Orgo or Physics over the summer?

[masterMood]

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I was reading a particular thread about taking orgo over the summer and it got me thinking should I take organic chemistry or physics over the summer. Physics is easier because it's more conceptual than memorization and I already have some AP physics background in it. However, I didn't pay much attention in ap physics so it's not like i have a great handling of physics (moreso of laziness not my capability). My understanding of orgo is that if i took organic chemistry over the summer, it could become hell because i have never taken orgo before, it's going to be a lot of work, but the benefit is that i wouldn't learn as much b.s. (learn the concepts and basic rxns or whatever we learn). Physics, however, is also much more stressed on the mcat and i want to get a comprehensive understanding of it (taking the time to read the chapters and memorize conceptually ya know) and I think it would be very condensed over the summer. Orgo, is like what, 2-3 questions on the mcat and the stuff that is needed to be learned for the mcat is very basic.

oh yeah, what is the typiucal deadline to sign up for summer classes? (particularly union college?)

 

[karirunner]

Take physics! I took physics over the summer and it was actually fun. The class was small and we got a lot of chances to ask the professor questions and get individual help if we needed it. Orgo would eat up whatever free time you had during the summer. Ask your school's registrar office when you need to register by. Good luck!

 

[medicalbound]

I agree that Physics would be a better bet for the summer. I took both Physics I and II over the summer (different summers) and learned a lot.

While it is true that there is considerably less orgo on the MCAT, not all of it is basic and I think there is like a 60/40 split between bio and orgo, so there is still a significant amount. When I took the MCAT, there were several orgo problems that required 2nd semester knowledge to even have a clue what was being asked.

 

[DrBowtie]

Another vote for physics. There just aren't enough hours in the day to memorize all of organic chemistry in 8-10 weeks. You can learn physics though.

 

[dr.z]

I took physics over the summer, and I did fine. I cannot imagine taking Orgo during the summer.

 

[tulane06]

If you have to take one or the other over the summer, do physics. However, it would be better if you could do both over normal fall/spring semesters. I've heard that some med schools will ask you for an explanation if you do a pre-req during the summer.

 

[QuikClot]

Ditto. Did physics in summer, org. in the year, can't imagine doing it the other way around.

 

[deuist]

I'll be the sole person to disagree. During the summer, most of my friends leave and then I'm left with all sorts of free time. I would gladly take orgo during the summer to pound through all of the work. I remember when I took differential equations over 6 weeks one year. The class was hell; and I spent 4 hours every night studying and doing problems. Now I'm glad that I was able to put it behind me so quickly. The fall semester became so much easier.

 

[mustangsally65]

I hope this doesn't make me sound like a gunner.

In the summer of 2004 I took both Organic I and II and Physics I and II. At my school the summer was split into two five-week sessions, so first session I had Organic I and Physics I, and the second session I had Organic II and Physics II. I majored in Psychology and English, and had very few science classes (no bio, one intro chem class, and the rest in high school) before that summer.

I was in class from 10:15 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. every day (one lecture in each class) and then I had Physics lab three afternoons a week from 2:45 until 4:45. I didn't take the Organic lab until the following spring becuase 14 hours was the most I could fit in and the labs were conflicting with the Physics lab. Anyway, I got an A- in the first Organic, and then A's in the rest of the classes. I was amazed, because like I said before I wasn't really a science student, but it was the summer after I had finished four years of college (I was 22).

I got home about 6 p.m. at night after lab, and spent a few hours doing homework, and maybe once a week I met with people from my Physics class and did homework and studied with them. Organic was much easier for me than Physics, but I felt like because it was summer session I could spend all my time on just one or two classes. I also had a good teacher in both Organic classes and my first Physics class. Second-session Physics was more tough, but there was a curve so I still got an A.

I think a lot of it depends on the time you have to devote to studying (are you working? spending time with friends? going to the beach etc.?) and how good of a teacher you have. I think either subject is definitely doable in the summer session. If I can do it, anyone can. Good luck!

 

[antihero94]

I was reading a particular thread about taking orgo over the summer and it got me thinking should I take organic chemistry or physics over the summer. Physics is easier because it's more conceptual than memorization and I already have some AP physics background in it. However, I didn't pay much attention in ap physics so it's not like i have a great handling of physics (moreso of laziness not my capability). My understanding of orgo is that if i took organic chemistry over the summer, it could become hell because i have never taken orgo before, it's going to be a lot of work, but the benefit is that i wouldn't learn as much b.s. (learn the concepts and basic rxns or whatever we learn). Physics, however, is also much more stressed on the mcat and i want to get a comprehensive understanding of it (taking the time to read the chapters and memorize conceptually ya know) and I think it would be very condensed over the summer. Orgo, is like what, 2-3 questions on the mcat and the stuff that is needed to be learned for the mcat is very basic.

oh yeah, what is the typiucal deadline to sign up for summer classes? (particularly union college?)

Taking any class over the summer is looked upon less then taking it during a full course load.

 

[diosa428]

I took orgo over the summer, and I would recommend it. It is condensed, and there were a few things I had to learn for the MCAT, but I really only had like 2 orgo questions on the MCAT so I don't think it really mattered. The one advantage to a summer course (whether it's orgo or physics) is that it goes by so fast you don't have time to forget the material before the final. However, before you make your decision, I would talk to some ppl at your school and get their feedback on what they thought of the orgo and physics classes at your school. You may find that there is a general consensus that one is taught poorly, in which case it would be to your advantage to take that over the summer somewhere else.

 

[prana_md]

Taking any class over the summer is looked upon less then taking it during a full course load.

What? I don't get the reasoning here. You're in class for 3-4 hours a day, plus a lab, and you're cramming a semester's worth of knowledge into a shorter period of time. All this while you could be at the beach or killing brain cells or something.

Oh, and I vote for physics. Orgo was so different and so hard for me that it took a while just to get a feel for it. Imagining doing it during the summer makes my head hurt.