Summer Pre-Req Classes?

[TBMcGee]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Okay, I've done a lot of research and still have not come to a 100% assurance that summer school classes are not viewed down upon by medical schools.. 50% say it doesn't matter while the other 50% say you're trying to take the easy way out. I don't understand how a 5 week intense course is the easy way out? I signed up to take Physics I and Bio II over summer at my 4-year university, but some, including my counselor, are giving me doubts on whether I should. I know a few individuals who have gotten into medical schools, and they took summer classes..but then again, they came from Ivy league schools. My university isn't too prestigious. It's well-know in my state but not nationally. Any advice?
Thanks guys.


I would also like to add that my school put a unit cap for the next few semesters; therefore, I am limited to only 15 units. If I want to graduate in 4 years, summer classes are my only route. Plus, I am not doing it to take the easy way out. Next fall, I plan on taking Physics II, Chem II, and upper division bio and a GE. I also work part time (which I will while I take the summer classes) along with volunteer and research.

Again, thank you for the help.

 

[Joe the Plumber]

Okay, I've done a lot of research and still have not come to a 100% assurance that summer school classes are not viewed down upon by medical schools.. 50% say it doesn't matter while the other 50% say you're trying to take the easy way out. I don't understand how a 5 week intense course is the easy way out? I signed up to take Physics I and Bio II over summer at my 4-year university, but some, including my counselor, are giving me doubts on whether I should. I know a few individuals who have gotten into medical schools, and they took summer classes..but then again, they came from Ivy league schools. My university isn't too prestigious. It's well-know in my state but not nationally. Any advice?
Thanks guys.

I don't see why there would be any difference. Summer classes cover the same material in less time, so they're actually harder. I took ChemI over the summer, and it was pretty intense Lecture every day, and lab three hours, twice a week. I've also taken other random classes over the summer, both the four- and eight-week variety. I don't know why a medical school would care.

 

[TBMcGee]

See, I said the same thing. You're taking a challenging course in 5 weeks, meaning you're studying just as hard as you would be if you took it with 2 other science courses during the normal academic year. However, a whole lot of other questions and answers on the Web claim otherwise.

 

[JESSFALLING]

You're over thinking this. As long as you only take a few of the courses during summers, you shouldn't need to analyze anything. Med schools will see that you performed equally well during normal semesters (hopefully) and they will be reassured that you are amply prepared.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Okay, I've done a lot of research and still have not come to a 100% assurance that summer school classes are not viewed down upon by medical schools.. 50% say it doesn't matter while the other 50% say you're trying to take the easy way out. I don't understand how a 5 week intense course is the easy way out? I signed up to take Physics I and Bio II over summer at my 4-year university, but some, including my counselor, are giving me doubts on whether I should. I know a few individuals who have gotten into medical schools, and they took summer classes..but then again, they came from Ivy league schools. My university isn't too prestigious. It's well-know in my state but not nationally. Any advice?
Thanks guys.


I would also like to add that my school put a unit cap for the next few semesters; therefore, I am limited to only 15 units. If I want to graduate in 4 years, summer classes are my only route. Plus, I am not doing it to take the easy way out. Next fall, I plan on taking Physics II, Chem II, and upper division bio and a GE. I also work part time (which I will while I take the summer classes) along with volunteer and research.

Again, thank you for the help.

If you're this damn insecure, just don't do it over the summer. There's no way you'll get 100% assurance. You can't know what 100% of ADCOMS will think from every school, so since you don't want to risk it, don't do it. Deal with the consequences of whatever action you take.

Man, this place is full of such babies. No wonder pre-allo has the reputation it has.

 

[TBMcGee]

If this place is full of such insecure individuals, then why are you roaming around answering people's questions? I'll do as I wish, but there's no harm in asking for advice from other pre-med students. After all, that is the purpose of this website, isn't it? Secondly, no one said anything about attempting to know what 100% of ADCOMS think. There's no need for your rude remarks.

 

[Tots]

If this place is full of such insecure individuals, then why are you roaming around answering people's questions? I'll do as I wish, but there's no harm in asking for advice from other pre-med students. After all, that is the purpose of this website, isn't it? Secondly, no one said anything about attempting to know what 100% of ADCOMS think. There's no need for your rude remarks.

Calm down. He was joking - and also you just proved his point. Anyways, I took physics in the summer and it is not something I am loosing sleep over. There are so many factors in this process that I highly doubt it will even be a blip on an ADCOMs radar. Maybe if you failed all your pre-reqs at your 4 year university and then ran off and took summer classes at a CC...otherwise worry about other things. If you want to worry about summer classes - worry about learning the material in 5 weeks well enough that you can dominate the MCAT.

 

[TBMcGee]

Isn't it a bit more efficient to learn the topic though because you have one topic to focus on rather than four?

 

[TBMcGee]

Thanks! I've decided to just do Biology II over summer because one of our best professors is teaching it for the last time over summer. I'll leave Physics I and II for next Fall and Spring. Thanks everyone.