The Official "How Does This Schedule Look" Thread

Started by Wolfman89
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Mel Belle said:
I have a sort of side question here... I noticed some people having 13-14 credits per semester. 😕 My pre-med adviser told us that we absolutely need to have 16-18 credits every single semester if we want to look like serious applicants. (This is a lady who gets paid for the kids she can get into medical school.) My freshman fall semester I was in the hospital the first week and only had 14 credits to sort of help me recover. But aside from that I've had 16-18. (In fact, this semester I'm supposed to have 19... Just how it worked out.)

I'm just wondering. Because getting a 4.0 with 14 credits was a walk in the park. It's not quite a walk in the park with 18. 😏
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listening to a pre med advisor is usually not a helpful thing. In this case your pre med advisor doesn't know what she is talking about, as per usual.
 
InvalidUsername said:
Fall Semester (Sophomore, Chemistry major)

General Chemistry II w/ lab - 4 credit hours
Biology II w/ lab - 5 credit hours
Calculus I - 5 credit hours
Intro. to Psychology - 3 credit hours
Intro. to Political Science - 3 credit hours

Total: 20 credit hours.

In comparison to some of you guys' schedules, this should be a breeze.
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Looks good, good luck!
 
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funtertaining15 said:
Well, you do have a lot of science classes, so it depends on how difficult the classes are... The first semester doesn't seem too bad since you're taking three, but the other two seem intense. At least you're taking the mcat after you're done with school.
I think if you focus and study hard, you can do it. But if you're worried, I'd modify the spring semester...maybe switch the English with a science? Idk, just a suggestion.
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The classes themselves are pretty difficult, so I'm getting a bit nervous
Do you think it's a doable schedule?
 
Juan Solo said:
what is your schedule again?
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Fall 13'
Ochem 1 with lab
Physics II with lab
Neurobiology

Spring 14'
Ochem 2 with lab
Neuro class
Psychology neuro class
Calculus I

Summer
Writing 340 class

Fall 14'
Math computational
molecular biology(bisc 320)
Bisc 325
Neuro class
 
drabberbadge said:
Fall 13'
Ochem 1 with lab
Physics II with lab
Neurobiology

Spring 14'
Ochem 2 with lab
Neuro class
Psychology neuro class
Calculus I

Summer
Writing 340 class

Fall 14'
Math computational
molecular biology(bisc 320)
Bisc 325
Neuro class
Click to expand...

Looks good, but spring 14' might be a little more busy than the other terms but it looks fine if you stay on top of your studies.
 
drabberbadge said:
The classes themselves are pretty difficult, so I'm getting a bit nervous
Do you think it's a doable schedule?
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If you want my honest opinion, if I were you, I wouldn't think so, but that's just me, because I'm also a neuro/behavioral bio major, and those classes together would be difficult. If there are classes you can live without and aren't req. change it to something easier or like a humanities for balance. I can understand about raising your science GPA. You just don't want to end up stuck in all those classes and realize it is too much to handle. Plus, ecs and work, etc. will make it more of a strain. Have you asked your advisor? Maybe she or he can help.

Guys, any suggestions on this?
 
Juan Solo said:
Looks good, but spring 14' might be a little more busy than the other terms but it looks fine if you stay on top of your studies.
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I agree with Juan Solo. But like I said, if you're worried, swap with a class you know is easy that you can get into. I may end up with a similar schedule next semester, so if you end up sticking to it, good luck!
 
Fall Sophomore Schedule

Organic Chemistry I (3)
Organic Chemistry I Lab (1)
Intro to Psychology + Lab (4)
Intro to Evolution (4)
Intro to Music (3 - online core req)

Planning on joining a fraternity as well.
 
xAye Rabb said:
Fall Sophomore Schedule

Organic Chemistry I (3)
Organic Chemistry I Lab (1)
Intro to Psychology + Lab (4)
Intro to Evolution (4)
Intro to Music (3 - online core req)

Planning on joining a fraternity as well.
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You're fine, but make sure you don't accidentally bang fat chicks when you're drunk 😉
 
Juan Solo said:
listening to a pre med advisor is usually not a helpful thing. In this case your pre med advisor doesn't know what she is talking about, as per usual.
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That's quite ironic. Because one time I asked her a question and when she asked me where I got the idea I told her SDN and she told me to avoid SDN like the plague. Well. That didn't work, obviously. And I understand why she would say that. Any scrub could come on here claiming to know everything there is to know and give horrible advice. I get that. It would seem better to get advice from the people who you know actually have degrees and "know" what they're talking about. But. I mean, my major advisor seemed to have steered me wrong a few times despite him being an otherwise very brilliant man (head of the chem dept).

Back to the original subject, though. All classes are generally 3 credits each. Labs add an extra credit (for bio labs the class is 4 and the lab is 0 but basically). Research can be 1-3 credits depending how much you do. So do people actually have 14 credits on this sort of system or is it a system with fewer credits per course? I know the university I took summer classes from has a system where lectures are 4 credits and labs are 2.
 
Mel Belle said:
That's quite ironic. Because one time I asked her a question and when she asked me where I got the idea I told her SDN and she told me to avoid SDN like the plague. Well. That didn't work, obviously. And I understand why she would say that. Any scrub could come on here claiming to know everything there is to know and give horrible advice. I get that. It would seem better to get advice from the people who you know actually have degrees and "know" what they're talking about. But. I mean, my major advisor seemed to have steered me wrong a few times despite him being an otherwise very brilliant man (head of the chem dept).

Back to the original subject, though. All classes are generally 3 credits each. Labs add an extra credit (for bio labs the class is 4 and the lab is 0 but basically). Research can be 1-3 credits depending how much you do. So do people actually have 14 credits on this sort of system or is it a system with fewer credits per course? I know the university I took summer classes from has a system where lectures are 4 credits and labs are 2.
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I forget what you concern is. Is that you are worried that ADCOMs are going to view your semester's number of credits as too low? Credits per course and labs very from school to school. As a generalization every credit hour should represent one hour of lecture or lab per week. Also for every credit hour a student should expect to spend three hours studying for that credit hour. This again is a generalization. In your case if you are talking four classes a term then no one is really going to care of that is 13 units or 18 units. What they care about is how well you did in those course in combination with balancing outside ECs
 
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Juan Solo said:
I forget what you concern is. Is that you are worried that ADCOMs are going to view your semester's number of credits as too low? Credits per course and labs very from school to school. As a generalization every credit hour should represent one hour of lecture or lab per week. Also for every credit hour a student should expect to spend three hours studying for that credit hour. This again is a generalization. In your case if you are talking four classes a term then no one is really going to care of that is 13 units or 18 units. What they care about is how well you did in those course in combination with balancing outside ECs
Click to expand...

You answered my question. I don't understand how the lower credit systems work but I get what you're saying. I take 4-5 (usually 5) classes a semester. So my inquiry was more about whether or not it's necessary to take that many rather than feeling like I don't have enough. This particular semester I will inevitably have about 19 credits, it seems. But oh well. So does everyone else who follows the "normal" track for bio, biochem, or chem (w/ bio minor) major at my school.
 
Mel Belle said:
That's quite ironic. Because one time I asked her a question and when she asked me where I got the idea I told her SDN and she told me to avoid SDN like the plague. Well. That didn't work, obviously. And I understand why she would say that. Any scrub could come on here claiming to know everything there is to know and give horrible advice. I get that. It would seem better to get advice from the people who you know actually have degrees and "know" what they're talking about. But. I mean, my major advisor seemed to have steered me wrong a few times despite him being an otherwise very brilliant man (head of the chem dept).

Back to the original subject, though. All classes are generally 3 credits each. Labs add an extra credit (for bio labs the class is 4 and the lab is 0 but basically). Research can be 1-3 credits depending how much you do. So do people actually have 14 credits on this sort of system or is it a system with fewer credits per course? I know the university I took summer classes from has a system where lectures are 4 credits and labs are 2.
Click to expand...

Your premed adviser HATES the truth and DESPISES reality, because both of them slapped your adviser's face for being grossly ignorant.

Forget your adviser and listen to SDN from now on.
 
Freshman Fall '13
Seminar Part 1 (1) (Just a discussion based class, no hw)
Molecular Science (4) (like Chem 1&2 combined into 1)
Molecular Science Lab (1) (like Chem labs 1&2 combined into 1)
Writing (3)
Bio 1 (3) (No hw)
Calc C (3)

Total: 15

Freshman Spring '14
Seminar Part 2 (1) (Just a discussion based class, no hw)
Orgo Chem (4)
Orgo Chem Lab (1)
Bio 2 (3)
Bio Lab 1 (2)
Non-Calc Physics 1 (3)
Non-Calc Physics Lab 1 (1)
Intro to Sociology (3)

Total: 18

Sophomore Fall '14
Orgo Chem 2 (4)
Orgo Chem Lab 2 (2)
Bio 3 (3)
Bio Lab 2 (2)
Non-Calc Physics 2 (3)
Non-Calc Physics Lab 2 (1)
Intro to Psych (3)

Total: 18

I'm not worried about the Bio classes or even the Bio lab because I have a knack for Bio. I'm more worried about the physics and orgo together. If anything, I'm considering moving physics down to Sophomore Fall '14 and Sophomore Spring '15 so I only have 1 semester of 3 labs, however, it's non-calc based so I don't think it'll be too much of an issue since I've already taken AP Physics C in high school. Thoughts?
 
Fall 2013

Gen Chem II with lab - 5 credits
Physiology with lab - 4 credits
Anatomy Cadaver lab - 1 credit
Trig - 3 credits
ROTC adaptive leadership - 3 credits

In short ... FML
 
Eon said:
Freshman Fall '13
Seminar Part 1 (1) (Just a discussion based class, no hw)
Molecular Science (4) (like Chem 1&2 combined into 1)
Molecular Science Lab (1) (like Chem labs 1&2 combined into 1)
Writing (3)
Bio 1 (3) (No hw)
Calc C (3)

Total: 15

Freshman Spring '14
Seminar Part 2 (1) (Just a discussion based class, no hw)
Orgo Chem (4)
Orgo Chem Lab (1)
Bio 2 (3)
Bio Lab 1 (2)
Non-Calc Physics 1 (3)
Non-Calc Physics Lab 1 (1)
Intro to Sociology (3)

Total: 18

Sophomore Fall '14
Orgo Chem 2 (4)
Orgo Chem Lab 2 (2)
Bio 3 (3)
Bio Lab 2 (2)
Non-Calc Physics 2 (3)
Non-Calc Physics Lab 2 (1)
Intro to Psych (3)

Total: 18

I'm not worried about the Bio classes or even the Bio lab because I have a knack for Bio. I'm more worried about the physics and orgo together. If anything, I'm considering moving physics down to Sophomore Fall '14 and Sophomore Spring '15 so I only have 1 semester of 3 labs, however, it's non-calc based so I don't think it'll be too much of an issue since I've already taken AP Physics C in high school. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

You do realize AP Physics C was a calc-based physics course, yet you're retaking physics as alg-based? Suit yourself. Your schedule is fine regardless.

BLACKMD said:
Fall 2013

Gen Chem II with lab - 5 credits
Physiology with lab - 4 credits
Anatomy Cadaver lab - 1 credit
Trig - 3 credits
ROTC adaptive leadership - 3 credits

In short ... FML
Click to expand...

You're fine.
 
BLACKMD said:
Fall 2013

Gen Chem II with lab - 5 credits
Physiology with lab - 4 credits
Anatomy Cadaver lab - 1 credit
Trig - 3 credits
ROTC adaptive leadership - 3 credits

In short ... FML
Click to expand...

Schedule your time and be efficient and the result with be not FML.
 
bayer said:
I'm going to be a junior. How sketchy would it look to take one 500-level science class and five 100-level science classes my fall semester?
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What is 500 and what is 100 level? Please explain in order to get decent advice
 
bayer said:
I'm going to be a junior. How sketchy would it look to take one 500-level science class and five 100-level science classes my fall semester?
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That's by far the most ambiguous question I have ever seen.
 
bayer said:
Whoops, sorry. I was thinking something like:

Evolution and Development Honors (upper-level bio)
Introduction to Statistics (100 level)
Statistical Methods in Economics (100 level)
Modern Math Topics (100 level)
Bio course about dinosaurs (100 level)
Intro astronomy (100 level)

I'm a bio major.
Click to expand...

You're fine.
 
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bayer said:
Whoops, sorry. I was thinking something like:

Evolution and Development Honors (upper-level bio)
Introduction to Statistics (100 level)
Statistical Methods in Economics (100 level)
Modern Math Topics (100 level)
Bio course about dinosaurs (100 level)
Intro astronomy (100 level)

I'm a bio major.
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Yeah I don't think you have much to worry about. Some of those classes won't be that demanding.
 
Agent B said:
You do realize AP Physics C was a calc-based physics course, yet you're retaking physics as alg-based? Suit yourself. Your schedule is fine regardless.
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Yeah, but I didn't understand the content so I'd rather not go through that again. But I believe that was because I skipped AP Physics B and I was only in AP Calc AB rather than the recommended (probably required but waived for me) AP Calc BC. That's why I'd rather take Alg-based. Also, this class is for bio majors, Physics for Life Sciences. Will the three labs be that bad together?
 
I'm taking Biol and Chem my freshman year. Any recommended schedule for the following years in order to have knowledge for the MCAT 2015?
 
Eon said:
Yeah, but I didn't understand the content so I'd rather not go through that again. But I believe that was because I skipped AP Physics B and I was only in AP Calc AB rather than the recommended (probably required but waived for me) AP Calc BC. That's why I'd rather take Alg-based. Also, this class is for bio majors, Physics for Life Sciences. Will the three labs be that bad together?
Click to expand...

No. You're fine.

V3NOM said:
I'm taking Biol and Chem my freshman year. Any recommended schedule for the following years in order to have knowledge for the MCAT 2015?
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The search function is your friend.
 
V3NOM said:
I'm taking Biol and Chem my freshman year. Any recommended schedule for the following years in order to have knowledge for the MCAT 2015?
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Hey,

You will take bio I and II and Chem I and II freshman year. Sophomore will have organic I and II and physics I and II. You will also need intro courses for psych and sociology. You will have all the classes you need to take the MCAT the summer after your sophomore year. Good luck!
 
BrainsIsCool said:
Hey,

You will take bio I and II and Chem I and II freshman year. Sophomore will have organic I and II and physics I and II. You will also need intro courses for psych and sociology. You will have all the classes you need to take the MCAT the summer after your sophomore year. Good luck!
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Thanks. But the MCAT 2015 is going to include Biochemistry.
 
Here is my fall schedule. I am doing only about 5 hrs per week of EC and I go to community college.

Biology (BIOCHEM, CELL, GENE, MOLECULAR) + Lab = 4 units

General Chemistry II + Lab = 5 units

Physics I + Lab = 4 units

Statistics (online) = 4 units

Total = 17 units
 
JustinD said:
Here is my fall schedule. I am doing only about 5 hrs per week of EC and I go to community college.

Biology (BIOCHEM, CELL, GENE, MOLECULAR) + Lab = 4 units

General Chemistry II + Lab = 5 units

Physics I + Lab = 4 units

Statistics (online) = 4 units

Total = 17 units
Click to expand...

Looks good.

Lamel said:
I vote we rename this thread "AgentB quoting posts and saying "You're fine." "
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sworzeh said:
It's a great way to boost your post count. I should make a bot that does this.
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Well, most of these schedules are fine. They aren't hard by any means, if studied efficiently.
 
Hey guys, I scheduled my next school year in hopes of taking the MCAT next summer so I don't have to take the new 2015 MCAT. This means I'l be taking the MCAT the summer after my Sophomore year. I will have completed Gen Chem, Biology, Organic Chemistry, Calculus, and Physics.

Fall 2013
Organic Chemistry 1 and Lab (7 units)
Physics 1 and Lab (6 units)
Biology, Development and Physiology (5 units)
EC's: Clubs (4 hours/week)
Thinking about getting a job that is 12 hours/week

Winter 2014
Organic Chemistry 2 and Lab (7 units)
Physics 2 and Lab (6 units)
Genetics( 5 units)
Same EC's, maybe add in 4 hours/week as an ESL tutor

Spring 2014
Advanced Organic Chemistry (5 units)
Physics 3 and Lab (6 units)
Biochemistry and Lab (7 units)

Summer 2014
Minority Research Program ( M-F, 8-5, 10 weeks)
MCAT Studying ( A month will be dedicated soley to this)
Take MCAT in September
 
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BPM said:
Hey guys, I scheduled my next school year in hopes of taking the MCAT next summer so I don't have to take the new 2015 MCAT. This means I'l be taking the MCAT the summer after my Sophomore year. I will have completed Gen Chem, Biology, Organic Chemistry, Calculus, and Physics.

Fall 2013
Organic Chemistry 1 and Lab (7 units)
Physics 1 and Lab (6 units)
Biology, Development and Physiology (5 units)
EC's: Clubs (4 hours/week)
Thinking about getting a job that is 12 hours/week

Winter 2014
Organic Chemistry 2 and Lab (7 units)
Physics 2 and Lab (6 units)
Genetics( 5 units)
Same EC's, maybe add in 4 hours/week as an ESL tutor

Spring 2014
Advanced Organic Chemistry (5 units)
Physics 3 and Lab (6 units)
Biochemistry and Lab (7 units)

Summer 2014
Minority Research Program ( M-F, 8-5, 10 weeks)
MCAT Studying ( A month will be dedicated soley to this)
Take MCAT in September
Click to expand...

Is advanced organic chem required? Everything else is doable.
 
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just a quick question. are graduate level courses (taken as an undergrad) noted on the transcript when sent to amcas?
 
Agent B said:
Is advanced organic chem required? Everything else is doable.
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It is not required, however I'm using it to complete a year of ochem. There is another substitute for the class that is 3 credits and is known for being a really really easy class. Would you recommend taking that instead?
 
BPM said:
It is not required, however I'm using it to complete a year of ochem. There is another substitute for the class that is 3 credits and is known for being a really really easy class. Would you recommend taking that instead?
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So I assume you're on the quarter system? I'd recommend taking the easier class. Advanced organic chem is better to be avoided whenever possible.
 
Agent B said:
So I assume you're on the quarter system? I'd recommend taking the easier class. Advanced organic chem is better to be avoided whenever possible.
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Yea I'm on the quarter system. Okay I think I'll just take the easier class. Thanks a lot for the help Agent B.
 
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