Advice on research/MCAT studying/testing scheduling?

[Bookish]

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Hello,

I normally would not post a new thread but I feel like I'm in a sorta unique situation. I'm currently a freshman. I'm taking my pre-reqs normally (bio and inorganic chem this year, orgo and physics next year) and I was planning on possibly taking the MCAT the summer after my sophomore year, or in the fall of my junior year (2014) so that I will not have to take the new MCAT in 2015. Would this be a good idea? I was thinking since I will be done with my prereqs at the end of sophomore year I could have the whole summer to study and then take it whenever as long as its still in 2014.

But here's the catch: I am applying to a lot of SURF/REU programs for this upcoming summer. I really need to get into one of these because my school has literally no labs that I can work in. But, recently I was told that my family won (through my dad's employer) a very nice vacation in July, right during when I would be doing research this summer. I know this is a total first world problem, but I would really like to go with them. Would putting off doing a SURF until the summer after sophomore year, when I'm studying for the MCAT at the same time, be a bad idea? I know I still might not get in for this summer. But these programs are probably my only chance at doing research since I can't do any during the school year.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[dannybht]

Unless the surf program site location is near a mcat testing location AND if you don't have any other committments besides this SURF then I think it would be fine. However, I don't know how time consuming surf research programs are, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

 

[Ismet]

Hello,

I normally would not post a new thread but I feel like I'm in a sorta unique situation. I'm currently a freshman. I'm taking my pre-reqs normally (bio and inorganic chem this year, orgo and physics next year) and I was planning on possibly taking the MCAT the summer after my sophomore year, or in the fall of my junior year (2014) so that I will not have to take the new MCAT in 2015. Would this be a good idea? I was thinking since I will be done with my prereqs at the end of sophomore year I could have the whole summer to study and then take it whenever as long as its still in 2014.

But here's the catch: I am applying to a lot of SURF/REU programs for this upcoming summer. I really need to get into one of these because my school has literally no labs that I can work in. But, recently I was told that my family won (through my dad's employer) a very nice vacation in July, right during when I would be doing research this summer. I know this is a total first world problem, but I would really like to go with them. Would putting off doing a SURF until the summer after sophomore year, when I'm studying for the MCAT at the same time, be a bad idea? I know I still might not get in for this summer. But these programs are probably my only chance at doing research since I can't do any during the school year.

Any advice would be appreciated.

If you're disciplined enough to study for a few hours every night after working a full day in the lab, then you can probably make it work. If you don't have good time management skills, you're probably going to have a bad time doing the SURF while studying for the MCAT.

Keep in mind that the last MCAT date is in mid-September, and it is not offered again until January. Also, while all you technically need for the MCAT are the basic pre-reqs, it is also recommended (not required) to take physiology and/or biochem before taking the MCAT. There are some concepts on the MCAT that are not covered well/at all in the pre-reqs.

 

[chillaxbro]

I was doing research 9-5 7 days a week over the summer while studying MCAT and I did okay. It was tough but doable but I still wouldn't recommend it.
Also gen chem != inorganic chem

 

[Ismet]

I was doing research 9-5 7 days a week over the summer while studying MCAT and I did okay. It was tough but doable but I still wouldn't recommend it.
Also gen chem != inorganic chem

In the world of med school admissions, it does. There was a big discussion about it a while ago, because it is confusing and misleading.

 

[Bookish]

Thank you everyone. It's nice to see someone who has done it before. I think I have good time management skills, I pretty much self studied for the SAT Biology test and got a 780... But that's nothing compared to the MCAT. I'll have to think about it over the next l semester and weigh my options if I do get into a summer program.

Also, I didn't know the last MCAT was in September. Thanks for telling me!

 

[gettheleadout]

If you do put off the summer research program, make sure you do something productive during the rest of the summer when you're on vacation with your family.

Also, a bit unrelated, but does everyone consider taking Bio + Chem freshman year and Organic + Physics sophomore year normal? At my school the only people that do that are people that have to (Chem E and some other people). I've always thought taking Physics junior year was considered "normal," not that I'd have a problem with taking it earlier. Finishing the prereq's in two years and doing a post-sophomore end of summer MCAT is probably best. Unfortunately I wouldn't have been able to fit physics in earlier anyway...other academic sequences to move through in the first two years...

 

[powerfetish]

I am a freshman too and I can't wait for the new MCAT because it gives you more chances to do well by adding a bit whole new easy section. And I am more than thrilled that they removed the essay because its grading was so subjective that I had nightmares about it. I am studying Psychology and Sociology on my own before taking the intro classes next semester, and these subjects are very easy to understand; yet also very fulfilling and enlightening. Furthermore, Psychology also improves your critical thinking skills, so you kill two birds with one stone. There are numerous other benefits to taking the new MCAT, but I am typing on a tablet and it is hard to keep correcting my text, so I can't list them all.

 

[Ismet]

I am a freshman too and I can't wait for the new MCAT because it gives you more chances to do well by adding a bit whole new easy section.

I wouldn't say that just yet. Just because psych and soc classes are "easier" than science classes doesn't mean that the MCAT section will be a breeze. There are a lot of new concepts on the 2015 MCAT, including a lot of info that's discussed in neuro classes.

https://www.aamc.org/students/download/266006/data/2015previewguide.pdf

And I am more than thrilled that they removed the essay because its grading was so subjective that I had nightmares about it.

They've already removed the writing section. It was really nothing to have nightmares about anyway. I put in the absolute minimum effort and my essays were pretty bad, and I still got an O, which is not a strong score, but med schools didn't care what the writing score was unless it was one of the lowest 2-3 scores.

Honestly, If I were a freshman/sophomore facing this situation, I would do everything in my power to take the MCAT before 2015.

 

[Thanhn]

I wouldn't say that just yet. Just because psych and soc classes are "easier" than science classes doesn't mean that the MCAT section will be a breeze. There are a lot of new concepts on the 2015 MCAT, including a lot of info that's discussed in neuro classes.

https://www.aamc.org/students/download/266006/data/2015previewguide.pdf



They've already removed the writing section. It was really nothing to have nightmares about anyway. I put in the absolute minimum effort and my essays were pretty bad, and I still got an O, which is not a strong score, but med schools didn't care what the writing score was unless it was one of the lowest 2-3 scores.

Honestly, If I were a freshman/sophomore facing this situation,I would do everything in my power to take the MCAT before 2015.

I am facing a similar situation. I'm currently a Freshman and have(am taking) the following pre-reqs.

Physics I & II
Calc I & II
Gen Chem. I & II (spring semester)
Bio I & II (spring semester)

I will be taking Anatomy & Physiology along with O. Chem I & II sophomore year.

So my question for you, should I take Fall Junior Year given that I study all summer after Sophomore year?

P.S. If I wanted spend the summer after my sophomore year studying for the MCAT, should I add Biochem to my sophomore year?