<p>Hey guys, I am kind of settling on a few ideas as to my major and stuff. I want to get a BS in Physics, but also complete Pre-Med requirements. I tried fitting all of this into 4 years without even considering time and stuff, and it looks nearly impossible. Is completing Undergrad in 5 years very common and planned, or is it typically for students who change majors and need another year to catch up on courses? I really want to do the BS with pre-med, which I feel MUST be done in 5 years unless you want to kill yourself.</p>
<p>Anyway, yeah. Do students plan for 5 year Undergraduate careers, or is it just a catching-up-on-courses year?</p>
<p>Unless you get approval otherwise, I think the rules state that you must complete your degree requirements in 8 semesters. I don’t think summer school counts as part of the 8 semesters, so that would be an option for you.</p>
<p>I need to fulfill degree requirements in my first 2 years correct? The very least I can do, if so, is take 3 classes to finish the requirements. But on top of that, most med schools don’t take AP credit, so I have to retake classes. </p>
<p>Actually I tried to fit things in by looking at the BS and BA Pre-med option 2 at the same time, to see if I can match it and stuff. It still seems extremely difficult.</p>
<p>Summer classes are probably what I’ll end up doing, to finish my degree requirements. Then it saves me around 12 credits worth of space for my first two years, and I think I can manage it that way.</p>
<p>You have more time than the first 2 years, that is a recommendation. I took non western my 3rd year and summer sessions are great for those kinds of courses. Especially if you need a language, you could do summer language institute.</p>
<p>Actually, I somehow fit all of this to work out like perfectly. I’m EXTREMELY surprised. But I think I have one problem: what is the most amount of credits I can take per semester? My first year requires 18 credits per semester. Another question is this: Med schools say 1 year of College English. Umm, do the first and second writing requirements count as English courses? I am taking ENWR 1510, but my second writing is going to be fulfilled by a Philosophy course (hopefully). Is that a problem?</p>
<p>If I can do 18 credits per semester without too much of a hassle and the writing requirements are fulfilled, then I can get a BS in Physics with a concentration in Computational Physics, as well as fulfilling Pre-Med Requirements in 4 years without any summer courses.</p>
<p>I’d suggest trying to avoid taking more than 15 credits your first semester. You need to get adjusted to college. After you do adjust, it will be easier to take 18 credits later. In any case, in your initial registration first year, you can only register for 15 credits. Any other credits have to be added later.</p>
<p>As noted previously, if you have AP credit for chem, the chem dept. says you can take the 1000 level chemistry for science majors and still get AP credit for the two intro chem classes. You have to take the 1000 level chem labs at UVa anyway, because UVa does not offer AP credit for chem labs. See the FAQ for first year students on the chem dept website. Some people have said that it is dangerous for a first year student to jump right into the 2000 level chem classes.</p>
<p>Also, one person headed to med school wrote on this site recently that he found that some med schools do accept AP credit for chem, etc. if UVa accepts the credit.</p>
<p>I have credit for AP Bio, Physics B, Calc AB, and most likely 6 other AP classes. My first year is going to be Physics I and II, Calc I and II, and degree requirements. I think I can argue that the classes I am taking my “overload year” are mostly courses I have AP credit for, so I should be allowed to overload. Is that a convincing argument?</p>
<p>@charlieschm, I don’t have Chem credit, sadly. As for using AP credit for med schools, I have heard that many do not accept it, so I don’t want to take the risk. As well, med schools want to see the grades you got in the requirements, so AP credits don’t necessarily help. Besides, I will do better in the requirements since I already did well in the AP courses. It might help me overall to retake and get good grades. </p>
<p>As for getting used to college, I know. It’s what bugs me a little bit, but I lived at UVA for 10 years at Farrish Circle (next to Klockner). I feel like I could handle the change, especially if I am overloading with courses I have previously taken, or have experience with. </p>
<p>I will apply for 15 credits, and then add in a 3-credit degree requirement class each semester. If it’s denied, I will take the two courses over the summer, and I will still be on track. I could also use that summer to do volunteer work at the hospital or start basic research, to get ahead on that stuff. </p>
<p>Do I sound like I am making reasonable conclusions and plans, or is this way out of the norm?</p>
<p>I think it’s a bad idea for first-semester first years to take 18 credits for any reason–especially premeds, who have to worry about their GPA. That’s just a whole lot of different classes–it can be done, but it should be done once you really know what you’re getting into and have some sense of what your other commitments are like. UVA is already a bit unusual among elite schools in expecting students to take (usually) 5 classes/semester rather than 4. Also, the drop deadline comes quickly, often before students have a lot of graded work in a class, so it’s easy to float along until it’s too late.</p>
<p>Remember that courses can fulfill more than one distribution requirement at one time. Look for, e.g., a non-Western class that fulfills the second writing requirement. Doubling up this way is better than taking an overload.</p>
<p>@robertr, Thanks! I’ll try my best to manage both haha.</p>
<p>@Jingle, Yeah, the philosophy course I am going to take will also fulfill my second writing requirement. The SOC course I am going to take is also a non-western perspective. And then my last requirements are language (Accel Hindi I and II, the teacher only gives A’s actually) and ENWR 1510. Those can all be done first year no problem I think. And then the other classes the first year are classes I have already taken.</p>
<p>One thing I could do is just switch 6 credits from my first year with the 5-credit Intro Bio sequence that I had planned for my second year. When I took AP Biology senior year in high school, we took two mock exams. I got a near-perfect score on both; I think I’m good at biology. If 18 credits first year is a bit much, perhaps I can just do 17 credits of courses that I have taken/dominated in during my AP courses. That way I have been introduced and have a sort of head start. It’ll also allow me to get adjusted without freaking out over studying a lot since I have a relatively firm understanding of the courses. </p>
<p>Do you think that is a better approach? It would also make it so my second year isn’t only science and math. Perhaps it could ease up other things as well, in terms of labs and such.</p>
<p>FYI - a number of 1st year courses are 4 credits each instead of 3. Therefore, it is possible to go through 1st semester with 4 classes instead of 5 classes. </p>
<p>For example, chem with lab, accelerated intro Spanish, and 2000 level stats each are 4 credits. If you take 3 classes like those, plus one 3 credit class, you have your 15 credits. Therefore, you won’t have to sweat as much first semester bouncing 5 different balls in the air, with competing deadlines, at one time.</p>
<p>Based on what I have right now, I have 3 4-credit courses, and 2 3-credit courses for each semester of my first year. From there, the number of credits decrease for second, third, and fourth year. The only thing I have not planned for is the actual time of each class. I’ve planned for credits, degree and major requirements, and pre-med requirements.</p>
<p>wof, it’s really, really common for incoming first-years at elite colleges to want to bite off more than they can chew. They’ve all been excellent students in hs (or they wouldn’t have been accepted in the first place), they’re raring to go, and they don’t/can’t anticipate the adjustment issues that even the most mature and responsible students experience settling into a new environment. I want to reiterate–on the basis of 30 years experience advising freshmen at Princeton and UVA–that it’s not a good idea to try to be an academic superhero in your first semester. If you find that you’re in somewhat less demanding classes, there is PLENTY to do outside the classroom: clubs, visiting lecturers in every field you can imagine, films, plays, concerts, outdoor adventure excursion type things, all kinds of social events, you name it. So take 3 4-credit classes, and 1 3-credit class, max, and strive to do well in them. That will be enough.</p>
<p>I would check the English department website regarding when you take ENWR 1510, it is based on an odd/even id as to which semester 1st year you take it. This will assist you in mapping out your schedule. </p>
<p>Next, I would also check on the foreign language requirement. I believe you must complete 14 credits or 4 semesters. You have only noted two Hindi courses (8 credits) you might want to be sure you do not need to take more than those because you may. </p>
<p>I have to agree with Jingle on overloading your schedule. College is much more than academics. I think your idea of taking courses and volunteering in the summer is a better plan. However it is your decision and you know what is best for you. </p>
<p>@Woosah, my ENWR 1510 is second semester which I planned for. As for foreign language, the Hindi 1060, 2060 is accelerated. 1060 is like taking 1010, and 1020 together. 2060 is like taking 2010 and 2020 together, so it reduces the amount of semesters required to fulfill the requirement. That’s what I’m gonna go with.</p>
<p>But as you said, since I am doing pre-med, I have to spend summers doing volunteering regardless, so I think it’s the best option to take the requirement courses over the summer as well. If I did that, my first semester would be 15 credits, and my second semester would stay at 18. I think it’s a much better plan, and I most likely will go with that.</p>
<p>I have to check my financial situation first though, as I do not know the housing options over the summer and what payments come along with it. If it all works out, I think I’ll do summer courses. </p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the help guys! Truly appreciated, can’t wait to meet more Wahoos like you guys :)</p>
<p>I don’t know how much the U. charges for on-campus housing during the summer, but I would imagine there are thousands of students who would be very very happy to sublease you an apt. for the summer at a cheap rate. </p>
<p>Just make sure it is air conditioned. Cville gets humid during the summer.</p>