Can I Handle This Course Load? Seeking Advice.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of handling a challenging course load that includes organic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, modern physics, and calculus III. Participants share their experiences and offer advice regarding the workload and difficulty of these subjects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about whether the proposed course load is manageable and seeks advice from others.
  • Another participant suggests that only the original poster can truly assess their capabilities and familiarity with the specific classes at their school.
  • Concerns are raised about organic chemistry being a memorization-heavy subject that may serve as a "weed out" class for chemistry majors.
  • Modern physics is described as potentially interesting and not overly difficult, depending on the curriculum and instructor.
  • Calculus III is perceived by some as the easiest course in the calculus sequence, contingent on prior knowledge from calculus I.
  • Several participants agree that the course load is significant but manageable if the student stays on top of their work.
  • Advice is given that if the student has maintained good grades previously, they might be able to handle the workload, with the option to drop a class if necessary.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the course load is challenging but potentially manageable, though there is no consensus on the specific difficulties of each subject, particularly organic chemistry and modern physics.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that experiences may vary significantly based on individual capabilities, school-specific course structures, and teaching styles, which are not fully accounted for in the discussion.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering a similar course load in chemistry and physics, as well as those seeking advice on managing academic challenges in STEM fields.

kooombaya
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Is this doable??

Next year I'm taking organic, physical, analytical chemistry, modern physics, and calc3. I guess the only way I'll know is to actually do it and see if I can handle it but I wanted to ask you guys and see if you had any thoughts about it. Plus if you've been through this some tips and advice you can give me so I don't end up failing :(
Thanks
 
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Only you know if you can handle it; not just because you are aware of your capabilities more than anyone here, but also because you know how these classes are at your school - we don't. That being said, organic chemistry seems to be a lot of memorization and work; almost a weed out class for chem majors from what I've heard. I'm not sure about the other two. Modern physics (is this a bridge between lower level physics and upper level physics including topics from QM, etc?) is usually more interesting than it is hard, and cal III should give you no problem if you work some practice problems here and there, provided you know cal I. In a sentence, that course load will probably be a decent amount of work but definitely manageable.
 


kooombaya said:
Next year I'm taking organic, physical, analytical chemistry, modern physics, and calc3. I guess the only way I'll know is to actually do it and see if I can handle it but I wanted to ask you guys and see if you had any thoughts about it. Plus if you've been through this some tips and advice you can give me so I don't end up failing :(
Thanks

What Newtime said. It's doable. What you said minus the Modern Physics is what a 2nd year chem major would take at my school. It's a lot of work but if you don't get behind you should be alright.
 


Chemistries will be the hardest. Modern different from school to school, & ever professor to professor. It seems everyone has a take on what is should be, but most of them don't seem to be too bad. Calc III is usually the easiest of the calculus sequence in my opinion. But yeah, like the others have said, only you know if it's doable or not. If you've had good grades up until now, I'd try it. If you have to, dropping a class isn't so bad if you absolutely have too.
 


Ok thanks for the input guys, it really helps. And winowmak3r I'm aiming for a degree in chemistry hence the courses. Thanks again!
 

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