So I’m having a bit of a dilemma. I am in too many hard classes (cell bio, orgo, and a 300 level electricity and magnetism physics, plus an easy chem class that has an time-consuming lab) and it’s showing in my grades. I shouldn’t end up with anything below a B, but I may have a B and 2 B+s. I’m doing the best I can, but I’m having almost no time to do anything but study which is hurting almost every other aspect of my future application (and my mental health and enjoyment of college).
I was a physics major this semester because I shadowed a radiation oncologist over the summer and LOVED it and wanted more background, plus I really enjoyed physics II and have always loved space. The physics class I’m in now is an absolute nightmare, incredibly difficult, and long story short I’m switching back to chemistry because while I find physics fascinating, this will not be worth the stress and gpa hit compared to another major since I don’t intend to actually pursue a career in physics 
I’m considering medicine and dentistry (that’s new lol). How bad will it be if I drop the physics class when I change my major? I feel like changing my major and no longer needing a super time-consuming class is a very good reason to drop a class, but I’ve also heard dropping a class is a huge red flag for med school.
For reference I got an 84 on the first physics exam (on track for an A) and a 57 on the second because we get one drop exam and I had to study for cell bio and just made the decision to fail and drop it. The professor is nice and it’s a small class, so he is willing to work with me to help get me back on track. We have one more exam that will be graded before the end of the withdrawal deadline so I could also stick it out to the end of the month and see how that goes. I just feel like I could do better in my other classes if I drop this one, and I’m already not doing a whole lot of extracurriculars so there’s not really anything I can quit there.
It’s OK to drop a class. You won’t be the first to do so, and still apply to medical schools.
At this point, you need a major you love, that you can do well in, and that you feel confident about. Find that.
I think I suggested a while ago that you put medical school (and now dental school) on the back burner for now.
@WayOutWestMom are the required courses for medical school applicants the same as for dental school applicants?
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Ok! Yes unfortunately I do like physics a lot, but it requires a lot more time and energy than I can give it while also taking hard bio and chem classes. I could handle it if it was all I was doing, but not with everything else!! And I do like chemistry. From what I’ve seen online the requirements look pretty much the same but vary more from school to school but I’ll definitely take any input and ask my advisor next week!
Dental and medical school have more or less the same requirements with a few variations.
It’s Ok to drop the physics class right now, but with the understanding that you’ll need to take 2 semesters of intro physics in the future.
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Our daughter went to med school. While she was in undergrad, she limited her EC’s and only had a part-time lab job on campus which was less than 10 hours a week. Because the lab job wasn’t intended to be a money maker, she set her own hours. Her PI encouraged our daughter to focus on her studies. Some weeks, our daughter worked the full 10 hours and other weeks maybe two hours.
Maybe, because she was at a very collaborative university (UC Davis), she and her study team, studied together for the tests. Their teams were originally formulated by the professors, of her classes, who asked them to trust each other and to be forthright.
The teams divided and conquered the materials. Those who were weak in one area, were helped by those who were strong in those areas. They created their own study materials (charts and mnemonic devices) and shared ideas with other teams.
Our daughter also attended every office hour, provided by her professors, in order to monitor her study skills. At Davis, the professors had graduate assistants, who had set hours in the common rooms of the dorms, and provided “office hours”/tutoring every night.
Our eldest daughter, had advised her younger sister to attend all office hours, in order to maintain her grades. This is how her team managed the intense amount of studying that was needed. If your school doesn’t have these services, then there should be a tutoring center on campus. Your courses will have tutors in those areas and typically they’re free. Go find those free services.
Our eldest daughter attended tutoring every day. She was a double major in electrical engineering, and computer science. She maintained a straight “A” average. She was there so frequently, that she was asked to become a tutor by her professors, in her junior and senior year.
If the OP is currently in a “300-level” physics course, wouldn’t that mean that the OP has completed the frosh/soph level physics courses for physics majors?
I have already finished the intro physics sequence, yes
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