The Under M1 Club, Part II - COME ON IN!

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Hey all!

Hope everyone is having a nice vacation! Hope those of you who have been sick are feeling better 🙂.

The rest of my grades are finally in. I ended up with a B- in physics I (thought I was getting a B tho...had an 82 exam average and then missed at most 1 point on each of the homeworks except for the 2 I didn't turn in so I'm checking with the prof on that one. I would have thought with homework being 10% of the grade it would have brought me up to an 83 and a B at least.), and a B in physics lab.

My Hanukkah was nice. The way it fell this year and between my bf's, his mom's, and his dad's retail schedules we ended up not doing the big family dinner until Xmas eve. We had prime rib, potato latkes (potato pancakes kind of like hashed browns but with matzo meal in them as well to make them stick together), and green beans, wine, before dinner drinks, and after dinner dessert drinks lol. I got a great puffy silver winter coat from my bf's parents, and from my bf I got a black leather miniskirt, a red spaghetti strap silk tank top, red tights, and fishnet tights (you layer them for a really cool look). He did really good this year lol. Xmas day I had dinner at his folk's again. They got a smoked turkey from Costco (or sam's, forget which), cut it down for sandwiches and then made homemade macaroni salad (yum), and we watched football, and lit the Hanukkah candles lol.

New Years Eve the 4 of us (my bf, me, and his folks) are going to go to a nice late dinner at the local good steakhouse, The Famous. We've done several New Year's Eve's with his folks, either with his mom cooking a 5 course meal, or going out to dinner with them, and we always have a good time. They are suprisingly fun to be around for the most part lol.

Other than that I've just been relaxing, playing games online (love pogo.com lol), and reading (just finished the LotR series). We also went to see Return of the King which was incredible. Definitely a must see on the big screen!

Sometime this week I'll start working on my project again. I've found several possibilities that I want to run over the next few weeks to see if they work the way they are supposed to, but I want to find some more, and still have to write out what they are (right now they are saved in my favorite places online lol).

While I'm disappointed that I need to retake orgo (especially cuz of the timing of the class) I think I'll like my new profs exams better. She used exams very similar to the ones we were given this semester, but some of the more difficult questions that were full credit for us were extra credit for her which will be awesome lol. I could probably get an override to take the Orgo II lab this semester like I had originally planned, but I think I'm going to hold off. If I took the lab then I'd have to work a full day on Sat to fit in my hours and I don't think I really want to do that. At this point I'm debating slowly things down a little more and adding in another semester or year before I graduate so I can fit in a few more humanities, but right now it's still in the "maybe I should" stage lol. It will probably end up depending on whether I finally get a summer work study award or have to find a real job for the summer to pay the bills lol.

Well I've rambled enough lol.
Hope everyone has a wonderful new year's!
--Jessica, UCCS
 
bump!

Since Christmas, I have watched the entire first season of ER, ran 45 miles, and still managed to get bored enough to start (and finish) my first orgo II homework assignment.

I've ordered books for my Comparative Islamic Politics class, which is the only class where the teacher was kind enough to send a book list in advance. I've already got my physics and organic book (since they don't change), and have made arrangements to purchase a linear algebra book from a friend. Whats left, you ask? A new organic lab notebook and books for my Special Topics in Latin American Studies course. No clue what I'll need for physics lab.

I head back to SBC on Sunday, and start classes on Monday. I've got 17.5 credits, which shouldn't be too bad (strangely reminescent of my last spring semester). I also start daily fencing practices on Monday as well, prepping for a competition in late Jan. We've got an ethics bowl sometime in Feb, so my plate is pretty full this semester.

Hope everyone else's break was eventful. I'm sick of vacation. A month is waaaaaaay too long.
 
Well, helloooooooo. Let's see I haven't been around here for a long time. I'm a junior at Wash U, going to graduate a semester early, want to do MD/MPH, holidays at home make me crazy... Almost done with premed stuff!!!! 1 more semester of physics and then the mcats in april. Is anyone else interested in MD/MPH by the way?


On the depression- I think this is a common premed disease. For one, I would reccommend (let's see if i can even spell that) getting off the computer! Sitting on the cp only feeds it. Sometimes you just need a good night out. I turned 21 the week before finals, and I decided I needed to party to blow off some steam so I could focus on finals. Finals went GREAT!!! This is the highest GPA I've had in college! Oftentimes you need to have fun, to allow yourself to focus later. You're in college! (I'm sure it didn't hurt that I abandoned this board for a little while. 🙁 )

You guys can make it. Organic chem is the worst, after that.. you're almost done! As long as you really want it. If not, stop torturing yourselves!
 
Hey everybody,

I haven't posted on here in a while. I was just looking at all our final grades, and i couldn't help remembering how new and fresh the semester seemed a few months ago, and how now its fate is sealed.

This has been BY FAR the WORST semester in my life. I'm the proud carrier of a C on my transcript now--in physics. I got a B+ in french, which would've been an A had my french teacher not been such a b*tch. I got a B in A&P (really sad, i was SOO looking fwd to this class and could've EASILY aced it had i had more time to devote to it... b/c i really like bio). All in all, this semester has been the most diverse in terms of grades: A (bio lab) A- (communication) B+ (fren) B(bio) C (physics). So a 3.0.

Next semester's schedule is much less hectic. only carrying 13 credit hours, taking physics II, endocrinology (no lab...YES!), a logic class, and a sociology class. I decided to not pursue the french citation any longer (horrible experience this semester).

Also, have MCAT coming up in april, talk about moving slowly. I've been on the same chapter in physics for like a week.

I hope y'all are doing well. I skimmed thru the last couple of posts, it seems like SKATERBABE and HERMEONE are suffering from depression. I wish you guys the best of luck. God knows i feel like crap so often now. I was looking thru pics from freshman and sophomore year...i look like such a dork, big cheerful smile, no worries...this semester i didn't even take any pics... but that's good; i don't want to have to remember it.. :scared:

Alright, well, let's all get RE-motivated for next semester, ace them classes, and ROCK the MCAT!! :clap:
 
Hey all 🙂 Glad to hear that everyone seems to be having a good vacation!

Classes don't start for me until the 20th and financial aid should be out in about a week, thank goodness 🙂. Thankfully my only major book expenses will be my genetics book at ~$120 and my biomechanics/kinesiology book at ~$75.

While I'm nowhere near ready to have classes start again, the vegging thing is finally starting to get old so I should have a couple relatively productive weeks here lol.

DrSal - welcome to the club lol. A 3.0 is definitely nothing to be upset about tho 🙂. Sounds like you have a nice, easy, fun semester set up for yourself (classwise anyway). Hopefully Physics II goes better for ya!

Wash - glad to hear from ya again. Was starting to wonder if you were still alive and well lol. Congrats on such a good semester!

WARNING: Rant starting sorry all:

I agree with Wash that a general "feeling depressed" mood is a common occurrence among premeds, and that your suggestions are good options for those types of depressions. However, for those that have chronic, severe, major depression (like me) just getting out and blowing off some steam doesn't help at all or at most only helps for a few hours. Those that suffer from major depression are often heard saying "Until you've experienced it yourself, you just can't possibly understand." I've heard that many times myself over the years, and I never really got it because well I was experiencing it myself, just didn't realize it. Outsiders often perceive it as laziness, lack of motivation, and avoidance of things that the person doesn't want to do (I've attributed several of my severe depressive phases over the years to this myself). The thing is that someone with major depression usually does want to do them, they desparately want to succeed, want to be happy, want to have fun - they just can't. Nothing helps. No reward system works. Telling yourself to just do it doesn't work. Blowing off steam doesn't work cuz either you don't really enjoy it, or u have that much more to make up for when you're done "blowing off steam".

Also, everybody has a different idea of what having fun is. For me, having fun includes fooling around on the computer (ie. playing games or chatting with people), reading, playing pool, going to movies, and going to bars for a few drinks. I'm not an outdoors person. Going on walks, sitting in a park, hiking, etc just don't do anything for me.

I whole-heartedly agree that making time for fun is extremely important for any college student but especially premeds. And even at the height of my severe depressive phases I still took breaks and went out or hung out with my bf at least twice a week.

However, it really doesn't help in the case of a severe depressive phase. For example, two weeks before finals started I went out to my favorite bar for a nite of "fun". But by that point I was so far behind in my reading and assignments if I had waited until the weekend before finals or also done something the weekend before finals I wouldn't have passed any of my classes. I'm sure many will read that last sentence and think that being that far behind in stuff so close to finals is sheer laziness/procrastination, but trust me it's not. I tried telling myself over and over to get something done and I just couldn't do it. I was constantly soo exhausted that I couldn't keep my eyes open let alone concentrate enough on an assignment or chapter to study. I was sleeping 15+ hrs over the course of a day and still exhausted. I tried every reward system I could think of and it still didn't work. I'd either just stare off into space for hours or fall asleep. I'd start on something and work for maybe 5 minutes and couldn't go any further, my brain was fried. I'd set it aside for a few minutes and come back to and maybe get another 5 minutes done and I'd have to set it aside again. If I could bring myself to open a book, and many times I couldn't, I'd read a page, stare off into space for a few minutes and have to read the page again cuz I'd have no idea what I'd just read. (I know this last part sounds like a possible learning disability, but the thing is that when I'm not in a severe depression I'm not like that.) Absolutely nothing will trigger myself out of a severe depressive phase which is why drugs are usually the most effective treatment for major depression. Only time or drugs will get the neurotransmitter levels that are out of wack back to their proper levels, and without intervention it takes months and months for that to happen. This is also why soo many people go undiagnosed for so long. Eventually the levels do realign themselves and you come out of a depression and so you attribute your downfalls to laziness, lack of motivation, and avoidance. But none of those things are true for major depressives - they aren't lazy, they are motivated, they aren't avoiding, they just can not function effectively.

I'm hoping that this gives a better picture of a day in the life of a major depressive. If not, well I tried, but "until you've been there yourself you just can't possibly understand." (giggle)

RANT OFF.


Ok - off to try and get some stuff done. Hope everyone has a good rest of their vacations!

--Jessica, UCCS
 
Hi all!

Well, since my last post, my plans have changed. I finally was admitted to SJSU which is much closer to where I live so I won't be driving an hour a day to go up to CSU Hayward. :clap:

Getting classes, however, has been a nightmare 😡

So, at this point with classes scheduled to start on 1/29, I have 3 of the 4 I need (and of course most start at 7:30 in the morning...eeek 😱 ). But, that's ok.... I'll learn to be a morning person. :laugh: So, currently I have Bio 2 - Animal Bio; Bio 3 - Cell Bio; Chem 1A - Gen Chem; and I need to crash my Physics class and see if I can get in at the beginning of the semester (however...it's still open enrollment period...so I watch the class roster daily (sometimes hourly..geez I'm obsessive) to see if I can get in.

I quit my job on the 23rd. Talk about anxiety, but my boyfriend and family are so supportive that I think I'll be able to make it on my minimal loans 🙂.

Skaterbabe...I completely understand depression. Have been on meds for 2 years and they have completely changed my life for the better, but boy the downward spiral leading up to that time I admitted I needed help was a nightmare.

Good luck to everyone who has already started school this semester/quarter!

Roselee
 
Rose - Congrats on SJSU!! 7:30am would just sooo suck lol. I'd be catching a 6:30am bus to get to school in time for that...ewww...8am 3 mornings a week will be bad enough for me lol. The other 2 mornings are 9:25 but at least one of them i'm done by 10:40 and the other by 12:30 lol.

Sounds like you'll have a jam-packed semester but I'm sure you'll love every minute of it lol (well maybe not every minute 😉 ). Good luck getting your physics class!

Thanks for the encouragement. I can't wait until I get my financial aid so that I can actually order my meds and get going on the regimen. For some odd reason our student health center doesn't stock the anti-depressives at all...or even have samples?!? Suffice it to say I'll most likely be going thru Canada since I don't have insurance lol. It takes longer to get them but so far it's at least $100 cheaper then any place I've found here.

Good luck to everyone this semester! Let's rock it!

--Jessica, UCCS
 
Time for my random update.

After sitting around for awhile thinking, I finally came to a conclusion -- **** this ****.

I'm tired of undergrad. I'm 22 years old and I haven't even started my career yet. I enjoy learning and all, but I'm really tired of the stupid bull**** of undergrad. I'm ready to get into the stuff that actually matters, ie med school.

For what it's worth, I decided to stick to my original plan (something I always do) which is complete my psych major and get a minor in chemistry. I need a whopping 2 more chem classes to finish the minor.

Anyways, after changing some stuff around, my schedule for this semester is:

Physics II
Organic Chemistry II
Physics I Lab
Physics II Lab
Psychological Statistics
National Security Policies of the U.S.

Yep, seems like a boring as hell semester. But if I can work hard this semester and get out with flying colors, I should be ok during the application cycle. Oh yeah, I have the MCAT too 😱
 
JKMed... 22 is not old by the way. Well, I hated undergrad up until my last semester. And I mean really, really hated it. Finally have great roommmates, great apartment, good times, and an incredible soccer team.

I was wondering if you were gonna apply to med university of south carolina. I'm lookin' into it but I don't really know much about it. I know I miss SC and I need a school with a public health program- MUSC satisfies both. Anyway, I would love to learn more about the school.
 
School needs to start. Quick. I'm starting to lose my mind:scared:

Anyways, went to campus today and finalized stuff for this semester. And my classes for the spring are... *insert drum roll here*

Anatomy & Physiology II + Lab (4 credits)
Inorganic Chemistry II + Lab (4 credits)
General Physics I + Lab (4 credits)
General Biology I + Lab (4 credits)

When I first showed this to my advisor, she thought I was nuts. But I think it's very doable. I was able to space out my classes to give me enough study time... and heck, I got a 3.7 this past semester, so I must be doing something right, right?

hmm.. I'm writing this and I have this feeling that I've written this before... like in a dream or something.

My parents are remodeling their kitchen, so the house is a complete wreck... and very dusty 🙁 I've been on sdn enough for today... gonna go see if i can help out.
 
Originally posted by washkeep
JKMed... 22 is not old by the way. Well, I hated undergrad up until my last semester. And I mean really, really hated it. Finally have great roommmates, great apartment, good times, and an incredible soccer team.

I was wondering if you were gonna apply to med university of south carolina. I'm lookin' into it but I don't really know much about it. I know I miss SC and I need a school with a public health program- MUSC satisfies both. Anyway, I would love to learn more about the school.

I may apply to MUSC and USC-SoM, depending on how I fare during the summer semester. I'm only going to apply if I do well, no sense in applying after the spring. I'm mostly a DO-wannabe anyways, but if by some act of God I manage to get into a SC school I'll be happy.

MUSC is an awesome school in a wonderful town. I'm sure you have been to Charleston. The cost of living isn't cheap, but I think it's worth it. The facilities are nice and I have heard good things about their clinical stuff.

USC-SoM is also a good school, but their incoming class size is tiny. I remember it being between 70-80 students. The anatomy lab kinda sucks, it's in an old part of the school, but overall it has a nice "home" feeling to it.
 
<b><color=#7FFFD4>Hi everyone i hope you had a Happy happy New year.</b></color>:clap: :clap:
how is everyone , I haven't posted for a while because I had a hectic fall semester ,althought in it did fabolous( 3A's cellbio,philosophy,psicology and b+ on o-chem lab& historyand C+ in o-chem) since i finally got a cumulative Gpa of 3.12(versus 2,9 last semester).
i be starting college again next week so here my final schedule.
intro to communications
organic chem II & lab
Calculus I & lab
evolutionary biology
latin rhythms & dance

-JKd med : 22 i by way not old at all, this what my mom says to me no one is gone to ask your age when your got youre a doctor. take me for example i'm24 a sophmore (junior by credits) undergrad at slu madrid and i don't feel old.

-skatebabe: i know exactly what you mean cause i've there two as a bipolar( only mild) at the beginning before I knew what i had since every doctor a went to see said i was a different sickness and prescribe me wrong medication. i went thought a couple of depressive phases before i meet my actual doctor.
She just wonderful. i took a at least two year to the right drugs that get out of the rollercoaster.

It was almost impossible for to cocentrate in something. I went directly for total euforia (you want to eat the whole world) to not be able to to as you were telling. I could barely watch tv discoveery channel.

After 8 years i perfectly well but took time to sort myself out. i take me medication you stablizesmy mood..that why i'm positive thinker.

good luck on your seemester!!!!
pd:
I'm tranfering next fall so so here my final 3 i apply to tranferall jesuits like my school( saint Louis university,madrid campus) 1. Univesity of San francisco, 2.saint mary 's College and 3.santa Clara.
 
Bored over break? The House of God is a good read, fictional tale about interns written by a doctor. Provocative... the sex pulls it together.
 
MI club thoughts on osteopathic medicine? Also on this website **** which basically comes out and says in practice it is no different that allopathic medicine?

URL deleted by DrMom. anyone promoting a website or product may do so if they pay for their advertising
 
Originally posted by papadoc
MI club thoughts on osteopathic medicine? Also on this website **** which basically comes out and says in practice it is no different that allopathic medicine?

URL deleted by DrMom. anyone promoting a website or product may do so if they pay for their advertising

Don't touch this!

Anyway, I'm heading back to Virginia tomorrow morning. I am soooo ready for the semester to start.

Washkeep- I bought House of God last summer... still haven't gotten around to reading it. I can't wait, though.
 
Wow, this thread has been goin' so well in my really long absence 😀

Hey, everyone, I just checked my grades from the Fall 2003 semester (yeah, I was really nervous about it and wanted to get it over with)...looks like it's a time of celebration and good cheer!!

See, not only is this the first semester where I have NO C's 😀, but it's also the semester that's finally put the nail in the coffin of the 2 point hole! :clap:

I've now got a 3.02 cumulative GPA and surprising grades from Calculus and Cell Biology classes. I guess my Cell Bio prof decided to curve the grades this time around, because if it was on a standard scale, I'd probably have a C or D...I resigned myself to taking the class over and found that I got a B in it! Woo-hoo!

I'll be responding as soon as I catch up on all the threads. I'm gonna be going into Spring 2004 with a very confident mood (now I'm actually doin' extra-cirriculars) :hardy:

I hope everyone's been having fun over the break, and to those who are struggling, I offer my best wishes to you to improve. Until I read up on your problems, that is all I can do at the moment.
 
This thread needs another good BUMP in the meantime...I'm trying to make it easier for everybody to find here 😀
 
Hey guys, next semester I am planning on taking


Organic Chemistry II

Biology II


Statistics ( Online)


History (Online)


Do you guys think that it is going to be a lot of work ?

Maybe I can substitute the history class for Physical

Education ? I need straight As this semester if I want to bring

up my GPA to a 3.0.
 
Woohoo Biodude! Congrats on such a good semester!:clap:

Wow Lilithny. With 4 labs you're definitely going to be writing a lot this semester lol, but yeah considering your 3.7 last semester I'm sure you'll manage it fine. Come up for air occasionally lol.

Minx - congrats on your fall semester as well! Good luck on applying to your transfer schools. Personally I'd probably choose U of San Fran, but I'm sure any of them will be wonderful 🙂. Also, thank u for sharing your story about bipolar. My bf is bipolar as well so I definitely understand the difficulties in finding the right mix of drugs to handle it. Good luck on your semester!

I agree that House of God is a good read. The other one I really liked was Intern Blues. Of course those are the only two "medical" books I've managed to read so far lol.

Classes start a week from Tues for me. I'm finally starting to get my enthusiasm back but I'm definitely glad I have one more week. My school has taken most of my tuition out of my financial aid at this point (for some weird reason they left like $300 on the bill at this point😕 ) so hopefully I'll get my disbursement relatively early this week so I can get some cleaning and shopping done this week.

I just wish there was a way to not have such long Tues and Thurs this semester. I'll be catching a 7am bus to get to my 8am class and then have class off and on until 6:30, catch a 7:00pm bus home and finally get home around 8:30pm🙁 . I'll have a break from 9:15-1:40 and another from 2:55-4:30 so I'll have plenty of study time, but it will definitely be a long day. At least Mon I'm done by 10:40 and Wed by 12:30. Fri I'll only have an hour and a half break (unless genetics lab doesn't run the whole time).

Next fall I think I may move on-campus. They are building a new apartment-style housing building for upper-division/over-21 students. I'm not 100% sure it would save me money at this point tho so we'll see, but it would be nice to have my tv, utilities, and phone all paid for at once. There's also an opportunity to buy a limited meal plan which would be awesome cuz I don't cook all that much lol. If I don't do that I'm definitely going to move someplace along one of our city's nite bus routes cuz it will be cheaper #1, and I won't have to walk part of the way home when I'm stuck at school after 5:30 #2.

Have a good week everyone!
--Jessica, UCCS
 
TCB - I do have a question regarding that schedule...how much time do you need to study for Organic? I figure that Organic II would take up the brunt of your study time, and History isn't really all that difficult...I only studied maybe thirty minutes at most for exams and I did fine 😀

Those two should balance out eachother in your study time. As for Bio and Stats, well, stats is usually pretty easy...I'm not sure about how it is for you though. Would PE really replace the History class though in terms of units? 😕
 
Biodude: thanks for responding to my post.


Yes PE will substitute history in terms of credits, since I will take a 3 credits PE class to ensure an A.

I guess I will stick with that schedule and work hard.
 
15 days until my semester starts. Eep. I'm really confused about the MCAT. I don't know if I need to take anatomy for it or not. I'd really prefer not to take it this semester, since I'm taking some hefty courses otherwise(Orgo 2, Physics 1, Advanced Chem elective). I hate not knowing whats going on, since the Pre-professional advisor at Towson is a freaking *****. Ugh.
 
Might as well join this club...
 
Cozmosis - I don't think that you need anatomy for the MCAT...that certainly isn't on the "classes to prepare" list that my pre-med advisor handed me, but Mammalian Physiology is. No kidding on pre-professional advisors though 😀 Gosh, I hear about so many who are idiots who know nothing about the process...

hamhamfan - you're lucky in that case...I always get homework assignments in one form or another, except for when I took some classes over the summer where the grades went strictly off of test scores. Yes, I am still around, but unfortunately, my time is occupied with doing laid-back type stuff (exercising, reading, napping, playin' video games, etc.) I'm still too burned out from my last semester of things to do that I can't really start building up the extra-cirricular list again for a while.

I still volunteer at the hospital, mainly 'cuz I can't just up and leave for a month without a good reason (my next shift happens to be tomorrow...)
 
I'm not worried about the time or ability. I'm wondering if I need to take Anatomy to answer the questions on the MCAT. A&P isn't a pre-req, so I really don't know if I need to take it or not.
 
Hey, all, I'm just checking in. I haven't been around for awhile, but I hope that everyone is doing well! 🙂

My life right now basically consists of studying for the MCAT. It's going to be a long, difficult (but hopefully rewarding) process. My review course (Berkeley Review) has been pretty good, so far. If anything, the books that came with the class are great. I'm taking a light load classes (Embryology, a history class, and choir) to facilitate my studying.

Anyway, I'll try to drop in more often. Good luck to everyone with their classes!
 
Skaterbabe- have you read First Cut? It's about this guy who follows some M1s during their anatomy course. Thought it was a pretty good read.
 
Cozmo- what year are you? Anyway, I think you can go without anatomy if you take a good review course. Orgo II, physics, and mcat in the same semester seems a bit rough. 😱 Be careful man, all those grades are important. If you can, I'd wait to take it in the summer or next fall... then you have more science under your belt. I'm confused.. maybe that's already your plan? 😕

(Oh, and I've heard some kinda anatomy helps.)
 
First day of classes for me. I'm sitting in the library typing this up. After all, nothing to study yet. I'll review my schedule thus far like I did last semester, and update it at the end of the day.

Organic Chemistry II (CHEM 334)
The professor for this class wasn't there today, so another professor substituted in his place. THe real guy won't be back until Friday. However, I realized something. In organic I I made almost a B (I missed a quiz, or else I would have gotten it) without really studying. I did the same in organic II, which is more memorization, and made a D. I realize now why. In organic I we had to take notes from the professor's lecture, whereas in ochem II the professor made us buy a package of printed notes, meaning we didn't have to write anything. I can't memorize stuff without studying unless I'm writing it down to begin with.

So far, I understand more in this first day of class from just writing it down than I understood an entire semester of ochem II. Retaking with a different professor was a good idea. The only bad part, however, is that there is NO CURVE AT ALL in this guy's class; it's a 10-point scale for organic. 😱 I'm guessing that means his tests aren't that bad.
Estimated Grade: B or B+

Psychological Statistics (PSYC 227)
I have been putting this class off since my sophomore year, and finally had to take it so I can graduate in December. Class is just like the other two stat classes I have had, so an easy A -- it's all review for me.
Estimated Grade: A

I dropped the two labs I had this semester, considering how much I hate labs. I instead am replacing them with a 3-hour class. That means my last semester here will be two 3-hour lectures, a 2-hour psyc lab, and four 1-hour labs. If I don't manage to fit all of the labs in during December, then I'll have to go during the Spring -- but only 1 or 2 days a week. Piece of cake either way.

I was hesitant to drop the labs because of the bump in my science GPA they provided, but I can get a bigger bump by taking 4 credits of sciences each summer session and then updating my transcript at the schools.
 
I took a physiology class at the community college just for the mcat....physiology is a requirement for pharmacy school though. The physiology on the mcat is pretty simple so you could probably just study it through the mcat prep material. I remembr only one question on the mcat that was related to material in my anatomy class, and it was material that's covered in cell bio too.
 
I was going to take History this semester, but people have told me that the professor that I registered for mostly gives C and few Bs, she seldom gives A.
So I am going to drop that class and take Philosophy instead .
As anyone taken philosophy before ?
 
Well HOW is everyone
Skatebabe my first choice is U from san francisco.
 
Hey all -

Not much going on here but I did find out that if we move into the on-campus apts we can upgrade the cable package if we want. Getting a very small storage area (would just have a few boxes of stuff) and moving on-campus next year is sounding better and better 🙂.

Managed to get a look at my genetics syllabus. Sounds like it's gonna be fast-paced, but hopefully not too bad. Only bad thing is that there's only a 50 pt margin for an A (another 25 pts for an A-) and we've got 4 100 pt exams, 4 25 pt readings (don't know what those are yet), 20 5 pt homeworks, and 150 pts worth of clicker questions. So much for being able to miss class if I want to sleep in lol. Clicker questions will be daily 🙁. Both my first and last class on Tues and Thurs will have these stupid clicker questions. Sure they are usually relatively free points, but I feel like I'm in hs with them since that basically makes attendance mandatory.

TCB - Given the knowledge of how your history prof grades I think switching to a philosophy class is a good idea. Other than that I think your schedule sounds really good. Stats and Orgo will of course be problem solving time, but Bio and Philo should balance it out well. I've taken two philosophy classes so far. An intro to philo class which I don't really remember (took it a long, long, long time ago) so it must not have been that much work, and Comparative Religions which I loved even tho it was a major time crunch. I took it over the summer and it was only 3 weeks so we were reading over 100 pgs a week, but because it was summer we didn't have any exams...only had to answer 14 questions straight out of the book in detail (1-2 pg each). The prof was boring so I didn't really go to that many of the lectures but the reading was interesting, and I got an easy A out of it 🙂. I'm hoping to take a few more philosophy classes before I graduate but we'll see if it works out or not lol.

Cozmosis - I don't think anatomy is "necessary" for the MCAT. The one diagnostic I've taken so far only had a couple anatomy questions and a couple physiology questions so you should be able to get thru without either fine by going thru review books. It would be a nice introduction for med school if you can fit it in tho.

JKD - Sounds like you've got a good Orgo prof/profs this time around. If nothing else you know a strategy for approaching it all. I think not writing my own notes was part of my problem last semester too so this time I'm going to rewrite all the lecture notes as the class goes on. Hopefully it works better for me as well this time lol. I know you hate labs, but are you sure you really want to take 5 labs at once?? That sounds like way, way too much writing for me lol.

Lilithny - nope haven't had a chance to read that one yet. Maybe once I get my tax return I can splurge and buy some fun books to read. I'll add that one to my list tho😛

Wash - Our advisor almost insists we take the MCAT the april we're taking Orgo II and most of us are taking physics II at the same time as well. He wants the orgo especially to be "fresh" lol. Let's just say I don't see eye to eye with our advisor on several issues. I'm waiting and taking it the april of '05 instead with biochem and several fun, easy exercise science type classes lol.

Have a good week all!
--Jessica, UCCS
 
I'm a Junior. I'm definitely not taking the MCAT until after next fall or summer or something. I don't know what this means for applying. I'm on track to graduate on time I believe. I'll really have to see how things go.

After this semester, the only other courses I need to take for pre-reqs are Bio 2, and Physics 2.
 
Skaterbabe74: Thanks for your post, I will indeed keep that schedule.
I m sure that you will do good in your genetics class. It is good that you already know what to expect , it shows how determined you're to get an A.


Cozmosis: I wish I only had two classes left. Instead I still need to take Microbiology, Human Anatomy& physiology, Calculus I & II and History.
 
Decided I would update my semester critique. I ended up adding Physics II lab on Mondays from 2:30-4:30. It doesn't appear very difficult, and the extra 0.02 bump in my GPA doesn't hurt either.

The stat class is pretty simple, as I predicted. It appears nobody knows anything about my organic professor, as he's never taught undergrad before. I'm hoping he's not as hard on us as he is on his grad students.

Physics is fun. The professor is an indian guy with long, grey hair usually in a pony tail. He's very pompous and speaks like a refined British aristrocrat! Very entertaining. He says our exams are almost straight from our assigned online homework (CAPA), and that if we ace the homework we should ace the exams. This is how both of my inchem classes were, and I did very well.

The grading scale in physics II is very forgiving. 91-100% is an A, 81-90% is a B+, 71-80% is a B, and so forth. An F is a 35% or lower! He also says that even if we make a 50% on a homework assignment, if we come to him and show that we tried to work all of the problems, we would get a 100%. I think this class will be fun.

Overall, it's a decent semester, just filled with a lot of work. I haven't settled into a routine yet that will allow me to find MCAT study time, but I need to do that soon.
 
Hey guys, good luck with your schedules this semester.

I have a schedule question. I am just starting my second semester and am taking chem 2. Last semester I took chem 1, which I got a B in, and calc 1, which I got a C in😡 .

My question is for next year. I don't really want to take both bio and o-chem together. So I was wondering if I could take bio 1 over the summer at a community college and then take o-chem 1 my third semester and then bio 2 the next semester and finally take o-chem 2 over the summer at the same community college?

I was also wondering if it is looked down upon by med schools to take pre-med classes during the summer at a community college.

Thanks guys.🙂
 
You will hear different opinions about community college courses. Personally, I wouldn't do it because more than one experienced advisor has warned against it. While it may still count, it wouldn't be "worth" as much as going to a university to take it, especially with summer courses.

Be forewarned: if you take a summer course, you are EXPECTED to make an A. This is a stupid way to think, because summer courses aren't any easier, especially if you take more than one.

Conclusion: Stick with the university and make an A.
 
Hey all! 🙂

Homer - Besides what JKD said I'd also caution you against doing your schedule that way because you may find that taking one part at one school and the other part at another school don't add up in the same way. If you stick with the same school through a series you know that you're gonna cover the same material in each semester, but by splitting it up like that you may find that something that wasn't covered at one school was at the other making more work for you. Plus there's the time period in between each half to forget half of what you learned.

If you want to avoid taking bio and ochem together you could take ochem in the regular year and then take bio 1 the summer before and bio 2 the summer after but again there's the time in between to forget stuff.

Couldn't you take one of them your soph year and the other your jr year instead? Maybe take bio with physics instead of ochem with bio and take ochem by itself.

If you do have to take one of the prereqs with ochem, bio is definitely the best choice tho. For me bio was the easiest of the 4, although physics is a close second lol. Bio and Ochem together are very, very doable.


TCB - I don't know that my getting a look at the syllabus shows my determination for an A lol...I always do that. Our syllabi are usually up a week or so before classes start. It does show that I'm starting to feel ok about school starting again tho lol. I'm actually pretty apprehensive about this semester. I desparately need to do well, and while I think it's more than doable, after the disaster of last semester I'm pretty gun shy at the moment lol.

I managed to get most of my books and supplies yesterday. Still have to get my physics lab book and I assume one or two lab notebooks, but other than that I'm ready to go. Spending ~$350 on books and supplies is sooo much nicer than the like $900 I spent last semester lol. Thankfully neither my biomech nor my genetics books are all that big and heavy. I hate having a backpack totally full of books to lug around lol, especially on nites when I have to walk part of the way home.

Have a good week!
--Jessica, UCCS
 
Thanks for the replies.

I will probably just suck it up and take bio and o-chem together or do what skaterbabe said and take bio and physics together my junior year.

Thanks again. 🙂
 
<i> Hi just started my semester</i>
I got my books last week before( the used books finished) i spend in total 240euros.I onlyt got 3 books but they all 3 big and fat except for my communications book.
and about 100 more for the International toefl ( school i'm transfered dn't accept institutituinal)

I finally got a work study as lab coordinator and in the library.
I see that most of us are taking o-chem this semester too.

see you,
jelli
 
Homer17: I am taking Biology II and Organic Chemistry II this semester too. It won't be a walk in the park , but I am sure we can do it.


Skaterbabe74: I always leave home with my packpack totally full, because I always study at school. I just can't study at home.

minx: I am taking the TOEFL too. Do you actually study for that test ? I have never studied for it.
 
bump

Hey everyone, looks like school has started up already for most of you. My schedule is looking pretty tight the next semester, because most of my classes happen to be at night. Next weekend will be the last one of my break, it appears.
 
Hey all 🙂

For those of you who have started class already hope your first week (or weeks) went well. To those that are starting tomorrow with me good luck, and to those that still have a week or two of break left have fun!

Tomorrow I have genetics from 8:00-9:15 am, physics II from 1:40-2:55, and Orgo I from 4:30-6:30. I'll be leaving my house at 6:45 in the morning (the corner store isn't even open yet 🙁), and won't get home until probably 8:30pm unless my bf works an opening shift tomorrow. He offered to take me and pick me up on early mornings if he opens 🙂 awwww...lol.

Looking at the syllabi all of my classes are jumping right into the thick of things right away so I'm gonna read some of my genetics tonite. My first quiz in orgo is going to be next Thurs already! Also looks like my genetics and orgo exams will always fall on the same day...definitely will be glad for that long break in between lol. Looks like no prelabs for Physics II lab thank goodness 🙂.

Minx - Congrats on the two work study jobs.

TCB - I do most of my studying at school too (especially given the long breaks I have this term and only being able to work 14 hrs/wk lol) but I usually try to concentrate on one or two subjects a day to avoid having just way, way too many books to carry lol. If I had a car to trade out some of them it wouldn't be as big a deal, but the walk home definitely sucks when my bag is too heavy lol.

Have a good week everyone!
--Jessica, UCCS
 
Skaterbabe74: If you don?t mind me asking how old are you?
I am just curious... Good luck this semester!!!!!!!!

Because most of my classes are at night, I won't be able to work out during the day. Therefore when school starts, I decided to work out at 6:00AM every morning before going to school. I mostly go jogging in my neighborhood. Does anybody works out ?
 
Originally posted by TCB
Skaterbabe74: If you don?t mind me asking how old are you?
I am just curious... Good luck this semester!!!!!!!!

Because most of my classes are at night, I won't be able to work out during the day. Therefore when school starts, I decided to work out at 6:00AM every morning before going to school. I mostly go jogging in my neighborhood. Does anybody works out ?

I don't mind...you can actually figure it out from my screenname if you think about it anyway lol...I'm 29. And thanks for the luck...I think I'll need it 🙂.

My issue with working out is that the only way I actually stick with it is if it's something I enjoy doing. That limits me to figure skating or dance and I can't afford either even if there were times that I could fit them in so for now I walk a lot on campus and add an extra mile and a half walk in a couple times a week.

--Jessica, UCCS
 
How many med schools do ya'll plan to apply to?
 
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