2015 MCAT changes and Pre-reqs

[EETTOMD]

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Hello all,
As a prospective non-trad medical school applicant, I will be starting this Fall to complete my needed pre-reqs (Ochem and bio). If I follow the normal Fall and Spring course sequence, I will be done with the pre-reqs by Spring 2014. That gives me , probably one shot at the MCAT before it changes in 2015. If I do well enough the first time, then no more worries. However, what should be the approach in preparing for the worst case scenario that I may have to take the MCAT again in 2015? With new requirements in sociology, psych and biochem (I would have attempted to take biochem anyways), would I have to wait at least one more year to take all those classes before applying?

I would really appreciate some input. This process if challenging enough as it is working full-time, I am just trying to fathom my undertaking as I start this Fall on this path.

 

[Deekle]

Soc and psych are required at a lot of schools anyhow. Biochem is something you'll see in med school and it woul help to have a good basis in it. Check into the required classes at the schools you're interested in. If they require any of the above then you have your answer. If not, do what feels right. If it feels like you're rushing things, you probably are.

P.S. Soc and Psych are easy night or summer classes. Biochem not so much.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile app. Blame Siri if the spelling or grammar are bad.

 

[mspeedwagon]

As a former sociology major, sociology and psych can be knocked off VERY quickly. You could take both simultaneously in the summer. They are both really easy (especially at the intro level). Would rather take both than pretty much any of the other pre-reqs.

 

[mpandah]

Hey!
I am also struggling as a non-traditional applicant in deciding what to do with the new 2015 MCAT coming up. I will not be applying for medical school until at least the 2015 but possibly 2016 cycle.
I have not yet taken physics or orgo, and will not be able to start them until the Fall of 2014 as I am currently living outside the U.S. in a developing country. However, I really don't like the idea of being in the first guinea pig group to take the new 2015 MCAT (and all the study material I have been using is for the current MCAT). I either have a year to study orgo and physics on my own and take the current MCAT in the end of 2014 before I complete the second semester of orgo and physics, or wait until I finish all the pre-reqs (including the new addition of biochem, psych and socio, which is a drag) and take the new 2015 MCAT. I know most schools will be requiring applicants to have taken a semester of psych, socio and biochem if they will be in the entering class of 2015 and later, so I will have to do that anyways but I'd like to not add another year to my process by waiting on the MCAT. I have my Masters in Public Health, and I am hoping that it could at least count towards a sociology requirement. Any recommendations?

 

[Legato147]

Ugh...I'd love to hear more on the prereq requirements too. I've been busting my ass to research and plan how to get all my main prereqs completed (bio, chem, o-chem, physics + calculus) while working, but now hearing that I might have to take 3+ more classes if I take the MCAT in 2015 is kind of a surprise smack in the face.

 

[wholeheartedly]

Just to a make a distinction here, there is a difference between MCAT content requirements and pre-reqs.

The content on the MCAT is changing in 2015, this doesn't necessarily mean the pre-reqs required by individual schools are going to change as well. As noted though, a lot of schools already do require some sort of social science or psych coursework anyway. I think more of them are going towards a more well-rounded background for applicants. So yeah, check the websites of the schools you'll be apply to and go from there selecting your coursework.

I say this because while I don't know that I'd advise anyone to take the MCAT without having the corresponding courses in physics, bio, and chem/ochem, there isn't a specific course you take for the verbal section and depending on how they design the new MCAT you might not need to take a psych class, an ethics class, and a sociology class to do well. You might just take a psych class and get the rest from your review books. Depends on the test though.


Check out the AAMC 2015 MCAT Preview guide for info on the new sections and what they will cover: https://www.aamc.org/students/download/266006/data/2015previewguide.pdf

 

[Erakis]

6 hours and 15 minutes! I guess I can say I took it "back when it was easy"

 

[shezadeh]

Aren't MCAT scores valid for ~3 years in most cases? This being the case, perhaps one could take the last MCAT offering in 2014 if they were worried about Biochemistry? I am in a similar situation as well.

 

[jissho]

.

 

[shezadeh]

Aren't MCAT scores valid for ~3 years in most cases? This being the case, perhaps one could take the last MCAT offering in 2014 if they were worried about Biochemistry? I am in a similar situation as well.

Assuming it is valid for 3 years, could one take the MCAT in 2014 (last offering), and then apply to medical school a year or two after?


Does anyone have any comment on this?

 

[UpAndUp]

To add to this, there are many access points to high quality soc & psych learning materials to be found online. Try edX or Coursera and you can find entire college courses taught by professors from top universities! I'm taking a bio course via edX taught by an MIT prof before I start my pre reqs. It's essentially the same course that MIT students take, but completely free. (disclaimer, these types of courses not go on your transcript and you don't earn credit.)

 

[shezadeh]

Assuming it is valid for 3 years, could one take the MCAT in 2014 (last offering), and then apply to medical school a year or two after?


Does anyone have any comment on this?

No comments regarding the 2014 MCAT score being valid for 3 years?