<p>^^^
Exactly what I was thinking.</p>
<p>How does that come out to 20 credits? 4 each for bio and chem, 3 for japanese, 3 for math, and 3 for the social studies. What am I missing, because that's only 17? Will the school even let you register for that many? Most schools have a maximum number of credits, and then you need approval from your adviser to take more. Can you take either bio or chem next semester and still be on track for graduation I'd see if something can be moved.</p>
<p>Languages are four credits at my college, as well as some math classes (though not as low as algebra), so maybe it's 18?</p>
<p>My college cuts you off at 17. Beyond that, you need written permission from the dean. I got it one semester and never made the mistake again.</p>
<p>21 is the max at my college and this is the credit distribution for my might be schedule.</p>
<p>Integrative Social Studies(required)-4 credits
Biology with Lab-4 credits
Chemistry with Lab-4 credits
Japanese 101-5 credits
Intermediate Algebra-3 credits</p>
<p>Equals-20 credits</p>
<p>And what happened RoughWinds, bombed your classes, or did good in them but almost killed yourself.</p>
<p>im fairly certain that chem and Ochem are semester long classes...physics you're typically looking at a year, bio a semester, same with english, math is however much math you want to take.</p>
<p>You don't need bio and chem in 1 semester, that's the bottom line. either that or you need to drop japanese if you're serious about medicine</p>
<p>
[quote]
And what happened RoughWinds, bombed your classes, or did good in them but almost killed yourself.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Heh. I ended up getting deathly ill about a month into the semester and having to withdraw until the next fall (it was spring) because I was in the ICU throughout midterms. So that resolved that, I suppose. :p</p>
<p>If I remember correctly, at the time I withdrew I had three As, one B+, and two grades with no coursework completed yet. I wasn't bombing, but I was pretty near death from the stress even before actually being near death, so I'd never do it again. 19 credits = insane.</p>
<p>I am pretty sure you have to take a year of bio, chem, physics, math, and english to get into med school. And while I am serious about medicine I don't want to have to give up my major class as I have been waiting to take it for awhile now.</p>
<p>5 credits for a language??? I wish my school was that generous, then I'd be 4 credits closer to graduating. You must be going to an ivy to be able to take 20 credits and not be considered to be overloading. 17 is the max at my school. But overloading or not, 20 is still a lot. Good luck.</p>
<p>If you have no knowledge of Japanese, you will probably have to spend a lot of time on language acquisition skills (unless you are very good at foreign languages - I'm assuming you are not Japanese). Labs tend to take up a big chunk of time also. It's not that any class is so difficult, it's just that there will be many hours required. Maybe you should look at the social studies and the algebra as easy grades and be thankful!</p>
<p>FWIW, Japanese is often 5 credits, at least at the beginning and intermediate levels. Other languages also can be 5 credits. The OP should keep in mind that the reason Japanese is 5 credit is because it usually meets EVERY day, unlike other classes. There will probably be daily homework. Keep that in mind when arranging your schedule.</p>
<p>Since you will be a freshman, your advisor will help you with the schedule when you arrive. You are right about the year long of bio and chem for premed. Since med school requirements generally need to be completed by junior year if you intend to go directly into med school, you are on the right track. I suggest, however, putting off Japanese until sophomore year, when you've already adjusted to college life. As for math, it is my understanding that the pre-med "year of math" needs to be calculus and/or stats, so you'll probably have to take at least two classes beyond that lower math level. You may as well get started your first semester.</p>
<p>Remember, too, that at least half of intended pre-meds end up changing their minds by the end of their first year. Bio, chem, and calculus are often used as "weeding out" courses. They will be (perhaps unjustly) tough. You're going to need all the time you can get to apply to those courses.</p>
<p>I agree. I wouldn't begin a foreign language as a freshman unless you have a particular facility for it.</p>
<p>I did take Japanese 101 at a local community college and it wasn't that hard. I did pretty well in it and no concepts were really out of my grasp. I have been self-studying for awhile and I have also been to Japan so a lot of it was a review. </p>
<p>The only reason I got a B in the class at the local CC was because the grade you got in the class was determined by one test at the end of the semester. It was administered and made by a different teacher that really didn't know what we were all taught and was only going by what our teacher told him so 75% of the test was stuff we have seen before and 25% was new territory. Even without the 25% the test was still hard though. The thing that saved my grade was the spoken part which I aced.</p>
<p>I am pretty sure that I could do good in the class as a freshman. My teacher told me how surprised she was that my listening skills and pronunciation was already at an intermediate-advanced level. (Too much Japanese movies, and singing along to Japanese songs) The thing that is holding me back is grammar and speaking. Thats why I really want to take classes starting my freshman year so I can get better, because as with any language, daily practice makes perfect. And a previous poster is right, I am pretty sure I would meet everyday for the class.</p>
<p>Someone else in a different part of the forum has advised dropping bio or chem, and taking it later. What do you guys think? I am more willing to drop chem seeing as how my math skills are rusty anyway and chem seems to be more math based. And taking two science courses at once with lab might be way too hard.</p>
<p>^^ a lot of people have already stated what they thought about that. Yes, you should.</p>
<p>But I'm seeing an easy out here - don't take math this year, re-test next year into the appropriate math for you. I know you think an easy A will help your grades, but think again - this isn't high school. Without the math, you'll have more time to study for your other classes so your grade in them will be higher, plus less time in class and more sanity.</p>
<p>I took Japanese 1 university level. It wasn't a hard class but the slightest mistake will screw you up badly. For example my spelling was slightly off instead like hajimimas-h-i-te I would write hajimemas-h-i-te and get the answer wrong. I had a lot of those little mistakes and I ended up getting a D in the class there was another kid who was there 2 times before and failed again the 3rd time. So it's a class where there is no mercy, no half points for little mistakes, if its slightly off its wrong. </p>
<p>The class is an everyday class or at least 3+ days with an 1hr 30min + long lessons. If it isn't at your school don't bother signing up because you will not grasp the language. Even if you get a good grasp of it and make it Japanese 4 with A's when you go to Japan and hear them speak you will be thinking what the hell?. Its good that you have gone to Japan and I would suggest continuous trips because sitting in a classroom can only do so much. Also hang with Japanese foreign exchange students if they have them at your school. With that said I am off to Japan in 20 days to retake japanese 1.</p>
<p>Silverpebble
I was also considering doing that. But I am afraid that with 2 years without math that it would get even worse. Do you think I should self-study during the year so my skills don't deteriorate even more.(will i even have time for that) And were you proposing dropping both chem and math.</p>
<p>Kenshi
I looked at the syllabus online and it is a 1hr session everyday, I think longer on certain days. And your right, I have heard it is a waste of time if you don't study everyday because even with 4 years of study when you go to Japan you will still have a hard time understanding people. Especially with Osaka and Kansai dialects. And I think these classes might be a little more difficult than I first thought. For Japanese 101 most of the class is taught in Japanese only and English is only used when it is a absolute must. I also remember when the guy that administered the test at the local CC found out I was going to major in Japanese at Michigan State he got this half amused half your screwed look on his face. He had spent some time there and seemed to know about the program a little. He said it was a really good program, and if you manage to get an A in the classes you WILL come out with near native fluency. He also mentioned that they put heavy emphasis on writing, so I think I might be swamped with Kanji and grammar. Just remembering this is not making me as comfortable or as confident as I first was.</p>
<p>Japanese is fun and worth it to take although if its not required for your major I would suggest you audit it just in case. From day one yes they will speak Japanese and use gestures for you to figure things out. That is how it is suppose to be even in other language courses they do that. I would suggest you get a study partner to help you.</p>
<p>I was in a Kendo club but dropped because it seemed so disorganized it was more like a bunch of people who practice kendo once a week met up to practice. So every week I had a different instructor and didn't advance. I will join backup maybe in another club.</p>
<p>Nobody knows your strengths as well as you do. Ask yourself whether you think you can handle it, and answer honestly. I had 6 courses and 1 lab last term and I was fine. I'm planning for 6 courses and 2 labs next term and I think I'll be fine.</p>
<p>I was proposing one or the other. Get it down to 16-17 credits. You know yourself, at this point you have to decide what it'll be - math, chem, bio or japanese.</p>
<p>Was the Japanese class you took actually a credit course? Because none of that adds up. Frankly, I wouldn't trust the education you got from it.</p>
<p>Japanese is a great, fun language to learn for personal enrichment. Unless you plan on working in Japan, it's probably not going to help you a whole lot. I would not focus on that quite yet.</p>
<p>It was a 4 credit course. But Michigan State says that I don't have to report it to them because it was taken while I was in high school. I would, but seeing as if I reported one I would have to report all of them, and I have about 23 credits altogether, and have about a 3.1 average in them, I don't want to start off my undergrad with such a low g.p.a. Especially since I have to go to med school.</p>
<p>And I don't trust the education I got from it either. It isn't nearly as thorough or intense as the one at Michigan State and other universities.</p>
<p>But I think I will follow the advice and drop one of my science courses. Most likely chemistry. I looked and I will have enough time to fit it into my schedule later.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the advice.</p>