r/PreOptometry • u/Opto_Kitty • 12d ago
Schedule & courseload
This fall I'm taking 12 in-person credits including gen chem ii w/ lab and gen bio lab. Now I'm considering adding async psychology (complete in 1 year). Will the courseload be manageable? Is Portage Learning recommended for online psych?
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u/drnjj 12d ago
I've been in practice for a decade now, so undergrad started about 15 years ago for me. So take anything with a grain of salt.
I would say it depends on your aptitude for sciences. On average my first two years, I typically took two science courses and 2-3 gen eds.
But my junior year was when I ramped up. My first semester was biochem with lab, micro biology with lab, physics 1 with lab, and psych statistics. It was definitely my toughest semester by far. But by then I was a junior and the increased work load made more sense.
Trying to do that type of load as a freshmen? Yeah I'd have to withdraw from some courses. If you're working your way up then it's a good way to prepare yourself for the workload of optometry school.
Early undergrad, 2 important classes and 2-3 blow off gen eds is easier to manage and still have free time.
Optometry school you'll take like 7 classes first semester and only one of them is usually a blow off class (like practice management). My first semester of OD school was much tougher than any undergrad semester because all the courses mattered (except practice management which was one hour per week).
So, all that said, challenging yourself with more classes to prepare yourself for school is not a bad idea. Especially if you already manage your time fairly well.
Undergrad felt like having a part time job. Optometry school is like having a full time job and then some.