Summer Class difficulty vs In Year Class difficulty

[deleted421268]

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Would it be harder say to take ochem 1 and 2 with labs during regular fall term and spring term with other classes as well or take ochem 1 and 2 with labs during summer with no other classes? Keeping in mind summer courses go at faster pace? Just a general question.

 

[WedgeDawg]

Do you prefer focusing on one thing and doing it at a rapid pace or doing something slowly while having other things that also have to occupy your attention?

 

[Glandzburg]

Biggest pro of summer classes: The class can be the sole focus of your studies
Biggest con: Accelerated pace

If you can handle the faster pace, it is usually easier to take a class during the summer when you can focus all of your efforts on doing well in it.

 

[GrapesofRath]

I've TA'ed for Ochem for a couple years. The professor I TA for teaches in both the fall and the summer and uses very similar exams for the OChem 2 class he teaches in the fall and summer(he teaches Ochem 2 in the fall and Ochem 1 and 2 in the summer).

For these ochem 2 exams:
In the fall the average is usually around a 7o for all the exams.
In the summer the average is usually in the low to mid 50's. Note the exams are very similar in terms of difficulty.

In the class I am talking about it is rather obvious the quality of competition is much lower in the summer than during the school year and honestly it makes sense and confirms what me the rest of TA's and the professor expect. You need around an 88 for an A- in the fall in his Ochem 2 class. In the summer, a 75 often is good enough for an A-.

That's just my personal experience. We also don't cover quite as much in the summer as we do in the spring for our class(ie minute details like the finner points of stereochem, specific reactions in ochem 2 etc). The pace is accelerated, nobody will deny that. But at the same time, at my school, not only do our Ochem classes have lower averages in the summer than in the school year on similar tests, this is the case with other professors in the department as well. Food for thought.

My general advice is take it when you are capable of doing best. At my school, Ochem honestly is probably easier in the summer. This isn't necessairly going to be the case at all or even most other schools.

 

[deleted421268]

At my school it would be one six week session for ochem 1 and another Six week session ochem 2 series. Vs school year pace which is like 15 weeks or so for ochem 1 and 15 weeks ochem 2.

 

[WedgeDawg]

At my school it would be one six week session for ochem 1 and another Six week session ochem 2 series. Vs school year pace which is like 15 weeks or so for ochem 1 and 15 weeks ochem 2.

Yeah, so do you think you can handle that?

 

[deleted421268]

Yeah, so do you think you can handle that?

Idk never taken summer class at that pace before

 

[WedgeDawg]

Idk never taken summer class at that pace before

How have you been handling hard science courses in 15 weeks?

 

[deleted421268]

How have you been handling hard science courses in 15 weeks?

I have been fine

 

[Satire5Texul]

Do you prefer focusing on one thing and doing it at a rapid pace or doing something slowly while having other things that also have to occupy your attention?

This. Is pretty much what it comes down to.
Basically do you want to binge on the topic and get it out of the way, or would you prefer to go slower and not feel rushed with the information.

Idk never taken summer class at that pace before

I did physics 2, bio 2 and chem 2 + another science in the spring. That summer I took orgo 1 for 6 weeks + orgo 2 for another 6 weeks. The first 6 weeks were hell. The second portion wasnt as bad after adjusting, but the pace is extremely fast and the biggest pitfall people made was thinking that they were entitled to some free time because it was summer. Quickly I learned I needed to use my weekends as well as every day of the week. But the hard work was worth it in my opinion. Just be very careful that you are ready. Test averages dipped below 40% on the first test, and didnt go up much from there. You really got put in the work for it. But that being said, likes grapes mentioned, you will see there is less material to cover and less depth to which we go into it.
Expect practice problems everyday.

Biggest reason I wanted to take during summer is there was no cumulative final.

Also whats "fine" ? Define that better if you could please. Like you have All As ? You are just passing, Bs ?

 

[WedgeDawg]

I have been fine

Which would you rather do?

 

[deleted421268]

This. Is pretty much what it comes down to.
Basically do you want to binge on the topic and get it out of the way, or would you prefer to go slower and not feel rushed with the information.



I did physics 2, bio 2 and chem 2 + another science in the spring. That summer I took orgo 1 for 6 weeks + orgo 2 for another 6 weeks. The first 6 weeks were hell. The second portion wasnt as bad after adjusting, but the pace is extremely fast and the biggest pitfall people made was thinking that they were entitled to some free time because it was summer. Quickly I learned I needed to use my weekends as well as every day of the week. But the hard work was worth it in my opinion. Just be very careful that you are ready. Test averages dipped below 40% on the first test, and didnt go up much from there. You really got put in the work for it. But that being said, likes grapes mentioned, you will see there is less material to cover and less depth to which we go into it.
Expect practice problems everyday.

Biggest reason I wanted to take during summer is there was no cumulative final.

Also whats "fine" ? Define that better if you could please. Like you have All As ? You are just passing, Bs ?

B's and A's mix

 

[deleted421268]

Which would you rather do?

It would depend on lot of factors. Just want to get an idea because I've never taken summer class before from those who have taken summer science class and school year science class and the comparison.

 

[deleted421268]

It seems like the averages tend to be lower in a summer science class vs taking that class in school year? What you guys believe one will have higher grade in?

 

[banana_phone]

I took Orgo 1 and 2 over this last summer, 6 weeks a piece. It was definitely challenging, but it was nice to focus on the one class and get it over with. I feel comfortable with the exposure I got and what I learned -- I don't think I missed out on anything important I would have learned in a non-accelerated format. If you think you can handle it and are willing to sacrifice your summer, go for it. But it takes dedication and a lot of study time, daily. You have to know yourself and what you can handle.

 

[Glandzburg]

It seems like the averages tend to be lower in a summer science class vs taking that class in school year? What you guys believe one will have higher grade in?

This is completely dependent on your learning style, and we can't answer it for you with certainty. If you think you can handle it, go for it.

Personally, I found classes to be easier in the summer when I can focus on them. Again, if you are looking for us to give a solid answer one way or the other as to what will work for you, we can't do that.

 

[Chromium Surfer]

Haven't some adcoms said that med schools don't like people taking pre reqs in the summer because it seems like students are trying to take the easy way out? Don't quote me on this OP, but all the advice given in this thread is spot on!

 

[Glandzburg]

Haven't some adcoms said that med schools don't like people taking pre reqs in the summer because it seems like students are trying to take the easy way out? Don't quote me on this OP, but all the advice given in this thread is spot on!

This may be the case if you take all of the pre-reqs in the summer. But I don't think taking a class or two in the summer will matter much. Sometimes that's just how it fits best in your schedule, especially if you want to graduate in 4 years.

 

[Chromium Surfer]

Very true! Yeah I would hope adcoms would be understanding of that, but I wasn't sure so I just let OP know what I've heard.

 

[deleted421268]

Haven't some adcoms said that med schools don't like people taking pre reqs in the summer because it seems like students are trying to take the easy way out? Don't quote me on this OP, but all the advice given in this thread is spot on!

Some people take pre reqs in summer to graduate on time if they are behind otherwise most people would hate to sacrifice a summer of relaxation for summer classes.

 

[deleted421268]

How would admission committee and adcoms view that would it have no effect at all or will it hurt?

 

[aymar]

I took both Orgo 1 and 2 back to back one summer, and got A's in both. I agree with what's been said already, however- it is completely dependent on your learning style. I liked being able to focus all of my attention on it. For other people, this might be too much at once.

I would say definitely try to find someone at your specific school who has taken Organic over the summer though and ask! My school has the reputation of being easier in the summer, but I didn't necessarily find this to be true when looking at our class averages.