Yup, this is another one...

habibe.enta · 07-09-2008, 08:41 PM

How is this schedule for a first year biochemistry major;pre-med?

Total Credit Hours: 17.000

First Semester Arabic - ARAB 101 - 01
Credits: 3.000
Class 8:00 am - 8:55 am MWF

Introduction to Genetics, Ecology and Evolution
Credits: 3.000
Class 2:30 pm - 3:50 pm TR

General Chemistry I
Credits: 3.000
Class 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm MWF

General Chemistry I Laboratory
Credits: 1.000
Class 8:00 am - 12:00 pm R

War and peace in the Modern World
Credits: 3.000
Class 9:05 am - 10:00 am MWF

Calculus I
Credits: 4.000
Class 11:15 am - 12:10 pm MWF
Lab 10:45 am - 11:40 am

Fanatic517 · 07-09-2008, 08:55 PM

Do not, under any conditions, take introductory Arabic at 8 AM, especially with a schedule like that. That is suicide. Arabic is the single most challenging thing I've ever done, and that was taking it during the summer without any other courses to focus on.

bigredfan · 07-09-2008, 09:01 PM

I somewhat agree. I had a very close friend who took arabic...said it was terribly difficult. However, if you are up for the challenge don't let anyone discourage you...just be prepared

Russell7 · 07-09-2008, 09:36 PM

That is the worst schedule I've ever seen.

habibe.enta · 07-09-2008, 09:44 PM

well i think the arabic will be fairly easy since i fluently understand arabic and can speak it.. i just need to enhance my writing and reading skills, cause i cant write or read arabic(well, some..but not alot)

gprime · 07-09-2008, 10:11 PM

Classes aside, I don't think you realize how unrealistic it is to schedule such early classes and expect to be there consistantly. Just because you were in class by 8 in high school does not make it a good idea in college. Maybe if you're a morning person it'd be alright. But even then, you should be highly reluctant to take an 8am class.

Fanatic517 · 07-09-2008, 10:21 PM

You are flat out not going to be able to wake up for 8 AM classes four days of the week. Rearrange that schedule somehow.

nmike · 07-09-2008, 10:36 PM

I am going to follow the majority here and say dropping the Arabic would be my first choice.

If 14 credits is too little look up some other gen ed requirement that doesn't meet at 8:00am 3 days per week

burgler09 · 07-09-2008, 10:40 PM

I must warn you, my worst semester was when i scheduled morning classes, it ruined not only my morning class, but everything the rest of the day. Try and take afternoon classes. My GPA was good, but i had to drop half of my courses lol.

habibe.enta · 07-09-2008, 11:19 PM

i see your point in the 8am classes... the only thing is, being a freshmen at USD, the admin. there created the schedule after i filled out a questionaire, and these are the classes i am scheduled for.
All the classes are pretty much my top rated ones i selected on the questionare, and although i marked that i would not want any classes before nine and after four, two of the classes i need to take for g.e. and my major only have an opening at that early time...
im in a program now at a hospital where i have to wake up everyday at 7 to go either shadow some surgeries, e.r, oncology, and various other departments and ive been holding out ok... so maybe ill be strong enough to wake up early on those days too... eh, idk... i guess ill soon find out...

burgler09 · 07-09-2008, 11:23 PM

It is going to require a lot of effort, we're just kind of warning you, ya know? We've all been there and made the same mistakes haha. Some people can do it, but for the most part, its a real pain in the ass and if you can find a way around the early morning classes it is probably your best bet for a sucessful first semester! not only are you going to be adjusting, but your classes will also be harder and you are going to be out meeting many new people and trying new things.

btw, I visited out in San Diego and i fell in love with the city, I highly considered USD myself. Good luck to you!

habibe.enta · 07-09-2008, 11:30 PM

thanks burgler, that is good advice... i want to talk to the arabic teacher and see if she will let me place into a higher level arabic since im already fluent in speaking and understanding... the higher level starts at i think 1 or so, so ill ask about that

and ya, san diego is beautiful, im very excited to move there in the fall

Cards4Life · 07-09-2008, 11:50 PM

If you're a morning person, an 8 AM class will probably not be an issue for you. Arabic as an 8 AM may be a bad idea though purely because it's probably a fairly intense class with difficult material. And a 4 hour lab that starts at 8 AM....ouch.

I was NOT a morning person in high school, and my one 8 AM class freshman year killed me. Sophomore year I took an 8 AM every day second semester, and I loved it. The first two weeks sucked but then I got into the habit of the schedule and it became natural. It's nice to finish before noon, eat lunch, take a nap, then go to work or study or hangout. This fall I scheduled myself for 8 AM classes every day again and I'm excited.

The biggest problem that I found with a varying schedule was that second semester freshman year, I had an 8 AM on MWF and my earliest TR class was 11:30. So I'd get up at 7 MWF and 10:30 TR, which totally threw off my sleep schedules and my sleeping from night to night varied so much it made me miserable. I like to start my earliest class around the same time every day.

burgler09 · 07-10-2008, 12:01 AM

Labs are pretty simple in my opinion.. and especially inorganic chem (general) is very easy. I think the biggest problem with the morning classes is if you are not a morning person, you'll tend to study a bit later, be tired for the rest of the day and not be able to pay attention as well the rest of the day, as well as end up losing motivation. There are many things in college that can throw off your motivation and that really hurts.

War Chant · 07-10-2008, 12:08 AM

Ouch, 8am. Definitely a no-no if you aren't a morning person.