VCU Premed Certificate Program Electives?

[Crunk Juice]

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Which of the following electives do you guys think will be easier to get an A in during the program:

Drug Dependence
Histology
Intro to Neuroscience
Immunobiology

 

[PurpleHaze]

Which of the following electives do you guys think will be easier to get an A in during the program:

Drug Dependence
Histology
Intro to Neuroscience
Immunobiology

I heard.. or read somewhere that Drug Dependence wasn't too bad. But it's at like 4pm... which kinda bites if ur taking Mammalian Phys. at 8am and then Biochem at 1p. Classes spread throughout the whole day... yuck.

 

[VPDcurt]

Drug Dependence is definitely the easiest. I would probably say that Neuroscience is the hardest - I took it during my second year and I got an A, but I wouldn't want to take it along with Biochem and Physiology in the same semester. I think Immuno is prob second easiest, followed by Histology.

In order from easiest to hardest:

Drug Dependence
Immunobiology
Histology
Neuroscience

Good luck.

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

The easiest is definetly Drug Dependance. I took Histology 1st semester and managing that with Physio and Biochem was almost back breaking. Not sure about the other classes but definetly take Drug dependance. Try your best to get an "A" in Physio, an "A/B" in biochem, and definetly an "A" in Drug Dependance. That should set you up nicely for 2nd semester. Plus I hear the adcomm's (i.e. Dr.Costanzo) look for people who aced Physio. Hope that helps. Study hard!

 

[Crunk Juice]

I was thinking about taking Histology along with Biochemistry and Physiology and I was wondering how did you manage when u did this schedule? Also, if you have any advise on survival tips when doing this thanks

 

[PurpleHaze]

I was thinking about taking Histology along with Biochemistry and Physiology and I was wondering how did you manage when u did this schedule? Also, if you have any advise on survival tips when doing this thanks

You are a brave soul... Isn't histology like a 6 credit course?? My study habits.. or lack thereof, wouldn't allow me to do that to myself.

i think i'm gonna take Drug Dependence.

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

I was thinking about taking Histology along with Biochemistry and Physiology and I was wondering how did you manage when u did this schedule? Also, if you have any advise on survival tips when doing this thanks

Unless you were famous in undergrad for your memory do yourself a favor and take Drug dependance as your elective. When I was in the program, Histology was 5 credits (I think). What you have to remember is that "graduate" histology is much much harder than "medical" histo. The histo that M1's are required to take is a joke compared to what you will be expected to know in the grad program.

The 1st semester is the most academically challenging of the two. Don't ask me why. It would make more sense to start out slow and up the intensity as time goes on. That's how its done in other hardcore post-bacc programs. Yet, MCV/VCU thinks otherwise. In order to survive, you need to hit the ground running. Make studying a top priority if you want to do well. Go all out for your first exam and see what grade that lands you. If you're unhappy with your grade figure out why. Study hard. More importantly, study smart. Memorize/understand the material and then do old exams, especially in physio. Its kind of like the MCAT's. Studying alone won't do it. You need to do practice tests as much as possible once you've mastered the material.

Most likely, the next few weeks will be stressful as you adjust to the pace and volume of material. You will work harder than you've ever worked. Gauranteed. Yet, in the end, you will come out a much sharper student. You'll be confident in your abilities and it'll show during interviews. You've proved yourself. Med school is your b#tch! G'luck.

 

[mprover]

DOCTORSAIB,

Thanks for all the info . Are the old tests availible to students on load/to purchase? Ill probably take drug dependance this semester, and if everything goes well, try something much harder next semester.

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

DOCTORSAIB,

Thanks for all the info . Are the old tests availible to students on load/to purchase? Ill probably take drug dependance this semester, and if everything goes well, try something much harder next semester.

Unless things have changed, every department should have a notefile full of old exams. Check with your respective departments.

 

[Crunk Juice]

Choices, choices.....However DOCTORSAIB, I was wondering what is your opinion on taking immunobiology along with biochem and physiology instead of histology

 

[Crunk Juice]

and the opinion of vpdcourt as well

 

[Crunk Juice]

Also do you remember if any of the tests were multiple choice?

 

[mprover]

Also do you remember if any of the tests were multiple choice?

I think I remember reading in an old thread that the tests are both free response and multiple choice. I hope the former, as I find mc tests fairly difficult

 

[VPDcurt]

Biochem - variety of multiple choice, essay, fill in the blank, anything else you could imagine on a test.
Physiology (1st semester) - all multiple choice but trickier than your average multiple choice question

Remember that when someone says Drug Dependence is easy, it's not as easy as an easy undergrad course. My whole idea of an easy class changed in grad school - the classes are still challenging - it's just easier than any other class there.

 

[Crunk Juice]

Ok, I am not going to take histo now

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

Choices, choices.....However DOCTORSAIB, I was wondering what is your opinion on taking immunobiology along with biochem and physiology instead of histology

I couldn't tell ya. I took histo 1st semester and drug dependance 2nd semester. Although I was in the physio track, most of my friends ended up being from the anatomy track since I was taking histo with them my 1st semester. In fact, I was the only physio student taking histo 1st semester.

2nd semester I broke off from my anatomy friends to take drug dependance. Those poor guys had to take Neuroanatomy along with Cell physio and Molecular Bio... 😱

Sorry I couldn't provide more info about immuno. G'luck.

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

Biochem - variety of multiple choice, essay, fill in the blank, anything else you could imagine on a test.
Physiology (1st semester) - all multiple choice but trickier than your average multiple choice question

Remember that when someone says Drug Dependence is easy, it's not as easy as an easy undergrad course. My whole idea of an easy class changed in grad school - the classes are still challenging - it's just easier than any other class there.

Good advice.

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

Bump.

For those of you who just started the program, how are things going so far?