Technicality Question

[zeebra44]

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I applied to vet school this year with the intention of taking Anatomy & Physiology I and Organic Chemistry II in the Spring 2010 semester, and I noted this on my application. BUT, I just got hired full time as a veterinary assistant in a small animal emergency hospital. I really want to take this job! I can take Anatomy & Physiology online (I have to HAVE to for Western), but every school I applied to does not require the second semester of Organic Chemistry II (Kansas, Missouri, Penn, Western, Glasgow and Minnesota). So, not taking Organic Chemistry II shouldn't hurt me then, right? A school wouldn't accept me on the condition that I complete both courses when one course isn't even a requirement, right? I just don't see how it would be possible to take this position AND go to class.

Edit: If I do take this job, I do plan on letting the schools I applied to know about the change of plans.

 

[luplodw]

As long as you take the classes that are a requirement...I wouldn't worry about others that aren't. I'm not even sure if i'm taking all the classes I noted on my application, but I DO know that i'll have all my requirements finished.

 

[August24]

If you are doing stellar in OChem I and are 100% sure you don't NEED it for the others, I would take the job as animal experience is ubiquitously important. However, what if you don't get in this year? will you have time/want to take Ochem II and apply to other schools that may require 2 semesters? And if you do, will you have forgotten OChem I, making getting a great grade in OChem II difficult?

 

[that70sfan11]

I'm in sort of the same boat as you

I applied to kansas st. and mississippi st. and they both require a speech class, though my other 2 (mizzou and IS okstate) don't

however, in case I don't get in this year and in case I want to apply to kansas/miss again, then I don't want to have to bother going back to school after I've graduated to get that class. so I'm sticking with the class no matter what, even if I get rejected by both this year

so obviously do it if you are okay with never applying to schools that require o-chem II AND if you are okay with not getting a degree (assuming your degree requires it like mine)

but other than that, go for it! I'm one final away from being done with o-chem forever and I certainly wouldn't have minded skipping it!

 

[zeebra44]

Thanks! And I should have clarified, I graduated with my B.S. in Animal Science in May. I finished Organic Chemistry I and took a separate laboratory course in college bringing my credit count for Orgo to 6. So, I am already done with my undergraduate degree and took the year off to apply and gain additional work experience.

 

[that70sfan11]

ah, got it... that changes things a bit 🙂 esp. if your goal is to get more experience

 

[August24]

So, what's the verdict? Ochem II or not? And for you, That70sfan11, speech or not? A public speaking class is always a GPA booster..

 

[that70sfan11]

oh sorry, I meant public speaking... Its been under several different names when I've been looking it up, and speech is the shortest

I wanted to just call them and ask them if being in drama in high school and taking acting classes counted, but my advisor said no 😀

interestingly, i've found that my community college allows you to take public speaking online...😕 not sure how that works, but okay!

EDIT: okay i just realized what you were saying...and yeah its a gpa booster, but i'm annoyed because I was only going to have 13 hours my last semester of college, but public speaking is going to bump it up to 16... blah

 

[Lechatnoir]

interestingly, i've found that my community college allows you to take public speaking online...😕 not sure how that works, but okay!

At my comm college it just means that you do the classroom work online (lectures, assignments etc) and just show up to class on the days that you give speeches. I really liked that system.

 

[DVMDream]

oh sorry, I meant public speaking... Its been under several different names when I've been looking it up, and speech is the shortest

I wanted to just call them and ask them if being in drama in high school and taking acting classes counted, but my advisor said no 😀

interestingly, i've found that my community college allows you to take public speaking online...😕 not sure how that works, but okay!

EDIT: okay i just realized what you were saying...and yeah its a gpa booster, but i'm annoyed because I was only going to have 13 hours my last semester of college, but public speaking is going to bump it up to 16... blah

For my public speaking class I had to put in very little effort (and I am a terrible public speaker think shaky voice can not talk loud enought), hence the GPA booster. So, it will probably still feel like you are only taking 13 credits. Have fun with it. I thought it was one of the best classes; the entire class got really close with one another. 🙂

 

[zeebra44]

It's true....Public Speaking does wonders for the GPA, haha! I don't think I'll take Orgo II, at this point I think the job experience would be more beneficial.

 

[david594]

A school wouldn't accept me on the condition that I complete both courses when one course isn't even a requirement, right?

Talk to all of the schools you are applying to because they very well might. This is a big assumption to make ntil you have confirmed its OK with each school.

Usually most acceptances are "conditional on achieving acceptable grades in all outstanding course work" or something to that affect. So if your application lists you as taking courses in Spring 2010, those could be conditions of your acceptance.

So I would contact all of those schools and ask if its going to be an issue, and if its not, then tell them you will no longer be taking them so they can update their info on you.

 

[david594]

I finished Organic Chemistry I and took a separate laboratory course in college bringing my credit count for Orgo to 6

Do the schools your applying to require 6 credits of organic chem?

So you have 6 credits for Orgo 1 lecture + orgo 1 lab? Whats the breakdown for your classes?

 

[TrocarKarin]

Best to check. I think some schools that only require a semester of a class are picky about it. 1 semester of a "principles of organic" class should be fine. 1 semester of a 2 semester sequence may not be.

 

[turnbackhelly]

So you have 6 credits for Orgo 1 lecture + orgo 1 lab? Whats the breakdown for your classes?

I can't speak for the OP, but where I am currently doing my prereqs, Organic I lecture is 4 credits and Organic I lab is 2 credits - so it's possible (at least at my school) to have 6 credits of Organic I only.

 

[david594]

I can't speak for the OP, but where I am currently doing my prereqs, Organic I lecture is 4 credits and Organic I lab is 2 credits - so it's possible (at least at my school) to have 6 credits of Organic I only.

In which case I would recommend you talk to all of the schools you are applying to, to make sure that will be acceptable. 6 credits may mean they are looking for you to complete a full year of ochem(and don't require the labs) 3 credit Ochem1 + 3 credit Ochem2.

 

[zeebra44]

I am definitely going to call regardless, but I was pretty thorough about this (at least I hope).

I took Honors Organic Chemistry I (4 credits) + Intro. to Experimental Organic Chemistry (lab for 2 credits). Totaling 6 credits of Organic Chemistry on my transcripts. [The reason why I didn't take the second semester is long and boring, and I won't drag you all through it, haha!]

*KSU requires: General Organic Chemistry and Laboratory (5 hours)
*Minnesota requires: Organic Chemistry non-terminal sequence including one lab (5-10 credits, 2 quarters or 1 semester including one lab ) --What exactly is meant by non-terminal here though, Tocar, you may have a serious point I overlooked!
*Penn requires: "At least 4 semester credits in organic chemistry"
*Missouri: Does not have a set Organic Chem requirement as long as the Biochemistry class completed has a pre-req for Organic Chem (e-mailed admissions about this)
*Western: One semester w/lab required
*Glasgow: No set requirement

SO..I think I have my bases covered, but I will still call.

If it comes down to it, I will definitely take the class...acceptance is most important to me (obviously!)

 

[Willowhand]

About A&P and Western... I was in a weird situation with that since my college canceled it this semester (the only time I could take it) due to low enrollment. I talked to a few admissions officials at Western, and they said that if they offered me an acceptance I would be allowed to take Physio over the summer -> If I don't get in there or end up going elsewhere, I won't have to spend the extra money to take it online/over the summer unless I know it's necessary. So you might consider talking to them about doing that if Western is the only school you need it for.

 

[zeebra44]

About A&P and Western... I was in a weird situation with that since my college canceled it this semester (the only time I could take it) due to low enrollment. I talked to a few admissions officials at Western, and they said that if they offered me an acceptance I would be allowed to take Physio over the summer -> If I don't get in there or end up going elsewhere, I won't have to spend the extra money to take it online/over the summer unless I know it's necessary. So you might consider talking to them about doing that if Western is the only school you need it for.

Thank you, Willow! That's really great info because Western is the only school that I need to take A&P for. The online class I was looking at runs $750 dollars, not including the book. I was waiting to see if I got invited to an interview first before deciding whether or not to sign up. So I'll definitely check this option out, thanks again!