Studying Efficiently?

[DocMcMommy]

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Hi,
I've been lurking for a bit and decided to finally join. I'm hoping I can get some tips on how to study efficiently and get everything done.

I currently have a 3 month old daughter and a full time school schedule (everything except my labs are online). How do you find/make the time to study AND take care of you kids/work/other things? My daughter goes to sleep at 8pm and sleeps through the night until about 7 - 7:30. She hardly takes naps during the day though, (I'm trying to integrate more into her schedule, but it's tough) so most of my day goes to trying to keep her entertained.

I go to bed around 11pm. 8 - 11 just isn't enough time for me to complete all my work AND study extra. I'm guessing I should start getting up at 6 and staying up until 12, but I'm dreading that transition.

My husband is military and usually gets home around 3:30-4pm right now, but then I spend time getting dinner ready or picking up the house. I'm going to start making more crockpot meals and try to utilize that time for extra school work.

I'm just wondering if anyone else has any more tips? (aside from "get off SDN" I'm typing this as I bounce my squirmy daughter on my knee.)

I have no issues reading/writing during the day even though I get frequent interruptions with her. My main concern is Calc and science. I need as much concentration as I can get with math because I get lost very easy unless I'm paying very close attention. I'm not having difficulty with chem, but I'd like to have decent studying time so that I build a very solid foundation.

 

[NightWindDriftr]

If you don't have any reservations about it, I'd see if you can drop your daughter off at the base CDC. Or at least get on the wait list.

 

[Darth Doc]

Hi,
(everything except my labs are online). How do you find/make the time to study AND take care of you kids/work/other things?

Many medical schools, including the military's medical school, will not accept online classes as pre-requisites. I was surprised to learn that 59 schools do accept at least some online classes as prerequisites. https://www.aamc.org/download/277172/data/onlineprerequisites.pdf

When my kids were young I wrote articles for magazines to help pay the bills. You need a quiet time at least a few days a week for studying. Talk to your husband. He should be able to help out with watching your child for an hour a couple days a week. She's young and has a decent nap time, so use that time for studying also. (Although I would completely understand if you took a nap yourself. That age is exhausting because you're still not getting a full night's rest unless you are very very lucky.)

 

[DocMcMommy]

Many medical schools, including the military's medical school, will not accept online classes as pre-requisites. I was surprised to learn that 59 schools do accept at least some online classes as prerequisites. https://www.aamc.org/download/277172/data/onlineprerequisites.pdf

Oh wow. I was not aware of that. I'm currently at a community college and was under the impression that when my credits transfer it wouldn't even show that I had taken those courses online. My current transcript doesn't show that, but maybe I haven't looked close enough. Now I have some extra to worry about! I had hoped to apply to the military's medical school too. 🙁

I know that cc credits aren't that great either, but I'm intending on majoring in biochem, so I thought that the harder science classes at the university will make up for these classes at the cc. Is that accurate?

Aside from English and a few other "degree core" I have only taken Precalculus, Chem 1, and Calculus online. If I take the rest on campus and then transfer to the University and proceed with a science major, would I be in good shape?

I will look at the CDC. We were hesitant to try that and have me stay home her, but it's not helping me get anything done with my schooling. I believe they have a weekly option, where you can sign them up for a few hours a day or so on a week by week basis. Still think there's a waitlist though.

 

[DrMidlife]

Oh wow. I was not aware of that. I'm currently at a community college and was under the impression that when my credits transfer it wouldn't even show that I had taken those courses online. My current transcript doesn't show that, but maybe I haven't looked close enough. Now I have some extra to worry about! I had hoped to apply to the military's medical school too. 🙁

Transcript judgments other than hours & grades are completely ignored in med school admissions. How a university considers your community college coursework is not a factor. You have to submit the community college transcript as well as all other college transcripts and enter your coursework line by line.

Also ignored: any GPA on your transcript. GPA calculations for med school follow national standard rules that are well-documented.

But I don't think you need to worry about your current online work - just get A's and don't do any more online work.

I know that cc credits aren't that great either, but I'm intending on majoring in biochem, so I thought that the harder science classes at the university will make up for these classes at the cc. Is that accurate?

Yes, but take the prereqs at the university for best results. Get your English/math/humanities/etc out of the way at a CC.

Aside from English and a few other "degree core" I have only taken Precalculus, Chem 1, and Calculus online. If I take the rest on campus and then transfer to the University and proceed with a science major, would I be in good shape?

Generally yes - by taking biochem coursework you'll override any concern with that online chem class.

Best of luck to you.