applying before completing prerequisistes

[smc927]

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If I were to take the MCAT (and do well enough on it) this August after cramming in organic chem over the summer, but without having taken my second physics course, would I still be okay beginning the application process?<br>
I'm wondering if schools will even look at my application if I am not taking the second physics course until this coming fall (04), just after I take the August MCAT. <br>
I'm a little fuzzy on the application timeline, so any direction would be appreciated. <br>
I figured I'd post this here (and in the premed forums as well) and glean from the "been-there-done-that" crowd.
<br>

 

[psi1467]

I took the MCAT in August of 2000, w/out O-chem 2, or physics. I guess I was concurrently taking a summer course in physics 2, but had yet to take physics 1. Either way, I applied for admission for the fall of 2001. If you do well enough, you should get some interviews. What personally happened to me, was that I would get the interview, go thru it, and at the end they would say that I appeared to be a good candidate, but that they couldn't offer acceptance w/out completion of the prereq's. That being said, they stated that they would suggest that I not be denied, and that I be put on the waitlist and a decision to be made after I managed to complete the prereqs. Consequently, I was put on hold, I finished the appropriate courses, a spot opened up, and I was pulled of the waitlist for admission to the fall of 2001. So to answer your question, it is possible to get a spot. What each particular school's policies are, I can't say, and whether all the stars were aligned for me I can't comment on either. But if you want it; give it a shot. If you don't manage to get in the first time, don't worry too much about it. Rome wasn't built in a day, from what they say. Good luck.

 

[ewing]

I was wondering if anyone has any more heartenting experiences with this. I took the MCAT in August without having taken orgo, and got a 10 in BS and double digits in the other two sections as well. I am now taking several classes including orgo, and I am stuggling. I might get a C in orgo, I don't know. I could average a 3.4 for the semester (my GPA in the first 3 years of college is over a 3.5). I was really hoping to get in somewhere before my fall grades come out. In the spring, I have to take orgo II and orgo lab, and my grades may be even worse.

I applied to a bunch of (allopathic) schools that may have slightly lower standards e.g. Drexel, GWU, NYMC. Do I have a chance of getting an offer from one of these places before my grade comes out? What will happen if my senior GPA is a 3.2 and I get a couple of C's? Will people take me off waiting lists?

Any reassuring stories would be greatly appreciated.

 

[TripleDegree]

psi

I plan to apply before completing all my prereqs, but I will complete them before I matriculate.

Your post kinda shocked me - why would they not offer you conditional admission based on your completing the courses?

 

[thackl]

I only had 2 of the bio prereqs done when I applied........

 

[aod]

Originally posted by ewing
I was really hoping to get in somewhere before my fall grades come out. In the spring, I have to take orgo II and orgo lab, and my grades may be even worse.

I was in a similar situation - I did well in Orgo 1 but didn't like it much. So I took biochem instead of Orgo 2 - many schools accept it as a substitute. Getting the intro to biochem will also help you when you get into your M1 curriculum.

Good luck,

 

[KyGrlDr2B]

I was completing one prereq during the application cycle and they didn't mind. If memory serves me right, there was a section on the amcas application for Currently taking/planning to take courses where you can fill that in. As long as you get the class in before school begins, they don't care.


And with that, I'll move this to pre-allo, where it is more appropriate.