Originally Posted by Bobby66

1st year physics was a binder of death, just by staring at its hugely binder with millions of 3 punched paper, just mocking you.

Lol, it was like that for me in highschool...I didn't even look at them in the end because, in my head, I knew that it would be stupid trying to fit it all in my head. So I just left it on my desk and slept the whole day before the exam...
I plan to do the same thing for physics this year =D

Yay! I'm not alone then Haha

Originally Posted by Bobby66

You should see 2nd year O_o

And it ain't pretty.

You should see grad school. ): At least everything is flexible now, given that I'm in one class of 4 people, haha.

In most programs, 2nd year is when expectations rapidly shift. Science and Engineering for instance, have a very large amount of review and for lack of a better word, 'coddling' in first year, giving it a more highschool-like feel than upper years. (Not all programs / courses are like this however...I remember I got slaughtered in first year and then second year was a joke for me while all my friends suffered).

The expectations are what rapidly change...from 1st to 2nd year, the courses almost instantly become more inquiry-based, requiring the student to 'ask good questions' and really think deeply about the material.

From 2nd to 3rd, or 3rd to 4th, although the expectations do change, it's not as huge a jump.

So to the first and 2nd years: This is when you're being tested...don't give up! It gets easier with time. (:

And if anyone needs a little encouragement...in particular someone who could also provide me with some :p...feel free to contact me. Not to toot my own horn, but I've been told I'm pretty good in the encouragement department (face to face that is).

Originally Posted by kenvin100

..math blows...

BLASPHEMY!

Shoot. Your post didn't exactly make me feel better :( haha, I'm dying now, it's nice to know I'll be dying until the end of next year :( . Oooh I like encouragement haha

Originally Posted by ~*Sara*~

Shoot. Your post didn't exactly make me feel better :( haha, I'm dying now, it's nice to know I'll be dying until the end of next year :( . Oooh I like encouragement haha

Something else to take into consideration. Take some electives in second year. I'm not dying, but it's A LOT of work... I have 1 elective out of 10 courses >.<

That's actually a great idea! Would some of the required courses also be offered in the summer, to try and lighten up the load during the year perhaps?

Originally Posted by ~*Sara*~

That's actually a great idea! Would some of the required courses also be offered in the summer, to try and lighten up the load during the year perhaps?

Organic Chemistry is offered during summer... I never really checked into summer school so I don't have any answers for it. like when the list comes out and when we sign up, etc...

I heard organic is one of the worst for summer school. I don't know if it's true or not, but considering how nasty orgo can be and how condensed summer school is, it sounds about right. Doing a minor in summer is another idea, if you have a restrictive program. I'm not sure about what summer school courses are avaliable, though, but 3 or 4 courses a year will easily finish it off. I've actually been thinking about it a bit.

Can you do summer school in year iv and get the minor? ex: if you do 2, 2, 2 and 2 over the four years. I'm not sure how it works.

My parents think summer school would be a good idea to keep me busy. I'm considering it, but only for the first term, I think, while my sisters are still in school and I can still concentrate.

Since we're talking about electives, all mine are going to be hard-ish -points down- but it should be all right, since I like those courses.

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To reply to the first post, yeah, I'm finding I'm doing homework most of the night, though most of it is self-induced. I do chem textbook notes and redo psych notes - it's really time consuming.

Second year is actually much easier than first, imo. You might just have all your tests in one week instead of spread out over the month.

Bleh, summer school. If you decide to do courses in the summer, make sure that you still take a full course load for the purposes of graduate schools.

I prefer having all the tests together, the week is horrible, but it's worth having an easy month or so.

I'll remember that about summer school, since I'm going to try to win the lottery and get into med school.

Originally Posted by britb

I prefer having all the tests together, the week is horrible, but it's worth having an easy month or so.

I'll remember that about summer school, since I'm going to try to win the lottery and get into med school.

I prefer having them together as well. As long as you time manage, you'll do fine.

Originally Posted by britb

I heard organic is one of the worst for summer school. I don't know if it's true or not, but considering how nasty orgo can be and how condensed summer school is, it sounds about right. Doing a minor in summer is another idea, if you have a restrictive program. I'm not sure about what summer school courses are avaliable, though, but 3 or 4 courses a year will easily finish it off. I've actually been thinking about it a bit.

Can you do summer school in year iv and get the minor? ex: if you do 2, 2, 2 and 2 over the four years. I'm not sure how it works.

My parents think summer school would be a good idea to keep me busy. I'm considering it, but only for the first term, I think, while my sisters are still in school and I can still concentrate.

Since we're talking about electives, all mine are going to be hard-ish -points down- but it should be all right, since I like those courses.

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To reply to the first post, yeah, I'm finding I'm doing homework most of the night, though most of it is self-induced. I do chem textbook notes and redo psych notes - it's really time consuming.

Nah, my two friends who took Orgo this summer, were so glad they did it in summer rather than in the school year because you are focussing on one subject only. I did cell bio and ecology in the summer... it was no big deal either and I appreciated having small class sizes. A lot of the friends that I made in those classes were doing biology as a minor so yep, it's definitely helpful to work towards your minor through summer, or free up electives as well during the school year.

Pretty much it all comes down to whether or not you can get the job done. You will be tested and pushed harder than ever. If you pass it will be fulfilling. Not to mention that it will assure you that anything is possible. You don't necessarily need to always be on top of things, but be smart in your strategy (perhaps you load up on one class's readings for 2-3 weeks and then focus on assignments and other readings). The main thing is to "git er done".

Yeah no way...organic was awesome during the summer. Well maybe not awesome but I'm soo glad I did it over the summer. And yeah it's condensed but, it's only one subject, so even if you work or something...you should have more than enough time to keep up with the coursework.

definitely, i'd actually recommend you take it in the summer- the pace was not fast at all, in fact the first three or four chapters were review and most people thought it was going slow!
in the year, it's harder to juggle i think.
PS here i'm talking abt 2OA3, haven't taken 2OB3 but planning on doing it next summer.