tmacgirl Posted November 27, 2006 Report Share Posted November 27, 2006 Surprisingly after an okay first semester I really want to take a summer course. I want to take a second year Biology course. When I told my parents this they thought the stress was talking lol and told me to enjoy my summer months. Anyways has any here taken summer courses and what were your experience. Good/bad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMmd Posted November 27, 2006 Report Share Posted November 27, 2006 I took a summer course, last summer, people usually do very well in summer courses, because you dont have a full course load. However, the problem is that most schools ask for a full course load (i.e.: 5 courses per semester), so you might not be eligible to apply at all schools. you have to check... maybe someone could provide more precisions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Law Posted November 27, 2006 Report Share Posted November 27, 2006 Correct me if I"m wrong, but I don't think taking a summer course limits your eligibility of applying to any schools. If you wanted to take a summer course to eliminate a pre-requisite for your degree (or for a school you're interested in) I know that U of T accepts summer credits but does not count them in GPA calculations. I think McMaster accepts summer credits and counts them in GPA calculations. Does anyone know of schools that do not accept a course completed in the summer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avenir001 Posted November 27, 2006 Report Share Posted November 27, 2006 Correct me if I"m wrong, but I don't think taking a summer course limits your eligibility of applying to any schools. If you wanted to take a summer course to eliminate a pre-requisite for your degree (or for a school you're interested in) I know that U of T accepts summer credits but does not count them in GPA calculations. I think McMaster accepts summer credits and counts them in GPA calculations. Does anyone know of schools that do not accept a course completed in the summer? I think all schools would accept summer credits but not all count them in gpa calculations. Also, taking summer courses wouldn't limit one's eligibility for med school application but if you're taking summer courses to reduce your course-load in the following school year, you'll run into gpa calculation problems with schools which require 5 full-courses from Sept-April. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Law Posted November 27, 2006 Report Share Posted November 27, 2006 Yeah, so you can do it to get courses out of the way, but you'd have to make sure you kept a full course load for most schools. I wonder also, if you don't take a full course load... that would probably come up in your interview, so you'd have to have a pretty good reason for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuantum Posted November 27, 2006 Report Share Posted November 27, 2006 I took summer courses, and I would listen to your parents. If you want to absolutely take courses, I'd recommend taking them in May/June, not July/August. Relax, take a break, and enjoy the summer months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muchdutch Posted November 27, 2006 Report Share Posted November 27, 2006 I agree with Kuantum. I took spring/summer courses every year, and worked full-time until the summer I wrote the mcat. Let's just say that did not go as well as planned because I had done nothing but work and school for the last 3 years! It's nice to just have to 'only' work - you don't usually have to come home and do homework and study and work your brain after most jobs, and that is a refreshing de-stressor. Take the summer as time for yourself. Besides, while it sounds like you're taking the course more for interest sake rather than for finishing your degree in a certain time-frame, it doesn't really matter in the end how many years it takes you to finish your degree. Nobody ever thinks about that after the fact. If you want to take extra courses for interest sake after the fact, or can't squeeze all that you want to into your four years, then do five - no biggie! (Just make sure you have the full-time requirements for meds and you'll be fine!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmacgirl Posted November 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2006 Thanks alot. I love the different opinions. Still not sure what to do. Muchdutch and Kuantum you guys made some good points on why not to take courses. Thanks everyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuantum Posted November 27, 2006 Report Share Posted November 27, 2006 I want to add, that I essentially haven't taken a break from school or some sort of project since I started university (except during the holdays and reading week) and I think it caught up with me a little at the beginning of this year. Its very important to let yourself take a break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMmd Posted November 28, 2006 Report Share Posted November 28, 2006 Correct me if I"m wrong, but I don't think taking a summer course limits your eligibility of applying to any schools. If you wanted to take a summer course to eliminate a pre-requisite for your degree (or for a school you're interested in) I know that U of T accepts summer credits but does not count them in GPA calculations. I think McMaster accepts summer credits and counts them in GPA calculations. Does anyone know of schools that do not accept a course completed in the summer? oops sorry I ment it wouldnt be counted towards the GPA... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Law Posted November 28, 2006 Report Share Posted November 28, 2006 Thanks alot. I love the different opinions. Still not sure what to do. Muchdutch and Kuantum you guys made some good points on why not to take courses. Thanks everyone A good reason would be to take it to slightly increase your GPA since some schools do accept summer courses in GPA calcs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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