Summer Courses and Sequences

[The Geek]

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Hello nontrads!

So I found a few summer programs which allows you to finish the entire O-chem sequence (2 sem/3 quarters) during the summer (Yes, if I enrolled, O-chem will be my best and only friend for like 3 months). Are these sequences looked at negatively by ADCOMs? I would think not since they are designed to complete the same amount of work during the regular year, just more impacted. But I've heard of how adcoms look at them as less rigorous.

On a different note, are taking prereqs in general over the summer looked at suspiciously? If I enroll for that series, I would have taken 4/8 prereqs during the summer... just the way my schedule ended up (long story, but dealt with changing my career path over the past year and a half).

Doing this would greatly ease up my '10-11 year for those upper division classes. I'm wondering if anyone knows something about this. Thanks in advance!

 

[mspeedwagon]

I know a lot of folks that have taken pre-reqs over the summer and gone to top tier medical schools, so summer courses are not seen negatively (I know there are some that recommend against it, but I haven't found any hard evidence to prove this).

Just a forewarning, I tried to take o-chem over the summer (while working full-time) and dropped it a week or so in. Realize that most of these courses assume you have no life outside of organic chemistry and are hard to take if you are working.

 

[docelh]

You should look at the course syllabus before committing. You'll have to do the lab concurrently as well. Of all four pre-reqs, orgo is the worst to try to squeeze into a summer imo.

 

[SB720]

At my university we are advised against taking pre-requisites over the summer, but I have taken Chemistry I & II + labs over the summer. It was hell, I would not do that with orgo.

 

[The Geek]

Hmm, ya, a couple people said I would be crazy to do it all over the summer too. I haven't been working since I got laid off, so I would concentrate only on this for those 3 months. I was hoping to apply next year, so by doing this at least I can take biochem this Fall and ease up my Spring semester to study for the MCATs. But from the sound of things, I better do some soul-searching, hahaha.

Thank you all for your input!

 

[mspeedwagon]

If you can devote all of your time to o-chem I think you'll be fine. It's not impossible (a lot of people do it), but it'll mean you'll live and breath organic chemistry (which could be a good thing). If it's a school where you can attend the first few lectures to get a feel for the class and workload, I'd recommend this before committing to it.

The doctor I work for at the Dana-Farber took o-chem over the summer and recommends this (I should mention that he is one of those insanely smart people; UPenn med school (very high MCAT, very high GPA etc.)). It's a path for some people and have its pros and cons. If you are very strong in chemistry, it's a good path to take to cut time. For the rest of us mortal souls, it may not be as advisable.

 

[clausewitz2]

Summer or no, orgo will never be your friend. Orgo hates you personally and wants you to suffer. It is a red-eyed demon that will stalk your dreams and waking nightmares.

Why yes, I am having my orgo final this week. How did you know?

Seriously, though, if you're very good at very fast brute force memorization and aren't especially bothered about a lack of overarching principles, you will do alright. Just don't make the mistake of thinking that it's like physics (or even gen chem) and that you'll be able to reason out difficult questions. Reasoning doesn't even enter the process until organic synthesis.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

I'm taking u-chem this summer - both of them. Is it favorable? I don't care. It's the fastest way for me to be done with it.

 

[mspeedwagon]

I'm assuming you mean o-chem. You'll be fine. Just have a lot of time to devote to it.

I'm taking u-chem this summer - both of them. Is it favorable? I don't care. It's the fastest way for me to be done with it.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

I'm assuming you mean o-chem. You'll be fine. Just have a lot of time to devote to it.

No, I meant university chemistry; the prereqs for organic chemistry. Thanks for the good wishes though.

 

[mspeedwagon]

I've never heard it being called that. Normally g-chem. However, in this case, you'll definitely be fine. I believe you and me are on the same timeline (hoping to apply to begin med school in 2012). It's quite the ride, isn't it.

No, I meant university chemistry; the prereqs for organic chemistry. Thanks for the good wishes though.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

I'll actually finish all my stuff up in May 2011 and apply ASAP then. I suppose if I get in the first time I'll start in 2012. So far away....

 

[mspeedwagon]

Wow, I should not type posts while in bed asleep. I meant to say start medical school in 2012; hence applying in summer of 2011. We are indeed on the same timeline.

I'll actually finish all my stuff up in May 2011 and apply ASAP then. I suppose if I get in the first time I'll start in 2012. So far away....

 

[JoyceMD]

My school actually encourages the pre-reqs over the summer. Bios, chems, O-chems and phyiscs are all offered in the summer I and II sessions at my university.

I am taking Chem I and II this summer (4 three hour lecture days a week and 3 four hour labs a week). I have a former classmate who took O-chem I & II over the summer last year and said it was crazzzyyyy...

I will be a chemist this summer...you should prepare to do nothing but o-chem, sleep, eat, drink, shower...etc...In order to get passed it...

I would think the summer session was close in structure to how med school classes are organized...a friend of mine once told me that the course load that is offered in Med school over a four week period is equal to a full semester.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

Wow, I should not type posts while in bed asleep. I meant to say start medical school in 2012; hence applying in summer of 2011. We are indeed on the same timeline.

Cool. Good luck, man. Hope to see you on the other side.

 

[The Geek]

HAHA! That's awesome (the song... not the experience). Hmmm, more opinions and personal experiences to dwell on for a while. The syllabus puts if off like a legit (yet intense) course sequence, and this is through the school's post-bacc program. Ya, I had a feeling that sort of intensity is similar to med school too. From what I've heard from current students, they jam a lot into a short time.

Anyway, I'm planning to apply next year too! To start 2012 (hopefully!!) seems soooo long from now, but it'll all go by so quick. MSPEEDWAGON, you're in Redwood City? I'm in SF. With CA's education problems, it's been such a struggle getting classes in a timely manner as many schools aren't accepting post-bacc apps. The open universities are always full by thier enrolled students before we can register. I'm going all over the place. Anyway, just wondering if you had the same hardships.

 

[Jlaw]

I'm doing Organic 1 and 2 this summer. My school packs it into 4 weeks. It's going to suck but I figure that if I just suck it up and study my butt off for 8 weeks it should be doable. I did very well in gen chem and we actually did a short introduction to orgo at the end of gen chem 2 so I'm not going in totally blind. I already bought Organic Chemistry as a Second Language and I'm trying to read a bit of it before I start. The good thing is that by the end of the summer I will be 1 year into my post bacc program with 3/4 of my pre reqs complete.

 

[mspeedwagon]

I'm actually currently staying with my brother in the Upper Haight, but should be back in Redwood City by the end of the month.

I've been taking classes mostly through the UC-Berkeley Extension campus, so enrolling in classes as been relatively easy. I took the general chemistry sequence at Canada College (well at least first semester, but will likely take the second there as well), the local community college in Redwood City (because of my schedule). I used fo fly every week for work (though it has scaled back a bit).

I didn't think a formal post-bac program would benefit me, so I have been doing it piece-meal instead. Might back fire when it comes to LOR (but we shall see). I have one science teacher that I think will write a great recommendation, and my o-chem prof might (not sure, as I had some issues with extension (I had to take my final at a different time, and the proctor gave me 3 hrs to take a 4 hr final. I let the professor know, but have not heard back), but I might not have any choice but to ask him). I was mostly done after 3 hrs, so I don't think it will have a drastic impact on my grade. I'm hoping to do well in molecular biology this summer (we shall see).

I didn't bother with any of the "open university" classes for that exact reason you mention.

Anyway, I'm planning to apply next year too! To start 2012 (hopefully!!) seems soooo long from now, but it'll all go by so quick. MSPEEDWAGON, you're in Redwood City? I'm in SF. With CA's education problems, it's been such a struggle getting classes in a timely manner as many schools aren't accepting post-bacc apps. The open universities are always full by thier enrolled students before we can register. I'm going all over the place. Anyway, just wondering if you had the same hardships.