Advice for me

[Sherif]

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so if i take Calc, Bio,chem, and english in my freshmen yr would i be in good shape cause i wana take in my junior yr classes that will help in MCat like Physiology, Genetics and u need a bio and chem basis for it. I don't want to overload on my freshmen year but want to take sciecne classes that will help on the mcat like the classes mentioned above. i just need thoughts and advice cause you are expirenced and have better info to give than the adivsor. thanks
😛

 

[Supadupafly]

For MCAT prep, the best thing is probably a prep course (Kaplan, PR, ect.) I recommend taking the college classes sooner, so that when you take a prep course, the material will be semi familiar.

 

[TRUE]

I would consider moving one of those science classes to sophmore year. No need to overload the freshmen year with science. Plus, you'll want some of that stuff to be fresher in your mind for both the MCAT and your higher-level science classes. Also, make sure that whatever you choose, you can do well and keep up your GPA. Don't take things that are way over your head...

 

[Supadupafly]

And don't overload ever. Take some fun classes for relaxation. If you are tied up in the competative premed world, you'll need something to get your mind off the TCA cycle.

 

[Sherif]

okay i got it but either way i am gona have to end up taking two science classes like for example Orgo and physics in my junior yr

 

[TRUE]

why are you not including sophmore year in your scheduling? What I did: Gen Chem freshmen year, bio sophmore year, orgo and physics junior year and that was it. Of course, you could do bio/physics sophmore year which would free up more time for orgo and the mcat studying. That might be better. i'm just saying that freshmen year you should just relax a little and get into the flow of things. Don't overdo it because you're not quite ready for all that science right when you get to college (it's not high school science you know...)

 

[ATPase]

Why don't you take orgo your sophomore year and physics your junior year? I know a lot of people who took gen chem freshman year, then bio and orgo sophomore year, then physics junior year. That way you can ease into the sciences your freshman year and have time for other courses as well. You can also mix in some upper-level bio like cell bio or genetics your junior year too, so you'll have it under your belt when you take the MCAT.

 

[Sherif]

so really med skool does not want to see you take science courses all yr, they wana see u rounded like mix up some Aviation or a language in there right?

 

[ATPase]

Basically, there's no need to kill yourself with premed classes all at once. You need to make good grades in these classes, so it doesn't make sense to take three or four requirements in one year. You will be fine if you take the MCAT during the second semester of one of these prereqs (i.e. physics or maybe orgo).

Your college/university will probably have its own core requirements that you'll have to take, so you'll have to mix those courses in. Also, med schools like to see some diversity in your academic interests and courseload. For example, I majored in history, and at all of my interviews the schools were intrigued that I pursued something other than science as a major. But the bottom line is, it doesn't matter what you major in, as long as you do well in your premed classes! Which is why you shouldn't load up on all of them at once.

 

[jlee9531]

Originally posted by Sherif
so really med skool does not want to see you take science courses all yr, they wana see u rounded like mix up some Aviation or a language in there right?

honestly...i dont think they really want some super science nerd that is not well rounded.

being knowledgable in many fields and being able to relate many different ideas and perspectives are highly important. if you dont have the social capacity to be a physician....forget about it. you will not make it alive through the interview process.

at this one school i interviewed at, there was this applicant who had close to a 4.0 and 40 mcat but was seriously lacking social skills. applicant said it was his second time applying which shocked me at first cause of his numbers...(interviews at stanfUrd, harvard etc...) and after talking to the guy for a while the whole interviewing group knew why he didnt get in anywhere the first time. some of the med students also met this person and were seriously against the prospect that the applicant might be accepted to the school. i dont think the guy did cause i saw the interviewer walking away from the guy shaking his head.

im not saying you are gonna turn out like this obviously. but im just saying...like everyone says on here. relax bro.

im just gonna list the basic core i took...
freshman: calc 1, gchem 1 / calc 2, eng 1
soph: ochem 1, physics 1 / ochem 2, bio 1, eng 2
jr: bio 2, pchem, physics 2 / biochem
sr: took the mcat.

 

[scrabbler]

I finished most of my prereq's my first two years, ideally hoping to take the August MCAT after my second year so I wouldn't have to worry about studying during the academic year. I was too lazy about it so I ended up pushing it to the next April anyway, but at least by aiming for that MCAT you have the chance to retake or push it to the later without affecting you negatively by applying late (if you're planning to apply after junior year).

Since I finished up most of the requirements for my science major the first two years, I took classes that I really enjoyed my last two years, and I have an awesome last semester. You want to make sure you don't have too difficult of a schedule during senior year b/c of interviews or second semester junior year if you take your MCAT then, which means you might have to work harder earlier on. Of course, this is all moot if you plan to apply after you graduate.

 

[Amy B]

I only took General Bio in my freshman year. Do you want to take any summer classes? You could take genetics during the summer, or microbiology, or cell biology, etc. It is a great way to get at least one class in between semesters.

How about this:

Freshman year
General Biology I and II with labs
classes needed for your major

Sophomore year
General Chem I and II with lab
Cell Biology
Genetics
classes needed for your major

Junior Year
Organic I and II with labs
Physics I and II with labs
Physiology
MCAT prep

Senior year
Classes needed to finish your major

 

[bruinrab]

Geeze, you guys had it easy, being able to spread stuff out a bit. Bio majors pretty much had to take it all a set way at my school.

Freshman year
Bio I/II, Gen Chem I/Orgo I, Calc I/II

Sophomore year
Genetics/Cell Bio, Orgo II/Gen Chem II

Junior year
Physics I/II

English was taken whenever you wanted to.

Of course, I was the genius who decided to double major in English and Bio with my schedule already half decided for me like that. I ended up taking two upper level renaissance drama classes, immunology with lab and physics II with lab at the same time that I was doing MCAT prep.