withdrawing from organic chemistry?

[ramzax]

or rather just the lab, as i feel the class is really interesting. the lab, however, is a lot more work and a burden on my other classes, which is why i plan to drop it. does anyone know or have an opinion on whether grad schools will care upon seeing that i withdrew from organic chemistry lab?

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[PsiKo]

or rather just the lab, as i feel the class is really interesting. the lab, however, is a lot more work and a burden on my other classes, which is why i plan to drop it. does anyone know or have an opinion on whether grad schools will care upon seeing that i withdrew from organic chemistry lab?

You'll need organic lab (probably 2 semester's worth) should you ever decide to apply to medical, dental, or chiropractic school. For grad psychology programs, however, I don't see the relevance. I bet you can't find one doctoral clinical psychology program's literature that even gently suggests that prospective students take a general chemistry course let alone organic. Not even the recently designed post-doctoral master's programs for psychologists intent on obtaining prescription privileges require coursework in organic chemistry.

 

[ramzax]

the problem is, i'd be dropping down to my college's minimum required credits, not to mention i'd have a big W on my transcript

 

[50960]

You will probably be OK. FYI, the info on the RxP programs is incorrect. We have to take biochem, neurochem which includes most of what is covered in O-chem for medical providers.

 

[PsiKo]

the problem is, i'd be dropping down to my college's minimum required credits, not to mention i'd have a big W on my transcript

I wouldn't lose a minute's sleep over this. Your wheels, and your wheels alone, are spinning over this. You'll never be asked about this and so what if you were? You already explained why this course is not worth continuing with? Makes perfect sense to me. Aren't you allowed to change your mind?

The worst hit you're gonna take is the one to your wallet -- lost tuition dollars. The "W" doesn't impact on your GPA. "W"s happen just like "Life happens." It's not as if you're going to be checking off "Convicted felon" on your grad school applications because you bowed out of a course. Admissions committees aren't made up of hungry District Attorneys ready to rake you over the coals especially over something as thoroughly innocuous as a "W".

Any more worries about this and you may qualify for paranoid personality disorder.

Take a deep breath. Now exhale. You're OK.

 

[ramzax]

what's RxP? and i'm thinking of doing neuropsychology specifically? would orgo still seem relevant you guys think?

 

[PsiKo]

what's RxP? and i'm thinking of doing neuropsychology specifically? would orgo still seem relevant you guys think?

RxP = Prescription Privileges. And no, organic lab is still neither here nor there. Neuropsychologists aren't psychology's version of lab coat wearing chemists. They're specialists in neuropsychological testing who measure comparitively broad indices of brain performance, most definitely not at the molecular level.

Your "thinking of doing neuropsychology specifically" suggests to me that you're making suppositions about what this field is before having done some basic homework. The actual work of neuropsychology may be far afield from your notions about it. Does your school offer a neuropsychology course at the undergraduate or graduate level? Request a syllabus from the department. Check out the required texts to an introductory book on the subject.

Don't guess. Get facts.

 

[ramzax]

i've taken psychobiology, and i understand how the nervous system works in relation to chemistry, but my assumption was that neuropsychologists would require a deeper understanding besides that of what i learned.

 

[PsiKo]

i've taken psychobiology, and i understand how the nervous system works in relation to chemistry, but my assumption was that neuropsychologists would require a deeper understanding besides that of what i learned.

And my point is don't assume. Don't confuse Clinical Neuropsychology--which deals foremost with assessments: tests and measures of brain functioning--with Neurology (medical doctor). Would a background in chemistry help? Couldn't hurt, I guess. But not so much that you need to take lab work in organic chemistry. I took organic chemistry, the full shootin' match, in my undergrad years. I can't honestly say that I remember much about it -- and that's before I had signs of dementia.

If the lab course you're taking now is going to impact negatively on your chance for success in your remaining courses, then, as you wisely suggested at the beginning of this thread, drop it.

OK, we're out of time now . . .

 

[ramzax]

you make a good point, thanks for the advice psiko

 

[50960]

I agree psiko....good input. I have to say I cringe when I hear someone in our field say they have taken psychobio, and they understand how the brain works. LIke you I have taken many science courses at a grad level, and even graduate psychobio barely qualifies for the tip of the iceburg. I am not trying to put anyone down, but those who have been around here awhile know my feelings about psychology needing to "science-up" to stay viable.

 

[ramzax]

sorry about that guys, i didn't mean to sound pretentious or anything of that sort.

 

[50960]

You didn't at all. I have no idea what training you have etc, I was just commenting on the statement, not the stater!! WElcome, btw.

MOD

 

[joetro]

don't worry about dropping the lab; it won't be the make or break thing.