Debating whether or not to take Dynamics over the summer

<p>What do you guys think? I did pretty well in Statics but its obvious that Dynamics adds on another dimension of problem solving (motion, acceleration, rotation etc.) I remember doing stuff like that in Physics and I actually had a hard time figuring out which formulas to use for which type of problem. Will it hurt me in the long run when it comes to future engineering courses that have it as a prereq because most summer classes tend to skip a lot of detail due to time constraints.</p>

<p>Class is 6 weeks, 3 days a week, 2 1/2 hours each. To take, or not to take...that is the question.</p>

<p>if you don’t have much else going on in the summer, it is a great idea. it is better to face a hard req one at a time rather than concurrently with 3-4 other classes.</p>

<p>The material should be the same in the summer as it would be during the school year, just taught a little faster.</p>

<p>The only thing I worry about is not fully understanding the concepts because of the speed and applying them in Fluid Mechanics. But I guess that is the downside to summer classes in general.</p>

<p>You won’t have to apply anything from dynamics to fluid mechanics. Fluid mechanics is an entirely separate subject within the umbrella subject of mechanics.</p>

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<p>As far as the material covered, it will be similar but not as in depth. However, grade-wise, most summer classes have a much easier grading scale. In fact, I posted a link up here a few months ago with a rigorous study done of engineering students at Purdue - I believe the findings were that a student who earned an A in the summer would likely fail during the fall based on incoming SAT scores. Meaning, students who earned an A in the summer had SAT math scores at the same level as thoughs who normally failed during the fall. </p>

<p>It’s a good way to bring up your GPA.</p>

<p>adding to what PurdueFrank said here is the grade break down for ECE 207 at Purdue(Electronic Measurement Techniques) A 1 credit hour lab</p>

<p>Grade distribution Spring 2007 : Div. 8: A: 7 B: 20 C: 1 D: 0 F: 0 Div. 10: A: 6 B: 5 C: 2 D: 0 F: 2</p>

<p>Grade distribution Summer 2006: Div. 2: A: 16 B: 0 C: 0 D: 0 F: 0 </p>

<p>Grade distribution Spring 2006: Div. 10: A: 6 B: 11 C: 1 D: 0 F: 2 Div. 12: A: 7 B: 8 C: 3 D: 0 F: 0</p>

<p>Grade distribution Fall 2005: Div. 3: A: 10 B: 11 C: 0 D: 0 F: 2 Div. 12: A: 4 B: 14 C: 5 D: 0 F: 0</p>

<p>Grade distribution Spring 2005: Div. 1: A: 5 B: 10 C: 2 D: 0 F: 1 Div. 10: A: 3 B: 5 C: 5 D: 0 F: 0</p>

<p>Grade distribution Fall 2004: Div. 17: A: 13 B: 9 C: 3 D: 0 F: 0 Div. 12: A: 8 B: 5 C: 2 D: 1 F: 1</p>

<p>[ECE</a> 207: Summer 2007](<a href=“http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~rkhosla/prevsem.htm]ECE”>http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~rkhosla/prevsem.htm)</p>

<p>I still don’t believe that any professor worth his weight dumbs down the courses for the summer. How can they give you credit for a course that they are only teaching to a fraction of the required depth? That doesn’t even make sense to me at all.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t expect to ‘skip’ material or dumb down. However, the courses I took were 5 days a week, which I think is more suitable for summer session. Two summer sessoin classes at the same time felt just like a full load in Fall/Spring semester without a doubt; so be cautious of that.</p>

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<p>Right, neither would I, but the two posts above me claimed that.</p>

<p>So as a side note, would Chem 2, Calc 2, and Physics 1 be too much for a ten week summer load??</p>

<p>Most likely.</p>

<p>Saraleigh that sounds like a lot to cram into a 10 week summer. If that were a fall semester then it would without a doubt be no problem, but that’s a lot for a summer.</p>

<p>saraleigh, </p>

<p>At my school, the summer sessions is split into two six week periods. In which case I would not be allowed to take physics and chem in one session because that would be 9-10 credits and that’s eqv. to 18-20 in normal semester (which requires permission). </p>

<p>Your school may be different, I would ask your engineering advisor, he/she will be able to give you an accurate recommendation.</p>

<p>At my school Chem and Phys are each 4 semester hr classes. Calc 2 is also a 4 hr class. It’s a total of 12 hrs for the summer term which is the max they allow us to take for summer. I know it’s a lot, but I’m really trying to get my required transfer requirement courses in for the school I really want to be at. If I complete these courses this summer then I’m eligable to apply to the other school for spring semester of 2011. I don’t know, I’m going to give it a shot.</p>

<p>Yeah but if you totally overload yourself and hurt your GPA over the summer, you may totally sabotage your chances of getting into that preferred school. Just be careful and prepare to work your butt off.</p>

<p>I hear ya. I’ve got a 4.0 now. I made an A in Calc 1 and Chem 1 this semester. I feel confident about an A in Calc 2, borderline in Chem 2, and I don’t know in Intro Phys 1. Until last year I was a working adult, then I lost my job. I figured why not get in school. I’m not your average college kid. I’m 30 with a decade of real world work/management experience with a work ethic to match. My spouse and I have decided to let me focus only on school so that I can get out sooner as well as really do well while I’m here. If it’s hard work that it will take, I’ve got it. :)</p>

<p>I really hate taking summer courses at my university, but it really helps if you want to get ahead and graduate on time. Most of the time, the department just grabs some guy who has no experience in teaching. I would just do an internship in the summer. just my 2 cents</p>

<p>You’re right, it’s a totally different ballgame when you go to school as a “real” adult. I went straight through, but DH went back to school for engineering when he was 28. He had so much more focus and drive than I did! That’s great that your spouse is so supportive!</p>

<p>@ zer0c123 </p>

<p>Fortunately for calc 2 I was able to get the same professor for summer that I had this semester for calc 1, which is wonderful because he is great. He’s tuff but I learned so much and did very well. As for my sciences (chem2 and phys1), I asked around and was able to get professors in both classes that come highly recommended. They speak clear english and everything;)</p>