Which is better...

[just one]

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What do you think:
Better to take core curriculum (non-science) only first and leave last two years with only science classes, or better to spread it out with two sciences and two non-science classes?

When I returned to school, my counselor said to take no more than two sciences a semester, otherwise it would be too difficult. Needless to say I didn't take her advice. I took my first 45 hours with mostly non sciences except Bio for majors. Chem I in the summer, animal biology and Chem II next semester along with Trigonometry. Every semester since has been 14-16 hours all sciences (with at least two upper division each semester, sometimes more) except for an upper level english for a requirement of my state school. I have managed to have a 3.93 GPA (I had a 3.0 from an associates degree ten years earlier) since returning and feel like the way I did it was the best for me. I am in my final full semester and I feel like I can focus on the classes that interest me without distractions from classes I am not interested in.

So my question is, who else has done it this way and did it work?

If someone tells you it would be too hard, only you know what you are capable of handling.

 

[mattng]

In the end it's whatever works for you best. You'll have to take all the pre-reqs, and as long as they are complete, it doesn't matter when you take them. Your advisor is doing his/her job in telling you that it might be difficult taking many science courses, but from the looks of it, you seem to be doing fine. I say, do what it takes to get an A in the course. If you can do that all at once, great, but why not relax a little? You'll get your degree and you'll have fulfilled all the pre-reqs anyways.

 

[just one]

In the end it's whatever works for you best. You'll have to take all the pre-reqs, and as long as they are complete, it doesn't matter when you take them. Your advisor is doing his/her job in telling you that it might be difficult taking many science courses, but from the looks of it, you seem to be doing fine. I say, do what it takes to get an A in the course. If you can do that all at once, great, but why not relax a little? You'll get your degree and you'll have fulfilled all the pre-reqs anyways.

I was really posting more for incoming freshman to get some feedback on both ways of approaching classes.

 

[armybound]

It sounds like you're older and more mature. You're probably better with self-discipline than the average freshman. Overloading with science early on for someone who isn't that disciplined can be a disaster. That's not a risk most freshmen should take.

 

[greatnt249]

I was really posting more for incoming freshman to get some feedback on both ways of approaching classes.

You prefer the "blind leading the blind" method?

 

[JJMrK]

I took mostly GE classes my first year, with maybe 2 or 3 science classes thrown in there. I increased that my sophomore year to maybe 2 science classes/semester, and then 2-3/semester my junior year. Now I'm taking mostly science classes. The gradual build-up helped me quite a bit, I think.

 

[searun]

There is no right answer. If your approach gets you into med school, then it works for you. Personally, I would have been bored to death taking your approach. I liked taking acting classes and piano classes at the same time as organic chemistry. My approach worked great for me, enjoyed undergrad, and am now in 3rd year of med school.