Condensed semester of 15 days or so

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noncon

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The Dean mentioned that some universities offer condensed semesters. An entire course is crammed into as little as 15 days. Sometimes 16 days, 18 days or 21 days tops. Which universities offer such condensed semesters? (reasonably good schools only, no directional schools please).
 
noncon said:
The Dean mentioned that some universities offer condensed semesters. An entire course is crammed into as little as 15 days. Sometimes 16 days, 18 days or 21 days tops. Which universities offer such condensed semesters? (reasonably good schools only, no directional schools please).
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You need to clarify further. Many schools offer (i.e., utilize) block scheduling, which is what this sounds like. I assume we are speaking med schools? And what do you mean "directional" schools?
 
I went to a LAC with a 4 week term between semesters where you took one class (2-6 hrs per day depending on class) and then took a final at the end of the month. A lot of people went abroad during that time, and it was a good way to be able to focus on one subject. I was a fan.
 
noncon said:
The Dean mentioned that some universities offer condensed semesters. An entire course is crammed into as little as 15 days. Sometimes 16 days, 18 days or 21 days tops. Which universities offer such condensed semesters? (reasonably good schools only, no directional schools please).
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University of Virginia, 9 days, 1 course (J term)

http://www.virginia.edu/januaryterm/

I don't know if you're talking about something like this or 15 credits worth of classes in 15 days??
 
Plue00 said:
University of Virginia, 9 days, 1 course (J term)

http://www.virginia.edu/januaryterm/

I don't know if you're talking about something like this or 15 credits worth of classes in 15 days??
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I was talking about condensed semesters like the University of Virginia. But I am also interested in 15 credits in 15 days - what in the world is that?
 
noncon said:
I was talking about condensed semesters like the University of Virginia. But I am also interested in 15 credits in 15 days - what in the world is that?
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That doesn't exist. Sorry.
There are some schools like MUM that are on systems where you take 1 class at a time. So 4-5 classes a semester, but each class only lasts like 1/4th the semester. It seemed interesting enough.
 
Colorado College is the famous one: 8 blocks for an academic year. 1 course each block for almost 3 weeks, 3 hours a day, 5 day break, repeat 7 more times.

Have a friend there and she loves it. Its a well respected institution and has great resources.

Personally I cannot imagine learning a semester of Chinese or linear algebra in 3 weeks :O
 
trackrunner1500 said:
Colorado College is the famous one: 8 blocks for an academic year. 1 course each block for almost 3 weeks, 3 hours a day, 5 day break, repeat 7 more times.

Have a friend there and she loves it. Its a well respected institution and has great resources.

Personally I cannot imagine learning a semester of Chinese or linear algebra in 3 weeks :O
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For some people a faster and more focused pace is a better fit.

Apparently this school is beloved by students. 96% return to it after freshman year. Most colleges barely top 70%.
 
Its call Jan Term or May Term
 
We had a Maymester term at the College of Charleston in SC which did a class in 15 days....they would only offer classes that they thought could be condensed like that though, so there were very few (if any) science classes....definitely none with labs if you are trying to find something like that. I doubt there are any schools that will do science classes like the prereqs in that sort of format, there is just too much information for 15 days of classes. However, if you are looking to get some general education requirements out of the way it is a good option.
 
Cornell has a(n expensive) winter term, lasts three weeks, but they allow you to take up to 7 credits.

Friend took Microeconomics in 3 weeks.
 
Total180 said:
We had a Maymester term at the College of Charleston in SC which did a class in 15 days....they would only offer classes that they thought could be condensed like that though, so there were very few (if any) science classes....definitely none with labs if you are trying to find something like that. I doubt there are any schools that will do science classes like the prereqs in that sort of format, there is just too much information for 15 days of classes. However, if you are looking to get some general education requirements out of the way it is a good option.
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I've TA'd for science classes that were taught over the course of 15 days. It's pretty intense. :scared:
 
DAPI said:
Its call Jan Term or May Term
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Whether it is Jan term or May term, it is immensely useful for people who do have a life and relocational constraints. Like I am constrained to living within a 3-hour commute from my town, so I have only a stupid community college where I am getting my BS degree from (my community college thankfully offers a BS, like many other community colleges). So such Jan terms or Maymesters are incredibly useful to me because I can get away for a few days and get credit for it.
 
Pacific University (OR) has condensed 2 week courses in January.
 
They're called Maymesters and they're pretty intense.
 
Sidereum said:
Whoa...

I assume students only take 3 credits, though...right? :scared:
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Yes, usually such semesters cap the number of credits at 3 or 4. I need the names of some good universities that offer such condensed semesters.
 
Praefectus said:
They're called Maymesters and they're pretty intense.
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I am not that interested in Maymesters because I plan to get away for an entire summer to complete my prerequisites at a school much better than my present community college. But I am sure as hell interested in Jan semesters.
 
trackrunner1500 said:
Colorado College is the famous one: 8 blocks for an academic year. 1 course each block for almost 3 weeks, 3 hours a day, 5 day break, repeat 7 more times.

Have a friend there and she loves it. Its a well respected institution and has great resources.

Personally I cannot imagine learning a semester of Chinese or linear algebra in 3 weeks :O
Click to expand...

CC is a great school. I have a number of friends who have gone there or are there now and the campus is beautiful. Certain classes are taught longitudinally (i.e., on a semester basis instead of by block). I know music lessons are that way, not sure about foreign languages.... (Basically, they do it that way for courses where time b/w classes is critical to learning new things; in other words, skills-based/intrinsic-learning courses.)
 
noncon said:
I am not that interested in Maymesters because I plan to get away for an entire summer to complete my prerequisites at a school much better than my present community college. But I am sure as hell interested in Jan semesters.
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Doing your prereqs at another school won't really matter as much as getting your degree from a better school. Finish your degree at a good 4-yr and do your prereqs at the 4-yr.
 
music2doc said:
Doing your prereqs at another school won't really matter as much as getting your degree from a better school. Finish your degree at a good 4-yr and do your prereqs at the 4-yr.
Click to expand...

I cannot get away unfortunately. I have a job here and a family to feed.
 
noncon said:
I cannot get away unfortunately. I have a job here and a family to feed.
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How do you plan to finish your bachelor's, then, if you cannot get to a 4-yr school? Additionally, how do you plan to go to medical school in this case if they are unable to move with you?

I don't mean to be harsh, but those will be the realities you have to face; I would expect you have thought about that. If not, it will most certainly be something you will be asked along the interview trail.
 
trackrunner1500 said:
Colorado College is the famous one: 8 blocks for an academic year. 1 course each block for almost 3 weeks, 3 hours a day, 5 day break, repeat 7 more times.

Have a friend there and she loves it. Its a well respected institution and has great resources.

Personally I cannot imagine learning a semester of Chinese or linear algebra in 3 weeks :O
Click to expand...

That sounds absolutely horrible (to me). When I took multivariable calc during the summer it was 2 months and I didn't enjoy completely focusing on only one course.
 
University of Montana Western (Dillon) is like that too. I met a veterinarian from there, she said she did all of orgo in a month. It sounded insane. Imagine how quickly you would forget material.
 
Josh7 said:
That sounds absolutely horrible (to me). When I took multivariable calc during the summer it was 2 months and I didn't enjoy completely focusing on only one course.
Click to expand...

Their classes are 3 1/2 wks each with the final on Wed and a 2 1/2 day break b/w blocks. From what I hear, the students either love it or hate it. (Most seem to love it.) The thing is that they don't teach in a standard lecture format, per se.

Instead, the focus is on experiential learning. For example, a friend took an course in Experimental Music and their final project was to each design, build, and ultimately play an entirely new musical instrument. The students actually took their classmates to a location in the city where they did their "concert" so that each venue could reflect the music being played (and, therefore, help to develop the experience).

Another friend took a Spanish class and they actually went to a Spanish-speaking area of the state to learn Spanish via immersion while simultaneously taking Spanish classes there. Multivariate Calc might not benefit as much, although I suppose a project involving related skills might be undertaken. More likely, however, they would simply take the study group approach with tutors on-hand.

All I can say is that the school does a fantastic job of this.
 
sazerac said:
University of Montana Western (Dillon) is like that too. I met a veterinarian from there, she said she did all of orgo in a month. It sounded insane. Imagine how quickly you would forget material.
Click to expand...

Both semesters? That sounds like a nightmare.
 
music2doc said:
How do you plan to finish your bachelor's, then, if you cannot get to a 4-yr school? Additionally, how do you plan to go to medical school in this case if they are unable to move with you?

I don't mean to be harsh, but those will be the realities you have to face; I would expect you have thought about that. If not, it will most certainly be something you will be asked along the interview trail.
Click to expand...

My community college offers a bachelor's degree. I will think of living expenses for med school after I get accepted. I don't mind going into debt for med school but I don't want to go into debt for a silly and worthless undergrad degree.
 
music2doc said:
Their classes are 3 1/2 wks each with the final on Wed and a 2 1/2 day break b/w blocks. From what I hear, the students either love it or hate it. (Most seem to love it.) The thing is that they don't teach in a standard lecture format, per se.

Instead, the focus is on experiential learning. For example, a friend took an course in Experimental Music and their final project was to each design, build, and ultimately play an entirely new musical instrument. The students actually took their classmates to a location in the city where they did their "concert" so that each venue could reflect the music being played (and, therefore, help to develop the experience).

Another friend took a Spanish class and they actually went to a Spanish-speaking area of the state to learn Spanish via immersion while simultaneously taking Spanish classes there. Multivariate Calc might not benefit as much, although I suppose a project involving related skills might be undertaken. More likely, however, they would simply take the study group approach with tutors on-hand.

All I can say is that the school does a fantastic job of this.
Click to expand...

Sounds about right.

I think the experimental learning aspect to these shortened "semesters" sounds interesting. I agree that it this would definitely make a shorter semester more enjoyable.
 
noncon said:
Well, not bad I suppose.
http://www.coloradocollege.edu/offices/healthprofessions/frequently-asked-questions/

But lesser colleges put 90-95% or more into med schools.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that such stats are easily manipulated and, as a result, essentially worthless. No school reports <50% yet the avg is quite a bit below 50%!

Also, I can explain this to some degree:

  • CC students tend tot hink they are top-notch, so they rarely apply anywhere but top schools
  • CC students often apply to their best chance school (CUSOM) as a "backup" despite it being a top 40 program aiming to be a top 10 program -- needless to say, they haven't sent a single student to CUSOM in recent years from what I am told
  • Jane, their advisor, is an overconfident idiot (although she was very nice whenever we talked.... but the things her students told me she told them....)
 
noncon said:
Can any come close to University of Virginia's 9-day semester?
Click to expand...

UCCS (state school, not as well respected as UVA, but is the fastest growing university in the west) has an 11-day J-term, I think. I took a history class during it during my second year. It was considered part of Spring semester for tuition purposes, which meant that we didn't get our grades until the end of Spring semester. But it meant that I could take an 18-credit semester and not have a terribly heavy load (that was also the semester I studied for the MCAT). They don't offer all courses during J-term... mostly just general ed credits with a handful of upper level courses.

A lot of schools offer J-terms. I think Furman offers one as well, as I seem to remember my friends talking about it way back when.
 
mvenus929 said:
UCCS (state school, not as well respected as UVA, but is the fastest growing university in the west) has an 11-day J-term, I think. I took a history class during it during my second year. It was considered part of Spring semester for tuition purposes, which meant that we didn't get our grades until the end of Spring semester. But it meant that I could take an 18-credit semester and not have a terribly heavy load (that was also the semester I studied for the MCAT). They don't offer all courses during J-term... mostly just general ed credits with a handful of upper level courses.

A lot of schools offer J-terms. I think Furman offers one as well, as I seem to remember my friends talking about it way back when.
Click to expand...

Thank you mvenus929. I am actively considering UCCS. But I am tired, weary, confused and unsure right now and too poor to pursue what I really want to pursue.
 
music2doc said:
Keep in mind that such stats are easily manipulated and, as a result, essentially worthless. No school reports <50% yet the avg is quite a bit below 50%!

Also, I can explain this to some degree:

  • CC students tend tot hink they are top-notch, so they rarely apply anywhere but top schools
  • CC students often apply to their best chance school (CUSOM) as a "backup" despite it being a top 40 program aiming to be a top 10 program -- needless to say, they haven't sent a single student to CUSOM in recent years from what I am told
  • Jane, their advisor, is an overconfident idiot (although she was very nice whenever we talked.... but the things her students told me she told them....)
Click to expand...

Perhaps I can clarify a couple things, as a Colorado College alum turned medical student. First, I LOVED Colorado College - it was an incredible experience and I would go there again in a heartbeat. Second, the block plan most definitely prepared me for the rigors of medical school, more than a traditional semester system would have. In a lot of ways, I found upper level sciences on the block plan in undergrad more challenging than my med school courses. When we could have been floundering, trying to figure out how to handle the volume of information in med school, my CC colleagues were not only doing very well grade-wise, but also enjoying a vibrant social life outside of school.

I can also tell you that last year, more than half of CC pre-meds who were applying got into CUSOM, and even though several of my classmates chose to go to top ten programs over CU, there are still NINE of us in CUSOM's class of 2016. In terms of college size to matriculant ratio, I think Colorado College has the most successful pre-med program of any represented in the current first year MD class at CU. There are also several CC grads in each of the classes above us- so I'm not sure where you heard that CUSOM hadn't accepted any in recent years. Most of the CC pre-meds I kept in touch with during the application cycle had at least one acceptance in October, and ended up with multiple acceptances from great schools.

Jane, the pre-med adviser, is actually very nice and helpful. In terms of committee/ recommendation letters, I was told by one admissions director that all my letters were incredibly thoughtful, thorough, and came across as an honest portrayal by people who knew me very well, and were a very positive factor in my admission decision (even though I know for a fact that the letters weren't 100% positive- one of my professors told me something they were going to write that wasn't). Jane, who is on the committee, actually take the time to get to know you, and as for professors, I never went to office hours- when you're in a class for several hours a day with 10-15 other students, the professor IS going to know you well, and your letters will mean much more in terms of your application decision than a less personal form letter you might get at a bigger school.

In more shameless (but accurate) CC propaganda, I have friends who spent a 3 week class in Greece reading the Odyssey and following Odysseus's route sailing around on a yacht (The Yacht-yssey), friends who studied immigration policy with their class at the Mexican border, and friends who took a geology class in Hawaii. (And, because I'm sure that stuff doesn't matter as much to premeds reading this- you can take undergrad anatomy and physiology with 3 students per cadaver!). Because of CC, I know I can write a 20pg in-depth scientific review paper in 2 days, or do 300 pages of reading a night if I have to. CC taught me how to focus and actually enjoy staying engaged through several hours of lecture, and how to study more efficiently so I could balance a high volume of work with a fun social life. Not only is it possible to learn a semester's worth of information in 18 days of class, but it prepares you to do really well in medical school.
 
BluegrassDancin said:
Perhaps I can clarify a couple things, as a Colorado College alum turned medical student. First, I LOVED Colorado College - it was an incredible experience and I would go there again in a heartbeat. Second, the block plan most definitely prepared me for the rigors of medical school, more than a traditional semester system would have. In a lot of ways, I found upper level sciences on the block plan in undergrad more challenging than my med school courses. When we could have been floundering, trying to figure out how to handle the volume of information in med school, my CC colleagues were not only doing very well grade-wise, but also enjoying a vibrant social life outside of school.

I can also tell you that last year, more than half of CC pre-meds who were applying got into CUSOM, and even though several of my classmates chose to go to top ten programs over CU, there are still NINE of us in CUSOM's class of 2016. In terms of college size to matriculant ratio, I think Colorado College has the most successful pre-med program of any represented in the current first year MD class at CU. There are also several CC grads in each of the classes above us- so I'm not sure where you heard that CUSOM hadn't accepted any in recent years. Most of the CC pre-meds I kept in touch with during the application cycle had at least one acceptance in October, and ended up with multiple acceptances from great schools.

Jane, the pre-med adviser, is actually very nice and helpful. In terms of committee/ recommendation letters, I was told by one admissions director that all my letters were incredibly thoughtful, thorough, and came across as an honest portrayal by people who knew me very well, and were a very positive factor in my admission decision (even though I know for a fact that the letters weren't 100% positive- one of my professors told me something they were going to write that wasn't). Jane, who is on the committee, actually take the time to get to know you, and as for professors, I never went to office hours- when you're in a class for several hours a day with 10-15 other students, the professor IS going to know you well, and your letters will mean much more in terms of your application decision than a less personal form letter you might get at a bigger school.

In more shameless (but accurate) CC propaganda, I have friends who spent a 3 week class in Greece reading the Odyssey and following Odysseus's route sailing around on a yacht (The Yacht-yssey), friends who studied immigration policy with their class at the Mexican border, and friends who took a geology class in Hawaii. (And, because I'm sure that stuff doesn't matter as much to premeds reading this- you can take undergrad anatomy and physiology with 3 students per cadaver!). Because of CC, I know I can write a 20pg in-depth scientific review paper in 2 days, or do 300 pages of reading a night if I have to. CC taught me how to focus and actually enjoy staying engaged through several hours of lecture, and how to study more efficiently so I could balance a high volume of work with a fun social life. Not only is it possible to learn a semester's worth of information in 18 days of class, but it prepares you to do really well in medical school.
Click to expand...


Good to hear. Interesting. Did most CC students get in last minute last year? Apparently Jane told one of your peers no one had gotten in as of late spring/early summer. Maybe she hadn't checked her AMCAS account recently and no one had let her know they had been successful, but advisors have full access to that data (sometimes even before an applicant gets notice depending upon the system).
 
I'm taking 2 psy classes and 1 criminology class this winter semester ~ 4 weeks. I am also taking a two week art course and ironically this one is the most time consuming. To get around the maximum credits allowed during these short semesters I am attending 2 schools.
 
music2doc said:
Good to hear. Interesting. Did most CC students get in last minute last year? Apparently Jane told one of your peers no one had gotten in as of late spring/early summer. Maybe she hadn't checked her AMCAS account recently and no one had let her know they had been successful, but advisors have full access to that data (sometimes even before an applicant gets notice depending upon the system).
Click to expand...

They might have gotten mixed up or heard the wrong info. I met with Jane after being accepted in early November, and at that point she told me several CC grads had already been accepted to CU (and I knew who at least a few of them were from keeping in touch). Of the nine who ended up matriculating in our class, I know of one who was accepted in May- the rest that I've talked to knew early. Maybe she was referring to the relatively small number of traditional applicants that apply after their junior year? CC's major requirements are challenging and also require you to take a variety of non-science classes to be well-rounded, and with the block system you would have to know day 1 of freshman year that you wanted to apply your senior year in order to plan to get your major requirements done to graduate, in addition to gettin your pre-reqs done in time to take the MCAT. The youngest CC kids in our current class graduated in 2010, and everyone went and had different experiences for at least a year before applying to med school.
 
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