<p>I heard that it was not advisable to take premed science courses (such as bio) during the summer. WHy is this so? and would the disadvantage of this be greater than having to take either orgo or physical chem with bio during the academic years?? Any advices on when to take classes, and if the med schools actually even care about these things??</p>
<p>thank you!</p>
<p>They want to see that you can handle tough science classes within a full schedule. This is why they don't want you to take premed requirements over the summer.</p>
<p>I'm also not sure why you have to take intro bio with p-chem or orgo. Typically, premeds take intro bio with gen chem their freshman years and reserve orgo for their sophomore or junior years.</p>
<p>thx for ur post. I am thinking to major in biochem, and have to take orgo and phys chem by junior year... and therefore have to either double it with bio or triple it with bio and biochem. I already took bio and phys last sememster... and will be doubling up in sciences throughout. do u think that would be enough to show the med school I can handle the courses? or do u think a summer science course might just be somethign to avoid at all times.</p>
<p>Thx!</p>
<p>I personally think it's okay to take science or any other courses over the summer, just not any of your premed requirements.</p>
<p>Ask your premed advisor. I am inclined to agree that is safer, from an admissions perspective, to take physical chem during the summer so that your transcript shows your premed requirements during the academic year. But your advisor may disagree. By all means avoid overloading yourself!!! Most places physical chemistry is harder than organic, you don't hear as much about it because it is not a premed requirement, so fewer people take it. Do not triple bio with p chem and another science course if you can possibly avoid it.</p>
<p>I have heard p-chem stories that are far worst than any O-chem stories. My AP Chem teacher told us about a kid in her P-chem class who actually cried and how more people in p-chem failed than in her o-chem classes. With that taking p-chem over the summer is probably a good idea if your only other option is to triple bio with p-chem. As long as it's not a pre-med req and you have history doing well in your pre-med and other science classes you should be fine for med school.</p>
<p>thx for all the responses. I don'tthink i'll take bio over the summer then, although I can't take P-Chem either. I was just wondering if fulfilling the English requirement would have the same effect. SO is it basically any premed requirement courses that one should avoid taking over the summer? </p>
<p>Thx</p>
<p>Again "Ask your premed advisor". That said, I doubt taking English over the summer would be a problem for admissions, but it may be counterproductive. For most people, even those who are much better at science than humanities, the science courses are harder, and far more work, than the humanities courses. So if you take English during the summer what will you take during the term to replace it and give you a full course load? If you take another science course, or something else that requires a lot of work, then you will have defeated the value of taking something over the summer.</p>
<p>You really need specific advice about what has worked in the past for people at your college, with the choices you have. You have a jigsaw puzzle here. The most important advice is to avoid an overload that will crush you with work and hurt your GPA. You want to take the courses in sequence. It is probably bad to take organic and biochem at the same time, even if the college permits it. Most people in biochem will have already had organic, and you will be playing catch up. From a million years ago, taking p chem and organic simultaneously was not an option, and it is certainly a bad idea. So, I think, your sequence requires organic, followed by p chem and biochem. If you take p chem and biochem at the same time you would be best off making the rest of your courses in basketweaving (or as close as you can come). If you cannot get your p chem over the summer, then this would seem to leave you with organic and biology at the same time. This is not crazy. Lots of doctors have done this. It is just harder than spreading out the big science courses.</p>
<p>And again "Ask your premed advisor."</p>