applying to med school with only half of the pre-reqs done

[bobafett1]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello,

This question has been asked generally before, but I have a very specific version of the question.

I can't start my pre-med classes until the spring due to scheduling commitments.
By May 2020, I can have Chem I, Chem II, Physics I, Bio I done.
But that leaves fully half of the recommended pre-reqs to complete:
Org 1, Org 2, Physics II, Bio II.

I am confident I will have very strong grades and do well on the MCAT (I'm a 95th percentile type of student). But Organic Chemistry is such a proving ground, that I am concerned that the admissions committee will see Org Chem as an unanswered question and pass on my application.

I could take Org Chem I and Bio II in summer session. But that would push my application back to mid July, and people strongly recommend that applications be submitted by early June.

I will learn all of the material in time for the May 2020 MCAT through self study. But I can't sequence the courses fast enough to get all of the college credits on my transcripts by June 2020.

Any navigation on this would be great. Thank you!

 

[gyngyn]

Don't do this.

 

[Sephirakra]

I will learn all of the material in time for the May 2020 MCAT through self study.

No, you won't. Confidence is great, but this is hubris. Take it from another non-trad, an extra year is not a big deal in the grand scheme.

 

[LingoLaine]

Not at all realistic. Take an extra year.

 

[DocOrBust2019]

You need the extra year.

 

[star.buck]

Two options.

1. Ride your confidence (which is unproven against the MCAT and Org Chem), count on the med schools to love everything else about you and trust your lack of this very important pre-req; you potentially fail and become a re-applicant (NOT what you want).

2. Take the extra year, ensure you back that confidence up with a solid score and grades, don’t promise the med schools you CAN do it, but DID do it; you have solid success to bring into the application cycle and a greatly reduced risk of being a re-applicant.

Statistically, the numbers are something like 50% of med school applicants actually get acceptances. You are running against 6,000+ other people - who did ALL the prerequisites and have a great MCAT.

Up to you. I don’t see the extra year as playing it safe, rather it is playing it smart.

 

[bobafett1]

Thanks for the feedback.

I got the idea of applying before completing my pre-reqs from medicalschoolhq.net. Maybe this is junk information:

"The poster wants to apply in June of 2018 to start medical school in June 2019. So he wants to know, if he finishes his prereqs in the Fall of 2018 (Sept-Dec), would this put him at a disadvantage to apply in June of 2018?
The answer is no, it would not put you at any disadvantage. You do not need to have your prereqs done before you apply to medical school. You only need to have your prereqs done before you matriculate into medical school. Other than that, it doesn’t matter."

 

[Goro]

Hello,

This question has been asked generally before, but I have a very specific version of the question.

I can't start my pre-med classes until the spring due to scheduling commitments.
By May 2020, I can have Chem I, Chem II, Physics I, Bio I done.
But that leaves fully half of the recommended pre-reqs to complete:
Org 1, Org 2, Physics II, Bio II.

I am confident I will have very strong grades and do well on the MCAT (I'm a 95th percentile type of student). But Organic Chemistry is such a proving ground, that I am concerned that the admissions committee will see Org Chem as an unanswered question and pass on my application.

I could take Org Chem I and Bio II in summer session. But that would push my application back to mid July, and people strongly recommend that applications be submitted by early June.

I will learn all of the material in time for the May 2020 MCAT through self study. But I can't sequence the courses fast enough to get all of the college credits on my transcripts by June 2020.

Any navigation on this would be great. Thank you!

I can't recommend this. Apply when you have the best possible app. Your goal is to get into med school, not into med school in a hurry.

 

[bobafett1]

thanks everyone. these answers seem "real". there is so much unanimity with the responses, and you all have walked the walk.

 

[DO_or_Die]

What you don't understand is that a large majority of people taking the MCAT are 95th percentile type of students who have taken all of the prerequisites. You will be shooting yourself in the foot and will not do as well as you believe. I would advise against it.