Academic Rigor

[rangoon1984]

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Hi all,

I am currently in the middle of a post bacc. Without going into the gory details, I planned on trying to complete the pre requisites in one year (by doing an extremely accelerated class during the summer), thought better of it since I had been out of school for so long and had never taken heavy science classes like this, and decided to complete the pre reqs in 2 years.

When I planned on doing the pre reqs in one year I quit my full time job (50+ hrs a week) because I knew that I couldn't do my job well while doing Orgo, upper level bio and physics simultaneously.

Now that I'm on the two year track, I am very lightly freelancing while I am in school, but I fear that adcoms will doubt my ability to handle academic rigor. I am taking 2 classes with corresponding labs, with light freelancing and volunteering. I have finally gotten into my groove and started getting A's this past quarter (my first two quarters were a mix of B's in lectures and A's in labs).

Am I doing enough right now between two classes, two labs, light freelancing and light volunteering? The classes are intense and they keep me very busy.

 

[midnight0il]

I also did a 2 year post-bac (which was more a 1.5 year since I eventually took summer classes). My first semester was very light: Gen Chem 1 and Calculus 1. It's not a big deal initially, but I would ramp it up to 3 for the following semesters and maybe extricate yourself from one of the labs. Sounds like you have a lot on your plate. Don't underestimate the importance of volunteering and garnering clinical experience. For some schools, it's more important than research experience.

Edit: Whoops. When I read lab, I thought you meant you were doing research in someone's lab. Your "labs" are really just part of your two classes (if I'm not mistaken). In that case, yeah, this is kind of a light load. I would add on another class or substantially increase your volunteering. Bottom line is that it's okay to start slow, but you can't stay that way.

 

[Angelatron]

I'm currently at the beginning of my post-bach pre-reqs as well, and both my advisor and the associate dean of admissions of a medical school information session that I spoke with have advised me to do no less than 3 science courses at a time in order to show that I can handle the heavy load of medial school. So, my goal now is to get everything done in one year.

 

[DocWinter]

I did a 2-year post-bac and took all the required sciences and 1 English course in 2 years. No summers. Took between 10-13 credits per semester and got a solid mix of B/As while working 40 hrs a week or more.

If you are working full time, 10-12 credits is a hard load. If you're not working, taking 10-12 is be manageable for someone without a science background and will give you time for volunteering and light work.

If you are getting A's on 10 credits, you're doing better than the guy who is taking 15 and getting that mix of C/Bs. Do not attempt to drown yourself in additional classes or more work if what you are doing is working. Try to get to full time (12 credits) by adding on a non-science if you feel comfortable. I think you'll upset the apple cart if you take on another 5 credits of science.

I got accepted, btw. What works in practice and what sounds good in theory can be two different things. Slow and steady wins the race.

 

[rangoon1984]

Thanks for the advice guys. I will add a third non-science course in the next semester of classes to be at full time status.

 

[popopopop]

^What, don't add a non science course for the sake of padding. They'll see right through it and you're just wasting money. If you need to fix your gpa, then take more upper level science courses. If not, just finish your pre-reqs and strengthen other areas.

 

[rangoon1984]

@popopopop

I was considering adding psych because of the mcat changes (I will be taking the new one), which would put me at full time status. I haven't taken psych in about 10 years and I don't remember anything. Do you think this would this still be seen as padding?

 

[popopopop]

^I don't know enough about the new MCAT to comment on whether a psych class is effective or not. If you can afford it and it'll help your gpa, then go for it. If not, a class like psych can be learned with a good book. Are there even new MCAT books with psych materials yet?

 

[rangoon1984]

I'm not sure what's available at this point. I haven't been watching it too closely since I'm not close to being done with the pre reqs yet.

 

[DocWinter]

Word is that psychology/sociology are going to be on the new 2015 MCAT , as is biochem. No, that's not "padding".
Don't forget 2 semesters of English are basic requirements, and they look favorably on behavioral sciences as a whole. It's a great way to prepare for the MCAT with soc and phych in addition to your 10 credits of hard sciences.
Check out the new MCAT and work with your academic advisers on what courses you should consider.
https://www.aamc.org/students/download/266006/data/2015previewguide.pdf

key is to maintain your ECs/volunteer through this. Don't skate though; be intentional, be an excellent student pulling great grades and doing the necessary work outside of the academics.

 

[Goro]

Do that each semester, and do well in the courses, and you'll be fine.


Am I doing enough right now between two classes, two labs, light freelancing and light volunteering? The classes are intense and they keep me very busy.[/QUOTE]

 

[The_Sunny_Doc]

Word is that psychology/sociology are going to be on the new 2015 MCAT , as is biochem. No, that's not "padding".
Don't forget 2 semesters of English are basic requirements, and they look favorably on behavioral sciences as a whole. It's a great way to prepare for the MCAT with soc and phych in addition to your 10 credits of hard sciences.
Check out the new MCAT and work with your academic advisers on what courses you should consider.
https://www.aamc.org/students/download/266006/data/2015previewguide.pdf

key is to maintain your ECs/volunteer through this. Don't skate though; be intentional, be an excellent student pulling great grades and doing the necessary work outside of the academics.

Behavioral sciences can also pay off when it comes time to take the MCAT. I was well prepared for the science passages in VR because of the assigned readings in Animal Behavior/Ethology and Behavioral Ecology. They're fascinating courses in gen if you get a great professor.

 

[Law2Doc]

@popopopop

I was considering adding psych because of the mcat changes (I will be taking the new one), which would put me at full time status. I haven't taken psych in about 10 years and I don't remember anything. Do you think this would this still be seen as padding?

Don't add coursework just for the sake of adding. I disagree with everyone who says adcoms are going to focus on the academic rigor of your current schedule. They don't spend as much time analyzing who took what as some people here seem to think. Just get A's. If you feel you need to accomplish more, do a bit more shadowing/ECs.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

You are okay. Only the hyper competitive keep saying the myth that you need to take minimum 15 units a semester.

 

[midnight0il]

Yeah, and the adcom members at the med school panels that I've been to.