<p>I'm gonna have to end up taking 20 credits, for my first semester as a freshman at Michigan State University. The classes I am taking are Intermediate Algebra, Bio, Chem, Japanese, and a stupid class called integrative social studies that is a required. It ends up coming up to 20 credits. And I don't think I can find any other way of doing it. I am premed so I have to take bio and chem, and math. And if I don't take Japanese every semester I won't graduate on time. And I have to take that required class.</p>
<p>Do you think I am screwing myself over and I should find a way out of this.</p>
<p>I think I might be able to handle it because the reason I tested into intermediate algebra is because I took the test online 5 minutes before it was its deadline and I had not had math in a year so I was rusty. I went over it again and with time it is pretty easy but I really don't want to test into a higher math so I can make my first year easier. I looked at the course description for int. algebra and the class covers some easy crap that I could get an A in with my eyes closed. I took Japanese 101 at a local community college and got a B in it with little to no effort and absolutely no studying so my class at MSU will be just a repeat so I don't think it will be too hard for me, and its fun so I'm pretty sure I won't have a hard time. And the integrative social studies class doesn't seem too hard.</p>
<p>Do you think I am already setting myself up for ruin or do you think that I can handle it. I am also going to be taking kendo, have a job for about 15 hours a week though it is prolly going to be in a library so I will have more study time, and I will be in premed club and probably Japan club, though how much of a commitment these require still remains to be known.</p>
<p>So any advice will be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I would err on the side of caution and try to cut down your schedule. Maybe take the placement test again and place out of the math class so you will have one less class. You may also want to try and place out of the first term of Japanese as it seems that you already know the basics...</p>
<p>Cut it back. Intermediate Algebra as a college freshman won't wow any medical school admissions committee. I'd think you are at high risk for screwing up chem if your algebra is that rusty.</p>
<p>Drop the bio, you can make that up later.</p>
<p>Also there is these things called "summer classes". They can make it a lot easier to "graduate on time" (whatever that means...)</p>
<p>I took my Japanese class at a local community college through a dual-enrollment program at my high school. It was Japanese 101, and thats the first class my major starts out on at Michigan State University. I got a B in it at my local CC with little to no effort and absolutely no studying just because I grasped the concepts very easily. With effort and studying I could easily get an A at MSU. I could test out of it on August 24 but I doubt I will, as I want to start again from the beginning, nail down the fundamentals, and take it serious this time, and have a guaranteed A class.</p>
<p>The reason I am taking a lower math, is because you have to take a math placement exam to test into a certain level of math at my college. The thing is I took the test at 11:50 something about 5-10 minutes the night before the deadline and thus I had to rush through it, if it looked like it took too long I just clicked C, and I also hadn't taken math in a year because I couldn't fit it into my senior schedule and thus I couldn't remember a lot of the trig and up problems.</p>
<p>I think it would be beneficial to my sanity and my gpa to take the lower Japanese and Math class because I will already have my hands full with bio and chem. My math has deteriorated but not really to the inter. algebra level. I could test up but probably not to calc, seeing as I never took calc in high school and went only up to pre-calc.</p>
<p>And how could I do bio later? This is how my schedule seems like its goin to look as I see it now concerning my premed courses. Doesn't my schedule need to be something like this so that I can finish my premed courses and take the MCAT on time(and also fit in some more math so I can do calculus). And I consider graduating in 4 years graduating on time.</p>
<p>Freshman year-1 year bio, chem, math,sem english
Sophomore year-1 year orgo and math, sem physics,sem english
Junior Year-sem physics, maybe another sem of bio,chem, or math
Senior Year- some science or english</p>
<p>And I will probably wait for Jap club, and just start off with Kendo and premed club.</p>
<p>Why would you take bio, chem, or math again in your junior year? Seems like you've got everything covered already.</p>
<p>I am talking about more advanced bio, chem, and math, or something like genetics. I want to take more math so they know I am competent in it, seeing as how I am starting on the lower end of the spectrum.</p>
<p>You don't have to take the bio first semester. You can wait. Seriously. I got a minor in bio (6 courses) at my school and didn't take a bio course until second semester of freshman year.</p>
<p>Seriously, taking this many credit hours is more detrimental to your application b/c you're less likely to get solid grades. </p>
<p>And seriously stop with this "on time" BS - there's no standard schedule and you need to set yourself up to do the best that you can NOT worry if you're "on time". Keeping to a strict time table is horrible if it means you can't produce your best possible results.</p>
<p>So you suggest dropping bio instead of chem for my first semester? What would you consider smarter to drop if I wanted to take the MCAT at the end of the summer after my sophomore year? </p>
<p>I wanted to take it then so if I did bad on it I could still have time to study for it and take it again early in my junior year. That way I could have more study abroad opportunities during my junior year.</p>
<p>If you want to take the MCAT at the end of your sophomore year, you should take bio/chem freshman year and orgo/physics sophomore year. Take the math classes later since you don't need them for the MCAT.</p>
<p>A question just popped up. I just realized when you guys say take a year of something do you mean take two semesters of it or a semester. For example when you say take a year of orgo or a year of bio are you actually referring to two semesters or just one semester.</p>