We receive many inquiries at the Office of Summer and Winter Programs. We offer many courses and a popular one is Organic Chemistry! It’s known as one of the more challenging courses we offer, however, we’ve created tips to help you succeed. 

 

Organic Chemistry is often viewed as a challenging course for several reasons:

• The material is complex and abstract. It involves an understanding of the basic principles of chemistry and builds off concepts in Chemistry 1.
• It requires lots of memorization: This can be seen as overwhelming for students as it will be necessary to memorize many compounds, reactions, and mechanisms. 
• The material is cumulative: Organic Chemistry builds on itself; therefore, students are expected to have a deep understanding of the foundations of chemistry before taking this course. 
• This course material requires a lot of practice and repetition for you to truly understand the material taught. 

 

With this in mind, we have developed a simple guide to help you survive Organic Chemistry. All it takes is the right mindset and willingness to succeed! Some tips we came up with are: 

1. Review Chemistry Basics Before the First Class

As we stated earlier a lot of the concepts you will be learning are built off the foundation of introductory chemistry courses. Feel free to get the professors’ email and discuss with them what to go over before the course begins. This will set you up for success throughout the course (you can find professor emails in the UConn Phone Book).

2.         Ask Questions

Don’t be afraid to be the person who asks a lot of questions! Chances are, other students have the same question as you. Whether it’s through email, in-person, or online, our university professors are there to help you. Remember there’s no such thing as a bad question. Also, be sure to ask for clarification on all your work because you’ll be sure to learn from your mistakes!

3.         Learn From Your Mistakes

Speaking about mistakes, be sure to learn from them! The harder you are on yourself going into taking this course the more stressed you may become. When making a mistake be sure to see where you went wrong and understand why you made those choices. It’s easy to beat yourself up but give yourself some grace!

4.         Create Study Groups

Study groups are a great way to make new friends and learn material together. It allows for accountability and the opportunity to learn concepts from a different perspective. In an online course, it may seem difficult to accomplish however, sending a message in the chat asking, “Does anyone want to create a study group?”, can be the start of a great way to learn!

5.         Seek to Understand 

We all know the person who can attend class, not study, and ace the exam. In Organic Chemistry, you must take the time to truly understand and sit with the material! This material does not make it possible to study the night before the exam. If you feel lost or confused, office hours are a great way to sit one-on-one with the professor to take your time on the material and get those questions answered!

6.         Reward Yourself 

After all your hard work and studying throughout the week be sure to give yourself something to look forward to. Whether it’s seeing friends, a relaxing pool day, or reading a good book, make sure you’re allowing yourself to enjoy the summer. You’re working hard, so treat yourself!

Summer courses are different from your average semester course as the material is condensed into five to six weeks. If you plan to take a summer course you may worry about how you will manage everything on your plate. No fear! The Office of Summer and Winter Programs knows exactly how to help. Here are four tips on how to ace your summer course:

 

1. Learn Time Management

With the pressures of making the most of summer, you still want to allow time for all the activities you have planned. With that being said, be sure to mark any important dates for your course including deadlines, major assignments, and exams. Then add any events you have coming up, work shifts, trips, and fun plans you have coming up. This will give you a clear picture of all that’s going on. You can devote time to prepare for all the summer activities you have coming up as well as balancing your academics. 

 

2. Find Your Study Method

Finding a study method that works for you may be challenging but is 100% possible. Developing good study habits can set you up for success in both your summer course and throughout your college career. Depending on the courses you take you may also need to study in various ways. Although one fact remains certain for all study sessions, the brain is more effective at absorbing and retaining information if you have multiple, shorter study sessions than if you cram everything in all at once. Here are various study methods that you can try out: 

• The SQ3R Method
• Active Recall
• Spaced Repetition
• Pomodoro Study Method
• Color Coded System 
• Mind Mapping

 

3. Take Good Notes

When it comes to summer courses, they operate on a more compressed schedule where note-taking skills are crucial to studying. Your notes will guide you throughout the course, especially when it comes down to exams. Being able to look back on what you’ve learned in the duration of the course allows for the material you’ve learned to stick in your mind. 

 

4. Take Plenty of Breaks and Enjoy Your Summer

Although taking a summer course may feel overwhelming, we are here to remind you that taking a break is still important. This is the perfect time to get ahead however, be sure to enjoy the warm weather and relax. Do activities that take your mind away from the courses you’re taking and come back to your academic assignments with a clear mind and a focused perspective.

Welcome Back Students! The Office of Winter and Summer Programs is so excited to announce that summer session 2023 course registration will open February 13th and we are thrilled to be back to help students get ahead this summer! We have a variety of courses offered this year and know that there will be something for everyone! Also, we have a few events planned and useful information about this coming summer term, so be sure to check out all of our social media platforms including Instagram, Twitter, and our newest addition TikTok! We will be posting a ton of updates across our socials so be sure to follow us!

 

Throughout this semester we will be answering all your questions in regards to summer courses and we will be sure to provide you all with the most up to date information! With that being said we have our registration event coming up on March 20th and we can’t wait to connect with you all soon. We wish you the best of luck this semester and look forward to being a part of your summer!

Over the course of the last year we have officially launched the new appeals form that is available to all students enrolled in a summer course. When submitting a form you must first familiarize yourself with our Refund Policy and fill out the required information below in order to be eligible for an appeal.

 

1. You must provide a brief description of the events that led to your appeal. This description should include the date(s) of any unexpected/extenuating event occurrence and should explain how the event occurrence(s) prevented you from dropping your course by the add/drop deadline provided on our Dates & Fees page. 

 

1. You will need proof of attendance/participation from the professor such as an email that indicates the last date of your participation in the course.

(You can search your professor’s contact information by entering his/her name into the UConn Phonebook: https://phonebook.uconn.edu.) 

If you are appealing due to an unexpected medical emergency, then you must provide documentation that indicates the date(s) you receive medical attention. Please be sure to provide any additional supporting documentation, too.

 

If you are having trouble receiving attendance documentation from your professor, then please be sure to contact our office at summerwinter@uconn.edu and include your Student ID/NetID and the name of your course. 

 

IMPORTANT NOTES: 

 

If you receive financial aid for summer, there is a possibility that changes to your enrollment can impact eligibility for financial aid.

 

Most students must be enrolled in a minimum of six credits to remain eligible for Federal Pell Grants. In some cases, the grant can be pro-rated based on less than half-time enrollment.  Students who have accepted Federal Direct Loans for the summer, must remain enrolled in a minimum of six credits. 

 

For further information on how an appeal could impact your Financial Aid contact the Office of Student Financial Aid Services at (860)486-2819.