Entire year of Organic Chemistry in the summer, good/bad idea? (~13 wk total)

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Many universities and community colleges offer the entire year of Organic Chemistry, with lab, back to back during the summer. Each is about 6.5 weeks. What do you all think about this?

I would imagine the pace is crazy, so do you guys think it is significantly better to take Organic Chem 1 and Organic Chem 2 the traditional way?

Thanks

 

[Poliscidoc]

Many universities and community colleges offer the entire year of Organic Chemistry, with lab, back to back during the summer. Each is about 6.5 weeks. What do you all think about this?

I would imagine the pace is crazy, so do you guys think it is significantly better to take Organic Chem 1 and Organic Chem 2 the traditional way?

Thanks

I have to do the exact same thing, except my school does it in the Spring semester. So can anybody help us both out? It seems like it would be extremely hard even though I have heard Orgo is already hard

 

[locus000]

At my university they have this too, it is HELL since you basically have an exam every week (so alot of long nights of cramming) and most of the kids dont really retain anything afterward. The professors usually cover less material so that can be a plus if you really hate organic.

But alot of my friend did it because they had to since they where behind, retaking the classes again or just wanted to get it over with it, so if you really have to then take it but I DONT RECOMMEND IT.

I do recommend taking the labs I AND II in the summer since at my university the labs are 5 hrs long and it screw up everyone schedule in the fall/spring

 

[TopSecret]

Many universities and community colleges offer the entire year of Organic Chemistry, with lab, back to back during the summer. Each is about 6.5 weeks. What do you all think about this?

I would imagine the pace is crazy, so do you guys think it is significantly better to take Organic Chem 1 and Organic Chem 2 the traditional way?

Thanks

I know someone who did this. He thought he could save some time but he ended up getting two quick C's. It basically destroyed his chances of becoming a doctor.

His summer was also wasted.

 

[Artimacia]

I just did Organic chem 2 in 6 weeks this summer. It's tough, I did it to better fit my schedule but wouldn't recommend it. I took organic 1 in the spring and got an A, I got a B in this organic 2 class. It's a lot of work, a lot of late nights studying, not to mention i was taking physics 2 as well for 7 weeks (but I got an A in that 🙂 )

 

[Poliscidoc]

Yea my school does 8 weeks per one and then we have class every day from 7:45-9:15.. So I hope this doesn't mess up my schedule to bad. They only let Pre-Med students take the class and its geared towards the MCAT which is nice... Wish me luck

 

[Omni]

It's possible, but if you're doing this because you have the mentality "My time for taking the MCAT is coming closer and by doing this, I'll be able to better prepare for the MCAT", here's a newsflash: It's not going to help. You will be learning/cramming at such a high rate that you'll be forgetting everything that you learned in two weeks ago.
Again, if you're doing it for the MCAT, although its a good idea, just be advised that the MCAT doesn't go into as much detail as your class will.

 

[wanderer]

It's probably not worth it. You'll have to work extra hard, and you'll retain none of it. Either way it's not a good move.

 

[ThirdEye]

At a community college..... doable. At a university.... not so much.

 

[buffaluv]

I took OChem1 in the spring at my university and it was 4 weeks long, 2 labs per week.. It sucked because every week was a month of material, you really have to be committed to just the class, no job, and basically living in the library, but you definately can get As. It was less competitive too.. everyone was helping eachother out.

 

[Amadelphous]

I did it this way. Each section was about 6.5 weeks. I wanted to be able to focus only on Organic instead of having to balance with other premed and major classes. It worked out great I got 2 As and retained A LOT of the information even 2 years later. Since I had class everyday I didn't have a chance to forget the material. At the time I had a job in the library so I just studied basically all day after my class was over. Yes it wrecks your summer but it is possible to do well and remember the information.

And this was at a really good school.

So this will work if you are really dedicated to spending time outside of class to understanding the material. I didn't do this for the MCAT it just worked better for my overall schedule. I wouldn't recommend this just to prepare for the MCAT...that just adds extra pressure.

Hope this helps.

 

[movax]

Terrible idea - my school normally firehoses you a class in 10 weeks, and Orgo is not a class to rush through unless you plan on spending every night of those 13 weeks doing homework problems.

 

[red10]

if you love chem and are a natural at it then go for it. If you've ever struggled in chem or you're trying to do it to prep for the mcat stay away at all costs

 

[Handinhand]

I took OChem II and OChem Lab over this summer and it wasn't terrible. It got a little rough with the lab because they have to fit the same amount of labs into half the time, so we usually had 2-3 labs due each week. Lecture wasn't terrible, the things you were tested on were at a maximum of two weeks old so it made it hard to forget things. The only difficult thing was when we had an Exam on Thursday, the day before on Wednesday we were still learning things for the exam. I would recommend if you can't learn things quickly to hold off for a regular length semester.

 

[sportsfreak]

i did this over the summer...it worked ok for me but its definitely a ton of work, there is basically an exam every week and you will need to study every day for sure

my reason for doing this was that I hate chem and wanted to get rid of orgo as fast as possible, but I still wouldn't recommend doing this

 

[Seraph 84]

Only do it if you absolutely need to. Don't do it because you want to be "ahead" of your peers or you think it will be impressive to ADCOMS. You're better off learning a complicated subject over the course of a full year than 1 summer.

 

[Stratego]

I took OChem I & II with lab over the summer (10 semester hours) so I could completely immerse myself in it and get it over with, as I was very intimidated by what I'd heard of the class. It was tough. My entire social life was my study group and lab time that summer. But it was worth it, as I got straight As, and also it turned out that I loved OChem and was asked to TA, which I did for two and a half years. This is a great way to stay fresh so you can kill the MCAT.

 

[Ride Big Sky]

I took organic I and II in a total of 8 weeks earlier this summer. There was a quiz every morning, test every friday, and 3 3hr labs every week. That was also on top of a 3 hour commute every day. It was like a giant kick in the nuts, but it really isn't as bad as most people make it out to be. You can easily get A's if you just put in time every night.

Oh, my class also covered slightly more detail and more chapters than the traditional fall-spring sequence, so it's definitely doable.

If you think you can swing it then do it up. Don't let a bunch of crazy ass pre meds tell you it's too hard.

 

[yowhatup]

its A LOT OF work... and all the material that was covered in fall/spring was covered in my course... it will require giving up your summer as ALL you will be doing is class, labs, late night studying, 3-4 hours of sleep and this repititive routine will be there throughout the summer... On weekends it will be also 3-4 hours of sleep, and the rest of the time will be spent studying... it looks short now, but when you are actually in that class, it feels like time is purposely going MUCH slower than usual .... if you dont follow a routine like this, dont expect to do to well.... i recommend doing it in fall/spring

 

[Poliscidoc]

Since we are on the subject of summer courses. Has anyone ever taken Physics I & II during the summer. I have to take one of these during the summer I just don't know which one to take..

Thanks

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

I did both semesters in one summer. It really wasn't that bad. I actually enjoyed it a lot, but there were others who were overwhelmed. I retained a lot and did very well on the MCAT.

The labs made mine a lot more work than necessary, as we have a kind of crazy lab director who made the labs + lab exams at least as much work as the lecture portion. Still, it wasn't much more work than a normal semester's course-load....or perhaps a course-load of upper-div science classes. I had exams every week and basically only studied on the weekends (those were 12+ hr days though). On the weeknights I did my crazy lab assignments, but it wasn't an all-night affair.

 

[MaryLennox]

Since we are on the subject of summer courses. Has anyone ever taken Physics I & II during the summer. I have to take one of these during the summer I just don't know which one to take..

Thanks

i took physics 1 and 2 back to back over the summer, 6 weeks each. Got an A in 1 and C in 2 🙁

i was glad to get it over with so fast, but it felt pretty useless. my PS score is not so hot. but my circumstances were weird, i was taking prereqs while also doing grad school, so i kind of had to get them out of the way as fast as possible so as not to infuriate my PI. and i was underprepared for physics (never took physics or trig in HS.) i just truly hate physics, so it's questionable whether dragging it out over two entire semesters would have helped me learn much more. honestly, probably not.

i don't think its a bad way to do it, so long as you immerse yourself in it and really learn it. that goes for orgo and physics. the first time i took anatomy was over a summer course and i thought i learned it much better because i was immersed in it every day instead of 2x a week or something.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Yeah, I don't think an accelerated course necessarily correlates with poorer retention or performance, although it certainly concentrates information in a fashion that could make a less enjoyable class into a painful one. On the flip-side, if you're weird like me and actually enjoy orgo, it could do the opposite.

 

[MaryLennox]

Yeah, I don't think an accelerated course necessarily correlates with poorer retention or performance, although it certainly concentrates information in a fashion that could make a less enjoyable class into a painful one. On the flip-side, if you're weird like me and actually enjoy orgo, it could do the opposite.

exactly . . . i hated physics and i hated the accelerated course. i enjoy anatomy, and loved the accelerated course.

although i actually grew to like orgo. it's almost like a language . . . its frustrating when you aren't making the connection, but at some point it 'clicks' and you just start thinking in that language. it seems to me that by that logic total immersion could be really good! it ultimately just depends how much work you put into it. so don't ask us, OP, just be honest with yourself about how lazy/motivated you are. if you aren't lazy i think you'll do fine.

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

Many universities and community colleges offer the entire year of Organic Chemistry, with lab, back to back during the summer. Each is about 6.5 weeks. What do you all think about this?

I would imagine the pace is crazy, so do you guys think it is significantly better to take Organic Chem 1 and Organic Chem 2 the traditional way?

Thanks

1. can you memorize stuff?
2. are you smart?
3. is this the only class?
4. are you dedicated?


Asking us if this is a good idea is pointless. Its up to how you make of it. I have juggled 5 classes and 3 part time jobs, so no, this is not that hard. Plus, most people taking it in the summer aren't always the brightest, might be easier from the class curve perspective.

 

[boostedct9a]

I almost took this at my university but decided to wait until the fall. It turned out to be a great choice. At least at my school you have to write a rough and final draft lab report after each lab. Lab is everyday and it would take around 8 hours everyday JUST FOR LAB ALONE! Everyone I talked to in the class said it was the worst idea they made.

 

[JJMrK]

I know someone who did this. He thought he could save some time but he ended up getting two quick C's. It basically destroyed his chances of becoming a doctor.

His summer was also wasted.

 

[TopSecret]

He went on to a top 20 law school, though, and is JAG in the Navy.

 

[JJMrK]

He went on to a top 20 law school, though, and is JAG in the Navy.

You misunderstand. I'm laughing at your comment, not the person you referenced.

 

[wrkndply]

Many universities and community colleges offer the entire year of Organic Chemistry, with lab, back to back during the summer. Each is about 6.5 weeks. What do you all think about this?

I would imagine the pace is crazy, so do you guys think it is significantly better to take Organic Chem 1 and Organic Chem 2 the traditional way?

Thanks

Thought I'd chime in, i took Organic chemistry I and II last summer. It is defiantly possible but be prepared to eat, sleep, and live O.chem. It is really important not to let your self fall behind in lecture- given the fast pace of the class.

I'm currently preparing for the august 14th mcat and all the organic chem covered on the test was also covered in my condensed summer class, so i don't feel that i lost out on too much information by taking it in 10 weeks.

Also, I found 'Organic Chemistry as a Second Language: Translating the Basic Concepts' by david klein to be fairly helpful in quickly learning basic concepts and mechanisms -as a supplement to the textbook (it was recommended to me by another fellow SDN'er when i took the class🙂 GL.

 

[Substance P]

You misunderstand. I'm laughing at your comment, not the person you referenced.

I was flowin' with you on that one. Two C's don't preclude one from becoming a doctor.



OP, they have organic I and II at my school in 10 weeks, covering ~25 chapters. It's a nightmare, but doable if you don't have anything else going on in the summer. I wish I did it this way. I hate long 16 week semesters. I think all classes should be ~5 weeks. The rest of the time is just filler and makes you feel like a slacker for not studying.

I say go for it if you think you can keep up, if not then take it during a regular semester.

 

[Substance P]

Also, I found 'Organic Chemistry as a Second Language: Translating the Basic Concepts' by david klein to be fairly helpful in quickly learning basic concepts and mechanisms -as a supplement to the textbook (it was recommended to me by another fellow SDN'er when i took the class🙂 GL.

Those are great books. They have one for Ochem I and another for Ochem II. I bought and read both. They are amazing.

 

[Gogogirl]

is it possible to do that?...I wish I could do it in my school...LOL..
I guess you just have to make sure you learn what you are supposed to learn...

 

[jdtx]

i'm just finishing up doing ochemI and ochemII right now (final is on monday) in the summer and OP is right, it is extremely fast paced but if you stay on top of it, it's not so bad.. i feel like i did absorb a lot of the info better because it was the only subject i was focused on (vs during the school year theres physics, bio, whatever)

 

[boaz]

Thought I'd chime in, i took Organic chemistry I and II last summer. It is defiantly possible but be prepared to eat, sleep, and live O.chem. It is really important not to let your self fall behind in lecture- given the fast pace of the class.

Learning orgo is subject to a rate law. If you want to decrease time you need to increase rate. So you really need to increase concentration. The rate constant is unique to each; it depends on school/professor and on student. The constant is sometime such that a realistic increase in concentration will not result in a high enough rate.

I'm still in MCAT mode 😀.

 

[vinniekan]

It's entirely possible. I did it my junior/senior summer taking Orgo I/II + both labs while working 40 hours a week. While I am not trying to brag it, I could tell you it is quite tiring, especially after a 8-hour day of work then going straight to a 3-hour lecture. To be honest I didn't quite retain much detailed information, just the basic that I need for the MCAT. Got A's in all 4 classes so I guess it turned out okay. But most people are right, you don't have many weekends to yourself because you would be studying and busting your ass.

 

[willie0120]

Soo I have a question, can you take both Organic Chemistry I and Org. Chemistry II at the same time??? I thought you couldn't do that.

 

[Wheee]

...is anyone else's school completely opposite? It's well-known at my school that it's easier to get an A in summer ochem than the regular year. It's a lot of work in a shorter amount of time, but the expectations are lower.

Figures I didn't find out about that option til after I took normal-schedule organic...

 

[boaz]

Thought I'd chime in, i took Organic chemistry I and II last summer. It is defiantly possible but be prepared to eat, sleep, and live O.chem. It is really important not to let your self fall behind in lecture- given the fast pace of the class.

I'm currently preparing for the august 14th mcat and all the organic chem covered on the test was also covered in my condensed summer class, so i don't feel that i lost out on too much information by taking it in 10 weeks.

Also, I found 'Organic Chemistry as a Second Language: Translating the Basic Concepts' by david klein to be fairly helpful in quickly learning basic concepts and mechanisms -as a supplement to the textbook (it was recommended to me by another fellow SDN'er when i took the class🙂 GL.

Soo I have a question, can you take both Organic Chemistry I and Org. Chemistry II at the same time??? I thought you couldn't do that.

It's sorta like a kid trying to learn to ride the bicycle and tricycle at the same time.

 

[FlowRate]

When I took OChem during regular semesters, I would put off studying until the weekend before a test. It was a horrible idea, but I got through it. I spent literally about 20 hours every pre-test weekend just studying OChem. I've heard that OC at my univ. isn't that difficult over the summer.

Anyway, I'd recommend against it if you think your university tends to be difficult over the summer.

PS.. ended up number 2 of 140 the first semester, and in top 5 or 10% the second semester. =) [in other words, cramming ochem can be done].

The DOWNSIDE is that I didn't remember very much at all and my teacher emphasized memorizing instead of understanding, so I've had to re-learn a lot of ochem for the MCAT.

 

[TexasFight]

From what I've seen in friends who've done it, it's a quick way to get it out of the way. And if you aren't committed, it's a path down to two quick C's. (or worse)

 

[plaz]

DO IT.

For those of you who say you won't retain anything, BS. As long as you are consistently putting in the time, you will be fine. I did both O-Chem I and II in approximately 14 weeks, and I got A's in both of them.

Now, that said, it was 14 weeks of hell. I studied on average 6-8 hours daily and had only one other easy class as well as research. No job. You have to make yourself love it. If you can make yourself interested, you will be golden.

I'm glad I did it the way I did. The information all flowed from one reaction to the next, and I think I saw the big picture a lot better than I would have had I taken the class over a year's time (kind of like when you read an entire novel in a few days).

Anyway, good luck. Do it.

 

[ZeusonRoids]

It is the best thing I have ever done. I am so glad that I got it out of the way in 12 weeks rather than 10 months.

I would suggest that everyone do it this way.

1. I don't know why everyone is so afraid of O-Chem...it is really not that hard at all as long as you study enough for it.

2. If you cannot manage to at least get a B doing it this way then I think you are probably not medical school material because many of the courses are taught like this.

 

[wanderer]

DO IT.

For those of you who say you won't retain anything, BS. As long as you are consistently putting in the time, you will be fine. I did both O-Chem I and II in approximately 14 weeks, and I got A's in both of them.

How's it BS? Most people when they learn something over a longer period of time tend to retain material better.

 

[plaz]

How's it BS? Most people when they learn something over a longer period of time tend to retain material better.

But you already will be learning the material over a long period of time. Think about it. It's not like organic chemistry disappears after taking O-chem 1 and 2. You use it in all of your biology classes thereafter, especially if you do biochemistry. 14 weeks is plenty of time to absorb organic chemistry. All of the reactions follow a general pattern! As long as you know your relative pka's then you will be FINE.

 

[FuturaDocta]

At a community college..... doable. At a university.... not so much.

👍

CC is like a walk in the park compared to university level.

You may benefit by studying in advance to avoid falling behind since the class is fast paced (for ochem that is a lot).

Ochem I is kinda tough just because you have to learn how to study for that class. Ochem II is much easier because you just have to follow electrons and already know what is going on pretty much.

 

[jryan21]

I took org. chem 1 this summer and I got my first B in this class. Haha! That's why I changed my schedule and moved org. chem 2 this fall! I think there's just too much information to study for 5 weeks! Plus I believe our professor gave us crazy exams! Haha! But hey nothing's impossible! You just really need to add extra effort to your studying which I should have done! 🙂