Homemade Pre-Med program

[Jonathan Whatley]

Hi Jonathan. Well firstly, I've decided to do JFK's program instead, John F. Kennedy University • Weekend Intensive Science Courses - JFK University, San Jose , mainly because it is a lot cheaper, and I can avoid any potential accreditation problems that may arise in the next couple of years. As far as the course load and study time, you can't take two courses in 1 block. Both JFK and ISP's block schedule is set up to where you are in class Saturday and Sunday all day, for just one subject. So it would be impossible to take another class during the same block because you can't be in both classrooms at the same time. Which is why taking all the required science course will take approximately 6-7 months.

I like what I see of JFKU's program much, much more!

I'd been working from the premise that you'd be taking the Big Four basic science one-year sequences (8 semester- or block-length courses) plus at least the one other you mentioned (Biochem, 1 semester- or block-length course) for a total of 9 courses. To complete all 9 on the ISP's block schedule in 6-7 months doubling up would have to be possible. I guess, instead, you've completed or you would have completed some of your prerequisite coursework already outside of the accelerated program.

Obviously, this [expansion of study time] most likely will not be necessary

Just something to think about: Can any of us take it as obvious that we'll do well in, say, organic chemistry with much less study time than the essayist above? That being 20-30 hours outside class per week, with orgo at HES being over two traditional 16-week semesters. Maybe, though this is unstated, she spent less time after the "orgo instinct" appeared during second semester. Still, there were high-stakes exams and real challenges to come even after that watershed.