Seeking advice for a pal...

[b*rizzle]

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Hey guys! I have a question I'd like to circulate and get your opinion on...one of my best friends that's applying to pharmacy school this year is busting her buns to get her prereqs done...that leaves her taking A/P, microbiology, and orgo II all at the same time (three labs -- and precisely the reason I'm waiting a year). She's a very smart girl but she stresses super-easy and I'm wondering what kind of semester this will be for her...I'm very worried that she will burn herself out before she even gets to pharmacy school!

I just wanted to see what you guys thought because the greatest # of labs I've had in one semester is 2 (analytical chem/physics -- UGH!) and I'm not quite sure what the result will be for her...I guess I just want to have something to refer her to to show that other people did it...and survived! 👍

Thx! 😀

 

[CalGrl05]

Hey guys! I have a question I'd like to circulate and get your opinion on...one of my best friends that's applying to pharmacy school this year is busting her buns to get her prereqs done...that leaves her taking A/P, microbiology, and orgo II all at the same time (three labs -- and precisely the reason I'm waiting a year). She's a very smart girl but she stresses super-easy and I'm wondering what kind of semester this will be for her...I'm very worried that she will burn herself out before she even gets to pharmacy school!

I just wanted to see what you guys thought because the greatest # of labs I've had in one semester is 2 (analytical chem/physics -- UGH!) and I'm not quite sure what the result will be for her...I guess I just want to have something to refer her to to show that other people did it...and survived! 👍

Thx! 😀

if youre looking for a success story, my feedback probably will not help. I am actually in your position. I am waiting a year to finish off the remaining prereqs and their labs bc, like your friend, i stress super easy and do NOT wanna get discouraged from going to pharm school. If i were her and i was REALLY determined to finish off fast, i would take at most two of those classes (although i still consider that a huge load) and take the last one in the summer. Otherwise, i would just take one each semester and focus on it. Not only would it help her stress less, it just might help her get a better grade and thus a better gpa, and thus.. a better chance at pharm school. Whatever she decides to do, best of luck.

 

[jemc2000]

I am a fool like your friend. I am taking A&P 2, OChem 2, and Bio 2 this semester. But I have decided if I can't handle it, then I can't handle Pharmacy school. I have told my kids that they need to remember I am not the only adult in the house (of course I had to remind my husband of that too ). It is not going to be easy, and it is not going to be stressless. But I believe if determined, I can pull out 3 exceptable grades.

Ask me again on May 2 if I would have done it the same way. 🙂

 

[Crazy_Norwegian]

I've done it! Well, not exactly the same thing, but close...
Last spring I had gen chem 2 and microbiology at the same time (only 2 labs),
but I also had four other classes at the same time. For those of you counting, yes that's six classes at the same time (20 credits total). By the way, did I mention that I work at least 40 hours/week and often 50 hours/week? I also had to drive out of town (at least 30 miles one way) five times a week to get to my classes. I survived (straight A's), but it wasn't fun! 😳 You just have to resign yourself to the fact that you have absolutely no life outside of work and school. By the way, I'll be setting a new record this upcoming semester (still six classes, but 22 credits). This upcoming semester I will also have 2 labs (orgo 2 and bio 2). Wish me luck!

As far as your friend goes, you can tell her I'm not burned out yet. Although, I don't think that I stress-out as easily as most people.
But now you can tell her it could be worse!

 

[Mapi]

I have done it too ... I took Phy I, Phy II ( thanks to a computer glitch that let me take both I and II at the same time, both were calculus based )and Chem II in one semester ... but that was all I was doing ... I was talking and living classes all the time - its all in the mind -it can be done. I was very happy at the end of the semester!

one thing however, you should be smart selecting professors ... some can teach well some cant - its a fact- so ask around -its the difference between an A and B grade - Good Luck !!

 

[Requiem]

Ok well here we dont have quaters, there's semesters that run from sept - dec and jan - april.

This past term I took 5 courses with 3 labs, and coming up (starting monday) I have 4 labs with chem,phys, bio, math and english. So I mean just look at that load if you want to feel better 😛

 

[jemc2000]

Ok well here we dont have quaters, there's semesters that run from sept - dec and jan - april.

This past term I took 5 courses with 3 labs, and coming up (starting monday) I have 4 labs with chem,phys, bio, math and english. So I mean just look at that load if you want to feel better 😛

We have semesters here also. Finals are the first week of May, classes started last week.

 

[Requiem]

We have semesters here also. Finals are the first week of May, classes started last week.

your semesters seem quite long, we go from jan.10 to april 17th, so you get like an extra month.

 

[jamboo54]

I'm in the same boat. I recently learned that University of Arizona does not like science prereqs to be finished the summer before entering pharm school. I was planning on taking Biochem over the summer but now I have to add it to my spring semester. That puts me with ochemII, physicsII, micriobio, and biochem - each with a lab. I figure its just a little more work if it saves me an entire year. Wish me luck

 

[lgooden]

Last quarter I had a total of 4 labs. I was taking 19 credit hours. The classes included Organic Chemistry 1 with lab, Anatomy and Phys I with lab, Microbiology with lab , Chemistry Lab I, Medical Terminology, and Personal Nutrition. This was all while working at least 22 hours a week at 2 different on campus jobs and being involved in several organization and keeping my relationship alive w/ my bf. I did not get the 4.0 I aimed for, but did manage a 3.754 which I was happy with considering. The B in Organic is what set me back, but I was satisfied with that since many people did not even get that. Basically, it took a lot of careful planing and sacrafice. The Personal Nutrition and Medical Terminology classes were online so that helped some. Also, my bf was very supportive and would sometimes cook for me or bring me food when I did not have time to get something. He also helped me study and with all of my application essays. My relatinoships with my other friends did suffer some as they do not understand why am doing all of this right after graduating with a degree in engineering. Hopefully they will come around and be more supportive in the future.

 

[Apple]

Last semester I had 19 units/5 classes with 3 labs from Gen.ChemII, PhysicsII, and Animal Biology. The other 2 classes were my accounting course. No work or anything, just school. I got an A in Chem, A- in Animal, and B+ in PhysicsII (A- and B for the 2 accounting course).

At first 3 labs seems alot, but I eventually got adjusted. This was my first semester taking pharmacy pre-reqs, as I have only recently decided to get into Pharmacy. I thought it was tough, and definitely required discipline and time management to be on top with my readings and assignments. Finals week was exhausting! Through the semester, I almost forgot how my friends looked like... hehe.

But I'm doing it again! 20units, 3 labs, this time, I have plans to get involved with school clubs and get some experience, and hopefully this time I'll get better grades!!

 

[jboogie]

I took four classes with labs in the fall. It was not that bad. Physics 1, Gen Chem 2, Bio 1, and A/P. I am trying to get into school in August, so, I had to take 25 credit hours last semester to get it done. The other classes were pretty easy, so that made it possible (SOC101, PSY101, and Brief Calc). Keep in mind, that I only was working about 12-14 hours a week.

 

[jboogie]

I took four classes with labs in the fall. It was not that bad. Physics 1, Gen Chem 2, Bio 1, and A/P. I am trying to get into school in August, so, I had to take 25 credit hours last semester to get it done. The other classes were pretty easy, so that made it possible (SOC101, PSY101, and Brief Calc). Keep in mind, that I only was working about 12-14 hours a week.

I know some of you may be thinking "but did your grades suffer?" The answer is no, all A's.

 

[b*rizzle]

Thanks so much for the advice, guys! You have been a big help, I sent my friend this thread and let her see for herself, and now she feels so much better going into the semester! She was impressed that some of you are taking 20+ credit hours and had even survived the mere courseload alone; @ UNC they only let us max out at 18...anymore requires special permission. In any case, once again I find I can rely on the kindness and help of strangers. You guys definitely rock! 👍

 

[crest29]

you guys are all crazy!. i'm taking ONE lab right now and i'm goin nuts..

 

[imperial frog]

If she's going to get too stressed out about that, she might want to rethink pharmschool then. 12 hours is a piece of cake compared to what she will be taking in her first semester. I took 16 hours (all lab) in the summer and it was easier work.

 

[WVURxGal]

If it's not too late, I think she should look for alternative classes. I should have 3 labs this semester, but I wound up with only one. For example, I spoke to people at the SOP, and they gave me equivalents... like instead of Microbiology, I can take Medical Microbiology, which is essentially the same class, but no lab. It also turns out to be a better class to take because it's more geared towards Health Science majors. Also, WVU has statistics labs (wtf?) but by taking Business Statistics instead of Elementary Statistics, I get out of the lab. Now I'm just left with Physics 102 lab, which shouldn't be that big of a deal. I don't know how set her curriculum is, but she should find out if there's any way to get around a lab!

 

[adventurer]

Its definitely possible to do 3 labs at once plus other classes, but you do have to make choices about spare time (or lack of spare time!) Also, you do want to prove you can handle the course load. My situation was that I loaded up on all those classes last semester and then I didn't get in for last year (kind of self imposed stress that turned out not to have a lot of pay off!) On the upside, I was able to complete my application super early (July) and now have a spot at Univ of Maryland. The downside was that I continued to go to school last semester because I hadn't found out if I had been accepted or not untill Oct and ended up taking a semester's worth of classes "just in case" (not being able to finish my degree, now that I got in). So anyway, its always good to hope for the best and plan for the worst!