Ahead Transfer Student & the MCAT

[Eftek]

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I am currently a graduated high school senior (as of 5/16) in my first year of community college and plan on applying to UCSB next fall. I intend on transferring to a Psychological and Brain Sciences B.S major at UCSB as opposed to applying to UCLA as a Psychology B.A due to the science background and clinical experience I can gain with the major. I have accumulated enough credits to graduate a year early and will be a "junior" in my sophomore year. I plan on taking Organic Chemistry during my junior year and Physics during my senior year to complete my pre-med requirements.

My main concern is in regards to when I should take the MCAT. I understand that most individuals take their MCAT late junior/senior year after completing their pre-med requirements. I am worried that I will not be as prepared when it comes time for the MCAT being a year ahead of peers my age. If anyone has been through this situation your advice will greatly be appreciated.

 

[Examkrackers]

Congratulations on graduating!

Why exactly do you feel like you'll be behind your peers? Simply because you'll be younger (i.e. you'll be a "senior" but the age of a typical junior)?

You definitely have plenty of time to make this decision, and much of the specific advice we would give you will depend on many different factors. The most important will be your timeframe: are you planning on applying your "senior" year, or would you do a gap year? (you have plenty of time to reach that decision, please don't stress about making it now!) Did you retain a lot from your premed classes, or would you be "rusty" on some of the material you don't use as frequently (usually orgo for non-chem majors)? What was your performance like in all those classes? As you can see, since you're still so early on in your journey, it's hard to give clear-cut advice.

Again, you have plenty of time to make this decision! I'd recommend getting in contact with the premed office of the school you're thinking of transferring into and ask what they recommend for someone in your situation and given that school's curriculum/historic performance on the MCAT. But, for now, enjoy the summer and set yourself up for success in your classes in the fall. If you've really got that type A itch and want to do something, consider volunteering or shadowing.

 

[Eftek]

Congratulations on graduating!

Why exactly do you feel like you'll be behind your peers? Simply because you'll be younger (i.e. you'll be a "senior" but the age of a typical junior)?

You definitely have plenty of time to make this decision, and much of the specific advice we would give you will depend on many different factors. The most important will be your timeframe: are you planning on applying your "senior" year, or would you do a gap year? (you have plenty of time to reach that decision, please don't stress about making it now!) Did you retain a lot from your premed classes, or would you be "rusty" on some of the material you don't use as frequently (usually orgo for non-chem majors)? What was your performance like in all those classes? As you can see, since you're still so early on in your journey, it's hard to give clear-cut advice.

Again, you have plenty of time to make this decision! I'd recommend getting in contact with the premed office of the school you're thinking of transferring into and ask what they recommend for someone in your situation and given that school's curriculum/historic performance on the MCAT. But, for now, enjoy the summer and set yourself up for success in your classes in the fall. If you've really got that type A itch and want to do something, consider volunteering or shadowing.

Thank you!

When I think about it, I feel like I will be behind my peers because my current major (Psychology B.A.) does not have as much as a science focus to it compared to other majors. It is true that some other individuals may forget this information on their way to prepping for the MCAT, but nonetheless these concepts can be relearned faster due to its familiarity compared to someone like me who has never taken/is in the process of taking the course. Though this is a minor concern as I will have completed my upper level Biology and Chemistry requirements by the end of next year.

I do agree that I do have a lot of time in making this decision so that is most definitely something I will need to think about perhaps after next year when I consider my performance in the higher level sciences. My ultimate fear is that I will not do well on the MCAT due to the fact that I am taking Physics on top of the work/volunteering for my major. Frankly, I consider myself lucky in that my possibilities are more flexible than some others in that I can take a gap year if necessary.