<p>General Genetics w/ Lab (4 credits)
Organic Chemistry I w/ Lab (4 credits)
Calculus Based Physics I w/ Lab (4 credits)
Summer Research Credit (3 credits)</p>
<p>Spring 2015:</p>
<p>Evolution w/ Lab (4 credits)
Organic Chemistry II w/ Lab (4 credits)
Calculus Based Physics II w/ Lab (4 credits)
Calculus II (3 credits)</p>
<p>Information:</p>
<p>-Strong science background (took Genetics and Algebra Based Physics I and II in Highschool, as well as Micro, Chem and AP Chem, and A & P I and II)
-Already have a base in Ochem and made and A and A- in Gen Chem I & II respectively (Gen Chem I was with OChem professor)
-Did alright in Calculus I. Made and A-, but probably deserved a B without extra credit and easier grading on one of the exams. Applications of derivatives and integrals were far harder than the pure math, but we were given few examples in the first place
-Automatic A+ for summer research</p>
<p>This mainly worries me because everyone has told me that this is a heavy load, you should take Physics your junior year, etc. I can't do that unless I take Physics or Calculus II next summer while doing research, or unless I want to take Physical Chemistry at another University or stay another semester. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>Its doable, but 3 lab courses are rough timewise. Calc physics is nothing like calc physics in highschool. It is much harder and it common for students to spend upwards to 20 hours a week just for physics. Organic chem isn’t a hard class perse (atleast for me and I got an A for OChem I and II) but it is a lot of work. You have to memorize mechanism and you have to understands why electrons want to interact the way they do. However, you could speed up the process if you do 2 and not 1. Once you understand the logic of the electrons you can predict a mechanism. Good luck. It will be a long semester. </p>
<p>At my school it was typical for students to take physics in their second year (physics and engineering majors would likely do it in their first year), so I don’t consider that too odd if you’re a second year. It was commonly taken alongside organic chemistry at my school, since that was also a typical second year class for biology/chemistry majors. If this is your first year, you may find it challenging since you may not have very much experience with college courses. If this is your second year, then I would consider it pretty standard for a biochemistry major (although, most students at my school took calculus their first year, before taking physics). If it’s what you need to do to stay on track, then that’s what you have to do.</p>
<p>Re: all the lab classes. How do lab classes generally work at your school? Have you taken some before so you have some idea of how much extra work they add? At my school, some classes had labs tacked onto the actual class (like taking physics with a lab), which added some more work and time in lab, but not nearly as much as the labs that were stand alone classes. If you can fit in all of those labs just timewise (in terms of scheduling the actual class), then I wouldn’t imagine them to be too intense that you can’t handle it at all. Just stay on top of the work and don’t wait until the last minute. Ask for help early, if you need it. Drop a class, if you find that you can’t handle the workload.</p>
<p>ninjex: I took algebra physics in high school. I have a mind for the concepts, that isn’t the thing I’m worried about. I just don’t know how the math load will be different. I hear from some people that it turns into all calc and from others that it is a mix of algebra and calc. I have supplemental books for OChem, and think that I should do fine in that also. I know a lot of people who really had no business being in that class who got Bs.</p>
<p>brktrax: This will be my sophomore year; I just finished my freshman year past spring. I’ve taken the following relevant courses at college thus far and have made an A or A- on all of them: Gen Chem 1 and 2, Gen Bio 1 and 2, Calculus I. I took Physics in high school as well and made a B+ both semesters (which i pretty good considering that I hated math)</p>
<p>So apparently I don’t have to take a lab with Calc based physics, it is just recommended. Either way, labs are separate classes that are usually taken on different days at different times. All is well, I think. I’m excited for this year.</p>
<p>Compared to highschool, there is a much heavier load. In high school I remember only having to isolate one or two variables (3 max) while in college, there might be several variables to solve; however, you have use appropriate relationships and other formulas, to create prereq formulas to inturn create an appropriate formula for the problem. </p>
<p>As far as algebra/ calc ratio. It depends on the course and problem. In mechanics, a lot of problems can be solved algebraically; however, this is a long and tedious process so calc is preferred in interest of time. For Electromagnetism, its more calculus heavy, for the same reasons as above. </p>
<p>This seems like a doable schedule. I mean, it will be hard and you will have to study a lot, but as long as you have a good work ethic and don’t procrastinate much you should be okay. </p>
<p>I’m also a BS Biochem major about to start my sophomore year, and my schedule for the upcoming year is actually really similar to yours. Same genetics, O-chem, research, physics (tho I don’t start mine until the spring), etc. I’m taking more hours than you, but I have slightly “softer” subjects like abnormal psychology instead of calculus. (Because I already took calc last year.) I’m glad to see someone with a similar schedule/plan </p>
<p>What can any of us tell you? Some people would find that schedule exceedingly difficult, others would find it exceedingly manageable. Organic chemistry at one school might be harder than organic chemistry at another school. Hell, organic chemistry with one particular professor at a particular school might be harder than organic chemistry with a different professor at the same school. Organic chemistry with a particular professor might be harder one semester than with the same professor the next semester. There’s so much variation that it’s impossible to say what your schedule with your classes at your school with your professors will be like.</p>
<p>15 credits, while certainly more than the minimum full-time load of 12 credit at most schools, is not necessarily a credit load I’d describe as heavy, nor is it light.</p>
<p>The only person who knows whether or not this schedule is doable for you is you.</p>
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