Need Class Advice

[WannaBeVet]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Heya everyone!

So it's a week and a half into the spring semester and I am currently enrolled in Statistics, Spanish Lit./Film, Organic II, and Evolutionary Genetics.

Here's the problem: Orgo II and my GPA.

My GPA is currently at 3.441 and I need to have a 3.5 for my Baldwins Honors Program. In order to raise my GPA back to the cut off I need to get an A in all of my class and at least a B in Orgo II. The thing is, I know I can't get a B in Orgo this semester. The two classes got combined and now it's a class of 60 and a single professor. The professor is very into POGIL learning style and we are essentially teaching the material by ourselves.

So, my option right now is to drop the Orgo class and pick up some other course that I know I can do well. Raise my GPA with the courses (minus Orgo) and take Orgo over the summer.

So my problem is, how would it look to vet schools with Orgo II completed over the summer? Does it even matter?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I feel lost right now and I have an appointment with my advisor tomorrow. So hopefully everything will get straightened out.

Thank you!

 

[WannaBeVet]

Wow sorry for all of the syntax mistakes! 😛

 

[bee83]

As far as I know it doesn't matter at all when you take the class, just that you do well in it. A summer Orgo is going to be more intense than a regular Orgo, but for some people that's a good thing! If you can still switch classes and not take too many losses, I'd say go for it.

 

[SocialStigma]

I think it would depend on the individual school, is orgo a prereq? If it is, some schools require that all prereqs be completed during full time semesters.

 

[WannaBeVet]

As far as I know it doesn't matter at all when you take the class, just that you do well in it. A summer Orgo is going to be more intense than a regular Orgo, but for some people that's a good thing! If you can still switch classes and not take too many losses, I'd say go for it.

I have till Friday to decide whether to drop or not because Friday is the last day to drop without a W. So I am stressing... =/

 

[WannaBeVet]

I think it would depend on the individual school, is orgo a prereq? If it is, some schools require that all prereqs be completed during full time semesters.

Well 6/7 of the schools that I plan on applying to, do require at least a semester of it. Tufts and Virginia-Maryland want a full year. Though they don't specify if the year of Orgo needs to be completed during a full time semester.

And I don't have enough time to email...

 

[awaring1]

I think it depends where you take it. My friend was running into a similar issue (with Physics) and she called some vet school admissions offices to get some advice. They said that if you take it over the summer at a community college (which many people do out of convenience) then there is a possibility that the admissions committee may look at it as "they couldn't handle it at their school so they took it somewhere easier." This is not to say that orgo at community colleges is truly easier, but that's what she was told. If you plan to take it at your same school, I don't think it will be an issue at all.

(This is just what I have heard and is in no way to be taken as 100% fact.)

 

[WannaBeVet]

I think it depends where you take it. My friend was running into a similar issue (with Physics) and she called some vet school admissions offices to get some advice. They said that if you take it over the summer at a community college (which many people do out of convenience) then there is a possibility that the admissions committee may look at it as "they couldn't handle it at their school so they took it somewhere easier." This is not to say that orgo at community colleges is truly easier, but that's what she was told. If you plan to take it at your same school, I don't think it will be an issue at all.

(This is just what I have heard and is in no way to be taken as 100% fact.)

That's what I was worried about too, until I did some research and learned that my community isn't even offering it. So I would be taking it at my school...Which is a little bit intimidating too because the summer course is 3 times a week for 3 hrs, plus lab.

 

[Chinola]

That's what I was worried about too, until I did some research and learned that my community isn't even offering it. So I would be taking it at my school...Which is a little bit intimidating too because the summer course is 3 times a week for 3 hrs, plus lab.

I took Orgo I over the summer and found it too much in a short period of time. But some other people that took it with me loved how concentrated it was. From what I've heard vet schools don't mind that you take it over the summer. I had to take summer classes in order to fit my 2 majors and pre-reqs into 4 years. As long as it's at your regular university I don't think it'll be a problem at all.

 

[WannaBeVet]

I took Orgo I over the summer and found it too much in a short period of time. But some other people that took it with me loved how concentrated it was. From what I've heard vet schools don't mind that you take it over the summer. I had to take summer classes in order to fit my 2 majors and pre-reqs into 4 years. As long as it's at your regular university I don't think it'll be a problem at all.

Thank you for the advice! I am just lost because the current way the class is going I know I won't do well. The class used to be 2 classes of ~25 with two separate professors. But they now combined the two classes into one and we have about 60 people sitting in the largest hall in the science building with one professor. And to top it all off, the professor is amazing in lab but seems lost in lecture.

So I don't even know if the summer class would be any different, aside from the longer classes and with more material each class. I'm a double major like you so I have a ton of things to squeeze into my schedule.

Did you find the class easier to deal with though than in a regular semester, even if it was very concentrated?

 

[Cautionary Tail]

As others have said, as long as you aren't applying to a program that requires you to complete all prereqs while going full time, and you aren't attempting to take it at a different school the adcoms might deem "easier", I don't think it's a problem.

I took my lit and physics prereqs during the summer. (Lit because our school's program was waaaay too writing-intensive for me to be able to handle it along with work and three other upper-level science courses... and physics because I find it difficult and excruciatingly boring, and I needed it to be condensed so I wouldn't start forgetting stuff before the final. And so it would be tolerable.) I think I probably would have been more successful in orgo if I'd taken it in the summer when I could have completely immersed myself in it without having to deal with prepping for other courses.

 

[Cautionary Tail]

ETA- One possible drawback to summer courses is that the professor may not have enough time to squeeze in all the material. If this is Orgo I, and you still have to take Orgo II, unless your school offers multiple summer sessions and you are able to take one right after the other (where, presumably most of those in II would have taken I with you), you may find that there are some gaps in the material when you take II later.

 

[WannaBeVet]

ETA- One possible drawback to summer courses is that the professor may not have enough time to squeeze in all the material. If this is Orgo I, and you still have to take Orgo II, unless your school offers multiple summer sessions and you are able to take one right after the other (where, presumably most of those in II would have taken I with you), you may find that there are some gaps in the material when you take II later.

No, I'm talking about Orgo II and I think I might agree with you...it just might be easier to deal with and only focus on Orgo over the summer than have to juggle. I am currently juggling 4 classes, 2 part time jobs, and commuting an hour one way.

 

[Chinola]

Did you find the class easier to deal with though than in a regular semester, even if it was very concentrated?

My problem is that I need time to disconnect from a class and then come back a few days later (or even a day later!). You can't do that in a summer course. You need to stay on top of each day of lecture. My boyfriend who was in the class with me (that's how we met - how romantic...organic chemistry haha) loved summer classes. He just immersed himself in the material and totally rocked the class. It really depends on how you handle courses. He loved taking it for 6 weeks, devoting himself to it fully and then being done with it.

 

[WannaBeVet]

My problem is that I need time to disconnect from a class and then come back a few days later (or even a day later!). You can't do that in a summer course. You need to stay on top of each day of lecture. My boyfriend who was in the class with me (that's how we met - how romantic...organic chemistry haha) loved summer classes. He just immersed himself in the material and totally rocked the class. It really depends on how you handle courses. He loved taking it for 6 weeks, devoting himself to it fully and then being done with it.

Aah, I don't know! Lol. I think I would be okay with a little more orgo each day as long as it's taught in a sensible manner. At least taking Orgo over the summer, I wouldn't have to worry about other classes and papers and assignments.

I think I pretty much just convinced myself to drop the class and go the summer route. But I still need to talk to my advisor, see what she says. Though I don't know how much help she will be - we only have a 1 person go to vet school each year from the graduating class. 😎

 

[Cautionary Tail]

No, I'm talking about Orgo II and I think I might agree with you...it just might be easier to deal with and only focus on Orgo over the summer than have to juggle. I am currently juggling 4 classes, 2 part time jobs, and commuting an hour one way.

That's how I operate, but in the majority of summer classes I took, the attrition rates were pretty high... it's definitely not for everyone. I loved the short, intensive format. (Since these weren't my favorite courses, I also loved the fact that any extraneous material and assignments were left out in the interest of time conservation.)

That said, I did find that if I overdid summer coursework, I went into the fall semester feeling kind of burned out and not necessarily doing my best right off the bat. I need that occasional break from academia... it keeps me sane(r). 😉

 

[KaibabVet]

I've heard from a few people who tried to take organic chemistry over the summer that it was just too much for them in such a short time period. Although I haven't tried it myself, I think I am doing much better taking the class during regular semester hours. There's a LOT of material covered every day! That being said, I don't think it would hurt your chances at all to take any class during the summer, as long as it is at a "decent" university.

Although I know a 60 person class seems pretty big to you, organic chemistry classes are usually weed-out classes, and it is not atypical to find much bigger classes at universities all over the country. I just took Organic I at Georgia State University and (thankfully) managed to make an A, and there were over 200 people in my class! I think organic chem just requires tons of practice problems, and if you are willing to do the work, a large class size doesn't make too much of a difference.

Good luck, and I'm sure you will make the decision that is best for you.

 

[GellaBella]

Hey there!

Who is teaching orgo at Drew these days?? I don't remember my professors name but maybe i would recognize it if I saw it...I imagine its someone new though.

I actually just recently re-took orgo over the summer at Rutgers University. It was actually a really good course. I think it met every day (or 4 days a week or something) but it was in my opinion really helpful to be seeing the stuff every day...I do agree with others though, you have to make the committment to spend all day in lecture/lab and then go home and try to understand what you learned that day, because things can snowball quickly out of control in a summer class.

i took both sections, first orgo I then orgo II. try looking into other colleges (like rutgers) that might be cheaper than taking the classes at Drew (which is fairly expensive) and will pose no problem to admissions committees in terms of 'academic rigor' which is the potential problem with taking classes at community college.. For what its worth, I got Cs in my first attempt at orgo during undergrad. The last time around I got an A and a B+ in Orgo I and II respectively.

I'd drop it since your scholorship depends on it and re-take it at a time when you can focus your attention on it more.

 

[WannaBeVet]

Hey there!

Who is teaching orgo at Drew these days?? I don't remember my professors name but maybe i would recognize it if I saw it...I imagine its someone new though.

I actually just recently re-took orgo over the summer at Rutgers University. It was actually a really good course. I think it met every day (or 4 days a week or something) but it was in my opinion really helpful to be seeing the stuff every day...I do agree with others though, you have to make the committment to spend all day in lecture/lab and then go home and try to understand what you learned that day, because things can snowball quickly out of control in a summer class.

i took both sections, first orgo I then orgo II. try looking into other colleges (like rutgers) that might be cheaper than taking the classes at Drew (which is fairly expensive) and will pose no problem to admissions committees in terms of 'academic rigor' which is the potential problem with taking classes at community college.. For what its worth, I got Cs in my first attempt at orgo during undergrad. The last time around I got an A and a B+ in Orgo I and II respectively.

I'd drop it since your scholorship depends on it and re-take it at a time when you can focus your attention on it more.

I think this is exactly what I will end up doing. I would rather take orgo over the summer and suffer than lose my Honors Program standing and lose my scholarship.

I had Liu the first semester for Orgo and now I have Rosan. The classes would be okay if not for Drew's commitment to that ridiculous POGIL learning style. I don't know if that was enforced when you took Orgo at Drew but I can't seem to learn with that type of lecture.

 

[WannaBeVet]

I've heard from a few people who tried to take organic chemistry over the summer that it was just too much for them in such a short time period. Although I haven't tried it myself, I think I am doing much better taking the class during regular semester hours. There's a LOT of material covered every day! That being said, I don't think it would hurt your chances at all to take any class during the summer, as long as it is at a "decent" university.

Although I know a 60 person class seems pretty big to you, organic chemistry classes are usually weed-out classes, and it is not atypical to find much bigger classes at universities all over the country. I just took Organic I at Georgia State University and (thankfully) managed to make an A, and there were over 200 people in my class! I think organic chem just requires tons of practice problems, and if you are willing to do the work, a large class size doesn't make too much of a difference.

Good luck, and I'm sure you will make the decision that is best for you.

Oh, I know 60 isn't a high number. But I am at a university where I have never had a class above 25 people. My labs consist of maybe only 15 people! I think my largest problem is that my school believes in the POGIL learning style; aka we get worksheets and guided activities that through questions and diagrams get us to learn the material. Though the information that we need to know is never outright explained or stated. And the current professor never goes over the activities so we don't even know if our assumptions about the material are correct.

I don't know, I just feel really torn about what I should do. Most likely I will end up just doing the summer course so I don't risk my Honors Program status or lose my scholarship...