Organic Chemistry over the summer

[indiasfinest]

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I currently go to The Ohio State University. I'm a freshmen and should start taking organic chemistry next year. However, I can finish the entire series (including labs) at Capital University over the summer in only two months! I plan on applying to The Ohio State University Medical School and was wondering if they frown upon this? Is this a good idea?
I'm sure I can handle it, but want some more opinions....

Info About Me:
First quarter GPA- 3.81
Second quarter GPA- 3.53 (First time living on campus which caused a low GPA)
Honors Biology Major. If I take Organic over the summer I could graduate in three years or double major in chemistry and biology. Which option is better?
I aim to have a 3.8+ cumulative GPA when I graduate...

Thanks,
indiasfinest

 

[Caesar]

If you are going to take more chem I don't see any problems with doing organic in the summer. If not then the only issue is that it may look like you were trying to take it elsewhere because you thought it'd be easier. But even then if it will let you graduate early and that's something you want then take it and explain it later.

 

[Mobius1985]

I think it's fine to take Organic I & II elsewhere over the summer, as long as the course is sufficiently rigorous to prepare you well for the MCAT. I do not know OSU's personal opinion on the subject, but you can call and ask.

I graduated in three years and saved $20,000 by doing so. If economic concerns are an issue, then graduate early. But be aware, you will be held to the same expectations for extracurriculars as others applying at the same time with an extra year to complete them in. Others on SDN will say you should have fun and study other things you'll never have a chance to learn with that extra year. For me, being frugal is more important. If a second major is important to you, then you should do what is right for you.

 

[witness23]

i graduated in 3 years without summer classes (chem/math). it saved me 50k. in hindsight i would have gone to my state school for 4 years or joined the military.

you would need to have everything straight including gpa, mcat, clinical, volunteering, research, LOR. graduating in 3 years does not help your app, nor does a double major.

if you get As in organic, people will not question it. however, i suggest you do research or something else on top of your courseload.

 

[Vido]

Well, from a person who had this experience before, i am going to tell you that it is not going to be a pleasant experience. But, once you are done and look back at the monster that moved off your shoulders in a very short time you will be glad and forget about those horrible, horrible, horrible two months.

 

[Isoprop]

I currently go to The Ohio State University. I'm a freshmen and should start taking organic chemistry next year. However, I can finish the entire series (including labs) at Capital University over the summer in only two months! I plan on applying to The Ohio State University Medical School and was wondering if they frown upon this? Is this a good idea?
I'm sure I can handle it, but want some more opinions....

Info About Me:
First quarter GPA- 3.81
Second quarter GPA- 3.53 (First time living on campus which caused a low GPA)
Honors Biology Major. If I take Organic over the summer I could graduate in three years or double major in chemistry and biology. Which option is better?
I aim to have a 3.8+ cumulative GPA when I graduate...

Thanks,
indiasfinest

The summer would be spent more wisely if you participate in a REU program or some kind of summer internship. You have plenty of time to take courses. And a combined major or finishing your prereqs early won't give you an advantage whatsoever in med school apps.

Some ideas of how to spend your summer: http://preprofessional.osu.edu/health/cocurricular.cfm

 

[indiasfinest]

Thanks for the help everyone.

I've decided to take it during the summer and graduate in three years. I believe I'll have time to shadow and volunteer and do some research during the school year. Is there any other ECs you would think would help? Or anything else for that matter?

 

[shinelikestars]

Organic Chemistry is a difficult class for most people and it's especially difficult to both the lab and the class itself in the summer--at least at my school, it is. You have the class for several hours every day and then a lab for ~5 hours (not certain if the lab is every day but it might be). You'll need to immerse yourself in the subject for the entire summer, go to school and study orgo and then come back home and study orgo some more. Plainly, it's exhausting. Orgo requires practice, practice, practice. It's also got conceptual elements as well as memorization elements--which makes it different than Chem I which mostly just conceptual, and different than Bio which is mostly memorization. The people I know who have taken it in the summer basically said it was hell on earth because they really did have to immerse themselves in the subject. The people who did well are now orgo geniuses though, just because they had to spend so much time doing it...they basically spent their entire summer doing organic chemistry, lol. The ones who didn't...well...let's just say they regret taking the class in the summer.

I personally am going to take organic in the fall after discussing the matter with my gen. chem professor, students who have taken it in the summer, and the professor who is teaching orgo in the summer. Instead I'll be doing a REU program that my school hosts to put on my EC list as well as taking some of the core classes that are not part of my science GPA or my major GPA (I'll be taking a Spanish Class required for the honors college; but is not required for my Chemical Engineering degree).

I know that med schools really don't care if you have a double major or graduated early so it won't give you an advantage in your application. But if it's what you want, go for it!

I don't think Capital University is a CC (judging by its name). If it's a 4 year research institution, I'm sure it won't look terrible on your transcripts. Especially if you live away from OSU, it's easily explainable to say you were trying to get ahead in your work at a 4-year college closer to home if asked about it. You can definitely spin it so it works in your favor, if asked.

I'm just a freshman though. I just thought I'd put in my 2 cents because I was considering doing this as well.

 

[binko]

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO IT AT CAPITAL! Seriously I regret doing it at OSU when I could have done it at Capital instead SO! MUCH!

If you do take it at OSU make sure you know people who know their shiznit because some of the profs and TAs will deliberately mess with you just to try to get you to drop the class. Some even come right out and say this. Basically, if you can't take it with Callam, don't take it at OSU. I kid you not.

 

[indiasfinest]

Thanks, you make me feel alot better about my decision. If Ochem is anything like Chem at OSU it would be horrible. I'm definately doing it at Capital. Thanks for the advice!

 

[jtimmer1]

I thought about doing Organic in the summer, but I decided against it after being advised not to by many professors. Organic Chemistry is a rigorous and demanding course during the school year, and that rigor is usually multiplied when taken in the summer. If you must take it, just make sure that commit ample time and effort and "learn" the material; it will be on the MCAT.

As for med schools caring if it was taken over the summer, or somewhere else, I think the factor is negligible.

 

[gumbyj]

I am taking Orgo II over the summer, summer session II actually, it should be super fun... an eight week Orgo II class, with class for three hours four days a week. I am really excited, it should be the best thing that ever happened to me.

 

[atomi]

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[biochemista]

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO IT AT CAPITAL! Seriously I regret doing it at OSU when I could have done it at Capital instead SO! MUCH!

If you do take it at OSU make sure you know people who know their shiznit because some of the profs and TAs will deliberately mess with you just to try to get you to drop the class. Some even come right out and say this. Basically, if you can't take it with Callam, don't take it at OSU. I kid you not.

deleted

 

[martian93]

This sounds like a fast track to failure. There is a ton of material to learn in orgo and while it sounds great in theory, remember that you are going to need to know this material for the mcat. However, if you think that you can handle it then all the power to you.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Guys this thread is three years old.

 

[Matt In The Hat]

I did Organic I and II through the summer. It's definitely tough, but you'll learn it really well. I pulled A's in the classes and labs, but it did take a lot of extra time and dedication.

Our professor used to come in each Monday and check us for suntans. If you had time to be in the sun, you didn't spend enough time studying over the weekend.

 

[Matt In The Hat]

Guys this thread is three years old.

Oh yeah - didn't pay attention to the dates.

How was orgo, indiasfinest?