Schedule overload

Pre-Med & Medical School
1

<p>I finished my first semester of college with a 2.78
B-Epidemiology
B-Gen Chem I I scored in the 94 percentile on the ACS, test school average was 55 percentile still ****ed I received a B.<br>
C+-Calc II Math </p>

<p>J-Term (at PLU take one class for one month) Cum. GPA 2.98
B+ Literature 272</p>

<p>I rebounded second semester with a 4.0 and took more credits to average out my GPA to a 3.48.
A-Bio I
A-Gen ChemII
A- Computer Science
A- Anthopology </p>

<p>I had three labs and did fine. I enjoyed life. First semester was tough I don't want to make excuses but my room mate didn't follow what I call the golden rule. Luckily, for me, after enough write-ups, he was kicked out.</p>

<p>Next semester as a sophomore I have
Organic chemistry
Calculus based Physics
Bio II</p>

<p>I worried that this might be an overload. I am an intended chem or bio major and Interested in going to graduate school (Med, Dental, or a phd)</p>

<p>I am also curious if I should retake Calc II. I had an A on the first test and a B on the second. My professor became ill (H1N1) over the last month of the semester and we had to learn power series on our own. The final was worth 30% of our grade and I definitely bombed it because it wasn't cumulative. It was all power series. I made the poor decision to skip gracefully over the last two chapters hoping power series wouldn't be on the final.
Because I work 40 hours a week and live in Philadelphia over the summer 3,000 miles away from school, I would have to do it during my junior or senior year.</p>

<p>Calc II isn't needed for a bio or chem major at my school I tested into it and the guidance counselor put me in it. I read it counts as my science GPA because math counts.</p>

<p>My school allows you to retake a class and replaces the first grade. I know I will get an A/A- when I retake it. But should I, the only reason is my science GPA is a 3.16 with it included and a 3.66 without it included and my cum. GPA will be slightly raised. </p>

<p>I am an intriguing person. I will always value my Eagle Scout award more than anything even the college degree I am going to get. I enjoy science. I collect Beast Wars action figures. I seriously have hundreds of them. On the downside, I suffer from depression and insomnia. I stay awake the entire school week then sleep on friday and continue the cycle. The insomnia is directly related to my stress, but I never feel tired. Hopefully, some of the responses on this will help me get some rest. The conditions run in the family and I developed them, but you can't tell by looking at me.</p>

<p>Over the summer I plan on buying all the textbooks form the classes for a head start.</p>

2

<p>Why are you doing calculus based physics? Save yourself the overload and cut it down to general (algebra-based). Unless you have a genuine passion for physics or intend to do a PhD in it there is no reason to subject yourself to it for pre-health admissions. </p>

<p>Why not take some time off and get some psychiatric help for your problems? If you can get them well managed you will find succeeding to be a lot easier. Don’t let pride or stigma keep you from doing what is best for yourself. I would move on from Calc and just focus on taking new classes. A C+ isn’t worth the marginal effect getting an A would give you compared to getting an A in new classes. By “replace” does that also mean erase completely from the transcript? That’s a little more tempting but if there is no time limit for when you do it I would keep it on the back burner.</p>

3

<p>The grade becomes completely erased and is replaced with the new one. I’m taking calc-based physics incase I do decide to become a chem major, which I’m leaning towards right now. I take some homeopathic medicine for my stress and I plan on relaxing over the summer even though I’ll be working 40 hours a week, my job requires a great deal of physical exertion, something I lack during the year. I know being physically active helps, Ill try to pick up running in the beginning of next year to help.</p>

4

<p>

However, if you keep it on the back burner, medical schools may notice something is up, after they sniff out that you took a pre-requisite for calc-based Physics two years after taking Physics.</p>

5

<p>Medical schools are not likely to look that deep. Nor are they likely to know the requirements of your classes. Nor would they necessarily negate the assumption that you had previous calc experience, tested into calc based physics, and then took calc to fulfill the med req.</p>

6

<p>Oops, didn’t think about that last point. Ironic, as I did that myself. Hahaha</p>

<p>However, I do think once you’re a likely candidate, and are being strongly considered and it’s coming down to it, they will look at it. But you’re right, he could have tested into calc-based physics as I did. Can’t believe that slipped past my mind… I feel foolish.</p>

7

<p>I have been sleeping well lately I am happy with new roomy since we get along well. Yay for introverts. I tested into calc II and took the course and got the C+. For a chem major you are required to take calc physics. A bio major I feel is a joke I have all the pre-reqs done because I tested into a high enough math and physics classes, though I have never taken physics. All I would have is 8 upper div biology classes left and I’ll be a sophomore in the fall. So I would finish in three years, where as chem major it will take four years, as I need the physics pre-reqs. I enjoy chemistry more. I had a 2.78 first semester brought it up to a 3.48 second semester my freshmen year. If i re-take calc II there is no record/asterisk the grade is simply replaced. So if I do biology as a major I’ll probably retake it, but I’m, set on chemistry as I know I will be bored in biology. </p>

<p>A question I do have is at most schools the ratio of bio majors to chem is around 10:1 yet 80% of medical students are bio majors and 8% chemistry, why is this?</p>

8

<p>I switched out of bio 126 (BIO II) in the fall to do CSCE 144 instead. A chemistry major seems more challenging as you need higher math course, higher physics courses, and more upper division science classes.
I now have:
Calc physics I + lab
Ochem I plus lab
CSCE 144 + lab
Physical Education
Does it help at all that I’m young 18 year old sophomore that can graduate at 20 years of age, an Eagle Scout, and work 40 hours a week on a maintenance personal within the government 3,000 miles from where I live over the summer? It always surprises me that there are people in college who never worked and don’t even apply for summer jobs.</p>

9

<p>

What school is this? Be sure to do this - take advantage of it.</p>

<p>

I don’t understand your discrepancy with these numbers, they make sense to me. Is 80:8 not 10:1? (To answer this question in a tricky manner, the reason this is true is because medical schools don’t favor any major over another :))</p>

<p>

More importantly (and more scarey, actually), a chemistry major requires upper-level chemistry courses, which are very difficult.</p>

<p>

In the order it was asked: no, I don’t know, and yes. In general, being young will work against you more than it will work for you. Medical schools like more matured (aged) students (average accepted students’ age is ~24). Graduating early as a pre-med, IMO, is at best neutral, if not negative.</p>

10

<p>Thanks
The school I’m attending is PLU it’s a private school in WA state. I was a bit let down by the fact that it is a Christian school and there is no way of telling based on what I have seen so far. As far as graduating at 20 years of age, I might take some time off and work a job related to my field at the intro level. Luckily, my scholarship covers my tuition and my summer job pays all to well, so I’ll be graduating debt free. So I might attend a fourth year and double major in biology or take a few for more computer science courses cause I love CSCE. </p>

<p>Can’t believe I scored 790 on the math sat and didn’t notice that trend. I feel chemistry majors often switch to biology as a way to an easier college experience as many of my friends have chosen to do already because less math and physics. But, Im pursuing what I enjoy and I know there is an easier way out, but I plan on sticking to the path I feel suits me best, hence the CSCE minor. Ever since I played N64 the virtual world has puzzled me. 10 years later I have designed games and won computer programming contest at the UW. The only let computer major = desk job, and that is not me.</p>