General Chemistry

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Is it too much to take it during the Summer? I have all the time in the world, but I haven't been in school for 4 years, but my counselor recommended General Chemistry because of my math grades.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

I HAD TO take Organic/Bio Chem in summersester (my school changed around its curiculuum course sequence). One of the best things to happen in my program! Studying was intense because testing was like every few days, but the wonderful advantage was that the information stayed fresh---you didn't have time to forget!!! Especially great for final exam. It also helped that my professor WALKED ON WATER! I had him for GenChem I and he's the reason I LOVE chem & bio sciences. GO FOR IT.

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I HAD TO take Organic/Bio Chem in summersester (my school changed around its curiculuum course sequence). One of the best things to happen in my program! Studying was intense because testing was like every few days, but the wonderful advantage was that the information stayed fresh---you didn't have time to forget!!! Especially great for final exam. It also helped that my professor WALKED ON WATER! I had him for GenChem I and he's the reason I LOVE chem & bio sciences. GO FOR IT.

If you don't have to take in the summer session, would you recommend fall session more? What about A&P for summer? I'm not sure I have enough confidence to take a science in 7 weeks, it's crazy.

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Starting next week I will be taking General Chem for summer session and I'm very hopeful for it. It all depends on how dedicated you are. I will have plenty of time for it since I'm not working so it's perfect. I was out of school for a little over 8 years and I just finished Spring semester of A&P 1 and let me tell you it drove me crazy with how much I had to memorize and the class was only 2x a week. I have faith that chemistry will definitely be easier on me than A&P.

My advice is if you have the time now to do it and focus and make time to study and read then you can handle it with no problem.

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I'm not working either, but it still concerns me of the pace.

Does anyone travel too? I'm booking another cruise and I usually go for the cheap times like in January, December, September, October, etc. Is it a huge deal to miss one week of class? I love traveling too and I want to see the world as much as I want a degree too. I'd probably take the vacation at the start of the semester more than taking it at the end when there is finals ie January, September. I would definitely not take any time off in a summer session, only fall or winter when classes are longer.

I can't hide my love for travel, that is my main love besides nutrition and cooking. I have too many interests in the problem, lol.

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Well, everyone is different. Each person will handle the pace in their own way. It might be overwhelming at first but you have to figure out how to manage it. Many people here in the forums are taking 2-3 summer classes on top of working or other responsibilities so if they can do it, then you'd be able to do it too. That's my mindset though. I have plenty of time and my Chem summer class is Monday through Thursday from 1pm-4pm. I know it may be brutal but I don't have other responsibilities so I will pace myself in a way that works - if that makes sense lol.

I'd like to hear about what other people think of the whole traveling thing as well. I know when I did A&P for this spring semester my professor told me straight out that if I miss more than 3 classes my grade gets dropped by one and that if you are taking a vacation, he is not responsible but he would hope we would reschedule it because the class is vital. For my fall semester teachers (english, psych and math) they did not mind the whole vacation thing as long as I was caught up so I guess it all comes down to the type of teacher you have and how strict they are with missing classes.

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If it were me, I would wait to take it in the fall when the semester wasn't condensed. But, I don't handle short semester courses well. I need the full 15 weeks. I guess it depends on the person though. How strong are you in science?

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Chemistry was the first class I'd taken in 20 years. I did it online in summer session, since I work full-time and have a young son.

The class was really time consuming... took about 30 hrs. a week. In part that was because I'm a slow reader and Chemistry was my toughest subject. But I plowed through and got an A!

There's no reason you shouldn't be able to do it as a summer class. I'd really recommend borrowing "Chemistry for Dummies" from your library and reviewing it before you start the class. It will help give you a solid foundation.

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

Chemistry is math-intensive, so if you're weak in math, you might not want to take it in the summer. Also, you mentioned in one of your replies that you want to take a cruise on top of going to school. I would highly advise against missing any school in a 7 week summer session. Missing even one day is like missing a 2-3 days of a regular class. The pace moves very quick and you usually have a quiz & test each week.

Now, if you're very confident in your math/science skills...then go for it! I took Microbiology as a summer class many years ago and I loved it. Had a wonderful professor and thoroughly enjoyed the labs. Yes, it was extremely intensive. You live, eat, breath & sleep that class. But, getting a good grade is worth it :D

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Chemistry is math-intensive, so if you're weak in math, you might not want to take it in the summer. Also, you mentioned in one of your replies that you want to take a cruise on top of going to school. I would highly advise against missing any school in a 7 week summer session. Missing even one day is like missing a 2-3 days of a regular class. The pace moves very quick and you usually have a quiz & test each week.

Now, if you're very confident in your math/science skills...then go for it! I took Microbiology as a summer class many years ago and I loved it. Had a wonderful professor and thoroughly enjoyed the labs. Yes, it was extremely intensive. You live, eat, breath & sleep that class. But, getting a good grade is worth it :D

I would not take the cruise during the 7 week summer session, it would be during the regular 15 week session in Winter or Fall. I would not miss any school in the Summer session. I wouldn't even think of taking a week off in the Summer, if I took summer session then it would be the only thing I did the whole summer, lol.

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.
I would not take the cruise during the 7 week summer session, it would be during the regular 15 week session in Winter or Fall. I would not miss any school in the Summer session. I wouldn't even think of taking a week off in the Summer, if I took summer session then it would be the only thing I did the whole summer, lol.

I think it's a bad idea to miss a week of class even if it's a 15 week class during the regular session. Schedule your cruise so that you don't need to miss class at all. To do otherwise is, in my opinion, setting yourself up for failure.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.
I would not take the cruise during the 7 week summer session, it would be during the regular 15 week session in Winter or Fall. I would not miss any school in the Summer session. I wouldn't even think of taking a week off in the Summer, if I took summer session then it would be the only thing I did the whole summer, lol.

I would still schedule your cruise in between the summer & fall semester. You shouldn't miss class at all if you're trying to have a competitive GPA to get accepted into nursing school. Don't jeopardize your future to have some fun now...JMHO :)

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