Hi everyone! The schedule for next semester’s classes came out and so I’m getting everything in order since I have an advising appointment next week and will be among the first to schedule (yay for 2nd bach!). You bet that I already have my classes in my “cart” and I’ll be making sure I schedule at midnight to get what I want.
My big question is this: what do med schools look for in a “full load”? I can add another class to this mix, but it’s going to be my first real semester back (my MA in Ed was a joke, so it’s been awhile) and this is 12 hours (plus working and volunteering/shadowing and family time). Will I get dinged if my classes work out to only be 12-13 hours a semester instead of the full 16?
Gen Bio 2 & lab (I had gen bio 1 in 1st bach 7 years ago)
Gen Chem 2 & Lab (I had gen chem 1 in 1st bach 5 years ago)
Anat & Phys & Lab - this is a 200-level class???
Bio “Orientation” (req)
I don’t want to overload myself in my first semester back, but I also don’t want to look bad, either. Any thoughts appreciated!
Also, I know I don’t need anat & phys, but it’s something I want to take and I don’t know if I’m ready for math/physics yet, which are my other options for this semester.
First, take the hours you are comfortable with. Better to take less and get good grades rather than more and stumble. I personally have never taken a “full” courseload during my post bacc work and currently have 2 acceptences in hand and 6 total interviews. Now that being said I did take 8 hours both semesters and I was taking ski patrol class during one and kaplan during the other. So far though I haven’t even had to explain why I have only taken 8 per. I am assuming it helps that I have gotten mostly A’s with two B’s during my postbacc work.
2nd, I don’t remember what Bio 1 and 2 are like since I got A’s in them 10 years ago and have taken plenty of upper level bio in my post-bacc, so I didn’t put myself through that again. But If Bio 2 really builds on Bio 1 and you are shaky on what you remember, it might not be a bad idea to take Bio 1. But it might be something like Bio 1 is plants and Bio 2 is animals, if that is the case then disregarde that comment. I would refer to someone else on this who has had them this decade.
3rd The Anat and Phys sounds great. The reason why it is 200 is probably b/c it is a nursing pre-req A&P. That being said it doesn’t make it a bad choice. I took the nursing pre-req A&P and throughly enjoyed it and found it to be a big help in 400 level Physio and Histo. I will say that ADCOMS probably won’t look at it as a “upper level” (saying that with my nose in the air) biology, but sometimes you have to say who gives a !@#$, and take fun stuff. I also have a nutrition class on my transcript that while provided little to my “resume” sure has helped me eat better and understand some GI physio better. IT also might not count toward your BIO major so I would check with your advisor if that is crucial. You also might have trouble registering for it, because you might have a mile of post-bacc nurses registering for it.
Hope all that help, I think the schedule looks great.
The highest number of hours I took for my post-bac was 12 per semester and I also currently have 6 interview invites. So I say if you want to only take 12 then go for it. Besides, if you’re also working, volunteering, and spending time with the fam, then I think it will be tough to take more than 12 credit hrs.
My first year back I only had 11 credits each semester, then stayed between 12-15 for the rest. 12 credits is considered a full load. Also, realize NOW that adcoms do not know how difficult one class is compared to another, even if you do.
I always balanced two difficult courses with two normal workload ones, and NEVER took more than 2 labs.
For Bio II it doesn’t matter that you took Bio I forever ago, as they have very little connection. But are you really prepared to take chem II? Have you or will you spend time prior to the new semester studying basic gen chem principles to get ready?
Finally, A&P does build on some elements of Bio2 (cellular knowledge of respiration, etc). If you will be employed next semester, I would drop that 200 level class’s lab, if possible, to take over summer or not at all. 3 labs + a job is not a good idea. 
It’s a marathon, not a sprint, etc.
Good luck!
Thanks so much! You’ve made me feel a lot better.
RE: gen bio 2 and a/p - I had both courses in high school including a cat dissection lab throughout the semester of a/p (AP bio hit all the concepts in gen bio 1 and 2) and while I don’t remember the details, I do remember the basic concepts. I’ll need some review of gen bio 1 for MCAT purposes, so I’ll start on that soon. I can’t take a/p without the lab, it’s a coreq, but I’m really not worried about that lab.
RE: gen chem 2… yeah, I’m definitely already starting to review gen chem 1! I did okay, but I didn’t care when I took it as a gen ed, so I blew off class/chem skill builder and barely got a C by cramming for tests. I need all the help I can get, haha. Thanks, Pixie, for that Khan Academy rec. I love that site now! It’s helping me with the chem review 
- ReallyThatAgain Said:
Well, that's it. I am officially crowning Pixie as the Khan Academy Ambassador. You need your own T-shirt and business cards.
How many people have you now helped by sharing that link? I love that site!!**I've never done more than 8 hours (2 lab classes), because I have a full time job and family. I think the point is to do what you can handle and still do well. You'll be fine. Good luck on that Gen Chem review!
Amanda - Cat dissection in high school? Okay, you’ve got this. When I went to high school we dissected frogs, so you sure went to a fancy school.
Carrie - I can’t help it. Anything that awesome and free is too amazing. Half the time I hang out with my brother we end up talking about Khan, and how different people are using it. I’m kind of a learning nerd. 
Really, I should just add the link to my signature. {EDIT - Done! Haha!}
You all crack me up.
Pixie - I actually went to a pretty poor/rural school where we were close to title one, and we had to pay $30 per partner for a group of four to have a cat to dissect! We’re just lucky our teacher was pretty hard and had the foresight to offer us this chance. Our cat died of fatty liver disease, so he was pretty difficult to dissect because we had a lot to work around, haha. I thought it would totally gross me out, but with the formaldehyde, the cat almost looked plasticky and kind of like a fried chicken leg when you peel the skin off (sorry if anyone has a weak stomach). The only downside was going to lunch smelling like formaldehyde!
Amanda -
With labs that’s a fine load. Let me share for perspective that I added up last year and we did about 25 credits/semester (49.5 for the year)…which is why med school is so freakin’ busy! But you should proceed with caution and take whatever load you can excel at. Best of luck!
Kate
Alright, so I met with Adviser#1 today (I have another appointment with Adviser#2 - my actual adviser - soon because they didn’t have transfer equivalencies for my first BA). Here’s my dilemma: do I just do prereqs or do the degree?
Undergrad GPA 3.1
With 4.0 just reqs - around 3.25, BCPM 3.8ish
With 4.0 2nd bach - around 3.4, BCPM 3.9ish
Originally, I said I’d just do the degree because it makes me more marketable in the glide year (or years if I don’t get in first cycle) or I decide not to go to med school, but now I’m sure that unless I just can’t get in, I absolutely want to be a doctor, 1000%. I kind of feel like I should just decide after I take my MCAT, which will give me another year of school to finish.
This will affect my schedule for the spring as I’m signed up for a non-majors anat/phys class right now, and will need to choose something else so I can take anat/phys for majors once I finish the last gen bio req.
Issue #2 - should I go ahead and take physics 1 next semester instead? I was originally going to take phys 1/organic 1 in the fall, but I’m thinking with me taking the MCAT spring 2013, I should try to minimize new learning so I can review and just take organic 2 during that semester by taking organic 1/physics 2 during the fall. In addition, after having reviewed gen chem 1, I’m no longer worried about being overloaded with gen chem 2 in the spring, so I feel like this is much more easily accomplished now.
Thanks for any help!
Amanda -
I’m afraid I couldn’t follow the organic/physics discussion But regarding just taking prereqs vs completing the degree and it making you more marketable in your glide year…
You realize that you can take the MCAT and apply in the spring once prereqs are completed, and then continue taking courses (during your glide year) at which point you would be a lot closer to if not finished your second bachelors. Making you more marketable after your glide year, not during. You don’t have to wait till completing the 2nd bachelors to apply (and I don’t think it would make a significant diff. GPA wise.)
kate
Amanda -
I’m afraid I couldn’t follow the organic/physics discussion But regarding just taking prereqs vs completing the degree and it making you more marketable in your glide year…
You realize that you can take the MCAT and apply in the spring once prereqs are completed, and then continue taking courses (during your glide year) at which point you would be a lot closer to if not finished your second bachelors. Making you more marketable after your glide year, not during. You don’t have to wait till completing the 2nd bachelors to apply (and I don’t think it would make a significant diff. GPA wise.)
kate
Amanda -
I’m afraid I couldn’t follow the organic/physics discussion But regarding just taking prereqs vs completing the degree and it making you more marketable in your glide year…
You realize that you can take the MCAT and apply in the spring once prereqs are completed, and then continue taking courses (during your glide year) at which point you would be a lot closer to if not finished your second bachelors. Making you more marketable after your glide year, not during. You don’t have to wait till completing the 2nd bachelors to apply (and I don’t think it would make a significant diff. GPA wise.)
kate
Sorry, I was writing that as my son was tugging on my leg
Basically, should I go ahead and lump physics 1 in with the spring instead of waiting to start during the fall (with physics 2 in the fall) so that spring 2013, the only MCAT class I’m taking is organic 2 instead of organic 2 AND physics 2.
And since I was truly incomprehensible (kids will do that to you, haha!), I was originally planning to finish the ENTIRE degree by next spring (67 credit hours) so I could teach bio or work as a lab tech during the glide year. I guess I could continue to finish it during glide year, but then what would I use it for hopefully? 
I repeat what I said before. Don’t throw yourself into this as if it’s a race that has to be done in X months. Start slow. You can punish yourself over the summer and next year. Don’t overload your first semester back.
I know, Pixie. I actually think I can handle this now since you showed me Khan Academy! I’ve actually gone ahead past the section of gen chem I already took and am venturing into new material in prep for next semester. Plus, my work hours are cut Not complaining there at all! I have the chance to rock this!