Taking Physics, Bio, and Orgo at the same time!

[physiclas87]

Has anyone taken all three at the same time? I am thinking about doing it my sophomore year, to get all the pre-reqs out of the way. Then I can take the MCAT in August!

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[temmie]

yup
i did take them together for 2 semesters with an additional honors class each time. It's tough but not impossible. you just need to be able to burn the midnite candle but i am sure you will be okay. And funny enough, my grades were highest that year. Good luck anyways and stay strong.

 

[willow18]

Has anyone taken all three at the same time? I am thinking about doing it my sophomore year, to get all the pre-reqs out of the way. Then I can take the MCAT in August!

You wouldn't happen to work full-time as well eh?

 

[jackets5]

Took orgo 2, physics 2 and genetics all at the same time. During the football season, which is a full time job, it was hell (especially genetics) but got through it. It will be tough but not impossible

You wouldn't happen to work full-time as well eh?

 

[Flopotomist]

uhm - good god.. please don't do this. You will end up miserable. Even if miraculously you can pass your classes, you won't retain enough to perform well on the MCAT.

 

[Saluki]

I did it and worked part time. I came through it alive, but I got Bs in a couple of my core classes, which I think I could have had As in with more time to devote to it. I'd say take two this year and then the rest next year.... You'll learn the info better for the MCAT; you'll be a happier and more fun person to be around; and you'll probably get better grades...

 

[seadizzle]

I did it my 2nd year intro bio, ochem, and calc based physics plus all three labs. Was a lot of work no doubt, and I didn't have to study for physics much at all. If you aren't naturally good at at least one then it would be especially tough.

Would I recommend it? Yeah, you have the summer to study for the mcat and that turned out really nicely for me. Althoug I feel bad for the people who are going to try to match up to my 38 in addition to studying for classes.

 

[ShyRem]

I did Pchem, Ochem, and advanced calc (the one beyond calc III that you sell your soul to pass) all at the same time. For two semesters in a row. You don't even want to know the other classes I took that year - none of them were simple, but these three were the worst i think. Even complex variable calculus was easy comparatively speaking.

 

[///M5]

It should be a pre-req for med school. There are way too many fools out there taking the easiest classes and scehdaule or major possible just to get a good grade. Do you want a doctor that got in the easy way?

while im on the topis of stopopid pre med students, i cant help but wonder how many students took orgo, general chem or fiziks more than once.

 

[DrBowtie]

I am taking o-chem, advanced physics, cell and molecular biology, and calc III all this semester with labs. I am working way too hard.

I won't advise against it since I want to take August as well but know that it will comsume your life.

 

[andi_cvr]

I had Organic Chemistry, Physics, and Human Physiology at the same time. Plus I had two upper level Psychology classes, an honors Colloquium, and honors research to prepare for my thesis. 18 hours total. I worked 20 hours a week, and was an officer in two organizations. I ended up with a 3.4 that semester. It was tough. If you are used to heavy schedules, then go for it. But if you are a sophomore, you really have plenty of time to get your pre-med classes done. I would maybe wait on Organic and take an easier core requirement class like a humanities or behavioral science class instead.

 

[kdburton]

Has anyone taken all three at the same time? I am thinking about doing it my sophomore year, to get all the pre-reqs out of the way. Then I can take the MCAT in August!

I'm taking organic chem I, gen chem II (with lab), and a 5 credit bio class (with lab) all this semester. So far I've had no problems, but I could see it being a problem if you were to have multiple exams in one week (which thankfully hasn't happened to me yet). You probably wouldn't want to take any other classes with that load though, unless you know they won't consume much of your time - because the science classes will.

 

[Moto]

Has anyone taken all three at the same time? I am thinking about doing it my sophomore year, to get all the pre-reqs out of the way. Then I can take the MCAT in August!

Evaluate your study habits and past record. True, many people have done this, I've had my share of loaded units and research projects, but I ended up cramming to get the A and learning things superficially, only to have to go over it properly for the MCAT.

 

[Sophie]

I took O Chem, Bio, and Physics all in one year, plus worked part-time, took Spanish, shadowed a doc, and did research (post-bac year, so I had to cram it all in). It wasn't much fun, and I had no social life, but it is doable. Plus, when I have that much to do I find I don't spend time goofing off or procrastinating, so I study much more efficiently. I would really only recommend doing this if you have to, though.

 

[Pretty POHA]

I wouldn't do it! But that's just me. I work full time, too, though. And I want to keep my GPA at 4.0 for as long as possible. So those are the two major things that would prevent me from doing it. If I was a full time student only, though, it very well may be something you can accomplish!

 

[Anastasis]

I'm taking Bio I, OChem I and Physics II right now. Along with Shadowing and volunteering; I don't have alot of free time but I would say it is very doable expecially if you're motivated. I'll be taking OChem II, Bio II, Biochem and maybe A&P I in the spring, along with studying for the MCAT - that I think will kill me but it needs to be done.

 

[carn311]

, it was hell (especially genetics) but got through it. It will be tough but not impossible

I agree...genetics is surprisingly difficult...

To the OP: Did you prep for organic? If not then do NOT take it with physics...or with genetics for that matter. Bio should not be a problem IMHO but physics will be. I also do suggest that you prep for Organic. Pick up a copy of Organic Chemistry as a Second Language from BN...I highly recommend it. There is a reason why I walked away with a 92 on my first exam while the mode for the class was a 7. 😉

If you have already prepped and feel confident enough in organic then go for it. Just do ALL of the practice problems throughout the ENTIRE course and you'll be fine.

 

[beastly115]

I took Physics 2, Orgo 2, Anatomy and Physiology, Calc III, Neurobiology, and Genetics all at the same time and aced every one of them.

Signed,
Every pre-med on SDN

 

[Nikki2002]

i took orgo, micro, physics, embryology, and a sociology and psychology class. yeah--that totally rocked--i fondly think back to the night before my orgo final--good times.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

taking physics, chem, bio, and a 4 credit math in the same semester and working full time and being a dad to a four month old daughter. needless to say i will probably end up with a C in physics and As and Bs in everything else. First semester at a 4 year school (transfer from CC).

 

[45408]

uhm - good god.. please don't do this. You will end up miserable. Even if miraculously you can pass your classes, you won't retain enough to perform well on the MCAT.

Totally false. I took all three at the same time, in addition to even more than those three. I had everything out the way very early and was able to take the MCAT with tons of time, with the next APRIL as my back-up, rather than August as a back-up.

If you're a good student, I strongly recommend combining all three to get it done fast.

 

[goinverted]

taking physics, chem, bio, and a 4 credit math in the same semester and working full time and being a dad to a four month old daughter. needless to say i will probably end up with a C in physics and As and Bs in everything else. First semester at a 4 year school (transfer from CC).

Cool, almost my exact sitution, but last year.

 

[heatherkmd]

Doing right now and things are going pretty well~ it is tough when the tests land on the same days....but you get to see if you can really hack it! I will be taking orgo 2 physics 2 biochem and genetics next semeseter as welll.......

Good luck!

Heather

 

[UCDavisdude]

Has anyone taken all three at the same time? I am thinking about doing it my sophomore year, to get all the pre-reqs out of the way. Then I can take the MCAT in August!

i did it last year, its not bad, just stay on task, dont get behind. this quarter, im doing biochem 2, genetics and physical chem. not bad either, just learn to schedule your tasks

 

[tank you]

well, one quarter, i took 3 upper-division bio classes (endocrinology, human anatomy, cell biology) and physics (kinematics).
i did ok.

 

[dsh]

I did what you want to do my sophomore year and took the August MCAT. I´d recommend doing it, but only if you´re absolutely confident of your ability to manage your time and do well in your classes. I´m lucky in that I´m pretty good at studying quickly and efficiently, and that with my profs for physics and ochem we didn´t need to memorize too much.

I had a few friends that tried to do the same thing and failed miserably when they procrastinated or just plain couldn´t deal with it. Remember, you can always drop a few weeks in.

Thanks to my efforts last year I have some peace of mind and I´ve been enjoying my fall here in Spain pretty much stress-free (that is, after getting my MCAT scores back a few weeks ago).

 

[masterMood]

did you guys do all of this while having free time on the weekends (i.e. friday and saturday), and were you able to do extracurriculars at the same time?

 

[DrBowtie]

did you guys do all of this while having free time on the weekends (i.e. friday and saturday), and were you able to do extracurriculars at the same time?

Yes. It does take some planning though.

 

[masterMood]

just curious, i was thinking of taking generical physics I and II at SUNY Albany this summer (near home), because i didn't want to take organic chemistry, physics, and genetics at the same time (with labs as well!)

i feel like that if i take physics over the summer, it will help me short-term, but when and if i get into med. school, it won't train me for the number of sciences you have to take per semester as a med. school student (work ethic and efficiency you know)

 

[DrBowtie]

just curious, i was thinking of taking generical physics I and II at SUNY Albany this summer (near home), because i didn't want to take organic chemistry, physics, and genetics at the same time (with labs as well!)

i feel like that if i take physics over the summer, it will help me short-term, but when and if i get into med. school, it won't train me for the number of sciences you have to take per semester as a med. school student (work ethic and efficiency you know)

I would say a large percentage of pre-meds at my school take all of those together. It sucks to have all science classes but it is only for a few semesters.

 

[45408]

did you guys do all of this while having free time on the weekends (i.e. friday and saturday), and were you able to do extracurriculars at the same time?

The answer to that would be no and yes, respectively. I did ECs, joined a research lab, etc., but in order to get the grades I did, I took a blow to my social life. That doesn't mean you can't have one at all, but it's not going to be nearly as active as it could be if you backed down a bit.