Harvard Extension.. 2 courses at once?

[playthatfunky]

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I was gonna post this in the Official Harvard thread but it looked like it was for current students, so dont yell at me for starting a new thread please 🙂

I am planning on starting this summer and taking chem at summer school, then physics, ochem, biology during the school year. An advisor there told me plenty of people do it like that but that seems rather difficult, especially to get A's.

The cost of summer school is more I know and that doesn't bother me. Would a Summer-Fall-Spring-Summer schedule be better? Would that interfere with ideal MCAT studying? Is summer school more difficult I should avoid it?

 

[jamesrd]

The summer school is the same (professor/material). Except, of course, you fit what normally takes 9 months to teach into 8 weeks. I volunteered with a guy who did chem last summer and he seemed ok with it. He also graduated from a top 5 university with an engineering degree, so he's obviously to this kind of thing.

In any case, the people who can give you the best advice are the advisors. They'll tell you exactly what to expect, and if you want to go that way, it's your prerogative. If you're asking me, it's crazy. You'll be taking three classes, studying for the MCATs, getting your ducks in a row for the AMCAS, and maintaining EC's. If you feel confident, then do it, but remember that this is it; if you screw up as a post-bacc, you don't have another chance (no pressure, really), so consider your options carefully.

 

[Sundarban1]

I was gonna post this in the Official Harvard thread but it looked like it was for current students, so dont yell at me for starting a new thread please 🙂

I am planning on starting this summer and taking chem at summer school, then physics, ochem, biology during the school year. An advisor there told me plenty of people do it like that but that seems rather difficult, especially to get A's.

The cost of summer school is more I know and that doesn't bother me. Would a Summer-Fall-Spring-Summer schedule be better? Would that interfere with ideal MCAT studying? Is summer school more difficult I should avoid it?

Have you spoken with one of the HES advisors? Centainly in the information session they discouraged students from taking chem over the summer and 3 courses in a year. The courses are very demanding. A lot depends on your background in science and math. I beleive a few people in the program do it that way, but not many. I would speak with Owen Peterson or Bill Fixsen directly before making a decision. I'd say over 90% of the people I've met here are doing the 2 year program taking 2 classes at the most.

 

[jays2cool4u]

I took orgo last summer at Harvard. I've done a lot of stupid things in my life but that was by far the dumbest. If you take summer classes at Harvard make sure you do not have any other commitments, i.e., a job, another summer class, a girlfriend, etc. That class basically becomes your life for 8 weeks. It can be done but be prepared to work your a$$ off.

Jays2cool4u 😎

 

[playthatfunky]

If I'm going on the Summer-Fall-Spring-Summer plan, should I take the MCAT that august or wait til April and study up? ...better to do it while its most fresh or when you have more time to prepare? My gut would tell me to wait til April since I wouldn't be applying until then anyway.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Excuse me while I hijack this thread🙂

I have a car and a motorcycle that are nearly paid off. Would I be crazy to bring them to school with me if I decide to go the HES route? How many people here sold off their vehicles?

 

[Sundarban1]

If I'm going on the Summer-Fall-Spring-Summer plan, should I take the MCAT that august or wait til April and study up? ...better to do it while its most fresh or when you have more time to prepare? My gut would tell me to wait til April since I wouldn't be applying until then anyway.

If your going for the 1 year route I would say don't get your heart set on April until you start classes because you may find it overwhelming and switch to the 2 year route and take the MCAT the year after.

What you don't want is to sign up for classes without talking to the advisers or other people that have gone that route because you don't want to be put in the position to have to drop classes.

I'm telling you I know a few people who do not work and tried the 1 year route who did not do as well as they wanted and had to deal with the consequences during application time. These classes are not your typical classes they are very demading and are tought differently than your typical science class. I think that is what most ambitious people do not realize until they start the classes and then have to either drop or go through the classes and not get A's.

If you want sponsorship you need to do well and it's very hard to find the proper balance in 1 year. Thats my advice.

 

[Sundarban1]

Excuse me while I hijack this thread🙂

I have a car and a motorcycle that are nearly paid off. Would I be crazy to bring them to school with me if I decide to go the HES route? How many people here sold off their vehicles?

Everyone I know does not have a vehicle and relies on the subway, including me. I sold my car before I got here because insurance is so high, one of the most expensive places to have a car actually. Insted of paying $40 a week on gas and $200 a month on insurance (plus a car note if you have one) I pay $35 a month for a subway pass and you can go anywhere in the area you want.

 

[BobLJ99]

You will want to consider the one-year route very carefully. As Sundarban said, the courses here are very rigorous and require a lot of time. I know many people who have taken chemistry and physics a first time at another university and are retaking them for grade improvement who say that the material is much more challenging here.

As far as taking chemistry over the summer, I advise you with extreme caution to think about this move very carefully. You are taught an ENTIRE academic year's worth of material in only 7 weeks, not 8. The eighth week is your final exam. Chemistry is very important. The MCAT will be most heavily weighted with chemistry, so the penalty for forgetting the material is great. I was considering the one year plan as well starting with chem over the summer, but received superb advice from someone who recently finished the HCP and had multiple med school acceptances. This person advised me against it just as I am advising you to rethink it. I am so glad that I did not take chem over the summer as I have been away from science and math for quite some time and do not want to jeopardize doing well in the needed classes for medical school. Furthermore, Greg Tucci, the chemistry professor in the HCP, teaches the course extremely well and assembles a schedule for students to maximize their success if they follow this schedule.

Ultimately it is your decision, but you want to make the most informed decision possible. My advice is take your time and do not do not bite off more than you can chew. Medical school admissions are competitive enough, so I would give yourself adequate time to be as successful as possible. Good luck and PM if you have any further questions.

Everyone I know does not have a vehicle and relies on the subway, including me. I sold my car before I got here because insurance is so high, one of the most expensive places to have a car actually. Insted of paying $40 a week on gas and $200 a month on insurance (plus a car note if you have one) I pay $35 a month for a subway pass and you can go anywhere in the area you want.

 

[ltrain]

If I'm going on the Summer-Fall-Spring-Summer plan, should I take the MCAT that august or wait til April and study up? ...better to do it while its most fresh or when you have more time to prepare? My gut would tell me to wait til April since I wouldn't be applying until then anyway.

if you aren't going to be applying for another year, why don't you just take two classes a year for two years (instead of 4 classes in one year and nothing in the second year)?

everyone who i know who took orgo over the summer hated their life while they were doing it, and most regretted taking it over such a short period of time. these classes are going to be the basis of everything you learn in med school. i say take the time to learn the stuff right.

in terms of taking three classes at a time, if you're not working, i think it's do-able. currently i work full-time and take two classes, so i feel like you could manage three if school is your main focus.

good luck!

 

[playthatfunky]

if you aren't going to be applying for another year, why don't you just take two classes a year for two years (instead of 4 classes in one year and nothing in the second year)?

everyone who i know who took orgo over the summer hated their life while they were doing it, and most regretted taking it over such a short period of time. these classes are going to be the basis of everything you learn in med school. i say take the time to learn the stuff right.

in terms of taking three classes at a time, if you're not working, i think it's do-able. currently i work full-time and take two classes, so i feel like you could manage three if school is your main focus.

good luck!

thanks for your advice.

im in no rush it has a lot more to do with the fact that i own outright a 800k waterfront home and i like spending as much time here as possible rather than paying rent in cambridge or somerville. obviously ive decided to go to medical school which will mean moving away for awhile so its not the biggest deal in the world.

you're the first person to say 3 at once would not be too overwhelming. i would not be working or doing anything else other than school while i was there. if i didnt get a satellite dish or cable i bet i could do it haha.

my girlfriend is gonna go to the massage school in somerville (just for fun not for a career) so free massages for everyone 🙂

 

[Sundarban1]

thanks for your advice.

im in no rush it has a lot more to do with the fact that i own outright a 800k waterfront home and i like spending as much time here as possible rather than paying rent in cambridge or somerville. obviously ive decided to go to medical school which will mean moving away for awhile so its not the biggest deal in the world.

you're the first person to say 3 at once would not be too overwhelming. i would not be working or doing anything else other than school while i was there. if i didnt get a satellite dish or cable i bet i could do it haha.

my girlfriend is gonna go to the massage school in somerville (just for fun not for a career) so free massages for everyone 🙂

The X factor is how comfortable you are with math and science. The only people I've seen in the past do very well in the one year route were VERY bright (not to say that you are not) and had no commitments outside of school. If you have to commute and have a girlfriend, etc. the last thing you want to do is get in over your head.

I'm here now and I don't know anyone doing the 1 year route. Again I want to stress the fact that once you get into the classes you will see how tought the schedule is, especially with commuting.

Think about your schedule: You have lecture 4x a week (bio meets 2x a week, physics 1x and ochem 1x for 3 hrs each). All three have labs every other week. Physics has a required section and so does ochem I believe. That right there is 90% of your week. Then you have homework assignments every week for physics, which are very time consuming and expect to spend at least 3-5 hours a week on the homework (just physics). Ochem has quizzes every week before lecture and suggested problem sets each week. The same with biology.

BobLJ99 is in chem and physics with me. I have a 40hr week job plus class, he has no job and a fiance, he can tell you he is barely keeping his head above water and he is a very bright student.

I'm telling you. 3 classes is no joke.

 

[playthatfunky]

The X factor is how comfortable you are with math and science. The only people I've seen in the past do very well in the one year route were VERY bright (not to say that you are not) and had no commitments outside of school. If you have to commute and have a girlfriend, etc. the last thing you want to do is get in over your head.

I'm here now and I don't know anyone doing the 1 year route. Again I want to stress the fact that once you get into the classes you will see how tought the schedule is, especially with commuting.

Think about your schedule: You have lecture 4x a week (bio meets 2x a week, physics 1x and ochem 1x for 3 hrs each). All three have labs every other week. Physics has a required section and so does ochem I believe. That right there is 90% of your week. Then you have homework assignments every week for physics, which are very time consuming and expect to spend at least 3-5 hours a week on the homework (just physics). Ochem has quizzes every week before lecture and suggested problem sets each week. The same with biology.

BobLJ99 is in chem and physics with me. I have a 40hr week job plus class, he has no job and a fiance, he can tell you he is barely keeping his head above water and he is a very bright student.

I'm telling you. 3 classes is no joke.

You have definitely convinced me to not go 3 classes, I would rather it take longer and do better. From what I've read something like 80% with sponsorship from the department get into medical school so if I take my time, get A's (no easy task), do well on my MCAT I should be good to go. Much better than rushing it, failing to get the grades, and be looking for more schooling to prove myself.