Taking Gen Chem 1 and 2 in the summer

[smilin1590]

Does this seem like way too much? I got a little off with my pre-req's because of how my school's program is set up (long story) anyhow trying to do everything to catch up, which requires taking summer courses. I was really hoping to knock out both Gen Chem 1 and 2 and possibly a math class but is there anyone who may think this is way too much for a whole summer. The first chem is from june to middle july and the second picks up from middle july to somewhere in august I think. I'm generally scared of chemistry becasue of the concepts but I'd be planning on having a tutor. Also has anyone seen a huge difference in having a tutor versus just studying on their own for chemistry?

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[GellaBella]

I did organic chemistry 1 & 2 this past summer and it was just fine. I wouldn't necessarily suggest taking math along with it because you'll spend your mornings in class and your afternoons in lab and then have to go home and study to make sure you understand it all.

I kinda liked taking them in the summer because you are continuously building upon what you learned...no breaks. BUT I was disciplined and made myself study every afternoon so I never got behind. Thats important because you're moving so fast if you don't understand something it has the potential to snowball quickly.

I think it is very do-able though. 🙂

 

[parietal]

Does this seem like way too much? I got a little off with my pre-req's because of how my school's program is set up (long story) anyhow trying to do everything to catch up, which requires taking summer courses. I was really hoping to knock out both Gen Chem 1 and 2 and possibly a math class but is there anyone who may think this is way too much for a whole summer. The first chem is from june to middle july and the second picks up from middle july to somewhere in august I think. I'm generally scared of chemistry becasue of the concepts but I'd be planning on having a tutor. Also has anyone seen a huge difference in having a tutor versus just studying on their own for chemistry?

Can't speak to the tutor, but I took both gen chems in the summer and am glad I did. At least at my school, the class sizes were much smaller. Although you move very quickly, it's nice when you only have to concentrate on one class at once. Be prepared to spend a lot of time on studying, homework, lab reports, etc., after class and lab each day, however.

I don't know if I'd recommend doing a math too, unless it's an easy one for you. I took a couple of online classes at the same time, but that was easier because they were self paced and I could work on them during the weekends and whenever I wasn't swamped with gen chem or work.

Good luck!

ETA: Ha! Gella Bella and I posted at the same time and said almost exactly the same thing. 😀

 

[BlacKAT33]

since you will be taking them in different sessions you will be fine 😀 i would just worry about feeling like you have no time off from school for a WHOLEEE yr lol kinda sucks but it will get you ahead!

oya-almost forgot, dont take math with them. u will be super busy with chem along and you will have lab probably every other day and lab reports due every other day along with lecture!

 

[laitmanvet]

I did Orgo 1 & 2 during a summer in college. I went to a large state school and compared to most of my other large science classes, this class was much smaller, which I appreciated.
It was a lot of work though, esp since I had class every day. I also wouldn't recommend taking an additional hard class (like math) with it. From what I remember the class met every morning for like 4 hrs and then we had afternoons off, but I needed those afternoons to study.
I didn't have a tutor, but I know a lot of people who would get together after class and study. Occasionally that was really helpful.

Good luck!

 

[Crazy Hippos]

I took them in the summer while I was working full-time, so I think you should be just fine. 🙂

I also took physics in the summer (a different summer) and would not recommend that unless it comes easily to you.

 

[FutureZooVet86]

I took Gen Chem 1 and 2 and calculus during a summer while I was working part time as well. The only issue I had with it was being in the lab every day of the week, which tended to run in to my math clas 😛. It's really a full 2 semesters worth of work in a short time. But, if you are dedicated, you shouldn't have a problem. But it's all about the amount of effort you are willing to put in to it.

Good Luck! 😀

 

[david594]

Summer courses are an absolutely awesome option. They make life so much easier during the rest of the year.

 

[gilch]

I would also agree that Gen Chem 1 & 2 during the summer is perfectly doable. I'd say no math as well unless that is something in which you think you can easily excel with minimal effort. However, I'd like to add that summer classes are extremely intense and when you add science and labs, doubly so. I did several summers of classes (including OChem--is it that common or an SDN thing?) and found that while the classes were far better and the material was easier to learn in a highly focused environment, I was super stressed between the end of summer II and fall semester--last summer I had 10 days, the summer before that ~16. I was highly stressed when classes started and I think this affected my abnormally low performace.

So by all means, take Gen Chem over the summer, but plan either to do something really fun or absolutely nothing before fall starts. Don't get sick or plan to take the GRE in the break.

 

[smilin1590]

So by all means, take Gen Chem over the summer, but plan either to do something really fun or absolutely nothing before fall starts. Don't get sick or plan to take the GRE in the break.

And I thought the GRE was fun. LOL!😀

Thanks for all the great advice everyone. I love summer courses because they just fly by and you can knock some stuff out of the way without having to overload yourself during the regular school year (especially in my situation). I took math and microbiology last summer and loved it! I just didn't know about the Chemistry type courses, but I think I'll go for it! I'll just keep coming back here for moral support when I need it. I love you all!😍

 

[marycatherine]

And I thought the GRE was fun. LOL!😀

Thanks for all the great advice everyone. I love summer courses because they just fly by and you can knock some stuff out of the way without having to overload yourself during the regular school year (especially in my situation). I took math and microbiology last summer and loved it! I just didn't know about the Chemistry type courses, but I think I'll go for it! I'll just keep coming back here for moral support when I need it. I love you all!😍

this summer I'm going to be taking Gen Chem 1 and Orgo 1 (my school is weird about classes and pre-reqs, don't ask...) so I'll be right there with you!!

 

[Myotis]

I took genetics over the summer and am so glad I did. It was an intense 5 weeks, but the material is fresh in your brain for each test, and in 5 weeks, you're done. I'm not sure about orgo because I haven't taken it, but as long as you can handle an intense 5 weeks, it really isn't bad. Plus, smaller class sizes so its easier to get one on one time with the professor if necessary

 

[DogTyred]

I did organic chemistry 1 & 2 this past summer and it was just fine. I wouldn't necessarily suggest taking math along with it because you'll spend your mornings in class and your afternoons in lab and then have to go home and study to make sure you understand it all.

I kinda liked taking them in the summer because you are continuously building upon what you learned...no breaks. BUT I was disciplined and made myself study every afternoon so I never got behind. Thats important because you're moving so fast if you don't understand something it has the potential to snowball quickly.

I think it is very do-able though. 🙂

I agree. I took ochem I & II during the summer in 5 week sessions. I was eating, breathing and generally living ochem so I wouldn't recommend taking any other classes if you can help it. Just treat it like a full time job and put in at least 8 hours a day and you should be fine.

 

[annie800]

Does this seem like way too much? I got a little off with my pre-req's because of how my school's program is set up (long story) anyhow trying to do everything to catch up, which requires taking summer courses. I was really hoping to knock out both Gen Chem 1 and 2 and possibly a math class but is there anyone who may think this is way too much for a whole summer. The first chem is from june to middle july and the second picks up from middle july to somewhere in august I think. I'm generally scared of chemistry becasue of the concepts but I'd be planning on having a tutor. Also has anyone seen a huge difference in having a tutor versus just studying on their own for chemistry?

I wouldn't do all three. Also, considering chem is fairly important to vet med basics and it is almost assumed that the amount of summer material does not always equal spring/fall material, ie: course goes too fast, does not cover all core subjects. IMO, earning the same grade in a fall/spring course looks better and heck, it is sometimes easier to do since there is more time. Summer is the time to take writing, math, language, humanities, maybe some bio courses.

Your most important classes for vet med are probably bio/chem/org/biochem/animal physiology/upper division animal or biology electives. I would take those classes pretty seriously. Of those classes, chem/org/biochem are probably the most difficult since they deal with memorization AND comprehensive application whereas the other classes are pretty much testing your memorization.

 

[gilch]

I was eating, breathing and generally living ochem

Same here. For at least a solid 6 weeks of the summer and a bit into the fall semester I was dreaming about ochem. Visions of benzenes danced in my head...and it all made sense then too! This is the sort of thing I meant...dreaming of OChem cannot be healthy.

 

[DVMDream]

I took GenChem II during the summer while working at 2 different vet clinics. I averaged work at about 45 hours a week and I had little time to study. I was getting D's, C's, and occasional B's on everything I finally started to tell my managers that I could not work as much so I could concentrate on the class; I was able to better my grades a little bit but not a lot. Somehow I magically got a B in the class and the lab. I am not going to argue with those grades. So, take it slow and study a lot because it does go by fast especially if you are working while taking the classes. Good luck! Summer classes are great and I do not reget taking GenChem II during the summer; it sure went by much faster.

 

[ckd816]

Last summer I (re)took ochem 1 in addition to taking animal behavior, cell biology, a global health class, and animal nutrition... It was a fun summer! They were all staggered so I didn't have all 5 classes going at once but there was always at least 3 going. Also towards the end of the summer I started working in a research lab so I was balancing that too... I know these aren't all hardcore sciences but it just shows that it's totally doable to take a couple classes in that time. I actually got my best grades in a long time that summer. 🙂

 

[canis13]

I took a full year of gen chem last summer. It was totally fine, and actually a lot easier than if I were to take it at my regular school, because I took it at the much easier local university. I'm going back to the same school to do a full year of physics this upcoming summer.
The only part that sucked was having a midterm or final every single Monday, meaning that my weekends weren't very enjoyable.
I totally can't imagine taking more than one summer class at a time, but if you just concentrate on gen chem, you'll be fine.

 

[smilin1590]

Besides the actual textbook itself, can anyone recommend some additional books that explain concepts well...(for the chem inept or people who are scared of chem)

 

[Whyevernot55]

Besides the actual textbook itself, can anyone recommend some additional books that explain concepts well...(for the chem inept or people who are scared of chem)

I didn't do it for gen chem, but for o-chem I got the "teach yourself in 24 hours" thing, from the Rapid Learning center - they've got them for like, every science subject ever, it's cheaper than a textbook, and it's GREAT to have actual powerpoint lectures to listen to and review concepts. The cheat sheets were great too. I sound like an advertisement, but it was the only reason I got through the class.
Also, we had to take the ACS final exam for both gen chem and o-chem, and if you have to do that, get the ACS study guide!

For clarification, I'm a complete ***** when it comes to chemistry, so if I can do it you'll be fine! 😀

 

[StartingoverVet]

I thought "Organic Chemistry as a Second Language" was really helpful. It really helps with the basics (which if you can't get, you are lost).

"Pushing Electrons" is good if you get lost when you come to that area.

And someone posted this website a few weeks ago on the OT: Post something thread:
http://blogs.myspace.com/chiragvora

which is a really funny review on SN1, etc. I would definitely have used it if I had known when taking Ochem.

 

[Whyevernot55]

I thought "Organic Chemistry as a Second Language" was really helpful. It really helps with the basics (which if you can't get, you are lost).

"Pushing Electrons" is good if you get lost when you come to that area.

And someone posted this website a few weeks ago on the OT: Post something thread:
http://blogs.myspace.com/chiragvora

which is a really funny review on SN1, etc. I would definitely have used it if I had known when taking Ochem.

That website is amazing! I wish I'd had that for o-chem. Hilarious!