Express/Accelerated Classes?

[rarekra]

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Hi everyone,

I tried looking for this across the internet, but I couldn't really find anything helpful. Would you recommend taking accelerated pre-reqs, for instance an 8 week instead of the traditional 16 week? They are during this upcoming fall semester. I'm thinking about knocking biology 1 and 2 in one semester rather than 2.


Let me know what you think, and what adcoms might maybe think.

 

[ndafife]

Hi everyone,

I tried looking for this across the internet, but I couldn't really find anything helpful. Would you recommend taking accelerated pre-reqs, for instance an 8 week instead of the traditional 16 week? They are during this upcoming fall semester. I'm thinking about knocking biology 1 and 2 in one semester rather than 2.


Let me know what you think, and what adcoms might maybe think.

If you do crappy in the courses ADCOMs will look at it like you did crappy in your pre-req coursework
If you do well, ADCOMs will look at it like you did well in your pre-req coursework

AKA its really not going to make a difference in terms of perception. If you feel comfortable doing well in them, then its nice to get them out of the way early and open up more freedom in terms of course selection going forward. If you don't, then it doesnt really make a difference either way.

 

[tjo422]

Hi everyone,

I tried looking for this across the internet, but I couldn't really find anything helpful. Would you recommend taking accelerated pre-reqs, for instance an 8 week instead of the traditional 16 week? They are during this upcoming fall semester. I'm thinking about knocking biology 1 and 2 in one semester rather than 2.


Let me know what you think, and what adcoms might maybe think.

I don't know what adcoms would think (I suspect it wouldn't make a difference as long as you do well). From a strategic viewpoint, I'm assuming you'd only be getting half the normal credit from these instead of full credit since you're spending half the time completing them. I would be hesitant, just because intro Bio is the best chance to boost your science GPA since it is likely that the rest of your science classes will be harder. Do you want an A counting for 8 credits or an A counting for 4?


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[OchemOficionado]

I don't know what adcoms would think (I suspect it wouldn't make a difference as long as you do well). From a strategic viewpoint, I'm assuming you'd only be getting half the normal credit from these instead of full credit since you're spending half the time completing them. I would be hesitant, just because intro Bio is the best chance to boost your science GPA since it is likely that the rest of your science classes will be harder. Do you want an A counting for 8 credits or an A counting for 4?


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Your assumption that since you're going through the material faster you spend less hours in lecture/lab or you earn less credits is incorrect. It's just like summer school. You do regular classes in a few weeks and earn the same amount of credit per course.

 

[tjo422]

Your assumption that since you're going through the material faster you spend less hours in lecture/lab or you earn less credits is incorrect. It's just like summer school. You do regular classes in a few weeks and earn the same amount of credit per course.

Gotcha. The one summer class I was a TA for was so many hours condensed into a shorter time period that it actually worked out to be the same hours for the same credit, but I guess that isn't consistent across schools.




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[OchemOficionado]

That misses the point. Whether true or not in any particular school, there is perception across many adcom members that condensed classes are less rigorous. Thus accelerated courses may raise a question in an adcom's collective mind. As was previously mentioned by a poster, doing well in those classes that matches a consistent pattern in your academic background will be what sells. Just be aware a slight perceived bias may exist

Haha. That was just a different point.

 

[cindyweavy]

This is a good option in the Los Angeles area for prereqs and accelerated weekend courses

http://www.scuhs.edu/academics/csih/accelerated-science-courses/