The Official "How Does This Schedule Look" Thread

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Spring-
Chem 2
Chem 2 lab
Orgo 1
Genetics

Or

Chem 2
Chem 2 lab
Orgo 1
Phys 1

Alternatively, I would be taking Physics 1 and 2 combined in an accelerated summer format.
Any advice is appreciated.
 
Summer 2012- 8 Hours
Chemistry 2 and Lab
Biology 2 and Lab

Fall 2012-16 Hours
Organic 1 and Lab
Calculus 2
Physics 1 and Lab
Microbiology

Spring 2013-16 hours
Organic 2 and Lab
Calculus 3
Physics 2 and Lab
Immunology


Thanks!
 
Last edited:
How does my schedule look?


Biodynamics of Physical Activity (3)
Biodynamics of Physical Activity Lab (1)
Human Physiology II (3)
Human Physiology II Lab (1)
Human Physiology (Biology Version) (3)
Cell Biology II (3)
Cell Biology II Lab (1)

15 credits (labs are mandatory to take :\)
 
DavetheMD said:
Spring-
Chem 2
Chem 2 lab
Orgo 1
Genetics

Or

Chem 2
Chem 2 lab
Orgo 1
Phys 1

Alternatively, I would be taking Physics 1 and 2 combined in an accelerated summer format.
Any advice is appreciated.
Click to expand...

Genetics blows and goes into WAY more detail than what you need to know for the MCAT. Do physics.
 
Since I'm taking the MCAT in May, I decided to save the rest of the "helpful" courses until this coming Winter semester. Here's my schedule:

Anatomy & Physiology II (the 2nd semester is supposed to be mostly physiology)

Genetics

Physics II :scared:

Critical Thinking (Since I was told that the test is supposed to be centered around your ability to analyze the given info and use a bit of logic to answer the questions)

Technical Writing (since being able to read and understand dense, technical writing is said to be important, and it might help on the writing section :shrug:)

I was going to switch genetics with microbio and study genetics from EK, but no one seems to think micro is worthwhile.

I was also going to switch technical writing with a literary analysis course, but I'm not really sure if it'll be more useful than technical writing in the long run.

Any opinions? 🙂
 
altamont850 said:
Summer 2012- 8 Hours
Chemistry 2 and Lab
Biology 2 and Lab

Fall 2012-16 Hours
Organic 1 and Lab
Calculus 2
Physics 1 and Lab
Microbiology

Spring 2013-16 hours
Organic 2 and Lab
Calculus 3
Physics 2 and Lab
Immunology


Thanks!
Click to expand...

Summer looks pretty tough (2 science courses+ labs are usually pretty hard). And Fall+spring will probably be pretty tough as well, as O chem and physics + Calc+ advanced science courses will mean TONS of work.

It's doable though, but it won't be easy at all.
 
American Shero said:
Since I'm taking the MCAT in May, I decided to save the rest of the "helpful" courses until this coming Winter semester. Here's my schedule:

Anatomy & Physiology II (the 2nd semester is supposed to be mostly physiology)

Genetics

Physics II :scared:

Critical Thinking (Since I was told that the test is supposed to be centered around your ability to analyze the given info and use a bit of logic to answer the questions)

Technical Writing (since being able to read and understand dense, technical writing is said to be important, and it might help on the writing section :shrug:)

I was going to switch genetics with microbio and study genetics from EK, but no one seems to think micro is worthwhile.

I was also going to switch technical writing with a literary analysis course, but I'm not really sure if it'll be more useful than technical writing in the long run.

Any opinions? 🙂
Click to expand...

Microbio is not a large part of the MCAT, taking it wouldn't help that much. The little bit of micro is learnable on your own for sure. Genetics will help, but not to the extent that you think. In the "long run", technical writing may help you but if you're doing research and reading a ton of articles those should prepare you fairly well for the jargon that's on the MCAT. The literary analysis course may aid you in those killer humanities verbal passages. As for the critical thinking module, I'm not sure if it will teach you to think in the same way that the MCAT does. That being said, it probably can't hurt. Physiology will be immensely helpful for the MCAT, but personally I really liked the physiology so it was the easiest to learn for me(we want to do medicine after all). Good luck!
 
DavetheMD said:
Spring-
Chem 2
Chem 2 lab
Orgo 1
Genetics

Or

Chem 2
Chem 2 lab
Orgo 1
Phys 1

Alternatively, I would be taking Physics 1 and 2 combined in an accelerated summer format.
Any advice is appreciated.
Click to expand...

I think genetics and orgo plus gen chem may be too much. I would choose the second option. Depending on where you go to school, genetics could be very tough(at my institution genetics is one of the hardest science courses next to biochem)
 
I know orgo 1 and genetics alone is more than 40 hrs of reading a week at my uni.
 
Physics II
Calc
Cell biology
Genetics
Infectious Diseases
 
coyotelime said:
Microbio is not a large part of the MCAT, taking it wouldn't help that much. The little bit of micro is learnable on your own for sure. Genetics will help, but not to the extent that you think. In the "long run", technical writing may help you but if you're doing research and reading a ton of articles those should prepare you fairly well for the jargon that's on the MCAT. The literary analysis course may aid you in those killer humanities verbal passages. As for the critical thinking module, I'm not sure if it will teach you to think in the same way that the MCAT does. That being said, it probably can't hurt. Physiology will be immensely helpful for the MCAT, but personally I really liked the physiology so it was the easiest to learn for me(we want to do medicine after all). Good luck!
Click to expand...

Cool beans 👍 😀
 
A little background info on me. I am a junior majoring in business, and I have one last pre-requisite to do - physics II. As of right now, my current spring semester looks like this:

Accounting II
Business Finance
Gen Physics II
Gen Physics II Lab
????

The question mark is one last class that wanted to take. I am going to be taking the MCAT in either fall or next spring (I am behind because of community college), so I would like something that might be a little extra preparation for that. I was thinking of taking microbiology, but was unsure if I should take the accompanying lab. What do you all think?
 
Last edited:
How does my schedule look?


Biodynamics of Physical Activity (3)
Biodynamics of Physical Activity Lab (1)
Human Physiology II (3)
Human Physiology II Lab (1)
Human Physiology (Biology Version) (3)
Cell Biology II (3)
Cell Biology II Lab (1)

15 credits (labs are mandatory to take :\)
 
Lunasly said:
How does my schedule look?


Biodynamics of Physical Activity (3)
Biodynamics of Physical Activity Lab (1)
Human Physiology II (3)
Human Physiology II Lab (1)
Human Physiology (Biology Version) (3)
Cell Biology II (3)
Cell Biology II Lab (1)

15 credits (labs are mandatory to take :\)
Click to expand...

Sounds like a whole bunch of the same thing tbh.
 
So I kind of got in a disagreement with my advisor today.
Which is more important to take before the MCAT:
Cell Bio or physiology?
 
dazedanconfused said:
A little background info on me. I am a junior majoring in business, and I have one last pre-requisite to do - physics II. As of right now, my current spring semester looks like this:

Accounting II
Business Finance
Gen Physics II
Gen Physics II Lab
????

The question mark is one last class that wanted to take. I am going to be taking the MCAT in either fall or next spring (I am behind because of community college), so I would like something that might be a little extra preparation for that. I was thinking of taking microbiology, but was unsure if I should take the accompanying lab. What do you all think?
Click to expand...

Take physiology, Human or animal if you can. It will most likely help you the most.

If that doesn't fit in then I would say its really up to you. A class that sounds like fun would be my second choice.
 
Freshman Schedule

Fall Semester --ALMOST FINISHED--

Calc 3
Chem 1
Chem 1 Lab
History
Microeconomics
Total Credits: 14

Spring Semester
Chem 2
Chem 2 lab
Bio 1
Bio 1 Lab
Statistics
??Gen Ed??
Total: 15 without GenEd 18 with

Should I take the GenEd? Taking it will allow me to take 12 or 13 credits for one semester possibly to study for the MCAT.
 
^ why study the MCAT when you are only on gen chem 2?
 
JohnnyRomanes said:
^ why study the MCAT when you are only on gen chem 2?
Click to expand...

Taking the GenEd next semester will allow me to take 3 credits less for one of the upcoming semester, possibly the spring semester in my sophomore year. During this semester, in which I'm taking 3 credits fewer, because of the extra GenEd that I finished next semester, I'll be in organic chemistry 2 and biology 2.
 
FishyTheFish said:
Taking the GenEd next semester will allow me to take 3 credits less for one of the upcoming semester, possibly the spring semester in my sophomore year. During this semester, in which I'm taking 3 credits fewer, because of the extra GenEd that I finished next semester, I'll be in organic chemistry 2 and biology 2.
Click to expand...

It's typically not a good idea to study MCAT while taking classes.
If you are going to study for the MCAT, take a semester or quarter off.
 
JohnnyRomanes said:
It's typically not a good idea to study MCAT while taking classes.
If you are going to study for the MCAT, take a semester or quarter off.
Click to expand...

I disagree, to an extent. Most people do not have the option to take a semester/quarter off, solely to study for the MCAT. Ideally everyone should have the summer to study, but that is not always the case depending on when they want to apply.

Provided the course load is low (like minimum for a full time student) I think you can accomplish a good study schedule. Just don't overdo it (like I did my first MCAT), with a full semester.
 
rcheech7 said:
I disagree, to an extent. Most people do not have the option to take a semester/quarter off, solely to study for the MCAT. Ideally everyone should have the summer to study, but that is not always the case depending on when they want to apply.

Provided the course load is low (like minimum for a full time student) I think you can accomplish a good study schedule. Just don't overdo it (like I did my first MCAT), with a full semester.
Click to expand...

Haha I agree. The first time I took the MCAT was in the middle of my hardest semester with my most demanding courses and the week before I had to present my research for which all the results failed (I ended up with really crummy pencil lead... oh the side effects of working with graphene composites). So literally, I woke up, drove to the testing site, and took a test, got home and went right back to work.

My suggestion, if your major allows you, take an easy spring when you want to take the MCAT, If you can't, do not force it like I did, just take it over the summer only take it once. Outside of one really dumb idea (16 credit hour summer), I used summers to complete gen eds which allows for some MCAT study time if you are diligent. The side effect is your core classes are loaded in fall and spring. As a chemistry major I really didn't have much of a choice on that anyways.
 
My spring schedule:

Physics 2 Lab (1)
Organic Chemistry Lab (2)
Probability & Statistics (3)
Race & Ethnicity (3)
Yoga (1)
Immunology (3)
Research in Psychology (3)

I will also be working part time, volunteering, and MCAT studying for the 3/24 test. :scared: Most of the classes should have been taken last year but I just couldn't register for them so I'm finishing them up now before I apply in June.
 
Feel really dwarfed in this thread ha. But I live on my own, work, and volunteer and I feel like my next semester will be fairly hard.

Taking
precalc----4
bio 2 ---4 (3 and one credit for lab. there put together)
Chem I4---(no chem background)
physics I---4(math im not so hot)

I got some lectures off line as well as a workbook for both physics and chemistry. Also got this semesters syllabus for an idea of what to expect. Knowing that I have to cement this stuff makes me pause, and because of a bad first year eons ago I can't get anything below a b
 
Mooglies said:
Feel really dwarfed in this thread ha. But I live on my own, work, and volunteer and I feel like my next semester will be fairly hard.

Taking
precalc----4
bio 2 ---4 (3 and one credit for lab. there put together)
Chem I4---(no chem background)
physics I---4(math im not so hot)

I got some lectures off line as well as a workbook for both physics and chemistry. Also got this semesters syllabus for an idea of what to expect. Knowing that I have to cement this stuff makes me pause, and because of a bad first year eons ago I can't get anything below a b
Click to expand...

I would avoid precalc + physics + chem in one semester. Too much math..
 
serenade said:
I would avoid precalc + physics + chem in one semester. Too much math..
Click to expand...
I would have to agree. I'm surprised that they even let you sign up for Physics without taking precalc before hand.
 
serenade said:
I would avoid precalc + physics + chem in one semester. Too much math..
Click to expand...

DinoSaysRawr said:
I would have to agree. I'm surprised that they even let you sign up for Physics without taking precalc before hand.
Click to expand...
think Ill replace physics with a gov. Glad I decided to post, glad you guys replied. Sometimes you have to hear a bad idea is a bad idea.
 
2nd Semester Freshman Year:

Organic II
University Physics II
Gen Chem Lab II
University Physics Lab II
Calculus III
Optics, Relativity, and Thermal Physics

Total: 17 hours
 
Last edited:
This will be my last semester schedule (I'm a senior). I will only be taking 12 credits to study for the MCAT.

Physics 2
Asian American Literature
Organic Chemistry Lab
One more class, still haven't decided yet
 
BurntFlower said:
This will be my last semester schedule (I'm a senior). I will only be taking 12 credits to study for the MCAT.

Physics 2
Asian American Literature
Organic Chemistry Lab
One more class, still haven't decided yet
Click to expand...
Take something that sounds fun! Well if you have the choice. Physics 2 is creepy and organic lab sounds time consuming but congratulations on being a senior! More importantly good luck with your MCAT; exciting times for you
 
chidoman said:
Immunology will probably be your hardest unless research in psychology takes up a lot of "actual" research time outside of class. But its def a doable schedule. Prob & Stat is super easy, Im talkin like 1-2 hrs / week of studying, and orgo and physics labs don't really require a lot of study time, most of the time is spent writing up lab reports except for midterms and finals. EC's take up so much time though, esp having a part time job (>20 hrs / week?) that always makes things rougher. But altogether it looks pretty solid. Good Luck!!
Click to expand...

Thank you! And yes, the probability & statistics class at my school is incredibly easy. Organic Chemistry & Physics 2 labs are also very easy.. very little work to do outside of actually doing the lab. Immunology will probably be the hardest as it will be the only class I actually have to study for but the professor is wonderful. Race & Ethnicity is a general requirement and also with an easy professor. 👍

Research takes up like 8 hours per week. My part time job is 15 & on down time I get some homework done. (I'm at work now, ha!) I volunteer for like 15ish hours but since I volunteer on a first aid squad, we have down time that I can utilize to study.

Hopefully it all works out! It will be my last semester to raise my GPA for applications since I'm applying this summer. :scared:
 
Biology 211 - Microbiology w/ lab
Chem 2 w/ lab
Physics 1 w/ lab
English 351 - Advanced grammar
Comm 205 - interpersonal communication

Total of 18 credits. Going to be my first semester as a sophomore. I had 40 credits my freshman year. Was thinking of dropping the comm 205, which would leave me at 15 credits. Is chem2/micro/phys 1 no bueno together? Opinions wanted!
 
Plunk said:
Biology 211 - Microbiology w/ lab
Chem 2 w/ lab
Physics 1 w/ lab
English 351 - Advanced grammar
Comm 205 - interpersonal communication

Total of 18 credits. Going to be my first semester as a sophomore. I had 40 credits my freshman year. Was thinking of dropping the comm 205, which would leave me at 15 credits. Is chem2/micro/phys 1 no bueno together? Opinions wanted!
Click to expand...
Sounds kinda intense but doable.. I gotta ask; you taking com I.C. in place of speech? I so wanted to do that but my advisors are nagging me like crazy.

ehh, didnt catch that last line. So im editing. Sounds like itd be really painful, if there is anyway you can avoid it, I would. Taking classes that use different methods of learning is a safe bet, even if there harder, to prevent burn out. I think with the physics and chem itll be alot of practice problems. While micro might be a a lot of rote memorization? I personally have no idea. It'll be tough, maybe others will weigh in.
 
I have the next few yrs planned out b/c I HAVE to have a plan. So sorry if this is a little long. I got my BA in Psych years ago & am now going back to take my premed reqs. The only college sci class I've taken was Intro Bio in '94-95? & I got a B.

2012 WI QTR AT CC + WRK 40HR/WK
College Algebra - 5 (took in '95 & got a C)
Intro Chem 111 - 5 (Not required but I only have 1 Sem of H.S. Chem back in '93 so i wanted a little intro)

2012 SPR QTR AT CC + WRK/40HRS
Pre-Calc - 5
Need another class... any suggestions? maybe Micro Bio w/ no Lab? the CC only requires Bio 101 for that...

2012 AU SEM AT UNI (NO JOB BUT F/T SINGLE MOM TO TODDLER)
Gen Chem I (w/ Lab) - 5
Bio I (w/ lab) - 4
Physics I (w/ Lab) - 5 --> will 3 Labs at a time be too much? figured since i wont be working it should be doable?

2013 SPR SEM @ UNI
Gen Chem II w/ Lab - 5
Bio II w/ Lab - 4
Phys II w/ Lab - 5

2013 SU @ UNI
General MolGen (or other suggestions?)

2013 AU SEM
Org Chem I - 4
Org Chem I Lab - 2
Anatomy? - 5 (or any other suggestions? an Intro Anat is required for my 1st choice med school so i've gotta take it some time)

2014 SPR
Org Chem II - 4
Org Chem II Lab - 2
Intro Bio Chem - 5 (or other suggestions)

THEN IF I decide to complete my BS in BIO I'll go a 3rd yr & take Calc I & II + a few more required Adv Bio/Physio classes & get the degree. I'll have a gap yr 2014-2015 any way so might as well finish the Bio degree, right?

Not 100% when I'll take the MCAT but some time b/w Jan-May 2014 so I can tart applying to Med schools in June/Aug 2014

I'm particularly worried about taking 3 Labs at the same time my 1st yr back to school F/T in years...

Thanks in advance! 🙂
 
Mooglies said:
Take something that sounds fun! Well if you have the choice. Physics 2 is creepy and organic lab sounds time consuming but congratulations on being a senior! More importantly good luck with your MCAT; exciting times for you
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'm definitely NOT looking forward to Physics 2. :scared:

Thank you for your advice and words of encouragement!
 
Last semester before I (hopefully) transfer to a 4-year...

Biology II (4)
Chemistry II (4)
Cell Biology (4)
Intro to Sociology (3)
Ethics (3)

18 hours. Good?
 
Fall semester (Finished) 👍👍
-Behavioral Neuroscience
-Integrative Neuroscience
-Physics 1 w/lab
-Organic Chemistry 1 lecture only
-Biology 2 w/lab

Spring Semester
-Neuropharmacology
-General Chemistry 2 w/lab
-Physics 2 w/lab
-Neurobiology of Pain
-Pathophysiology
-Prose narrative literature
 
So I've decided to put off the mcat for awhile so that I can retake a few courses.

Am I overdoing it with this schedule? 😕

Chem I & II are retakes, so I'm hoping that it won't be as bad.

Orgo Chem II (no lab)
Human A&P II
Genetics
Chem I (no lab) <--- Retake
Chem II (no lab) <---Retake

:shrug:
 
Any input on my schedule above?
Mostly I just want to know how worried I should be about taking the 3 labs at the same time.

Thx
 
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