What are schedules like in college?

[demh23]

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Hello

What would a weekly schedule look like for a biology major who wants to go to medical school? I am a little shocked because I just found out that on top of the usual pre-med requirements, students must take "core" classes in history and social science?? I don't think I can handle the pre-med classes ontop of these useless ones and still pull off a 3.6+

 

[pharm B]

Hello

What would a weekly schedule look like for a biology major who wants to go to medical school?

I'll chime in since pharmacy pre-reqs line up pretty closely with those for medicine.

When you're completing your courses, you'll probably be taking about 15-18 hours a semester, depending on the semester. During the first two years, most students take bio and chem classes with labs, so you can count on two 3-4 hour blocks of time being filled by the labs. While taking those courses, as you mentioned you need to also take your gen ed requirements, your math and physics, etc. Physics has another lab. 😉

Basically, you'll try to squeeze in your lectures where you can. The labs (for me) really determined the rest of my schedule, since they're just huge chunks of time. If I had labs on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, I knew my other classes would have to be scheduled on MWF or in the morning on T/R.

I am a little shocked because I just found out that on top of the usual pre-med requirements, students must take "core" classes in history and social science?? I don't think I can handle the pre-med classes ontop of these useless ones and still pull off a 3.6+

Welcome to the jungle. 😎

I should add that it's going to be in your best interest to figure out a road map of the courses ahead so that you know exactly what you want to take ahead of time. Speaking to an advisor early on will help get you on that path.

Registering early ensures that you've got the most flexibility when it comes to scheduling. You don't want to be stuck with an 8 am history class with nothing after it until 1 pm, especially if you're commuting or want to work while you're in school.

 

[DrYoda]

Hello

What would a weekly schedule look like for a biology major who wants to go to medical school? I am a little shocked because I just found out that on top of the usual pre-med requirements, students must take "core" classes in history and social science?? I don't think I can handle the pre-med classes ontop of these useless ones and still pull off a 3.6+

Some of it will depend on the size of school. I went to a big college and it had multiples of pretty much every class and labs/group session available at all days/times. This made it easy to set up schedules that ended before noon or only had late afternoon and night classes. If your school is small you'll be more at the mercy of when the classes you need are available. You can do lots of weird stuff, I had some semesters where I only had class two days a week (they were fairly long days though).

I'll echo what pharmB said, plan out courses ahead of time and sign up for classes at the earliest moment you can. Make sure you mix up easy and hard classes so you don't get stuck with a killer semester of all hard classes.

 

[DrMaximus]

I'll tell you right now, bro. Never get down on yourself, if you want it, you can do it. Trust me, I thought the same thing. Generally, it's about two sciences with labs and 2 or three 3 hour non-sciences. Or you could be like me and do summer classes and only have four classes a semester and be crazy involved to make your EC's look good. Either way, you got this man.

No worries!

 

[the duck]

Hello

What would a weekly schedule look like for a biology major who wants to go to medical school? I am a little shocked because I just found out that on top of the usual pre-med requirements, students must take "core" classes in history and social science?? I don't think I can handle the pre-med classes ontop of these useless ones and still pull off a 3.6+

These courses are far from useless, medical schools don't want to train doctors who know nothing besides the basic sciences. If they did, there would be far more 5 or 6 year programs. Take the opportunity to learn about things that actually interest you. At most schools, you don't have to take the GE courses in just your first two years, you can spread them out throughout your college career, it actually serves to make your unit load a lot more manageable than if your taking just hard science classes from all 15-18 units per semester/quarter. Secondly you have a lot more choice in what classes you can take to satisfy your GE courses than you do in high school. Probably 20+ classes with count as a social science, I'm sure you'll find things that interest you.

As far as actually scheduling goes, you have a lot more freedom than in high school. Your classes can either all be lumped together in a day, or spread out with long breaks in between. For example, next semester I have almost all my classes Tuesday/ Thursday, and don't get done calc until 8 at night. However Monday/ Wednesday, I only have 1 class 🙂

I know it seems like a lot, but you'll figure out a way to do it all, don't worry, we all did!

EDIT: Sorry if it came off a bit harsh, just as a psychology major I'm duty bound to argue with you when you call me entire field of study useless 😛

 

[rxlea]

I agree with the above posters. I will add that it is important to balance your schedule well. You don't want to be taking 15-18 credits of all science + lab courses. Usually, 2 science + lab courses in a semester plus a few gen eds (english, math, social science, fine art, etc.) would be a good choice. Mapping out semesters in advance is important so that you can see when you will have free time to complete lab reports and homework. It is important not to get behind in college, especially in your science courses, as it is nearly impossible to catch up or cram at the end of the semester or right before a test.

 

[indianjatt]

I'm currently in college, but unsure about my current course load.

I am currently enrolled in 17 units (one ge, two sciences (phy and chem), and one math). I'm going to drop my ge because it seems like a lot of work and the Lectures SUCK. the prof can't lecture at all. Also, I think 17 may be too much with physics, chemistry, and math at the same time; I just don't want to screw up.

So my question is, is 13 units reasonable?

 

[the duck]

I'm currently in college, but unsure about my current course load.

I am currently enrolled in 17 units (one ge, two sciences (phy and chem), and one math). I'm going to drop my ge because it seems like a lot of work and the Lectures SUCK. the prof can't lecture at all. Also, I think 17 may be too much with physics, chemistry, and math at the same time; I just don't want to screw up.

So my question is, is 13 units reasonable?

some people on here will say that 13 is a really light load, and if you can't handle the 17 you aren't suited for medical school. They, are full of BS. However medical school like to see you can handle hard unit loads so just make sure you arent taking 13 units every semester.

 

[alucidinterval]

I'm currently in college, but unsure about my current course load.

I am currently enrolled in 17 units (one ge, two sciences (phy and chem), and one math). I'm going to drop my ge because it seems like a lot of work and the Lectures SUCK. the prof can't lecture at all. Also, I think 17 may be too much with physics, chemistry, and math at the same time; I just don't want to screw up.

So my question is, is 13 units reasonable?

I wouldn't worry about it. I ended up taking 12 hours last spring because I dropped my calculus class because I didn't need it and was probably going to end up making somewhere in the C range. Med schools will look at grades you made in classes before they see anything about the amount of credits you took, so just make sure you do well. Like said above, as long as you aren't taking 12-14 hours every semester, you'll be fine.

 

[deleted357625]

Hello

What would a weekly schedule look like for a biology major who wants to go to medical school? I am a little shocked because I just found out that on top of the usual pre-med requirements, students must take "core" classes in history and social science?? I don't think I can handle the pre-med classes ontop of these useless ones and still pull off a 3.6+

You will be able to schedule the classes however you want and choose how many classes you want.

My schedule right now looks like:
Bio 1
Chem 1
Comp Science
Govt 2
Eng 2
It's really not that bad if you put forth the effort, Realistically the only classes i will need to do a decent amount of studying is obviously chem and bio, that's basically it, the other classes are a piece of cake.

But then again when making your schedule make it to fit so it can complement your ability, only you know how much you can handle, it's not that bad.

Also, i dual enrolled after my soph yr in hs full-time. So in reality I'm suppose to be a junior in hs and I'm in college, i started during the summer full-time without a clue and scared. But, you get the hang of it.