Taking Orgo I w/lab, Cell bio, Physics I, and Ecology same semester

[chaii]

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Would this be way too much? I am a sophomore and I need to keep physics so I can take Orgo 2 and Physics 2 over summer so I'll be done with prereqs for the MCAT. I want to take the MCAT Either Fall or Winter of 2014.

Just want to get some perspective. My advisor is not helpful at all. I don't want to keep this course load and end up with below a 3.8 for the semester. Also I want to take Ecology to get it out of the way because it is a requirement for bio majors. Another option I have which I really dont want to do is take a Gen Ed in place of ecology. But I was planning on taking the rest of my gen eds when I finish my prereqs and major requirements for my major.

 

[487806]

Would this be way too much? I am a sophomore and I need to keep physics so I can take Orgo 2 and Physics 2 over summer so I'll be done with prereqs for the MCAT. I want to take the MCAT Either Fall or Winter of 2014.

Just want to get some perspective. My advisor is not helpful at all. I don't want to keep this course load and end up with below a 3.8 for the semester. Also I want to take Ecology to get it out of the way because it is a requirement for bio majors. Another option I have which I really dont want to do is take a Gen Ed in place of ecology. But I was planning on taking the rest of my gen eds when I finish my prereqs and major requirements for my major.

Ecology is a waste of time. Avoid it unless it's required.

Regardless, your schedule is very doable

 

[Anathema]

Would this be way too much? I am a sophomore and I need to keep physics so I can take Orgo 2 and Physics 2 over summer so I'll be done with prereqs for the MCAT. I want to take the MCAT Either Fall or Winter of 2014.

Just want to get some perspective. My advisor is not helpful at all. I don't want to keep this course load and end up with below a 3.8 for the semester. Also I want to take Ecology to get it out of the way because it is a requirement for bio majors. Another option I have which I really dont want to do is take a Gen Ed in place of ecology. But I was planning on taking the rest of my gen eds when I finish my prereqs and major requirements for my major.

I don't know how your classes are, but I personally would never take Orgo with Physics together since those classes were pretty tough by themselves.

 

[deleted407021]

I'm taking ochem and physics together, plus genetics (boring as scheisse) with 2 core classes thrown in and I think I'm doing fine. You should be also.

 

[natti101]

It is doable, but it would be a lot of work. I'm not sure about your physics background, but for some people it's a completely new way of thinking. Organic is the same way, so taking two at the same time would be quite a bit of work. It would also depend on how Cell Biology is taught at your school. At mine, it is pretty comparable to the content taught at medical school (though at a much slower pace). This can be a ton of information to absorb - particularly if you haven't had a ton of biology courses before it. I would be more concerned about taking physics II and organic II over the summer. Physics II is much harder than physics I, and organic II (though I enjoyed it more) has a lot more reactions. Also, a number of medical schools don't like for you to take important science classes over the summer.

Also, keep in mind that you should still be volunteering during this time, so that will take up some time. Also factor in any research or jobs you have. If you're volunteering, in a research lab, and have a job as well as taking that course load, I would say that will be very, very difficult (and also miserable).

 

[chaii]

Thanks for the replies! I am not too worried about physics, I've taken a year of physics in HS plus AP physics which was rough. But the prof i'm taking physics with uses the homework problems as his test problems. I am mostly worried about Orgo and Ecology because of a combo of the courses reputations and difficult professors.

I'll also be volunteering 3 or 4 hours a week along with shadowing here and there. But will not be working a job.

Thanks for the insight everyone, I think I will keep this course load and if I feel like ecology is doing on a number on me I'll drop it for a gen ed.

 

[The Kraken]

Thanks for the replies! I am not too worried about physics, I've taken a year of physics in HS plus AP physics which was rough. But the prof i'm taking physics with uses the homework problems as his test problems. I am mostly worried about Orgo and Ecology because of a combo of the courses reputations and difficult professors.

I'll also be volunteering 3 or 4 hours a week along with shadowing here and there. But will not be working a job.

Thanks for the insight everyone, I think I will keep this course load and if I feel like ecology is doing on a number on me I'll drop it for a gen ed.

If you don't need ecology, dont take it with that course load.

 

[swolebrah]

Im taking OCHEM 1 and PHYS 2 + labs and gov. Doing fine. You should be good to go. PHYS 1 is very easy , relatively speaking.

 

[BioBeaver]

Ecology is a waste of time. Avoid it unless it's required.

Regardless, your schedule is very doable

WARNING: Agent B says that every schedule is "doable". I've yet to see him tell someone that their schedule is not doable.

 

[487806]

WARNING: Agent B says that every schedule is "doable". I've yet to see him tell someone that their schedule is not doable.

Well care to explain how OP's schedule isn't doable? It resembles a lot like that of a biology premed major, which isn't hard at all. And no I'm not sounding condescending, but there are schedules which are pretty scary. Basically, I wouldn't recommend combining anatomy with an advanced philosophy course for example.

Meeting and sweeping (well doing well) in premed curricula should be expected. The upper level courses, however, can become difficult and that's where I usually have my reservations.

 

[natti101]

Haha I was thinking the same thing (that AgentB says a lot of schedules are doable). But now reading his last post, I realize it's totally because of preference. It probably is doable for a lot of super science-y people. I definitely would not do the OP's original schedule, personally, but I have taken 4000 level philosophy courses with 2 sciences and a social science before. It was totally fine. Of course, I'm also a philosophy minor, so that may be a little skewed

 

[Cambodianguy]

It's doable for the most part. You just need to make sure you study efficiently otherwise you'll run into problems. I would hold off on ecology, I'm taking it right now, and it's pretty dry material. I took orgo 2 w/lab, physics part 1, and cell biology last semester. Everything went well except when I had my orgo 2 final and cell biology final on the same day-hell.

 

[medschoolmyname]

its definetly doable, but really be ready to buckle down and study. Thats a lot of heavy duty classes (not ecology). I did something similar to your proposed schedule, I took Physics 2, O chem 2, Intro to Biomedical Engineering (this was a nightmarish course), and a writing based course(easy). Was an exhausting semester but was able to pull it off.

 

[Nena01]

Only you can dertermine how doable the schedule is. Do you have other commitments outside of school that semester?

The schedule is doable, but only if you dedicate a significant amount of time to studying, everyday. Physics and Organic will require a tremendous time commitment because you learn those concepts best by doing practice problems- a lot of practice problems. You could expect to spend a couple hours doing homework for each of these classes on any given day. Cell Bio will require memorizing, and probably a lot of time reading the textbook, or reviewing class notes.

If you are willing to put in the hard work and the time, you should have no problem being successful with that schedule.