Your Most Difficult Schedule

[Algophiliac]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Would anyone mind showing an example of:

1. Their most difficult schedule--what did you think of it? What other ECs did you have on the side, hampering your ability to complete the work, etc.? What did you make that semester?

2. Their most simple schedule--is there a special reason it was so easy, other than easy classes? What would you have done instead?

Thanks...I'm trying to come up with a reasonably difficult schedule, but one I can handle. 🙂

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Most difficult schedule: first semester senior year. I took six three-credit classes, all humanities/social sciences. But what really made it difficult was that I was working 20 hours a week at one job, 10 hours a week at another job, and volunteering 20 hours a week on average.

Easiest schedule: first semester post-bacc. Gen Chem I, Bio I, and Physics I. Not working, volunteering 8 hours a week. Having already been through undergrad, I already had the study skills necessary to do well.

 

[Freigeist]

Hard:
2 grad-level classes
bio lab
philosophy
shadowing
thesis

Easy:
nutrition
2 grad classes
thesis
non-clinical volunteering


On paper, there doesn't seem to be too much of a difference. Just goes to show that class difficulty is influenced by what professor you have.

 

[Amba]

Hardest (so far) - 2nd semester sophomore year - Intro Bio II, research (15 hrs/week), Physics I (poorly taught), Immunology. Also dealing with the suicide of two friends during the middle of the semester. Some volunteering, also a lot of involvement in Campus Crusades. Ended with a 4.0 though, so it wasn't too bad I guess.

Easiest - 1st semester freshman year. Gen chem I, English 168, and Calc I. Thought it was hard back then, but looking back that was a breeze.

 

[BMEN]

My hardest semester was my last one. 23 semester hours. . bad bad bad semester health wise

Next semester-12 semester hours,much more doable.

dont take any more than 15 if you can. its asking for trouble

 

[Lil Mick]

My most difficult semester was one with 6 classes-2 honors (including o chem) and 4 upper division sciene classes. I worked part time teaching, was an officer in two clubs, did sports, volunteered at a free clinic, and helped with church activities. I wound up with 5 A's and 1 A-. It was very stressful, and I don't recommend it. If you need to try it, I'd recommend getting involved in things you enjoy, rather than activities your advisor tells you to do for medical school...

 

[FrkyBgStok]

I love premed pissing contests.

 

[Whatyousay]

I love premed pissing contests.

I love premed pissing contests more.

 

[HH Holmes]

I love premed pissing contests more.

I love them the most AND both of my parents are doctors.

 

[NickNaylor]

At my undergrad junior year seemed to universally be the hardest year of anyone's schedule. You generally started taking upper level courses, you had to study for the MCAT, and your involvement in ECs was generally at its peak.

As our pre-health director said, "if you don't feel like quitting junior year, you're not doing enough."

 

[Narmerguy]

I love premed pissing contests.

Well if you didn't love it you'd be a horrible doctor.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

As our pre-health director said, "if you don't feel like quitting junior year, you're not doing enough."

co-sign co-sign 👍

 

[loveoforganic]

Would anyone mind showing an example of:

1. Their most difficult schedule--what did you think of it? What other ECs did you have on the side, hampering your ability to complete the work, etc.? What did you make that semester?

2. Their most simple schedule--is there a special reason it was so easy, other than easy classes? What would you have done instead?

Thanks...I'm trying to come up with a reasonably difficult schedule, but one I can handle. 🙂

Most difficult - 2nd sem jr year

Biochem II - B+
MS Excel A
Experimental Psych A+
Experimental Psych Lab A+
Pre-health seminar - P

It looks very light, but biochem II was taught by the only teacher I've ever genuinely hated. Nasty man, terrible class. Basically consisted of memorize everything in Lehninger, good luck on your test. Prob about 20 hours a week+ of work for that class, hardest fought B+ ever. The man had open heart surgery, was supposed to take the remainder of the semester off (about 10 weeks), but the substitute teacher wanted to cancel a project he assigned, so he returned to teach within a week of the surgery. Devil devil devil devil, the man is the devil. Ok, done venting.

EC's during that schedule: Create/taught MCAT study program (10 hr/wk), organic chem research (8 hr/wk), clin psych research (9 hr/wk), boxing (10 hr/wk)

_______________________________________________________________

Easiest - 2nd sem fr yr

Honors Gen Bio II - B-
Honors Gen Chem II - B
Human Development - A-
Finite Mathematics - A+

EC's during that schedule: Not a damn thing. Unless drinking a lot and not going to class counts.


Definitely agree with Nick

 

[Algophiliac]

At my undergrad junior year seemed to universally be the hardest year of anyone's schedule. You generally started taking upper level courses, you had to study for the MCAT, and your involvement in ECs was generally at its peak.

As our pre-health director said, "if you don't feel like quitting junior year, you're not doing enough."

Damn, thank you for the advice. The examples of schedules so far are great, thank you everyone. It seems as though ECs involvement is very high, even in difficult semesters! 😱 Would anyone else mind contributing? 🙂

 

[loveoforganic]

I don't know what year you are, but don't... I'm not sure how to phrase it. Misapply, I guess, what other people have done, to your own situation. It isn't just a thing of overall capacity to do a certain amount of work, but your willingness to do it as well, which only you can assess.

 

[circulus vitios]

Organic chemistry 2 & lab (4 hours)
Linear algebra (taught as theory, not applied...ugh)
Applied probability & statistics (300 level class)
Differential equations 1
Calculus III credit by examination
Off campus housing + ~1 hour commute each way
Weekend job with no opportunity to study or do homework

Passed my credit by examination (pass/fail only, unofficially I made an A-) and I made a 3.69 GPA that semester. It wasn't fun.

 

[nysw]

.

 

[CodeBlu]

I was working in a lab doing 20 hours a week at this time. I also volunteered at the hospital, and was president of the pre-med club.

1st semester
3 upper level physiology classes with med students in 4th year.
English Literature of the 18th century
Physical chemistry

2nd semester
Anatomy with med students
Histology
Medical microbio
English Literature of the 19th century

I wanted to die... but it was definitely good prep for M1 and M2 I hear.

 

[music2doc]

Because of my ECs, I think my toughest would have to be a few semesters back...

OChem II + Lab -- A
Adv Human Physiology + Lab -- A
Cell Biology -- A
Special Topics in Chemistry Seminar -- A

Lab Instructor
Bio/Chem/Physics Tutor

24-48 hrs/wk work at the hospital
10 hrs/wk volunteering (clinical and non-clinical)
2-4 hrs/wk research
3-5 hrs/wk other hobbies

My total week came out to about 90-100+ hrs scheduled. It wasn't sustainable (at least not if people expected perfect performance in every area) and I wouldn't do it again before med school/residency.

 

[FloridaMedicine]

Organic chemistry 2 & lab (4 hours)
Linear algebra (taught as theory, not applied...ugh)
Applied probability & statistics (300 level class)
Differential equations 1
Calculus III credit by examination
Off campus housing + ~1 hour commute each way
Weekend job with no opportunity to study or do homework

Passed my credit by examination (pass/fail only, unofficially I made an A-) and I made a 3.69 GPA that semester. It wasn't fun.

i dont like that schedule one bit

 

[Whatyousay]

Passed my credit by examination (pass/fail only, unofficially I made an A-) and I made a 3.69 GPA that semester. It wasn't fun.

No med school for you.

 

[MeowMeowCAT]

I am looking forward to this coming Fall, technically still will be my junior year, at least by one credit.

18 credits
-5 classes
-3 labs

All science, either Chem or Bio.

Me and caffeine will become bbf's.

 

[Tapepsi]

1:
Physics 2 + Lab - 4 credits
Physiology + Lab - 4 credits
Research - 1 credit
Biological Psychology - 3 credits
Renaissance History - 3 credits
Microbiology + Lab - 4 credits
___________________________
Total: 19 credits
Couple that with MCAT studying my spring semester and I was close to tears several times. I did absolutely no EC's during that time except for sometimes volunteering at my local hospital.

2:
Gen Bio 1 + Lab - 4 credits
Gen Chem 1 + Lab - 4 credits
Psychology - 3 credits
Logic - 3 credits
Music - 3 credits
____________________________
Total: 17 credits
It was a very easy semester that allowed me to do volunteer work for multiple clubs and I was able to shadow a physician at that time.

 

[pkwraith]

Hardest quarter:
Organic Chemistry
Engineering Analysis IV
Physics 2
International Relations

I hated organic chemistry, just from an academic point. Engineering Analysis IV was just a major time sink (only all nighters I've pulled in college). Plus labs from Organic Chemistry and Physics are long. And I was working and playing intercollegiate sports at the time.


Easiest quarter:
Econ of Developing Care
Econ of Medical Care
Law & Economics
Corporate Finance Theory

Yeah. Humanity/Social Science classes. Senior spring quarter for a second major. I did zero work that quarter.

 

[BMEN]

Me and caffeine will become bbf's.

👍 Agreed.


The problem is when i took my heavy course load semesters it was during the time of lent and i cut beverages that weren't water so ...ouch


Tip: Never do that