How much will one summer school class actually hurt my application?

[Bill949]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I did a Google search for this, and I got mixed answers. Some say that doing a pre-med class over the summer is terrible.

Here's my situation: I'm a sophomore Computer Engineering major and I just recently decided to go to med school. I already have all of my Bio, Physics, and Math requirements completed. However, I haven't taken one Chemistry class yet; I have 3 semesters left until I need to start applying to med school if I don't want to take a gap year, and I need to take 4 semesters of chemistry.

So, my question is this: If I took General Chem 2 over the summer at the institution that I normally go to school at, how badly will this be seen by the admissions committee? In past semesters, I've taken no less than 16 credits a semester, and up to 21. I've taken 3 labs at once (bio, physics, and a computer engineering class) and gotten A's in all of them. The only reason that I would be taking this class during the summer is so I can move on to higher level chemistry. My GPA, EC's, and everything else will be ready to apply to med school by the end of junior year, but if I don't take Organic Chemistry 2 I won't be ready for the MCAT. This class also won't affect my summer plans because I have already set up a physician to shadow and I am doing volunteer work with a organization that I am a part of, and the class will only be about an hour or two a day.

Thanks!

 

[pre med 2014]

I recommend summer class.

 

[Bluto385]

Summer classes are fine. I have taken a total of 21 credit hours over two summers and it didn't hinder my application one bit. If you're taking them at a CC instead of your university, then that's a different story.

 

[Josh7]

That wouldn't look bad at all. If you're taking the class at the same school you normally go to then it will actually be harder since the course is usually condensed to 8 weeks.

 

[Catalystik]

Take the summer class to catch up. You'll be fine.

 

[MilMD01]

Summer classes are awesome. I took Physics 1 and 2 over consecutive summers. I got A's... if I would have taken them concurrently with O chem etc... who knows what would have happened. It's nice to take a single class over the summer.

 

[notbobtrustme]

I took 6 summer classes over 3 summers and no one said a thing. Of course that was a decade ago...

 

[bigdogrob4284]

I took 6 summer classes over 3 summers and no one said a thing. Of course that was a decade ago...

I also took several summer condensed courses and it was never mentioned at all. It won't hurt you in any way.

 

[darkjedi]

if you took the class at your home institution, then there is no real difference as far as your application goes. What is usually frowned upon is taking a hard class at a local community/city/state college that may be viewed as 'easier'.