Application help - time sensitive

[doctor712]

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Hi All,

Just wrote a long email, SDN went down for maintenance when I hit POST. Anyway, I'll make it quick, I have to decide today...

BG: Applying AMCAS June 1, 2010; MCAT 5/1, 2010.

This term: Phys 2 + Lab; Orgo 2 + Lab *****Orgo Lab here is a one semester course, it's a combined course of Orgo 1 Lab and Orgo 2 Lab; and Biomedical Ethics.

Orgo isn't my forte, I'm a Bio guy, under best circumstances. 😀 I need to see A/A- in lecture and Lab for Orgo 2. My old grades from back in day weren't stellar, SO, getting premeds done with 3.6-3.7 is a must. This is planned as my last term, the one that started a week ago.

Orgo Lab starts TODAY, 2pm. Picked up book last night. Had a thought: SHOULD I be taking this on top of it all, OR, am I going to hurt myself and my grade???? It's like another Orgo course on top of Orgo 2...

Here's the question: IF I took Orgo Lab over summer, it runs 5-15 to 8-15, would I be shooting my "early application" goals in the foot? I am applying June 1, period. BUT, will MD schools look at my app before Orgo 2 Lab grade is in? Will I get put in the pile of folks who haven't completed their pre reqs and, in doing so, only get looked at when I update AMCAS with that final Orgo 2 Lab grade, MAYBE 8/25, and, in doing so, make my June app an August app? (THAT WOULD BE BAD). I think, at that point, I'll be doomed. I need to get this stuff in EARLY. I'm not a stellar app by any means. I can explain away not taking Orgo Lab with Orgo 2 because of work and dad requirements. If that means straight As this term, so be it. But if I take Summer Orgo Lab 2, am I in big APP trouble?

Add/Drop without a W is TONIGHT, please, anyone who has been through the process, or has adcom experience, please share your thoughts. This is a crucial moment and I don't want to blow it. I can do the Lab, buckle down, but it's basically another Orgo class on top of what I'm taking. And I'm working, which will stop in MD school, but I don't want to blow this...

THANK YOU,
D712

 

[RT2MD]

That's a tough question. As far as what happens to your application when you have an "in process" class listed on it, I have no idea. I would THINK that it would be treated as a regular application (what's one missing class, after all?) and if you were offered an acceptance, it would be contingent on getting a decent grade in your lab course (not a D or F). Not having been on a selection committee before, however, I have no idea! 😉

Another issue is explaining away why you separated the classes out like that. I am a non trad, I had graduated 3 years before my interview, but I had been taking classes up until December 2008. My interview mentioned that I didn't have any evidence of good time management skills... this was with me taking Biochemistry and Genetics at the same time as working full time, being the sole provider for a family of 3, driving 45 min each way for work/school, training for a half marathon and being a dad to a 1 year old girl... AND I got A's in both classes (no plus/minus here). To me, splitting the classes might be a bit harder to explain.

I have to admit, I don't know if I am really qualified to give you advice. I'm just talking about my own personal experiences, n=1! I would say that, in my opinion, the adcom wouldn't look at your app differently if it had a course in progress. They MIGHT, however, look unfavorably at you lightening your course load to get better grades. The reason being that med school is SO much more work than undergrad stuff, they might wonder if you have the time management skills to handle it. If you do take all the courses, I would find a way to work into your application/interview how much you did that semester.😎

Good luck to you!
-RT2MD