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Figuring out my degree plan (should I stay at UTD) and here's the deal... Because I only took 1 class this semester I am a semester behind. My scholarship only pays for 8 semesters, so I will end up paying for either a semester or a full year depending on what I decide to do. So far I've been planning to get dual degrees in Bio and Lit. I just figured out that if I get a BA in Bio (not a BS) I will never have to take summer school and I will still get both degrees in 2 1/2 more years. If I forego the Bio degree and just take the required courses for the MCAT and med school, I can finish in 2 years... The upside of this is that I would graduate in December, I'd already know if I got into med school, and I'd have a semester and a summer to do whatever the hell i want (read: travel!! debauch!! sleep!!) I can't forego the lit degree because I would go out of my mind taking just science courses and I'm only 21 credits from getting a lit degree (plus some elective hours which will get covered by the med school classes).

So, yes, reading this, it sounds really great to graduate "early" (actually a semester late) and have time off. But I really do like biology and I like the idea of coming out of this with 2 degrees. And I will still have the whole summer before med school to travel anyway. Having a whole semester off sort of worries me, cause I tend to get out of the swing of things and then feel reluctant to act like an adult again.

So if you read all this and still care, you can respond or continue downward to look at the differences in the degree plans.

I'll say this, even though I also acknowledge it is the lazy route --

YOU WILL (probably) NEVER AGAIN HAVE FIVE EXTRA MONTHS OFF TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.

If you think Biology will make your life complete, go for it. But I say complete your Literature degree (which I think you enjoy, right?) with all of the added MCAT classes, and finish 1 semester late instead of 2.

- Mere "from the girl who graduated on time and went straight to a full-time job at the age of 21 -- take your time when you can!" 1975

Spring 09: (17 hours)
Organic Chem. I (4)
HUMA3300 (3)
Literature (3)
Calculus II (4)
Humanities elective (3)
^ This semester is the same regardless of my degree plan. After that, they differ.

BA Biology + BA Literature:

Fall 09: (17 hours)
Organic Chem. II (4)
Genetics (4)
Literature (3)
Physics I (4)
Biology Lab (2)

Spring 10: (17 hours)
Biochemistry I (4)
Biochemistry Lab (3)
LIT3300 (3)
Physics II (4)
Humanities elective (3)

Fall 10: (15 hours)
Biochemistry II (4)
Molec. & Cell. Bio. (4)
Literature (3)
Human Anat & Phys I (4)

Spring 11: (16 hours)
Government (3)
Human A&P II (4)
Bio Writing (3)
Literature (3)
Literature (3)

BA Literature + Biology minor:

Fall 09: (16 hours)
Organic Chem. II (4)
Literature (3)
Physics I (4)
Biology Lab (2)
Literature (3)

Spring 10: (17 hours)
Biochemistry I (4)
LIT3300 (3)
Physics II (4)
A&H elective (3)
Literature (3)

Fall 10: (10 hours) >> I'd probably take a film class or something, too. Or a language.
Biochemistry II (4)
Literature (3)
GOVT2302 (3)

- Mere "from the girl who graduated on time and went straight to a full-time job at the age of 21 -- take your time when you can!" 1975

Thats funny. I'll be 25 when I graduate (or about to turn 25). I'll be 29 when I graduate med school. Then I "get" to start working. I sure figured out how to avoid being a grown up for as long as possible...

I'll be 25 when I graduate

Hmm... I figure I'll be 43 when Bon graduates. A year later my son will start school and the year after that my daughter will become a Longhorn.

When they are all done I'll finally get to go. I guess I'll be... pushing 50.

I might as well put it off until my 70s so I can be one of those old cute men that everyone ooohs and aaahs over because it's so awesome that I finally did it.

And then I'll become a Park Ranger.

And then I'll become a Park Ranger.

This is what my dad always wanted to do. When Mormon brother and I moved out and mom was about to retire he actually looked into it, but for some reason it was a no-go. Poor dad, guess we ruined his life. Kids are such little shits.

Wait - UTD doen't require 14 hours of a foreign language for a lit degree?

*kicks self*

I think the longer route will help you be better prepared for med school, so if med school's what you want to do, I think you should get the Biology degree.
I also think you're putting a lot of thought / effort into this decision if you're not even sure you've staying @ UTD. I never planned classes more than about a month in advance; are you certain that the classes you need will even be offered in a way that fits your schedule in the semesters you want to take them? That's been a real problem for me as I get closer to the end and the courses I have left get more and more specific.

Ooh, I wanna show my schedule now:

TERM 1:
ENGL 100 - Introduction to English Literature
ASIA 100 - Introduction to Traditional Asia
ANTH 201A - Ethnic Relations
KORN 300 - Readings in Korean Topics
FIST 100 - Introduction to Film Studies

TERM 2:
ENGL 112 - Introduction to University Writing (actually, could use this now)
CRWR 202 - Introduction to Creative Writing
ASIA 101 - Introduction to Modern Asia
KORN 300 - Readings in Korean Topics (cont'd)
ASIA 356 - Korean Film

EVERYDAY:
p-i-m-p-i-n-g

The coolest part is my Korean prof will be my Korean Film prof too. Eventually, I'll just follow her around all day, and maybe get to touch her hair. I don't even care that she's like 32.