Too much of a workload?

[BerkeleyPremed]

Alright, I need your feedback guys. Is this too much of a workload for one semester?

-Physics II
-Human Anatomy (only lecture..no lab)
-Animal Behavior
-Upper division English class or comparitive literature class

I'll probably also be working in a lab for 6 hours/week (just on research). So I guess that should be factored into the equation. Any help you guys could offer would be much appreciated.

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[EMPOWERurSELF!]

well it depends. Is that human gross anatomy that you're talking about taking? Because if it is than from my experience you have a LOT of work ahead of you. Otherwise, it seems pretty reasonable to me--but then again I go to a no-name, tiny private school in PA and have absolutely NO clue what the classes are like at Berkely (but I hear they're pretty tough!) Ask around to see what the classes are like and be honest with yourself--I'm sure you have an idea of your academic limits!!

-oh btw, aren't you the guy with a million midterms on the same day or something???? How'd those work out for ya?

 

[BerkeleyPremed]

Originally posted by EMPOWERurSELF!
well it depends. Is that human gross anatomy that you're talking about taking? Because if it is than from my experience you have a LOT of work ahead of you. Otherwise, it seems pretty reasonable to me--but then again I go to a no-name, tiny private school in PA and have absolutely NO clue what the classes are like at Berkely (but I hear they're pretty tough!) Ask around to see what the classes are like and be honest with yourself--I'm sure you have an idea of your academic limits!!

-oh btw, aren't you the guy with a million midterms on the same day or something???? How'd those work out for ya?

Yeah, I had 4 midterms on one day. It was definitely not pleasant. I came out of it ok though. I really hope I NEVER have to go through that again though. And yes, the class is gross anatomy. I might just reduce the courseload down to just Physics II and Anatomy...I'm not sure.

 

[StanfordGirl]

Hi BerkeleyPremed,

The course load sounds manageable to me. I did almost the same schedule (except physics 2--just second in the physics sequence for me--I'm not sure what physics 2 is at Cal. If it's honors, then you can possibly disregard this post). Anyway, I did the same schedule at Stanford (with Gross Anatomy Lab--not neuroanatomy but everything else). It was a tight schedule but still mangageable & I had some extra time for lab (15 or so hrs per week) and time with friends (variable each week but at least a couple of nights out

Honestly, I'm not sure how the classes compare at Cal/Stanford. Some of my friends have said cal classes are harder than some at Stanford. Gross Anatomy, for example, I took at the med school and it wasn't very competetive or stressful.

Good Luck!

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Would that be Physics 8B and IB 131? I can tell you both of those classes are relatively easy. In fact IB 131 is a cakewalk, you need spend almost no time out of class on it. Physics 8B is one of the more relaxed classes as well.

 

[Cerberus]

Thats it? Thats the most feminine courseload ever.

 

[BerkeleyPremed]

Originally posted by Pinkertinkle
Would that be Physics 8B and IB 131? I can tell you both of those classes are relatively easy. In fact IB 131 is a cakewalk, you need spend almost no time out of class on it. Physics 8B is one of the more relaxed classes as well.

You nailed it dude. With 131 though, I don't think Dr. Diamond will be doing her usual reviews before the exams (which is why the means for her exams are higher than the means for practically every single other upper division IB class I've taken). Im in her neuroanatomy class this semester (IB 245) and she didn't do the review before Midterm I. The mean was a 37/50 which is a C...which I'm guessin was her goal. IB 144-Animal Behavior doesn't seem that rough

 

[BerkeleyPremed]

Originally posted by Cerberus
Thats it? Thats the most feminine courseload ever.

Oh...this is another, "My classes are harder than your classes!" post. I think the reason guys do this is simply due to overcompensation for a small phallus. Comments like the one made by Cerberus fall in the same category as, "My car is faster than your car!" and "My dad can beat up your dad!"

 

[jlee9531]

thats like only 16 units or something right? eh its not bad at all.

 

[UCLAstudent]

That seems like a good schedule to me.

 

[Luthertaketwo]

This is the nasty one I have coming up:

Calc 2
Physics 2
Biochem 1
Anat and phys 1

 

[Cerberus]

Originally posted by BerkeleyPremed
Oh...this is another, "My classes are harder than your classes!" post. I think the reason guys do this is simply due to overcompensation for a small phallus. Comments like the one made by Cerberus fall in the same category as, "My car is faster than your car!" and "My dad can beat up your dad!"

You mean like being a pretentious name dropper who thinks his undergraduate is better than everyone elses?

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by jlee9531
thats like only 16 units or something right? eh its not bad at all.

16 units is not bad at all, nothing to even remotely worry about. If you were around 20+ units, then maybe, but 16 is as average as it gets.

Anatomy without lab is like a Computer Science course without large, take-home programming assignments. That won't be problematic at all either.

Definitely sounds like a pretty laid back semester, then again its good to take a break every now and then.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

I wouldn't call 16 units on top of research at Berkeley a "break" or "laid back" or "nothing to even remotely worry about" or "as average as it gets."

 

[jlee9531]

Originally posted by Pinkertinkle
I wouldn't call 16 units on top of research at Berkeley a "break" or "laid back" or "nothing to even remotely worry about" or "as average as it gets."

yeah i know its relatively tough...but we got into berkeley for a reason. so i still think it isnt too bad.

.

 

[BerkeleyPremed]

Originally posted by Pinkertinkle
I wouldn't call 16 units on top of research at Berkeley a "break" or "laid back" or "nothing to even remotely worry about" or "as average as it gets."

I definitely agree here. In all probability, my schedule will probably look like what I wrote above. I'm guessing it won't be hell...but it won't be "laid back" either. I was probably just worrying too much because I think I planned a pretty rough schedule this semester and didn't want to make the same mistake next semester (I barely have any time for anything this semester). This semester, I have
-Graduate level Neuroanatomy
-Grauduate level Neuronanatomy lab
-Human Physiology
-Ecology/Evolution
-Public Policy

I run a campus organization so that takes up time and I also work for a non-profit organization. I'm hoping to just strike a nice balance between studying, ECs, and relaxation next semester. Right now...I don't really have that balance because the vast majority of my time is spent memorizing the differences between the vestibulospinal tract and the reticulospinal tract (neuro).

 

[Peterock]

Originally posted by Gleevec
16 units is not bad at all, nothing to even remotely worry about. If you were around 20+ units, then maybe, but 16 is as average as it gets.

Anatomy without lab is like a Computer Science course without large, take-home programming assignments. That won't be problematic at all either.

Definitely sounds like a pretty laid back semester, then again its good to take a break every now and then.

Seriously. This was fairly similar to my "easy" schedule from 2nd semester senior year.... except I didn't take a baby anatomy, we actually had the lab.

Gosh... I didn't know Berkeley students were so marshmellowy soft. If you had a 5th class, then I'd understand.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Originally posted by Peterock
Seriously. This was fairly similar to my "easy" schedule from 2nd semester senior year.... except I didn't take a baby anatomy, we actually had the lab.

Gosh... I didn't know Berkeley students were so marshmellowy soft. If you had a 5th class, then I'd understand.

Whoooaa, ain't you a big man with your rock hard schedules? I think Berkeleypremed has a reasonably solid schedule that isn't a walk in the park as you would imply.

 

[Peterock]

Originally posted by Pinkertinkle
Whoooaa, ain't you a big man with your rock hard schedules?

I really am a big "rock hard" man. Haven't you read my profile?


BerkeleyPremed needs to stop being a pansy-ass premed. His neuroanatomy will help him massively in 1/3 of his anatomy class. The schedule he presented is very doable.

 

[HessExpress]

my upcoming:

Cell Biology
Genetics
Embryology
Ecology

all with labs

why? because i can.

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by Pinkertinkle
Whoooaa, ain't you a big man with your rock hard schedules? I think Berkeleypremed has a reasonably solid schedule that isn't a walk in the park as you would imply.

I agree its not a walk in the park, but its not difficult either, and definitely not postworthy. The fact is, advanced labs are what kill you. I dont care if this is Cal or Swarthmore. 16 hours is average at most schools, and the people I know at Cal generally take more.

You will be hard pressed to find someone advising you NOT to take 16 hours with what I assume to be only one lab (Physics?). I mean, what else do you plan on doing, taking 12 hours? Wouldn't that be underloading at most schools?

Seriously, 16 hours is not bad, and it seems as if you only have 1 lab in a course that most people take their freshman year. Even with your ECs, which you fail to mention in your original post (or provide a time estimate for) this is probably an average premed schedule.

I wouldnt worry about it, this schedule is about as average as it gets (especially considering the small number of labs you would have), including ECs, and Im sure you will do fine.

PS. My friends at Cal says Physics is hell, but the rest are pretty chill (Anatomy is so-so), so you're good.

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by HessExpress
my upcoming:

Cell Biology
Genetics
Embryology
Ecology

all with labs

why? because i can.

Now THAT is a schedule to be worried about. Labs are such time killers. Good luck with that man.

 

[BerkeleyPremed]

Originally posted by Peterock
I really am a big "rock hard" man. Haven't you read my profile?


BerkeleyPremed needs to stop being a pansy-ass premed. His neuroanatomy will help him massively in 1/3 of his anatomy class. The schedule he presented is very doable.

First of all, of course we offer the lab for gross human anatomy...(6 hours in lab/week)...I just don't want to take that because I'll be spending a minimum of 6 hours/week working in a molecular bio lab anyway. Why add to the # of hours I'll be spending in lab/week when I don't have to? Secondly, that schedule is not "pansy" at all...is it super difficult? Nope. But it's not exactly a cakewalk either....in addition, the difficulty of one's schedule depends on what that person is doing OUTSIDE of class as well. If someone has leadership positions in 3 ECs and also volunteers at a hospital, wouldn't taking on a 16 unit load be pretty hectic?

Lastly, PeteRockDuke...you really need to get a life. I mean...c'mon..look at you. You spend your days as a Duke grad trying to bash some guy you don't know at a school you could never get into. Have some self-respect man...go do something productive.

 

[Thundrstorm]

In all honesty, that schedule doesn't look abnormally difficult to me. At my school, all science include 3-4 hour labs, so any class w/o a lab would constitute a "break" to me. Heck, I fully support easier semesters. I'm taking 3 classes right now (12 credits) w/2 labs and I love the extra time for research, work, and sleep.

I'm only taking 2 real courses next semester (Thermo&Kinetics w/ lab and Biochem w/lab), and I'm pretty happy about it. I'll just be filling my time with other things (research, thesis-writing, part time work, co-teaching a seminar class, pres. of volunteer organization, hospice volunteering maybe, etc.) I guess my point is: Just do what you think you can handle, especially if you want more time for out-of-class activities.