Summer class advice

[LMac]

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I'm registering for summer classes today and since it's my first summer, I would love some advice from other non-trads.

A little background: Received a BS in 2001 with a 2.8 cGPA, returned to school last fall to take pre med pre-reqs and have taken 16 credit hrs each semester. So far have a 4.0 institution GPA. I got laid off from my job and I don't have kids, so right now I can put my full attention toward these classes

Anyway, in an attempt to finish sooner rather than later I want to take summer classes aggressively, but without sabotaging myself. I am not afraid of hard work if I can knock these classes out quickly. The state school I attend has a 7 week summer session. At the moment, I am registered for Bio II for science majors + lab and Organic Chem I + lab. I was surprised they let me enroll for 10 credit hours in 7 weeks but I'm going to hold on to my spots in the classes until I figure out if this is a good choice.

Is this doable? I have taken Microbiology, Neuroscience and Human Physiology which I'm hoping will give me a leg up on the Bio II material (it was a pre-req I had waived). Would Physics I for science majors (calc based) be better than Orgo?

Any perspective is greatly appreciated. I want to get through these classes but I also don't want to put my new GPA in serious risk.

 

[GenusTide]

I'm registering for summer classes today and since it's my first summer, I would love some advice from other non-trads.

A little background: Received a BS in 2001 with a 2.8 cGPA, returned to school last fall to take pre med pre-reqs and have taken 16 credit hrs each semester. So far have a 4.0 institution GPA. I got laid off from my job and I don't have kids, so right now I can put my full attention toward these classes

Anyway, in an attempt to finish sooner rather than later I want to take summer classes aggressively, but without sabotaging myself. I am not afraid of hard work if I can knock these classes out quickly. The state school I attend has a 7 week summer session. At the moment, I am registered for Bio II for science majors + lab and Organic Chem I + lab. I was surprised they let me enroll for 10 credit hours in 7 weeks but I'm going to hold on to my spots in the classes until I figure out if this is a good choice.

Is this doable? I have taken Microbiology, Neuroscience and Human Physiology which I'm hoping will give me a leg up on the Bio II material (it was a pre-req I had waived). Would Physics I for science majors (calc based) be better than Orgo?

Any perspective is greatly appreciated. I want to get through these classes but I also don't want to put my new GPA in serious risk.

It certainly is doable. I took max summer hours and 16-20 credit hours during the regular semesters and graduated a year early and finished with a 3.8 cGPA ( I have never taken college classes prior). I would suggest not taking calc-based physics unless you really enjoy going through the extra math involved. Also, Bio II is not really related to many other classes except for genetics. Orgo is not tough material, you just have to be willing to spend the time with the material and practice ALL the problems you can. In my opinion, summer classes are a great way to get ahead but for material that is on the MCAT, you MUST take the time to understand it.
Good luck 👍

 

[Bluesun]

I have yet to take o-chem, but regarding calc based physics, it can be quite challenging (depending upon the professor I imagine). Many people that I went to school with struggled with the subject. If you feel confident in your physics understanding abilities (and in your math), you will probably be alright, but I would approach it with a little caution.

I thought I remember reading that you didn't need to take calc based physics for your prereqs, though? If you don't have to, unless you really enjoy the subject, I would advise against it. At the very minimum, at least when I took it, it was a pretty incredible amount of work.

Granted, I also took it probably 8 years ago at this point, so my memory could be somewhat skewed ;-). We also had a terrible professor.

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

You're going to be really, really busy with that schedule. As long as you've already got good study habits and are willing to make college be your life, you should be all right, but don't expect much free time. I took the equivalent of 10 credits of general chemistry last summer, and even spread over eleven weeks it was essentially a full load of classes. If I'd tried to do it in seven my grades probably would have suffered.