<p>Yes, I caught fifteen in my first post. (Sry, my second was a typo.) And I still believe that your statement is preposterous on its face. And you even admit it when you state, “Yes, a few may HAVE to study that much…”</p>
<p>I see nothing foolish or senseless about studying 15 hours per week on one subject if that’s what it takes to earn an A. Indeed, a college advising center will typically recommend that students, ‘plan to spend 2-3 hours outside of class for every one hour of class time’. If Chem lecture is 3 hours and lab is 3+ and discussion section is 1, then the ROT is 15+ hours of outside classwork on that subject alone for the average student. (Do many spend a lot less – absolutely!)</p>
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<p>Perhaps not, but we have no way of knowing if any of them do. But if they “only” study <10 hours and obtain a low B, they have a much lower chance of admissions, don’t they? But even if they don’t make it to med school, a higher gpa never hurts for other grad programs and/or job hunting.</p>
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<p>Med schools have a miniscule flunk out rate, so whoever gets in graduates.</p>
<p>This whole thread makes me nervous. I am the student that takes 15 hours a week on gen Chem, but that includes homework. But I do spend ALOT LESS for other classes. I spend maybe an addditional 5hrs total for all other classes combined. So I spend 20hrs a week on work. I don’t think it’s overkill. I still have time for three clubs, volunteering, gym, sorority pledging and down time.</p>
<p>…OOps, forgot to mention that later you will need more EC’s too and everybody is OK doing them and enjoying them and enhacing their lives by participating in them.</p>
<p>Some previous post has showed that study time = 3x the class time. Thus, 15 hours of study time for a five-hour class seems to be prudent.</p>
<p>I think that kind of thinking is the problem. </p>
<p>Yes…maybe one class might require that sort of extreme attention (for me, it would be French since I totally lack the Foreign Language gene.). </p>
<p>But, for students taking 16/17/18 credits per semester, the idea that they would be spending 48 - 54 hours a week STUDYING…in addition to 20 hours or so of actual class/lab time…and having any sort of social life… is way too much.</p>
<p>18 units is indeed a heavy load. And if someone can accomplish that and still have a social life, all the power to them. A typical semester college requires 120 units to graduate; thus, only 15 semester units are needed to take a normal schedule. And I don’t know of any Frosh college advisor that recommends class overloading first or second semester.</p>
<p>I found one ‘survey’ of college counselors who said that college students should plan on studying on average 25-30 hours per week. Since that is an average, and science classes require more effort…and since that average of 25-30 was to achieve B’s not A’s…</p>
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<p>Exactly, that is why balance is key for the average entering Frosh. Balance an extreme time class with one not-so-extreme. Find a GE Prof who is a little easier. Find a class with a lot of D1 athletes. Find a class that offers lotsa extra credit opportunities.</p>
<p>Now perhaps Dwalker is correct. Only the swift survive and if it takes studying 15 hours to achieve an A in Chem is a waste for a premed?</p>
<p>And I don’t know of any Frosh college advisor that recommends class overloading first or second semester.</p>
<p>True…but I don’t think the discussion was limited to fall frosh. And, since many kids today are double majoring or adding minors or just adding in some fun/interest classes, graduating with only 120 credits is not that common anymore. </p>
<p>And, yes…balance is the key…balance OChem with a couple of easy/light courses.</p>
<p>“18 units is indeed a heavy load”
-It is normal for freshman-sophomore years, since pre-meds need lighter load in junior year while prepping for MCAT and senior year going to interviews. Some have more, some have less, depending on major(s)/minor(s) combo and desire to take summer classes. But again, some classes will require much more work than others so balance of difficult/easy classes is a key. D. never took more than 2 challenging science classes/semester. She would have another science class sometime, but it would be the easier one. Classes in her minor were very easy for her as most times minors are mostly their personal interests and something they have been doing for awhile (music, foreign language, some are doing art, but this one is extremely time consuming, kudos to the artists, D. was able to take only one art class, she learned her lesson). D. took OChem with one more very challenging science class, but the others were much easier. She was able to pull an “A”, but her effort was enormous. Gen. Chem was very easy for her, she ended up with mostly 100%+ on exams. It is very personal, which class is hard/easy. For most who have easy time in math, Gen. Chem. would be much easier than Orgo and Bio classes. I have no idea how many credit hours D. had at graduation, but she graduated in 4 years with one minor and was 2 classes short of completing another which she had to drop because of additional Med. School requirements. She did not take a single summer class.</p>
<p>After the 3rd week, S1’s study schedule looks like this:
Chem-10 hrs study/hw with 8 hrs lab prep & report
Bio- 6 hrs study/hw with 3 hrs lab report
Three humanity courses – 13 hrs</p>
<p>The study time will continue to fluctuate. His current study strategy for Chem is:</p>
<p>1) Take notes in lecture and discussion sessions
2) Study paragraphs in the textbook related to the notes and discussions.
3) Work out chapter review problems related to these paragraphs including the assigned HW.<br>
4) Study paragraphs related to the lab.
5) Study additional chapters recommended by his research lab professor.
6) Read anything else unfamiliar if time permits.</p>
<p>After reading preposterous remarks, I have seen some supportive ones too. Now, the discussion seems to have cooled down. A successful doctor’s traits include patience, perseverance, prudence, and kindness. I did not see, in the recent posts, much genuine concerns of above qualities and efforts of suggesting successful study habits for pre-med freshmen to consider. </p>
<p>The teaching quality in S1’s public high school was average with over 800 students in his grade. S1’s Calc BC teacher taught absolutely nothing. Since he wanted to get AP credits for Calc 1 & 2, he had to study himself. A number of his classmates gathered one night a week to study together. Out of his Valedictorian group, three students went to the top Ivies. I doubt his Chem gaps are too serious since he is at least in the top 50 from the Honors class compared to other 1200 taking the regular Chem in the 1st year. Even if there are some, the gaps will largely disappear after the first semester. In the meantime, I believe that a public school student has the opportunity to be closer to the ordinary people. If a student can’t get into a medical school unless he attends a private HS and an elite college, this student is probably not a doctor material.</p>
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