What extra upper-division science courses to take during gap time good for crna?

[sixthwannabe]

Hi guys!

I have always wanted to be a crna ever since I joined a pre-healthcare program in high school and got to shadow a CRNA. Back then I didn't know that you needed a BSN, so I took the traditional pre-health route of going to a university for biochemistry/biology. I think I would really enjoy and be a good crna, or other speciality nurses (although they're so different!) so I'm just going to transfer for my bsn Junior year.

However, I have a gap of one trimester (aka quarter system) waiting for bsn acceptances. I'm still at my university (ucsd) so I was wondering if I should take courses that although aren't prerequisites for crna but will help me in future applications. These are upper division science classes. I've done all my crna prereqs like ochem/stats/biochem/physics I and did well/

I was hoping you guys can clue me in on which courses below will be more applicable to crna/look better for crna programs. I heard that programs like extra science classes, especially if it's upper division meant for biology/chem./biochem majors going into medicine and research. (which are the ones below)

So my choices are:

-Biochemical Techniques

-Organic chemistry II (2nd quarter)--would be taking this pass/no pass (cr/no credit) b/c professor tests are very erratic and unpredictable and grades don't seem to make sense.

-Molecular Biology

--Mammalian Physiology I (different course meant for pre-meds, will Nurse Anethesia programs think this is like physiology for nursing and look on it as a repeat even though I already took anatomy and physiology but for nursing)

-Physics II

-Neurobiology of Cognition

-analytical chemistry

--applied immunology

which courses would be better for CRNA applications later on? I heard that the more extra upper division/graduate -level classes in sciences, the better, it sets you apart from other applicants.

I'm thinking biochem. Techniques will be helpful for crna and it sounds exciting but the class is 11 hours of class time per week for ten weeks and only the same amount of credits as all the other classes (4 quarter)! With this time I could take two other courses. Is it worth it?

These grades don't matter for nursing school since it's after the application date, but they will for crna school later on. So should I do more classes, get A's and B's, or do less and get A's? My school is pretty tough b/c it's a science school focused on research.

thanks! :bowingpur