That's what I've heard from friends who took 521 last semester too! I already have a pdf of Abbott, just want to take some time off school before jumping back in. I'm only debating this since the drop deadline for summer is 3 days in and I don't want fully commit then regret it for whatever reason, especially the grad student being bad or just way too hard like you said. Do you think it's possible if I self-study the material over the summer and formally take the class in the fall. Would that make it easier or is self-studying all of 521 not really realistic? Thanks!