A full year of Gen Chem in 9 weeks

[rangoon1984]

Hi everyone,

I am doing the pre requisites for my pre requisites (Algebra, Basic Bio) and I'm getting ready to dive into the main pre reqs in the coming semesters.

I like the idea of Northwestern's Post Bacc Program, however, upon closer examination, I realized that in order to take Bio/Orgo, you have to take a full year of Gen Chem. Because NU breaks it's years into quarters, you have to take 3 quarters of Gen Chem before these other classes.

So, if you want to do a full load at NU, you have to start with Gen Chem in the summer (3 classes), and then resume a normal schedule in the fall (3 quarters of Bio/Orgo/Physics). My concern is this compressed summer schedule of Gen Chem. Basically, the summer semester lasts 9 weeks and you get an entire year of General Chemistry instruction in this time. You are in class M-F, 9-12 and then do labs twice per week, 1-5. This goes on for 9 weeks. Each class is broken up into 3 week increments.

I haven't taken college level chemistry, the only chemistry background I have is high school chemistry, which I took 12 years ago. To those who have done the year of general chemistry required for the pre reqs, is this a really bad idea? I'm not only concerned about this sequence from a grade standpoint, I'm concerned about it from a comprehension standpoint. Can you really learn and deeply understand that much coursework in 9 weeks? I guess that's my question.

The other option is to do the Chemistry elsewhere, transfer it in and start the normal physics/bio/orgo schedule.

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[whatbout2morrow]

Can't speak about the 3 week increment stuff, but I just finished up gen chem over the summer which was two 4 and a half week sessions. If you have other stuff going (job, volunteering, family, etc) on which may affect your ability to concentrate on the coursework, don't do it. If that is not the case, and are able to immerse yourself in chemistry for the whole nine weeks inside the class by understanding the material conceptually as it is being taught (and not putting it off for self-study later) and outside the class by reading the textbook before (and if you need it, after) lectures, working out alot of problems, and just practicing and looking over the material repeatedly for atleast 2-4 hours outside of class each day (varies depending on the individual), it is definitely doable. I found the condensed nature of the summer highly beneficial in terms of the material being fresh in my mind when it came time to take comprehensive finals at the end of the four and a half week sessions, and in the fact that the gen chem I material was fresh in my mind when it was expanded upon in gen chem II.

 

[TxResident]

If you're good at math as well*, that would be a helping factor for gen chem.

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

I took gen chem in two four week sessions and one three week session. The pace is fast, but as long as you keep on top of things you'll do fine. Don't ever fall behind and assume you can catch up later.

Also, if you are in a situation where you absolutely, positively need an A in every class, you might not want to take fast-paced summer sessions. The combination of electrochemistry, a staph infection on my face, and a professor who liked to give quizzes on the material he was planning on teaching tomorrow very nearly bumped my grade down a notch that I couldn't afford to give up.

 

[wholeheartedly]

Agree with the advice from others, it is doable depending on your specific situation. It wouldn't hurt to find out dirt on the instructor/TAs if you can. If you're trying to work a lot or spend a lot of time doing other things it might be a problem. You need to be able to spend a good chunk of time reading the textbook and especially working problems until you get the concepts.

That said, I took pretty heavy course loads, including a 4 wk gen chem I class, every summer session and loved the summer sessions. In my experience, usually you have a bit smaller class size, more opportunity to get to know the TAs and prof, the pace is faster but the class is often more relaxed, and I was always way more productive studying outside in the sunshine by the river than sitting in a dark library in the dead of winter 😎

 

[Law2Doc]

...The pace is fast, but as long as you keep on top of things you'll do fine. Don't ever fall behind and assume you can catch up later...

agree with this. It's totally doable, but it has to be the primary thing you are doing that summer, because there is no option to slow down or catch up. It's an immersion approach. So basically you need to put all other work, obligations, and drama on hold. If you are planning to spend weekends on the beach with friends/family over the summer, do lots of evening get togethers, and otherwise enjoy the summer, a condensed summer course probably isn't for you. In a way, though, it gives you a small taste of what it's like to be in med school, and perhaps a little confidence, because the pace is frenetic and new material comes at you as fast as you can process the old. Not quite the drinking water out of a firehose that med school is, but the general idea is the same.

 

[rangoon1984]

Do you guys think volunteering 5 hours a week would make this out of the question? I won't be working at all if I choose this option.

I'm actually taking College Algebra right now, so math will be pretty fresh in my mind. I'm having to do a lot of self teaching in this class and I seem to be keeping up...I'm not a math genius but I'm not horrible at it, either.

 

[katiemaude]

If you are strong at math and extremely disciplined and without other commitments, this could work. I would also find out if this prof is a hard grader, because not only do you want to be able to understand these concepts well, you want As. I took a year of anatomy and physiology in 10 weeks and the lecture and lab schedules were similar. I managed to fit in four hours a week of volunteering. But with the exception of a few chapters regarding topics like the cell energy cycle, it was mostly memorization. Gen Chem is concepts and math and practicing problems over and over again. If you really think you can do that for 10 hrs a day for nine weeks, go for it.

 

[MedPR]

You'll be fine. Just realize that you'll need to study everyday. I did gen chem 2 and microbiology simultaneously during a 3.5 week summer school session while working full-time. It was time consuming, but not extraordinarily difficult.

If you're good at math as well*, that would be a helping factor for gen chem.

Only for the second semester.

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

Do you guys think volunteering 5 hours a week would make this out of the question? I won't be working at all if I choose this option.

5 hours of volunteering will be fine. You will be busy, but there will be time for occasional socializing and other activities. The weekends in between class sections are good for breaks.

 

[beethousand]

Do you guys think volunteering 5 hours a week would make this out of the question? I won't be working at all if I choose this option.

I'm actually taking College Algebra right now, so math will be pretty fresh in my mind. I'm having to do a lot of self teaching in this class and I seem to be keeping up...I'm not a math genius but I'm not horrible at it, either.

I just finished gen chem over the summer which had three week terms. The class was extremely fast paced, as we had one test the second week of class and a second test and final the third week. The other thing to think about is if you are doing lab that will consume a fairly large chunk of your time. We had three labs per week which were ~2 hrs and then a lab report due the next day. While the class was challenging (I hadn't taken a hard science in awhile) I felt as long as you treated it like a full time job it was doable and I was able to get all A's. 5 hours a week volunteering shouldn't be a problem but keep in mind that your time will be very precious when it gets close to test time, as there is no room for error and you absolutely can't fall behind. Those 5 hours will seem like you're missing a lot more study time than you might think. The math isn't bad, all you really need to know is basic algebra and a little about plotting natural log etc...just do a ton of practice problems. Good luck!

 

[Quizlet04]

I did genchem is a summer, which was 10 weeks. 9 weeks is just fine. Expect things not to be as in depth, though, and use as much extra material as you can.

 

[Law2Doc]

... Expect things not to be as in depth, though, and use as much extra material as you can.

Actually many of the compressed programs do it with exactly the same depth, the same number of course hours, only many more hours per day (ie the same class but instead of a few hours a week, you get a full day every day) , which is what makes it hard. If you are talking about a pared down class with less depth, it's probably not what most of us are talking about. You won't have a ton of time to read outside resources.

 

[beethousand]

Actually many of the compressed programs do it with exactly the same depth, the same number of course hours, only many more hours per day (ie the same class but instead of a few hours a week, you get a full day every day) , which is what makes it hard. If you are talking about a pared down class with less depth, it's probably not what most of us are talking about. You won't have a ton of time to read outside resources.

Agreed, we didn't skip any material, we just had less time to learn it.

 

[impact2d]

I can only speak for my situation. I finished Gen Chem in 9 weeks over the summer. We didn't skip any material, and in fact I when I compared to my friends who took it during the school year it actually seemed like we covered more. (They only touched lightly on Molecular Orbit Theory and Hybridization, while we covered it in-depth) The pace was fast, we had a test covering 2-3 chapters or more every week, and lab almost every day.
Some people did poorly with this method, I actually excelled. This isn't to say I'm a genius or something, it was just that the immersive style of the learning catered to my strength. There was something to waking up and eating, breathing, and sleeping chemistry every day. Everything seemed to stick better, and come MCAT study time, it helped knowing how to assimilate information quickly.

 

[MedPR]

I took organic chem 2 in an accelerated session while working and it nearly broke my brain. I ended up with a big fat B.

Yes, but Organic 2 is way harder and way more time consuming than gen chem.

I'd rather do both gen chem 1 and gen chem 2 in 4 weeks than Orgo 2 in 4 weeks.

 

[KellyKapowski]

I think 5 hours of volunteering/wk is very reasonable. I took physics I and II (and labs) this summer over about 11 weeks. Like everyone else said, summer courses like this are fast and intense, but if you go in with those classes are your #1 (and #2, #3...) priority in life for that time you'll be fine. I worked 20+ hrs and had a significant commute (both to class and to work... in opposite directions) and still managed to get all As. It was NOT fun, but it got the job done and I do honestly feel like I learned a lot. Go into it with the mindset not that you want an A, or need an A, but that you absolutely WILL get an A. Then do everything you can and make it happen 🙂 Good luck!

 

[HollywoodUpstairs]

It wouldn't hurt to find out dirt on the instructor/TAs if you can.

I strongly agree with this bit of advice. It's really crucial that your instructor is setting you up to succeed in an accelerated course. Talk to students who have had the instructor. If the feedback isn't positive, run for it.

There's nothing the instructor can do about the amount of material that needs to be covered. But expectations for lab reports, as well as the timing, format and difficulty of the exams can make a huge difference.