I recently did an intensive course. 6 Weeks full time. I understand that this course is usually 3 years part time or one year full time.
For the course I photoread the course material as it was handed out. Had the advantage of photoreading a couple of book on the side (something my classmates couldn't consider because they were busy with the material already to hand.)
By the the 4th week I was still just in time with the class (or so I thought). I have to admit to 'goofing off' during class I spent an hour or 2 writing my assignment as for home work I did one night work... redoing the assignment doc. For the first 2 weeks homework was impossible anyway (homework was 'read the stuff') I wasn't home until 11pm each night since I was helping my brother out for the wedding. I arrived an hour or 2 late more than 2 times and was absent from class 3 times (jumping hoops for the govenment). During class my goofing off consisted of stuff like designing, chatting with others, rescuing data on a classmates computer and waiting for the instructor to become available so that I could continue with what was required next.
Before leaving one evening he suggested an area of my plan that could use polishing. So I selected 9 books and took them to class with me the next day. Photoread the books and drew a mind map of the ideas and wrote it all up in the report. (the mind map helped me to grab the ideas so that I can include them in my report). Was done in an hour with more information ideas than was available in the course manual.
Oh at the point where I thought I was just scraping through... I offered to burn a copy of my draft for my instructor he said... "don't worry about it." I said, "but I thought the first draft is due today?" He said, "nah, it's to push the others a bit. Your work is well up in front. That's why I've been concentrating on helping the others." (And I thought I was behind because I didn't seem to have a clue what I was supposed to be doing). My assignment was completed early by 3 days. (I delayed printing it for 2 days and handed it in 3 days early instead. The report did it's job.
The point is it's more about attitude. If I wasn't on track the instructors would have pushed more (it was an intensive course afterall). I didn't worry about doing it right. I just got out of my own way and allowed my mind to bring up the best I could produce. No effort, just get out of the way and allow it to happen. Took it as it came. A couple of times when it didn't seem to be going right, I figured I got nothing to lose so do it anyway and do it badly if necessary... sort of "damned the torpedos... full steam ahead" just do it.
I did a number of courses by distance learning back in the 80's I had trouble completing the courses due to heavy work commitments. I managed about 6 to 10 assignments in 2 years (alotted time). I negotiated a 6 month extention and completed the other 20+ assignments on time. I didn't have photoreading to help me then. Just the fact that I wanted to complete what I had started and I had made a commitment to myself.
flex22,
While getting inspired by others is a great thing, don't wait for it. You got nothing to lose, just give it your best shot from here on in. Under Murphys law every task expands to fill the time alotted to it. Chances are you could have completed the course in 5 months already, well now is your opportunity to compress it to 5 months. If you've completed almost all of it toward the end of the 5 months chances are you are going to make it. The only way you can really be sure is...'just do it'. With or without photoreading... you can only find out what is possible or impossible for you by running the race yourself.
Alex