Physics II senior year or now?

Graduate School
1

<p>All right guys, could anyone help me solve a question? Y'see, I recently managed to pull my GPA up from a sub-3.0 to a 3.2, and you can imagine that I'm feelin' kinda good right now. Not GREAT, but hey, better than I've ever felt before at Hopkins. Still scared as all frick about grad school chances, though, since I'm a junior.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, next semester comes Physics II, and I've never seen electromagnetism before in my life. (High school didn't require it, forced us to take earth science instead.) I'm not too good at the stuff, and I have to take my GREs this spring. On top of that, I'm in for the last premed weeder biology course, Developmental Biology + Lab, so it'll be a tough semester even without physics. The course is known for being pretty memorization intensive and tough, so it's a little intimidating, taking all of this at once on top of research. </p>

<p>Basically, I'm afraid physics might drag me down when I can't afford it.</p>

<p>As such, I'm considering taking it second semester of senior year instead of the second semester of this year. Would grad schools look down on that? I'm fairly sure I won't bomb the class or anything, but I don't want to take any chances on my GPA, and I do want to have time to devote to Dev Bio/research/GREs. Would grad schools understand this concern?</p>

2

<p>Unless you’re planning to go to graduate school for physics, I doubt anyone much cares when you take a physics class.</p>

3

<p>Usually when you apply to graduate schools, they ask what courses you plan to take next semester (if you are still in school.) You will list Physics II, so they will know you will take it, and it won’t affect the grades. You should have your application results well before you get a grade in that class. </p>

<p>Keep in mind, though, that not everyone gets accepted into graduate school on their first cycle. If you don’t get into a program, the programs you apply to in the next cycle will see your last semester grades.</p>

<p>What is your field? Does it require two semesters of physics?</p>

4

<p>I’m a biology major. It’s a requirement, but it’s not a prerequisite for anything. That’s why I’m having a bit of a tug of war over this.</p>

5

<p>Would appreciate any further opinions, but leaning towards not taking physics this semester. Would they look down on having only 8 credits of science + 8 credits of non-science?</p>