me out in the long run. It is definitely doable and I would do it again but now I am prepared and I found new strengths and weaknesses along the way!!!

 

[pumpkinpatch]

Remember that your education is an investment. I have a quick anecdote that can serve as an analogy for your situation...

In high school, I was planning on being a music major. I had a job, but I didn't work that much. I instead invested my time in practicing A TON and studying my butt off to get high grades. As a result, I got some really nice music and academic scholarships that ended up saving me about 90K over the course of four years. My horn teacher pointed this out to me and said, hey, what if you had spent that time at your job instead? Instead of getting these great scholarships, you would have made maybe $100 more a week, which over the course of the year amounts only to, what, $5000?

Your time with your classes is an investment. If you find yourself struggling with either of them, maybe you should drop your job before you drop those classes. That $100/week that you might be making now is nothing compared to the amount you could save if, say, you get great grades and get in to competitive, cheaper schools. Or, if you get in the first time around instead of having to wait a year to apply a second time, thus delaying your ability to make a salary as a PT by a year.

You see where I'm going with this. Concentrate on your GPA; it's much, much, much easier to work hard and get a good GPA to begin with than to backpedal and retake classes to bump up a bad GPA. Student loans exist for a reason; I know they're scary, but if you are smart about how you go about things, they can be a worthwhile route to take.

[And as a side note, some schools do care whether you take multiple science courses at once. I know UIC explicitly outlined this as one of the things they consider when looking at an application.]

 

[okramango]

Remember that your education is an investment. I have a quick anecdote that can serve as an analogy for your situation...]

Thanks for this analogy/story. It is a great perspective to remember while working hard on these prerequisites.

I earned my BA over ten years ago, and this fall I am taking Anatomy, Chem 1, and Physics 1 all together to prepare for applying to PT school. I know it will be hard work, but I am ready to focus my energy on this investment for my future. 🙄