<p>Take Gen Chem 1 next semester. I don't know how much you'll gain by sitting in Chem 2 at the same time, but you can try, as I think the chapters in the latter half of a Gen Chem text are independent (and can stand alone from Chem 1). Thus, you can then be prepared for Chem 2 in the summer semester - which will go VERY fast, but at least you will be prepared.</p>
<p>Organic I and II - get thru it the first time well in the normal semesters. You don't want to be in the bind of being forced to take either Organic semester in the summer. Gen Chem in the summer is doable, Organic in the summer will be pure hell for you.</p>
<p>You're not really taking that many hours if your only classes are Arabic, Intro to Religious Thought, and Seminar (whatever that is). Did you come in with a lot of testing credit or something? This semester is your first semester of undergrad right?</p>
<p>Make sure you get the subject based MCAT books now (like ExamKrackers), and use them along with the subjects as you are doing them. They may even be able to explain things easier than the textbook (even then hopefully your course is using a good Gen Chem textbook) I thought I saw a thread here with a listing of MCAT resources as well.</p>
<p>Most likely if you're taking the 2nd semester of Gen Chem in the summer semester: It will either start almost immediately after spring semester finals are over in May or it will start on the first day of June. Either way, I'm almost 100% sure it will go to the end of July. The Fall semester usually then starts up again in later August for most colleges, so at least you'll get a little bit of a breather to rest and relax.</p>
<p>It has less to do with what's a "good idea" or "bad idea" based on what others think but rather, what you can handle.</p>
<p>That said, most premeds will end up having to take several sciences/maths at one time for at least a couple semesters. Calc, orgo and a bio (+ whatever other classes) sounds about par for the course.</p>
<p>Many people have taken 3+ science courses a semester. In fact, if you're a science major, you'll have to do it at some point. That's not terribly unusual. Many people have also failed while taking 3 sciences/semester. It depends on your own abilities.</p>
<p>musashi8 Although Ws in college are not desirable, they are certainly not deal breakers for ones future career. Please try to focus on how to do well from now on when you progress through college. Sorry for my long post; there is already a lot of great feedback here and just wish to add my two cents. </p>
<p>Please consider balancing your semester course load with one or two challenging courses and one or two relatively easier courses. One science, one math, and two in humanities/social sciences or general electives could be a manageable work load for most freshmen. Two sciences plus a calculus are doable for many people, but it is a heavier work load as chemistry and biology are likely to require lab hours at the same time. When we talk about credit hours, we do not just think about the hours when we go to lectures and labs; we need to add hours for reading, homework, writing papers and lab reports, research in the library, visit instructors during office hours, self study, and group project/study or seek tutoring when necessary. These hours add up to the total work load and the total amount of time needed vary greatly among students depending on individual situation. A rule of thumb is: if you already have had solid math/sciences preps and you think you can get an overall GPA of B or B+, then you could handle three courses in math/sciences in a semester. If you think it may be an uphill battle or struggle to do it, then it may be better to take a more conservative load on the safe side. Only you know your strengths better than anyone else. Anyone would tell you that a decent GPA is crucial for graduate/medical school admission. Thus, it is important to have a work load that you truly feel comfortable with to do well. It is ok to finish the undergraduate in a little longer than 4 year with a good GPA to increase the chance for graduate or med school later, rather than graduating in 4 years but with a weaker GPA (which it is fine if you dont want to pursue a professional degree). Pushing and rushing oneself to the point of high level of stress will not help academically in the learning process. </p>
<p>It is not a bad idea at all to take one or two difficult courses in summer session; the benefit of doing so is to reduce pressure during regular semester and allow you to spend more time on the courses during summer that you would not otherwise have sufficient time to concentrate on while taking several courses at the same time during regular academic year. How long a summer session lasts will depend whether your university is on semester system or on quarter system. If your school is on semester system, the summer session is likely to be done before or in early August. You can check any college catalog for summer session info. My State University is on quarter system and there are three summer sessions that usually finish before the Labor Day. Some courses are done in the first 4 weeks. Calculus courses are done in 8 weeks. The 11-week long courses are three consecutive sessions that include sequences of general chemistry, general physics, and organic chemistry or lab sciences. The sequences are equivalent to one academic year worth of work. Some students take the whole sequence, and one can certainly take only one session and two sessions of the whole sequence, and then continue in the next academic year. You do not have to take summer session at your own university, you can take it at any reputable university, and the credits earned will be counted towards your degree. I am not suggesting taking summer session every year. You would need to do internship or research in summer as you move into junior year in college. </p>
<p>Please consider visiting your academic advisor in your major Dept. as well as a pre-med advisor in your school to draw up a tentative 4-year academic course plan as a road map, which can always be revised and adjusted down the road. In other threads, someone suggested auditing orgo lectures during summer and take it for credit later. This certainly involves time, money and work. But some people are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish their goals, which is admirable. There are organic chemistry lectures on DVD, which may be cost-effective to try. </p>
<p>Wish you the best of luck and success in college!</p>
<p>Thank you guys so much for your advice! I'm really happy to get such great advice about my college endeavors. I'll be back on track after I take my gen chem classes and get ready for orgo in the Fall... However, over the holidays I plan to review my chemistry as much as I can. I'm already reviewing my notes, taking practice tests, and doing practice problems since I have withdrawn from the class. The same I have done with my pre-calc class. Hopefully, next semester will be much easier from my effort in studying during the holidays and from the past semester. I really want to be successful and not stressed out... but I know one doesn't come without the other being experienced.</p>
<p>I think you just need to concentrate on what you need to do in the present. Get a book on "how to get into medical school" so you can not only concentrate on the grades part but the CV stuff as well: research, extracurricular activities, meaningful health experiences, etc. It seems to me that you need to improve a lot on time management, organization, proper study skills, and asking help when you need it. Stress is not a bad thing. You need a little to be motivated. I think when it overwhelms you or you're "stressed out" is when it's a problem. BlueLake's post above is very helpful in that regard of being a good student.</p>
<p>musashi8 -- You have good plans, the determination to work hard and the potential to succeed in college. Please believe in yourself! One does not need 4.0 GPA to go to medical school. A career in medicine surely requires good personal qualities, diligence and intelligence; however, it does not require one to have the intelligence of a rocket scientist. In fact, I saw a thread on CC talking about a guy with a college GPA 4.0 who was rejected by most medical schools in the country to which he applied. I feel really bad for the student and I like to believe that he eventually got into a good medical school, because one's hard work should pay off.</p>
<p>If you want to do medicine as a career, follow you passion and work with tenacity towards your goals, making sure you enjoy your major. It is important that you design your curriculum plan based on your own realistic objectives and comfort level, relying on the advice and guidance of your academic Dept. Not all pre-med students follow an exactly identical path each semester in their course selections, as long as they eventually complete all pre-med requirements around junior year in college. Please also consider others' good advices to see professors for further explanations and help on course work when you have questions; use the academic learning support and tutoring (if available) at your school. Sometimes you may join a study group in certain courses, if that is helpful. Try to make one or two good friends in each class so that you have someone to compare notes with. If some students can share good ideas on how to improve computer test-taking skills, do not hesitate to ask them. </p>
<p>Summer session is a viable option and not the preference of everyone. If there is a good university at your home town, it can save the costs of room and board by living at home while taking summer class. People are right that the pace in summer session is fast, but it may not be necessarily as stressful as in a regular semester when one has to take 4 or 5 courses at the same time in addition to part-time work. Most students do not to enroll in summer session; it is definitely an individual decision case by case.</p>