Dropping Organic

[DrStraggler]

So, right now, I'm signed up for summer classes. I love my Organic class, and I got a great grade on my first test, and all things are going swimmingly. However, my family and I just experienced a death in the family, and I will have to withdraw from the course and attend the funeral, and stay in my country for a while.

So I have two options. Take Organic during the regular year (my sophomore year) with a really hard teacher who usually has a 45% fail rate (Big ball buster who will kill your GPA).

OR, take it the summer before my junior year with the same amazing professor I have now, and miss out on a research opportunity that could secure a publication for me.

Thoughts??!


And...are summer courses frowned upon by Medical School Committees?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Verum]

So, right now, I'm signed up for summer classes. I love my Organic class, and I got a great grade on my first test, and all things are going swimmingly. However, my family and I just experienced a death in the family, and I will have to withdraw from the course and attend the funeral, and stay in my country for a while.

So I have two options. Take Organic during the regular year (my sophomore year) with a really hard teacher who usually has a 45% fail rate (Big ball buster who will kill your GPA).

OR, take it the summer before my junior year with the same amazing professor I have now, and miss out on a research opportunity that could secure a publication for me.

Thoughts??!


And...are summer courses frowned upon by Medical School Committees?

I would like to know that also since i decided to offload 7 credits onto summer. Instead of taking 18-19 credits a semester, i decided to take 14-16 and 7 in the summer. How will this look compared to the original plan?

 

[sworzeh]

I don't see why summer courses would ever be frowned upon. It's the same amount of work, just condensed.

Honestly, if this were me I'd take it with the easier teacher. I wouldn't want to risk my GPA. Plus, Organic is one of those classes that many people don't do excel in, so adcoms like to see that you do well.

 

[ur2l8]

Summer work isn't frowned upon as long as its at your current 4 year university and not a community college, generally speaking.

 

[ccrone]

So, right now, I'm signed up for summer classes. I love my Organic class, and I got a great grade on my first test, and all things are going swimmingly. However, my family and I just experienced a death in the family, and I will have to withdraw from the course and attend the funeral, and stay in my country for a while.

So I have two options. Take Organic during the regular year (my sophomore year) with a really hard teacher who usually has a 45% fail rate (Big ball buster who will kill your GPA).

OR, take it the summer before my junior year with the same amazing professor I have now, and miss out on a research opportunity that could secure a publication for me.

Thoughts??!


And...are summer courses frowned upon by Medical School Committees?

First, my most sincere condolences to you and your family. It's heartbreaking to lose a loved one, and even more wrenching when work/school pressures add additional stress. I'm so sorry, and hope you're doing as well as possible.

I've experienced similarly tumultuous situations. I started with my professors, and then interfaced with other offices on campus to be ensure that I had a fair shake at completing my work. For me, this was a bit easier, as I was able to work through the office of student disabilities. I was having a baby, so I had doctors notes, which is another wrinkle.

At any rate, your situation isn't altogether uncommon. Does your school have a policy for this? What office would coordinate the arrangements for you? Is it possible for you to do as much work as you can in the summer session, take an incomplete, and then make arrangements to complete the additional work upon your return?

Decide what your best case scenario is, and what you'd like the university to do to accommodate you. Tell them what you want, and see what they'll do to help. You never know until you ask, and the worst they can say is no.

Good luck to you. I send nothing but the best, and best wishes for safe travel abroad. Be well.

 

[plumhill]

I'm sorry for your loss; this is never easy. Before you make any decisions make sure you and your family are alright, and do whatever you need to do for yourself before worrying about your coursework. That is significantly more important than school.

Taking a summer course doesn't necessarily mean you can't do research. Make sure that's the ONLY class you're taking that summer; you should then be able to work at least part time in a lab, and still have a chance at publishing. You'll need to make sure to find a lab that is okay with you doing this (I'm sure you'll be able to find one). If you can put in at least 20-25 hours per week for lab, you'll be alright, and still have plenty of time for o-chem.