<p>Right now I'm at a community college and i'd really like to transfer to a 4 year university in the fall of 2011. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do my first semester of college so it has put me a little behind in my pre-reqs. I'll be taking Calc 2, Physics 1, and two other courses in the spring, then my plan is to take Calc 3, Differential Equations and Physics 2 all during the summer so I can be on track to get into a University in the fall. Do you guys think this summer schedule will be too big of a load? I'll have a part time job as well, so I won't exactly be able to spend all day every day studying. Thanks!</p>
<p>Yes…if all at the same time, but…</p>
<p>Some schools divide their summer terms into Summer I and Summer II. If possible, I would take two of the courses during Summer I and the third course during Summer II</p>
<p>The summer break is typically about 14 weeks which is pretty close to the amount of time for the regular semester. Schools typically don’t run courses for 14 weeks in the summer though. I usually see six-week courses with in a Summer I and Summer II, eight-week courses and twelve-week courses. Given that, three tough math/science courses are doable as 12-week courses and would be closer to taking them in a regular semester.</p>
<p>The question is how much time will your job take. If it’s a full-time job, then I wouldn’t recommend it.</p>
<p>BTW, I once took two three-week courses during the summer session while working a 50-hour per week job. I was completely exhausted after the six weeks.</p>
<p>I’d probably be working anywhere from 20-30 hours, nothing more than that. I took three courses last summer, one summer A, one summer B and one lasted both sessions. There was a point where all three overlapped for about 2 or 3 weeks and it was intense at times but it definately seemed manageable.</p>
<p>Physics is often a killer course in terms of workload and, of course, the associated lab. You’ll already have Physics I down by then so you will be familiar with the workload and you’ll have the math courses down and be familiar there too. So it sounds doable. I think that 15 hours would make for a more doable workload but that’s just my opinion. If you have the logistics worked out and can efficiently work on your courses, then your total workload may be doable.</p>
<p>DiffEq isn’t too bad. Calc 3 and Physics are going to be a killer.</p>
<p>I beg to differ. Calc 3 will probably be your easiest course (at least for me). But Physics will require lots of time commitment.</p>
<p>3 at one is killer.
I can take diff right now with other courses, but i decided not to because it’s just too much for me.</p>
<p>I’d say physics and calculus 3.
But calculus can be killer too with the double and triple integrations. Drawing those figures aren’t funny at all!</p>
<p>The OP will get a feel for these courses in the spring semester and could reevaluate his position on taking all three of them.</p>
<p>P2 isnt bad for a summer course. Id say pick one between Cacl 3 and Diff Eq</p>
<p>BCeagle is probably right, i’ll just have to wait and see how I do with physics in the spring while taking Calc 2 to get a feel of how things might go. The unfortunate thing is if I do only take two during the summer, come fall I’ll really only need which ever one I would decide not too take and I really don’t want to take a bunch of random electives to fill up the rest of my hours, along with waiting another semester for one class.</p>
<p>The problem with summer is that you go to class like 4/5 days per week. Again, it depends on the school. My sister and I had this argument this summer. She said Stony Brooks runs short summer sessions for all courses and I was shocked. Math and Science at CCNY begins at June 01 and July 22 this past summer.</p>
<p>So consider the time - I basically have an exam every two weeks, for my calc 3 class.
The liberal arts one last a little bit less than a month. </p>
<p>In another words, you basically have to keep up with the work every single day. If you procrastinate one or twice, it’s very hard to pick up along the way, with 3 classes all together. I don’t know. It can be done, though, if you are committed enough :)</p>
<p>Also consider the course time. Most likely you will encounter courses time conflict, which can prevent you from taking one of them.Very often, 3 classes meaning you are in school the whole day. My calc 3 starts at 8:30, and I ended at 11:00. Then if I were to take physics, I can only take the one at night. Say there is no differential in the afternoon, then you are in school until 6:00pm.</p>
<p>Your problem won’t be the material most likely, it’ll be finding the time to study and absorb it all. If you just try to muddle through Physics II by memorizing formulas for example rather than taking the time to really learn the concepts, you’ll be dead.</p>
<p>I suggest replacing diffy qs with a lighter class that you will need later anyway. A general studies class for example, something your 4-year institution will require but which you can’t easily clep out of. I say this only because you say you have a part-time job, and even fifteen hours a week is enough time stolen away from your heavier classes to really hurt you. Were you not working, I’d say it’s okay.</p>
<p>But don’t quit your job.</p>
<p>The course load is definitely doable, but good luck trying to digest all of it. I understand that you want to keep a certain time plan, but just because the school lets you get away with taking those three courses, doesn’t mean you should take them.</p>
<p>If you’re adamant about taking those three classes in the summer, you should knock one out before you start the summer session. I suggest Differential Equations, as it’s not as bad as the other two. Physics II is the hardest of the three (and the most broad-you cover electricity, magnetism, waves, and light). </p>
<p>If you decide on not taking the three courses in the summer, I would take Calc 3 alone in the summer, so you can fully appreciate Physics II during the fall semester.</p>
<p>You may have seen these websites, and I’m sure most here have come across these as well, but it won’t hurt to post them again:</p>
<p>[Pauls</a> Online Math Notes](<a href=“http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/]Pauls”>http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/)</p>
<p>[Free</a> Online Course Materials | MIT OpenCourseWare](<a href=“http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm]Free”>http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm)</p>
<p>[PatrickJMT[/url</a>]</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://khanacademy.org/]Khan”>http://khanacademy.org/]Khan</a> Academy](<a href=“http://patrickjmt.com/]PatrickJMT[/url”>http://patrickjmt.com/)</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/user/UCBerkeley#g/p]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/user/UCBerkeley#g/p]YouTube</a> - UCBerkeley’s Channel<a href=“they%20have%20a%20Calc%203%20course%20video,%20under%20the%20name%20of%20Multivariable%20Calculus”>/url</a></p>
<p>Use these resources if you decide on studying ahead of any of the three courses.</p>
<p>Thank guys, lots of good info even if its not the most encouraging. I know I’d rather hear the truth rather than everyone just say it’ll be possible no problem. From this though I’m still up in the air on it. I’ll see how this spring goes and hopefully i’ll be able to pull through and stay super motivated.</p>
<p>MidnightMaruader, I wouldn’t mind taking Diff Eq in the spring, but I still have to take Calc 2 in the spring as well which I think is a prereq for it. If not, I’ll definately look into going that route.</p>
<p>You should take Calc 3 and physics 2 (electricity and magnetic) in Summer. Take differential equation in the normal semester. Physics 2 is quite easier than Physics 1 and calc 3 is bearable.</p>
<p>I took Calc I and C++ during the summer semester and it almost killed me… but granted, that was only 6 weeks long. If those classes were any harder, I wouldn’t have made it.</p>
<p>What I meant by “knock out one before you start the summer session” is: study one of the courses enough so you won’t have to worry about it when you actually take it.</p>
<p>My son did this with both Physics I and Physics II. He worked through problems in a different textbook, reviewed the Walter Lewin videos and read through supplements. He got As in both classes but they were still a lot of work.</p>
<p>Prestudying, whether by reviewing online videos, doing exercises in the text, auditing the class the semester before are approaches that some engineering students use to create more time for themselves when they take the real course. Students have a lot of time pressure during the regular semester and there may not be a way to become more efficient. Learning the material outside of the semester is a way to increase time because you understand the material faster because you’ve seen it before. You still have to do the work but your learning curve isn’t as steep.</p>