What do I do? Schedule conflict=no physics for me

[DancerDocToBe]

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I'll be graduating from undergrad next year, unfortunately not the semester early that I had hoped but I'll still be graduating on time with a double major I was told would be next to impossible--I'm a dance and biology double major.

I decided my sophomore year that, if med school was in fact what I wanted, I was going to take at least a year or two off before applying because I wanted to give dance another solid try first. I've been in contact with the pre-med adviser who was very enthusiastic about supporting my application and was very encouraging about my desire to take a few years off before applying. I had really wanted to complete all my pre-reqs before graduation though--mostly so that it's not more money that I'll be shelling out once I graduate and so that I'm not tied to any particular area; I want to be able to go where a job takes me, not where I have to take physics. Physics and maybe Calc II are the only pre-reqs that I'll need to take and, thanks to the dance department re-vamping their schedule, there's no possible way that Physics will fit into my schedule if I still want to graduate with the double major.

I know the simple answer is to just suck it up and take physics during my time off but I'm hesitating a little bit, wondering if this truly what I want to do. Any suggestions?

 

[Sammich117]

I don't even see what the question is... You can't do it without physics, so if you want to go the med school route you're going to have to take it during your time off

 

[MiniMoo]

Is it just one physics class you're missing? Or the entire series with labs? If it's just one class or something, you can try to fit it in at a CC either while you're still in undergrad or the summer after you graduate.

 

[Morsetlis]

Physics w/ Lab is hard to negotiate at community colleges... but there should be year-round Physic Labs at 4-year unis.

Also since I took summer classes every summer I don't feel sympathy for your "time off". It's either classes, work, research, or volunteering, and doing nothing is lol.

 

[werd]

take physics. maybe you could use it to help your dance 😉.

 

[175961]

Calc II as a pre-req?? Don't most schools only recommend calc I, if they even mention math as a pre-req? Unless, of course, you are hoping to go to Harvard and in that case...

 

[organdonor]

Calc II as a pre-req?? Don't most schools only recommend calc I, if they even mention math as a pre-req? Unless, of course, you are hoping to go to Harvard and in that case...

What he said. I don't have the MSAR in front of me, but hardly any schools require Calc II. Could you perhaps take physics instead

Also, you seem to be unsure how long you want to take off. When do you plan to take your MCAT? If you don't want to take physics in your time off, do you really want to dedicate 2-3 months study time for the MCAT then? You NEED to take physics before the MCAT. You should probably take the MCAT right after physics, then if you are satisfied with your score, give dance however long before that MCAT score expires lol. Seriously, you don't want to have to take it again, especially several years after undergrad. It was incredibly short sighted not to fit in PHYSICS to a PRE-MEDICAL curriculum. Pre-dance, well that is another story.

 

[Morsetlis]

Hint: Calc II is easier than higher-level Physics. Take Stats / Biostats / Epidemiology instead if you don't want to take Calc II ;p

 

[JJMrK]

Without physics, you can't fulfill your pre-reqs or be fully prepared for the MCAT. Why not just take an extra semester or two to graduate?

 

[LuciusVorenus]

If it's going to pose a problem with graduating talk to your adviser. I know some people who had this problem with general ed/major requirements (the two classes were at the same time) and they were allowed to enroll in both. They just went to a different lecture every other day. Or just studied at home for physics and went to the lectures of the class that had it as a requirement. It's worth asking about. Especially since physics is easy to learn on your own if you have a solution manual/book to practice problems from and the notes are posted online.

 

[fMRI]

Check out all options carefully, document them (like X course at Y school) and then talk to your adviser.

I had a similar problem and ended up being allowed to substitute a requirement for my major with an independent study (independent study = design your own syllabus, etc and have a professor monitor your work and progress, sit a final or write a paper).

Good luck!

 

[Sesom]

If it's going to pose a problem with graduating talk to your adviser. I know some people who had this problem with general ed/major requirements (the two classes were at the same time) and they were allowed to enroll in both. They just went to a different lecture every other day. Or just studied at home for physics and went to the lectures of the class that had it as a requirement. It's worth asking about. Especially since physics is easy to learn on your own if you have a solution manual/book to practice problems from and the notes are posted online.

Um.... no you are thinking of Hermione from harry potter.....

 

[DancerDocToBe]

So I was kind of vague and dumb sounding in my post, my apologies.

I don't need physics to graduate, just for med school. I haven't taken any college physics--took it my senior year of high school but that's it; no lab, nothing. Both of my options (calc and non-calc based) meet during my modern (dance) class. I need the credits from modern for the dance major; at this point I'm too close to finishing it to not do it.

The deal with Calc II is that my adviser has strongly encouraging me to take it. I'm good at math so it'll only strengthen my GPA, it's strongly recommended for bio majors, and he feels that I could be a competitive applicant to the schools that do require it. It doesn't fit in my schedule for the fall semester but may in the spring.


Not sure yet about when I'll be taking the MCAT--definitely after I take physics obviously though. MCAT study time doesn't worry me too much during my "time-off"--I'm hoping to have a dance job during that time so it won't really be "time off," just not in school. I've worked and/or danced full time every summer since my sophomore year of high school. It's not that I don't want to be doing anything during that time, it's more that I won't know where I'll be and if I'll be there any longer than a couple of months--studying can happen anywhere, going to a class can't.

 

[organdonor]

so you need to take physics, you want to take calc II, why are you in such a rush to graduate? If you want to take the classes, then take another semester or two and do them.

 

[DancerDocToBe]

I'm in a rush to graduate because I can't afford to stay here another semester, never mind another whole year. Next year will be my 4th year and I'll be done with my major coursework and all gen-eds. I've had senior standing since my sophomore year and I'm ready to be done with undergrad. Honestly, I could have feasibly graduated with just one of my majors this year and, had there been a scheduling miracle, the double major at the end of next semester--it just doesn't make any sense to stay here (at a private $$$ liberal arts school) for a 5th year just to take physics and Calc II.

 

[SN2ed]

Quick note, AP credit typically does NOT count toward your pre-reqs.

Although Calc II is only required at a select few schools, a good number do require a full year of math.

This will be an unpopular opinion, but I think you should drop your dance major. That way, you'll fit physics into your schedule and finish on time. Furthermore, you have plenty of dance experience for it to play a large role in your application. Not having a major in it won't make much of a difference when you have invested so much into it. If you are completely against this, then you only have one choice: take physics at a CC after graduating.

 

[175961]

Quick note, AP credit typically does NOT count toward your pre-reqs.

Although Calc II is only required at a select few schools, a good number do require a full year of math.

I'm looking at the MSAR right now and far from a good number require a full year of math. They even have a box labeled "college mathematics" (apart from Calculus) which I'm guessing is pre-calc, college algebra or something along those lines, and not even a majority of the schools has that box checked as a requirement. I'd venture to say that other than the general ed math requirement from your school you don't need to take any more math unless you plan on applying to the very select few that require more math. The level of math you need for physics will cut it.

 

[SN2ed]

cuadrado:

Huh, you're right there aren't as many as I remember. Probably just seemed like there were more schools since I'm a CA resident and half of the CA schools require a full year of math.

Edit: Yeah, about half of the schools I applied to required a full year of math. Hooray, I picked those few schools that require a full year. Well at least it didn't go to waste.

 

[MedStudentWanna]

I'm going to go against the grain here. It sounds like you don't know if you want to be a dancer or a doctor yet. Dance seems to be your first choice. Am I right? I say graduate. Forget Physics for now. Pour your heart and soul into your dancing. If you then decide to go to med school, then take a Physics course wherever you are (I'm assuming if you're with a traveling show, you won't be thinking med school right then). You can sign up at most 4-year colleges as a non-degree seeking student and just get the Physics done and over with. If that doesn't work, take it at a CC. No problem. Then study for the MCAT and register to take it in whatever city you're in.

Best of luck!

 

[DancerDocToBe]

I'm going to go against the grain here. It sounds like you don't know if you want to be a dancer or a doctor yet. Dance seems to be your first choice. Am I right? I say graduate. Forget Physics for now. Pour your heart and soul into your dancing. If you then decide to go to med school, then take a Physics course wherever you are (I'm assuming if you're with a traveling show, you won't be thinking med school right then). You can sign up at most 4-year colleges as a non-degree seeking student and just get the Physics done and over with. If that doesn't work, take it at a CC. No problem. Then study for the MCAT and register to take it in whatever city you're in.

Best of luck!

Thanks, I think you're the first that really "got" it.

My pre-med adviser has an awesome sense of humor so my response was taken in the correct sense but, when he asked why I wanted to become a doctor, I responded with "Well, it's a heck of a lot easier than being a professional dancer." And in a lot of ways, it's true. It has way better job security, pays much better even in the not paid well specialties, you aren't forced to retire by your mid-30s, and the path to becoming a doctor is so much more concrete. I mean, it's obviously not the only reason, but it definitely makes it an alluring plan B (yes, medicine is my plan B. not too often that you hear that!).

The way I look at it is that there's only so long that I can dance, I'll regret it if I don't go for it. Med school can wait, my body can't. There's nothing saying I'll be out of time applying when I'm 25 or 26--I'm already old at 21 to be looking for an entry level position in a dance company.