Am I in bad position for taking OChem 1 and calc 1 over the summer?

[Latteandaprayer]

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This summer, I worked in a lab (not research), shadowed a doctor, and volunteered at a hospital. But I also took Calc 1 and OChem 1. I got an A in orgo but a B+ calc.

I didn't think much about it because I assumed that taking a couple classes over the summer wouldn't be bad. But I came across a bunch of old questions here that made it seem I put myself at a huge disadvantage for taking them over the summer.

I took them at my university. I'm currently in OChem 2 and it's looking good-- I understand everything and the practice exams I've been doing have been going well.

As long as I don't take any more pre-reqs, am I good? Or am I at a disadvantage?

 

[Podstar]

Nothing wrong with taking them in the summer.

 

[Goro]

I don't think that it's a good idea. Suggest also looking at some med school Admissions websites and see what they have to say about summer classes. Our wise friend @gonnif may have some links handy.

 

[wut?]

This summer, I worked in a lab (not research), shadowed a doctor, and volunteered at a hospital. But I also took Calc 1 and OChem 1. I got an A in orgo but a B+ calc.

I didn't think much about it because I assumed that taking a couple classes over the summer wouldn't be bad. But I came across a bunch of old questions here that made it seem I put myself at a huge disadvantage for taking them over the summer.

I took them at my university. I'm currently in OChem 2 and it's looking good-- I understand everything and the practice exams I've been doing have been going well.

As long as I don't take any more pre-reqs, am I good? Or am I at a disadvantage?

Its not a big deal as long as those are the ONLY science classes you took over the summer. If you develop a habit of taking your science prereqs over the summer, it wouldnt look good. Med schools want to see how you handle your prereqs during the year when you have a full course load not during the summer when that may be the only class you're taking.

 

[infectiousdisease101]

I don't think it matters if you bring home a healthy MCAT score. Even if you have not so hot grades, the MCAT shows you eventually learned the concepts.

 

[Latteandaprayer]

I don't think that it's a good idea. Suggest also looking at some med school Admissions websites and see what they have to say about summer classes. Our wise friend @gonnif may have some links handy.

Well, it already happened, so am I in a bad position? I wish I knew :/ My pre med advisor never warned me.

 

[Goro]

Well, it already happened, so am I in a bad position? I wish I knew :/ My pre med advisor never warned me.

How did you do in the class?

 

[Latteandaprayer]

How did you do in the class?

A in orgo 1 and B+ in calc (definitely would've done worse in calc if had three other classes. Orgo 2 is going great for me, though).

 

[Goro]

A in orgo 1 and B+ in calc (definitely would've done worse in calc if had three other classes. Orgo 2 is going great for me, though).

Quit fussing, you'll be fine

 

[infectiousdisease101]

All pre-meds must go through the MCAT, which determines if you truly understood the concepts in your classes. Keep in mind, there's nothing you can do about those summer classes now, unless you have the ability to turn back time, in which case, I would like to request you share that power with me. Worry about those summer classes all you want. It won't change a thing.

 

[Planes2Doc]

OChem by itself over the summer was a bad idea. 🙁

 

[Latteandaprayer]

OChem by itself over the summer was a bad idea. 🙁

Well then is there any way to recover? Would a strong MCAT score demonstrate that I understand the material well? Would getting a good grade in OChem 2 this semester show that I understood 1's material?

My advisor never warned me and I read on Wash U's site that taking two pre-reqs over the summer is fine as long as they're taken at a 4-year institution.

 

[fldoctorgirl]

Imo, the whole summer class thing is made into too big of a deal on here. Yeah, I agree that you shouldn't take every single science pre-req over the summer, because it might look like you're trying to take the "easier" 6 week version.

I took Orgo 1, Orgo 2, and the labs for both courses over the summer. Florida universities require students to take 9 credits of courses over the summer. As a bio major, most people at my school end up taking either orgo 1 or orgo 2 (but many take both) over the summer. I had to take both because I graduated in 3 years instead of 4, and since orgo 1 & 2 are pre-reqs for biochem, which I needed to take that fall prior to me taking the MCAT. You did fine in your classes, so you're worrying yourself for no reason.

That being said, these are the only classes I took over the summer, and I wouldn't have taken any other science classes over the summer just to be on the safe side. Although, in my case the courses were significantly harder than taking the semester long version; my professor didn't shorten the course in any way, he simply condensed everything.

Something like taking two pre-reqs (really one; a large majority of schools don't require calc anymore) and doing well in them isn't going to keep you out of medical school. Breathe.

 

[infectiousdisease101]

This thread is starting to get pointless. Can an admin close it? I think OP has realized it's nothing to worry about, he's just not able to control his anxiety at this point.

 

[ciestar]

I took:
Ochem I and II plus lab
Physics I and II
Bio II

All over the summer. 10 interviews when I applied. Nobody cared.

(Extenuating circumstances as I was a major changer and was playing catch up. For ochem, it was either do them that summer or graduate a YEAR late.)