Hi, I am going to take

Physics 1B03
Biology 1A03
Chemistry 1AA3
Pyschology 1XX3
Kinesiology 1YY3

next term. How will my course load be? I know I have 4 labs to deal with and that's hectic. I am thinking of taking either physics or biology in spring/summer. Any suggestions? Has anyone had these courses? How was it? Did you have time to to do other things like a part time job or even volunteering? I really want to volunteer next term and I'm just afraid it won't be possible with the heavy workload. I also wanted to note that I am off campus and live about a 15 min walk from campus. So I do use my time to making my food and commuting and so on. I also go back to Toronto about 2 times per month on the weekends so I do lose a lot of time on weekends.

Please advise,

Thanks.

If you dont need psych, why dont you consider taking an easier course to lighten the load a bit?

Originally Posted by AnimeGamer31

Hi, I am going to take

Physics 1B03
Biology 1A03
Chemistry 1AA3
Pyschology 1XX3
Kinesiology 1YY3

next term. How will my course load be? I know I have 4 labs to deal with and that's hectic. I am thinking of taking either physics or biology in spring/summer. Any suggestions? Has anyone had these courses? How was it? Did you have time to to do other things like a part time job or even volunteering? I really want to volunteer next term and I'm just afraid it won't be possible with the heavy workload. I also wanted to note that I am off campus and live about a 15 min walk from campus. So I do use my time to making my food and commuting and so on. I also go back to Toronto about 2 times per month on the weekends so I do lose a lot of time on weekends.

Please advise,

Thanks.

It looks like a normal course load for life science. In my second semester I has Bio 1A03, Math 1AA3, Physics 1BB3, Chem 1AA3 and English 1A03.

Looking back, first year course load was light compared to my second and third years. I would suggest keeping a full course load, it'll prepare you for upper years.

I was able to party quite often and I also played badminton weekly. As for a part-time job I would say no. It would be way too hectic. Considering you have 4 labs, your days probably start at 8:30 or 9:30 and end at 5:30. By the time you are done classes you'll want to relax a bit before studying/doing assignments and labs.

I'm taking physics 1B03 right now. The midterms are kinda brutal and CAPA, the online assignments, can take a while. You get 10 tries for each CAPA question, though, so it's not too bad. And the labs are really laid back; they don't require lab reports (just answer a bunch of questions) and aren't too difficult. Just make sure you keep an eye on the clock and remember that the second half of the lab will usually take twice as long as the first, and you'll be fine. Pre-labs only take ~10-20 min.

I had the exact same course load as you last year, if you sub Kin for Math 1AA3. It was horrible, three labs in a term, but doable. If you stay par with all your work (IT IS VERY EASY TO FALL BEHIND) you should be good.

EDIT: Ah, kin has a lab too, eh?

It might be hard. It's very easy to lose focus on one subject to concentrate on the others. I'd advise you to take this courseload only if you'll be completely focused on all five subjects.

Originally Posted by philkolb31

If you dont need psych, why dont you consider taking an easier course to lighten the load a bit?

Yea...you see.. I need it.

You'd only need it if you're going into second year Life Science or a Psych-related program (i.e. PNB or BioPsych, etc). There's a lot of Science programs that don't require it (i.e Biochem, Chem Bio, Bio, Math and Stats, etc).

Words cannot describe how i feel about psych 1x03...

I had those courses exactly, and it was fine. Kin labs are super easy and EOW, bio and chem are also EOW. Physics labs aren't too bad either. It's totally doable.

Kinesiology 1YY3:

A LOT OF interesting material BUT it all comes down to memorizing (especially with bony anatomy and physiology). You will experience some material that you've been exposed to/taught in 1Y03 or even in high school.

Staying on top of your material (reviewing notes on daily basis) and doing well in weekly quizzes (we used to have weekly quizzes every Friday in Winter 2011 term) + final exam = a 12 in this course

EDIT:

Forgot to mention labs, lol. Labs are very interesting and not a significant portion of them was tested on weekly quizzes/exam. Just basic concepts and anything that they really want you to know. Also some of the TA's will give you some tips so make sure you utilize them!

Originally Posted by philkolb31

Words cannot describe how i feel about psych 1x03...

I was told it's harder this year, but the content looks identical to me, and the extra content on the quizzes just add up to a somewhat open book midterm. You end up learning to Google fast.

Originally Posted by justinsftw

You'd only need it if you're going into second year Life Science or a Psych-related program (i.e. PNB or BioPsych, etc). There's a lot of Science programs that don't require it (i.e Biochem, Chem Bio, Bio, Math and Stats, etc).

True, but I don't know what I will go to in the future, so taking this course is a safer choice for me because if I can't decide what to specialize in the 2nd year, chances are, I will stay in life sciences.